Which term describes an enlarged liver?

Which term describes an enlarged liver?

• A. Hyperglycemia
• B. Hypoxia
• C. Hematemesis
• D. Hepatomegaly

Answer: (D)

Hepatomegaly is the term for an enlarged liver. It comes from hepato-, meaning liver, and -megaly, meaning enlargement, so the word literally describes liver enlargement. The other terms describe different things—hyperglycemia is high blood sugar, hypoxia is insufficient oxygen in tissues, and hematemesis is vomiting blood—none of which refer to changes in liver size. Recognizing the -megaly suffix helps you identify organ enlargement across medical terms, and hepatomegaly is a common way to describe an enlarged liver on exam or imaging.

Hepatomegaly is the term for an enlarged liver. It comes from hepato-, meaning liver, and -megaly, meaning enlargement, so the word literally describes liver enlargement. The other terms describe different things—hyperglycemia is high blood sugar, hypoxia is insufficient oxygen in tissues, and hematemesis is vomiting blood—none of which refer to changes in liver size. Recognizing the -megaly suffix helps you identify organ enlargement across medical terms, and hepatomegaly is a common way to describe an enlarged liver on exam or imaging.