Meningitis is inflammation of the meninges.

• A. Inflammation of brain tissue
• B. Inflammation of the meninges
• C. Degeneration of brain neurons
• D. Infection of spinal cord

Answer: (B)

Meningitis is defined by inflammation of the meninges, the protective membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. When these membranes become inflamed, the condition is meningitis. This distinguishes it from inflammation of brain tissue (encephalitis), which involves the brain itself rather than the coverings; degeneration of brain neurons refers to a neurodegenerative process like Alzheimer's disease, which is not an inflammatory condition of the meninges; and infection of the spinal cord describes myelitis, which affects the spinal cord rather than the meninges. So the description that fits meningitis is inflammation of the meninges.