HSTP Medical Terminology Test

What does the prefix 'a-' indicate?

Without, lack of, not (used before roots beginning with a consonant)

What does the prefix 'ad-' mean?

Toward

What is the meaning of the prefix 'ante-'?

Before, in front of

What does the prefix 'anti-' signify?

Against, opposing

What does the prefix 'auto-' refer to?

Self, same

What is the meaning of the prefix 'bi-'?

Two, double

What does the prefix 'brady-' indicate?

Slow

What does the prefix 'circum-' mean?

Around

What does the prefix 'de-' signify?

Down, away from, removal

What does the prefix 'dys-' indicate?

Bad, painful, difficult, abnormal

What does the suffix '-algia' mean?

Pain

What does the suffix '-ectomy' refer to?

Surgical removal, excision

What does the suffix '-itis' signify?

Inflammation

What does the suffix '-logy' mean?

Study of

What is the meaning of the suffix '-oma'?

Tumor, mass, swelling

What does the symbol '%' represent?

Percent

What does the symbol 'Δ' indicate?

Change

What does the abbreviation '♀' stand for?

Female

What does the abbreviation '♂' represent?

Male

What does the prefix 'in-' indicate?

Not, in, into

What does the suffix '-pathy' mean?

Disease, suffering

What does the prefix 'multi-' signify?

Many, much

What does the prefix 'neuro-' refer to?

Nerve

What does the suffix '-rrhea' indicate?

Discharge, flow

What does the prefix 'peri-' mean?

Around, surrounding

What does the suffix '-tomy' signify?

Cutting, making a surgical incision

What does the prefix 'trans-' indicate?

Across, through

What does ABX stand for?

Antibiotic

What does 'ac' mean in medical terms?

Before meals

What is the meaning of 'ad lib'?

As desired

What does 'AM' or 'am' indicate?

Morning, before noon

What does 'b.i.d.' or 'BID' signify?

Twice a day

What is the abbreviation 'Bx' used for?

Biopsy

What does 'cc' stand for?

Cubic centimeter (1 mL)

What does 'CC' refer to in a medical context?

Chief complaint

What does 'c/o' mean?

Complains of

What does 'CBC' stand for?

Complete blood count

What does 'consult' refer to?

Consultation

What is 'CT' an abbreviation for?

Computerized tomography

What does 'CXR' stand for?

Chest x-ray

What does 'DOB' mean?

Date of birth

What does 'Dx' refer to?

Diagnosis

What is the meaning of 'ECG' or 'EKG'?

Electrocardiogram

What does 'ER' stand for?

Emergency room

What does 'ETA' mean?

Estimated time of arrival

What does 'FUO' stand for?

Fever of unknown origin

What does 'h' represent in medical terms?

Hour

What does 'Hg' stand for?

Mercury

What is the meaning of 'H2O'?

Water

What does 'H&P' or 'HxPx' refer to?

History and physical exam

What does 'ICU' stand for?

Intensive care unit

What does 'IV' mean?

Intravenous

What does 'NPO' signify?

Nothing by mouth (from Latin nil per os)

What does 'OB/GYN' refer to?

Obstetrician/gynecologist

What does 'Rx' stand for?

Prescription

What does 'SOB' mean?

Shortness of breath

What does 'stat' or 'STAT' indicate?

Immediately

What does 'U' or 'u' represent?

Unit

What does 'VS' or 'V/S' stand for?

Vital signs

What does 'WNL' mean?

Within normal limits

What is the role of medical dictionaries in healthcare?

They help with the pronunciation of medical terms using sounds-like spellings and diacritical marks.

What are diacritical marks?

Special symbols added to letters that change how the letter is pronounced.

Why is proper spelling important in Medical Terminology?

Changing one letter in a medical term can change the word's entire meaning.

What is an example of two medical terms that differ by one letter?

Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) and dysphasia (difficulty speaking).

What is a macron?

A horizontal line over a vowel indicating a long vowel sound.

What does a breve indicate?

A short vowel sound.

How is the stressed part of a word indicated in phonetic spellings?

Capitalized syllables indicate the stressed part of the word.

What are diphthongs?

Two vowels combined to create a single blended sound.

What sound does the letter 'c' make before 'e', 'i', or 'y'?

It makes a soft sound, like an 's'.

What sound does the letter 'g' make before 'e', 'i', or 'y'?

It makes a soft sound, like a 'j'.

What is the pronunciation of the medical term 'Aphasia'?

ah-FAY-zhee-ah

What is the pronunciation of the medical term 'Anemia'?

ah-NEE-mee-ah

What is the pronunciation of the medical term 'Diaphragm'?

DYE-ah-fram

What is the pronunciation of the medical term 'Osteoma'?

oss-tee-OH-mah

What is the pronunciation of the medical term 'Mucus'?

MYOO-kuss

What does the suffix '-a' indicate in singular and plural forms?

Singular: Larva; Plural: Larvae.

What does the suffix '-is' indicate in singular and plural forms?

Singular: Prosthesis; Plural: Prostheses.

What is medical etymology?

The study of the origin and history of medical words and terms.

What is a medical eponym?

A disease or anatomical structure named after a person.

What is an example of a medical eponym?

Parkinson's disease, named after James Parkinson.

What does 'acute' mean in medical classification?

Begins suddenly and resolves relatively quickly.

What does 'autoimmune' mean?

Occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own healthy cells.

What is a benign condition?

A non-cancerous, localized growth that does not spread.

What does 'chronic' mean in medical terms?

Persists over a long duration (3 months or longer) and develops gradually.

What is chronic hypertension?

A long-term condition characterized by consistently elevated blood pressure.

Define convalescence.

The transitional period of gradual recovery, healing, and regaining health following an illness, injury, or medical procedure.

What does 'debilitating' mean?

Causing severe weakness, physical impairment, or a significant decrease in daily functioning and strength.

What is endemic?

Regularly found and continuously present within a specific geographic area or population group.

Define endogenous.

Originating, produced, or caused by factors inside the organism or cell.

What characterizes an epidemic?

A widespread, sudden increase in the number of disease cases within a population or region above normal baseline levels.

What does exogenous mean?

Caused by or originating from factors outside of the organism.

Define genetic disorders.

Conditions caused by alterations, mutations, or abnormalities in an individual's DNA or genetic sequence.

What does malignant refer to?

A growth or disease that is cancerous and able to spread.

What is inspection in medical assessment?

Visual examination of the body, observing surface features, symmetry, posture, color, and abnormalities.

Define auscultation.

Listening to internal body sounds like heart, lung, or bowel sounds, typically using a stethoscope.

What is palpation?

Feeling body structures using the hands or fingers to assess texture, size, temperature, tenderness, or swelling.

What does percussion involve?

Tapping specific areas of the body to produce sounds or vibrations, helping evaluate the density and boundaries of underlying tissues or organs.

What is olfaction in a clinical context?

Using the sense of smell to detect characteristic odors associated with certain clinical conditions or infections.

What are signs in medical terminology?

Objective observations and measurements made by healthcare professionals.

Define symptoms.

Subjective information provided by the patient that can't be observed or measured by healthcare professionals.