California Certifying Board for Medical Assistants (CCBMA) Practice Test

The suffix that implies the study or examination of a particular area or subject is "-ology." This suffix is derived from the Greek word "logia," meaning "study" or "discourse." It is commonly used in medical and academic terms to denote a field of study or the systematic investigation of a subject.

For instance, terms like "biology" refer to the study of life, "psychology" is the study of the mind and behavior, and "cardiology" is the study of heart conditions. The use of "-ology" signifies a comprehensive examination and understanding of the specified subject matter.

In contrast, other suffixes serve different purposes. For example, "-megaly" refers to enlargement, "-ectomy" indicates surgical removal, and "-itis" denotes inflammation. Each of these suffixes provides information about a particular condition or process but does not imply a broad study or examination of a field. Thus, "-ology" is the most appropriate choice for the concept of studying a specific area or subject.