Which term means deficiency?

Which term means deficiency?

• A. Pathy
• B. Phobia
• C. Penia
• D. Plasis

Answer: (C)

The key idea is recognizing suffixes that tell you what a medical term means. The suffix "-penia" signals a deficiency or a reduced amount of something in the body. That makes it the best fit here, since terms like leukopenia (low white blood cells), thrombocytopenia (low platelets), and osteopenia (lower bone density) all use this suffix to describe a deficiency. In contrast, "-pathy" points to disease or pathology of a tissue, "-phobia" means fear, and "-plasis" refers to formation or development. So the term meaning deficiency is the one ending in "-penia."

The key idea is recognizing suffixes that tell you what a medical term means. The suffix "-penia" signals a deficiency or a reduced amount of something in the body. That makes it the best fit here, since terms like leukopenia (low white blood cells), thrombocytopenia (low platelets), and osteopenia (lower bone density) all use this suffix to describe a deficiency. In contrast, "-pathy" points to disease or pathology of a tissue, "-phobia" means fear, and "-plasis" refers to formation or development. So the term meaning deficiency is the one ending in "-penia."