What is the meaning of the medical term 'costochondritis'?

Prepare for the West-MEC Medical Assisting Technical Skills Assessment. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, with comprehensive hints and explanations. Get exam ready!

Multiple Choice

What is the meaning of the medical term 'costochondritis'?

Explanation:
Costochondritis means inflammation of the costal cartilage that connects a rib to the sternum. The word parts explain this: costo- refers to the rib, chondro- to cartilage, and -itis to inflammation. This condition affects the cartilage at the rib-sternum junction (costosternal area), not the joints between ribs themselves. It isn’t an infection. So the meaning is inflammation of the cartilage that links the rib to the sternum.

Costochondritis means inflammation of the costal cartilage that connects a rib to the sternum. The word parts explain this: costo- refers to the rib, chondro- to cartilage, and -itis to inflammation. This condition affects the cartilage at the rib-sternum junction (costosternal area), not the joints between ribs themselves. It isn’t an infection. So the meaning is inflammation of the cartilage that links the rib to the sternum.

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