Which term means disease of the adrenal cortex?

• A. Afferent
• B. Amenorrhea
• C. Adrenalectomy
• D. Adrenopathy

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is how medical terms signal a disease of a specific gland. The combining form adren/o (or adrenal) refers to the adrenal gland, and the suffix -pathy means disease or disorder. Put together, adrenopathy means disease of the adrenal gland. Since the adrenal gland includes both cortex and medulla, adrenopathy is the term used for a disorder of the adrenal gland as a whole, which is why it fits the prompt about disease of the adrenal cortex.

The other terms don’t fit: afferent describes nerve signals going toward the brain, amenorrhea is absence of menstruation, and adrenalectomy is the surgical removal of the adrenal gland.