Medical Terminology Midterm Exam

What is a word root?

The foundation of a medical term and contains its primary meaning. Most word roots are derived from Greek or Latin language.

What is a suffix?

Word element placed at the end of a word that changes a meaning of the word.

What is a prefix?

Word element attached to the beginning of a word or word root. Not all medical terms have a prefix.

What does a suffix describe?

In medical terminology, a suffix usually describes a pathology (disease or abnormality), symptom, surgical or diagnostic procedure, or part of speech.

What does a prefix indicate?

Prefixes usually indicate a number, time, position, direction, or negation.

What is a combining form?

A combining form is created when a word root is combined with a vowel.

What is a combining vowel?

In medical terminology, a combining vowel is the vowel that is combined with a word root. It is usually an "o" but sometimes it is an "i." A combining vowel has no meaning of its own but enables two or more word elements to be connected.

What is a compound word?

A medical term with two or more word roots.

What is the meaning of the term "arthritis?"

Inflammation of the joints

What is the suffix for the term "softening?"

-malacia

What is the suffix for the term "condition?"

-esis

-ia

-ism

What is the suffix for the term "meal?"

-prandial

What is the suffix for the term "disease?"

-pathy

What is the suffix for the term "swelling?"

-edema

What is the meaning of the suffix "-lysis?"

separation; destruction; loosening

What is the meaning of the suffix "-tripsy?"

crushing

What is the meaning of the suffix "-algia?"

pain

What is the meaning of the suffix "-desis?"

binding; fixation (of a bone or joint)

What is the plural rule for "-a?"

Retain -a and add -e

What is the plural rule for "-ax?"

Drop x and add ces

What is the plural rule for "-en?"

Drop -en and add - ina

What is the plural rule for "-is?"

Drop -is and add -es

What is the plural rule for "-ix?"

Drop -ix and add -ices

What is the plural rule for "-ex?"

Drop -ex and add -ices

What is the plural rule for "-ma?"

Retain -ma and add -ta

What is the plural rule for "-on?"

Drop -on and add -a

What is the plural rule for "-um?"

Drop -um and add -a

What is the plural rule for "-us?"

Drop -us and add -i

What is the plural rule for "-y?"

Drop - y ...

What is the meaning of the suffix "-genesis?"

forming, producing, origin

What is the medical term for narrowing/stricture of an artery?

arteriostenosis

What is the prefix for the term "through/across?"

dia-

What is another prefix for "one?"

mono

What is the combining form for "near, beside; beyond?"

para-

What is the meaning of the prefix "tachy-?"

rapid

What is the prefix for "in, within?"

en-

end-

endo-

intra-

What is the medical term for "around the tonsils?"

Peritonsilar

What is the medical term for "slow heartbeat?"

bradycardia

What is the medical term for "behind the peritoneum?"

retroperitoneal

What is the meaning of the medical term "heteromorphous?"

of abnormal shape or structure

What is the medical term for "paralysis of all 4 extremities?"

quadriplegia

What is the meaning of the medical term "hypodermic?"

of or relating to the region immediately beneath the skin

What is the meaning of the medical term "suprarenal?"

above the kidney

What is the anatomical position?

Body is erect, face and palms faced forward

Where is epithelial tissue located?

Covers surfaces of organs, lines cavities and canals, forms tubes and ducts, provides the secreting portions of glands, and makes up the epidermis of the skin.

What is the meaning of the medical term "prone?"

With the front (or ventral) surface faced downward.

What is the meaning the medical term "peristalsis?"

The wavelike muscular contractions of the intestine or other tubular structure that propel the contents onward by alternate contraction and relaxation.

Is "malaise" a sign or symptom?

Symptom

What type of disease is diabetes?

Metabolic

What is the medical term for "fever?"

Febrile or pyrexia

What is the medical term for "oil glands?"

Sebaceous glands

What is sebum?

An oily secretion of the sebaceous glands. It is responsible for keeping the skin and hair moisturized. Sebum is a light yellow, oily fluid.

What is the combining form for "nail?"

onych/o

ungu/o

What is the combining form for "gallbladder?"

cholecyst/o

What is the combining form for "mouth?"

or/o

stomat/o

What is the combining form for "chest?"

pector/o

steth/o

thorac/o

What is the combining form for "breathe?"

spir/o

What is the meaning of combining form "myc/o"

Fungus

What is the prefix for "without; not?"

a-

an-

What is the meaning of the medical term "tinea?"

Any of numerous different superficial fungal infections of the skin, especially ringworm.

What is the meaning of the medical term "pallor?"

Unusual or extreme paleness.

What is the meaning of the medical term "autograft?"

Transplantation of healthy tissue from one site to another site in the same individual.

What is the meaning of the medical term "cryosurgery?"

Use of subfreezing temperature to destroy or eliminate abnormal tissue, such as tumors, warts, & unwanted, cancerous, or infected tissue.

What is the abbreviation for the medical term "biopsy?"

bx

What is the meaning of the abbreviation "IMP?"

Impression (synonymous with diagnosis)

Which organs aid in the digestion and absorption of nutrients?

Pancreas, liver, and gallbladder

Which organs monitors blood glucose levels?

Pancreas

What is a volvulus?

An obstruction caused by twisting of the stomach or intestine.

What is choledocholithiasis?

Choledocholithiasis is the presence of a gallstone in the common bile duct. Gallstones usually form in your gallbladder.

What is a colonoscope?

A flexible, lighted instrument used to view the inside of the colon.

What is the meaning of the abbreviation "GI?"

Gastrointestinal

What is a NG tube?

A tube that is passed through the nose and down through the nasopharynx and esophagus into the stomach. It can be used to remove the contents of the stomach, including air, to decompress the stomach, or to remove small solid objects and fluid, such as poison, from the stomach. An NG tube can also be used to put substances into the stomach, and so it may be used to place nutrients directly into the stomach when a patient cannot take food or drink by mouth.

What is the mediastinum?

The area between the lungs. The organs in the mediastinum include the heart and its large veins and arteries, the trachea, the esophagus, the bronchi, and lymph nodes.

What are alveoli?

Tiny air sacs within the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.

What is the combining form for "air, lung?"

pneum/o

pneumon/o

What is ascites?

Ascites is when fluid fills the space between the lining of the abdomen and the abdominal organs. It usually occurs when the liver stops working properly.

What is pulmonary edema?

A condition caused by excess fluid in the lungs. This fluid collects in the numerous air sacs in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe. Pulmonary edema is a result of the heart not being able to pump adequately.

What is oximetry?

Oximetry is a procedure for measuring the concentration of oxygen in the blood. The test is used in the evaluation of various medical conditions that affect the function of the heart and lungs.

What is laryngoscopy?

A procedure used to view the inside of the larynx (the voice box). This is done in order to detect tumors, foreign bodies, nerve or structural injury, or other abnormalities.

What is the meaning of the abbreviation "PFT?"

Pulmonary function tests

What is the meaning of the abbreviation "CXR?"

chest x-ray. chest radiograph

What is the function of an artery?

Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the tissues.

What is the SA node?

Pacemaker of the heart. Located in the upper portion of the right atrium and possesses its own intrinsic rhythm.

What are the coronary arteries?

Originate from the aorta; supplies blood to the myocardium.

What is the combining for "fatty plaque?"

ather/o

What is the combining for "vein?"

phelbo/o

ven/o

What is the combining for "vessel, vas deferens, duct?"

vas/o

What is an embolus?

A mass of clotted blood or other material brought by the blood from one vessel and forced into a smaller one, obstructing the circulation.

What is a bruit?

A sound or murmur heard in auscultation, especially an abnormal one.

What is a lipid profile and what does it include?

A pattern of lipids in the blood. A lipid profile usually includes the levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides, and the calculated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) 'cholesterol.

What is a nuclear profusion study/scan?

A non-invasive imaging test that shows how well blood flows through your heart muscle. It can show areas of the heart muscle that aren't getting enough blood flow.

What class of medication lowers blood pressure?

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, calcium-channel blockers, 'water' tablets (diuretics), beta-blockers.

What is the meaning of the abbreviation "DVT?"

Deep vein thrombosis. Blood clot that forms in the deep veins of the body, especially those in the legs or thighs.