MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY FOR
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)ANN EHRLICH
TEST BANK
Q1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Primary Medical Terms; Word Roots
Stem: A chart note lists the term cardiomegaly. Break the word
into parts and choose the best definition.
A. Inflammation of the heart
B. Enlargement of the heart
C. Hardening of the heart muscle
D. Surgical repair of the heart
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
, • Correct: Cardi/o = heart; -megaly = enlargement —
therefore enlargement of the heart.
• A: -itis would denote inflammation, not -megaly.
• C: Hardening would be scler/o or -sclerosis, not -megaly.
• D: Surgical repair would use -plasty or -rrhaphy, not -
megaly.
Teaching Point: -megaly = enlargement.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Combining Forms Vowels; Word Roots
Stem: Which combining form correctly means “lung” and why is
the combining vowel used in compound terms?
A. gastr/o — to join gastric roots smoothly
B. pneum/o — to link root to suffix when needed
C. hepat/o — because it implies plural form
D. neur/o — to denote membrane relations
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: pneum/o = lung; the combining vowel (usually o)
links roots to suffixes or other roots for pronunciation.
• A: gastr/o = stomach, not lung.
, • C: hepat/o = liver; the combining vowel does not imply
plural.
• D: neur/o = nerve; the combining vowel links, but the term
is incorrect for "lung."
Teaching Point: Combining vowel (usually o) eases
pronunciation between parts.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes as Noun Endings; Suffixes Meaning
“Pertaining To”
Stem: The suffix -al is attached to nephr- (kidney). What is the
resulting meaning of nephral (note: choose best option in the
context of forming adjectives)?
A. Kidney removal
B. Kidney disease
C. Pertaining to the kidney
D. Surgical repair of the kidney
Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• Correct: -al forms adjectives meaning “pertaining to,” so
nephral = pertaining to the kidney.
• A: Removal would be -ectomy.
• B: Disease would be -pathy or -osis.
, • D: Surgical repair would be -plasty or -rrhaphy.
Teaching Point: -al, -ic, -ous frequently form adjectives
meaning “pertaining to.”
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q4
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Abnormal Condition or
Disease”
Stem: Which term means “abnormal softening” when you
combine correct suffix and root?
A. osteomyelitis
B. osteomalacia
C. osteotomy
D. osteopathy
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: oste/o = bone; -malacia = abnormal softening;
osteomalacia = abnormal softening of bone.
• A: -myelitis indicates inflammation of bone marrow or
spinal cord.
• C: -otomy indicates cutting into, not softening.
• D: -pathy indicates disease, not specifically softening.
Teaching Point: -malacia = abnormal softening.
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)ANN EHRLICH
TEST BANK
Q1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Primary Medical Terms; Word Roots
Stem: A chart note lists the term cardiomegaly. Break the word
into parts and choose the best definition.
A. Inflammation of the heart
B. Enlargement of the heart
C. Hardening of the heart muscle
D. Surgical repair of the heart
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
, • Correct: Cardi/o = heart; -megaly = enlargement —
therefore enlargement of the heart.
• A: -itis would denote inflammation, not -megaly.
• C: Hardening would be scler/o or -sclerosis, not -megaly.
• D: Surgical repair would use -plasty or -rrhaphy, not -
megaly.
Teaching Point: -megaly = enlargement.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Combining Forms Vowels; Word Roots
Stem: Which combining form correctly means “lung” and why is
the combining vowel used in compound terms?
A. gastr/o — to join gastric roots smoothly
B. pneum/o — to link root to suffix when needed
C. hepat/o — because it implies plural form
D. neur/o — to denote membrane relations
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: pneum/o = lung; the combining vowel (usually o)
links roots to suffixes or other roots for pronunciation.
• A: gastr/o = stomach, not lung.
, • C: hepat/o = liver; the combining vowel does not imply
plural.
• D: neur/o = nerve; the combining vowel links, but the term
is incorrect for "lung."
Teaching Point: Combining vowel (usually o) eases
pronunciation between parts.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes as Noun Endings; Suffixes Meaning
“Pertaining To”
Stem: The suffix -al is attached to nephr- (kidney). What is the
resulting meaning of nephral (note: choose best option in the
context of forming adjectives)?
A. Kidney removal
B. Kidney disease
C. Pertaining to the kidney
D. Surgical repair of the kidney
Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• Correct: -al forms adjectives meaning “pertaining to,” so
nephral = pertaining to the kidney.
• A: Removal would be -ectomy.
• B: Disease would be -pathy or -osis.
, • D: Surgical repair would be -plasty or -rrhaphy.
Teaching Point: -al, -ic, -ous frequently form adjectives
meaning “pertaining to.”
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q4
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Abnormal Condition or
Disease”
Stem: Which term means “abnormal softening” when you
combine correct suffix and root?
A. osteomyelitis
B. osteomalacia
C. osteotomy
D. osteopathy
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct: oste/o = bone; -malacia = abnormal softening;
osteomalacia = abnormal softening of bone.
• A: -myelitis indicates inflammation of bone marrow or
spinal cord.
• C: -otomy indicates cutting into, not softening.
• D: -pathy indicates disease, not specifically softening.
Teaching Point: -malacia = abnormal softening.
