Which term describes an enlarged liver?

Which term describes an enlarged liver?

• A. Hepatosplenomegaly
• B. Liver Enlargement
• C. Hepatomegaly
• D. Enlarged Pancreas

Answer: (C)

Understanding how medical terms describe changes in organ size comes from the combining form for the organ plus the suffix that means enlargement. For the liver, the combining form is hepat/o- (or hepat-), and the suffix -megaly means enlargement. Put together, hepatomegaly specifically means an enlarged liver. This term is precise and commonly used in medical contexts, making it the best choice for describing an enlarged liver. A phrase like “liver enlargement” is descriptive but not the standard medical term. If both the liver and spleen were enlarged, the term would be hepatosplenomegaly, which isn’t what this item asks. An enlarged pancreas would refer to pancreatomegaly, which describes a different organ entirely.

Understanding how medical terms describe changes in organ size comes from the combining form for the organ plus the suffix that means enlargement. For the liver, the combining form is hepat/o- (or hepat-), and the suffix -megaly means enlargement. Put together, hepatomegaly specifically means an enlarged liver.

This term is precise and commonly used in medical contexts, making it the best choice for describing an enlarged liver. A phrase like “liver enlargement” is descriptive but not the standard medical term. If both the liver and spleen were enlarged, the term would be hepatosplenomegaly, which isn’t what this item asks. An enlarged pancreas would refer to pancreatomegaly, which describes a different organ entirely.