What term describes a general disorder resulting in inflammation and degeneration of a joint?

The term that describes a general disorder resulting in inflammation and degeneration of a joint is arthritis. This term encompasses over 100 different types of inflammatory joint diseases, all characterized by symptoms such as pain, swelling, and decreased mobility in the affected joints. Arthritis can involve various mechanisms, including autoimmune responses, wear and tear (as seen in osteoarthritis), and infections.

The other terms do not accurately capture the general nature of joint inflammation and degeneration:

• Ankylosis refers specifically to the stiffening or fusion of a joint, rather than a general inflammatory condition.

• Achondroplasia is a genetic disorder affecting bone growth, leading to a type of dwarfism, and does not involve joint inflammation.

• Arthrochondritis is a more specific condition that pertains to inflammation of the cartilage associated with a joint but does not represent the broader category of joint disorders that arthritis covers.

Thus, arthritis is the correct term for the general disorder in question, accurately reflecting its widespread impact on joint health.