Which term describes inflammation of the colon?

• A. Diverticulitis
• B. Ulcerative colitis
• C. Crohn's disease
• D. Colitis

Answer: (D)

Colitis means inflammation of the colon because the suffix -itis signals inflammation and the word root col- refers to the colon. This makes it the general term for inflammation of the colon. Other options describe more specific conditions: diverticulitis is inflammation of diverticula, ulcerative colitis is a particular inflammatory bowel disease affecting the colon, and Crohn’s disease is an inflammatory bowel disease that can involve any part of the GI tract. When you only need the broad term for colon inflammation, colitis is the appropriate choice; if you know the exact type, you’d specify (for example, ulcerative colitis).