HOSA Dental Terminology Practice

What does adenitis refer to?

1. Inflammation of glandular tissue

2. A type of benign growth in the gums

3. The process of absorbing nutrients

4. An acute gingival disease

The correct answer is: Inflammation of glandular tissue

Adenitis refers specifically to the inflammation of glandular tissue. This term is derived from the Greek word "aden," meaning gland, and the suffix "itis," which denotes inflammation. When glands in the body become inflamed, they may swell, and their normal functions can be impaired, leading to various symptoms depending on the affected gland. This can be a reaction to infections, autoimmune disorders, or other stimuli that provoke an inflammatory response in the glandular tissue. The other options contain relevant dental terms but do not accurately describe adenitis. For instance, a benign growth in the gums relates more closely to conditions such as gingival hyperplasia or epulis, neither of which directly implicate inflammation of glandular tissue. The process of absorbing nutrients pertains to digestion and metabolism, while acute gingival disease typically refers to conditions affecting the gums specifically, rather than the broader concept of glandular inflammation.