What does the medical term 'megaly' signify?

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Prepare for the Rutgers Medical Terminology Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question includes hints and explanations. Get ready for your examination!

The medical term 'megaly' signifies enlargement. This term is commonly used in various medical contexts to describe an abnormal increase in the size of an organ or tissue. For example, hepatomegaly refers to the enlargement of the liver, while splenomegaly indicates an enlarged spleen. In these cases, 'megaly' serves as a suffix that highlights the condition of the organ being discussed, prompting further investigation into the underlying causes, which could include disease, inflammation, or other medical conditions.

The other terms in the context carry different meanings. A decrease in size typically describes atrophy or shrinkage, normal size indicates a state of health without any abnormalities, and infection implies the presence of pathogens leading to illness, which is unrelated to size. Thus, 'megaly' specifically and unequivocally denotes an increase in size, confirming that enlargement is the appropriate interpretation.

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