Which term refers to inflammation of a joint?

• A. Synovitis
• B. Osteoarthritis
• C. Arthritis
• D. Bursitis

Answer: (C)

Arthritis is the term used for inflammation of a joint. The word conveys joint inflammation in general, covering the various conditions that cause joint swelling, pain, and stiffness. Synovitis is inflammation of the synovial membrane lining the joint, which can occur in arthritis but is a more specific type of inflammation. Osteoarthritis describes a degenerative joint disease with cartilage wear, where inflammation can be present but the name itself focuses on degeneration rather than inflammation of the joint as a whole. Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa, the small sacs cushioning joints, not the joint itself. So the broad term that directly means inflammation of a joint is arthritis.