In medical terminology, what does '-emesis' refer to?

The suffix '-emesis' is derived from the Greek word "emein," meaning to vomit. In medical terminology, it is specifically used to denote the act of vomiting. This is commonly seen in various medical terms where vomiting is a symptom or condition, such as "hyperemesis," which indicates excessive vomiting. Understanding this term is crucial in medical contexts, particularly when assessing patients who may be experiencing nausea and vomiting as part of their symptoms. The other choices refer to different medical phenomena: 'sickness' does not specifically indicate vomiting, 'pain' relates more to discomfort or suffering, and 'breathing' pertains to the respiratory process, none of which capture the specificity of the term '-emesis.'