Perichondritis: Inflammation of the perichondrium, a dense membrane composed
of fibrous connective tissue that closely wraps all cartilage, except the cartilage in joints which is covered by a synovial membrane. The word "perichondritis" comes
from Greek roots: "peri-" is a prefix meaning "around or about"; "-chondr-" is
from "chondros" meaning "cartilage or gristle"; and "-itis" is a suffix meaning "inflammation" = literally, inflammation around cartilage.