What does the suffix "-logy" refer to in medical terminology?

The suffix "-logy" in medical terminology specifically refers to the "study of" a particular subject or field. This is derived from the Greek word "logos," meaning "word" or "reason." It is commonly used in various disciplines to denote an area of study or scientific discipline, indicating that the term it is attached to is concerned with the examination and analysis of that field. For example, "biology" is the study of life; "psychology" is the study of the mind and behavior.

The other options represent different concepts unrelated to the meaning of "-logy." Inflammation relates to the body's response to injury, "middle" indicates a position among parts, and "within, inside" describes a location relative to something else. These terms do not convey the idea of study or analysis that "-logy" embodies.