Clinical Diagnosis · Musculoskeletal System · Hard
Polymyositis
Meaning: Autoimmune inflammatory disease of skeletal muscle causing proximal weakness.
In practice: Patients struggle to rise from a chair or comb their hair; muscle enzymes such as CK are raised.
Word parts
- poly- means many
- -itis means inflammation
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related clinical diagnosis words.
Which word means: Inflammatory arthritis caused by monosodium urate crystal deposition in joints.
Answer: Gout
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Answer: Citalopram
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