MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY FOR
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)ANN EHRLICH
TEST BANK
Q1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Word Parts: Word Roots & Combining
Forms
Stem: A nurse reads the charted term cardiomyopathy. Break
down the word to determine its meaning in this clinical context.
A. Inflammation of the heart muscle
B. Disease of the heart muscle
C. Surgical repair of the heart muscle
D. Study of the heart muscle
Correct Answer: B
Rationale (Correct): Cardi/o = heart; my/o = muscle; -pathy =
,disease — together: disease of the heart muscle.
Rationale (A): -itis indicates inflammation; -pathy means
disease, so A is incorrect.
Rationale (C): -plasty or -rrhaphy indicate surgical repair, not -
pathy.
Rationale (D): -logy indicates study; -pathy is disease, so D is
incorrect.
Teaching Point: -pathy = disease (pathology).
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Combining Vowels & Combining Forms
Stem: Which form is correct when joining the word root gastr-
(stomach) with the suffix -itis (inflammation)?
A. Gastritis
B. Gastroitis
C. Gastr-o-itis
D. Gastr-itis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale (Correct): Gastr- + -itis forms gastritis; no additional
combining vowel is needed.
Rationale (B): Gastroitis adds an unnecessary combining vowel
and is not standard spelling.
Rationale (C): Shows combining vowel use but is not a correct
final spelling; gastritis is correct.
,Rationale (D): Hyphenated form is not standard for final
terminology.
Teaching Point: Use combining vowels only when needed for
pronunciation.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes as Noun Endings
Stem: The suffix -ism in hypothyroidism functions to indicate:
A. A procedure
B. A disease or condition
C. An instrument
D. Pertaining to
Correct Answer: B
Rationale (Correct): -ism denotes a condition or disease state;
hypothyroidism = condition of low thyroid function.
Rationale (A): Procedure suffixes include -ectomy, -otomy, not -
ism.
Rationale (C): Instrument suffixes include -scope, not -ism.
Rationale (D): -ic or -al indicate "pertaining to", not -ism.
Teaching Point: -ism commonly denotes a condition or disease.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
, Q4
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Pertaining To”
Stem: A chart note lists muscular weakness. Which suffix
provides the meaning “pertaining to”?
A. -pathy
B. -al
C. -ectomy
D. -itis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale (Correct): -al means pertaining to (muscular =
pertaining to muscle).
Rationale (A): -pathy = disease, not pertaining to.
Rationale (C): -ectomy indicates surgical removal.
Rationale (D): -itis indicates inflammation.
Teaching Point: -al, -ic, -ous denote "pertaining to."
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q5
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Abnormal Condition or
Disease”
Stem: The term neoplasm contains the suffix -plasm. Based on
word parts, what does neoplasm mean?
A. New growth (tumor)
B. Inflammation of new tissue
C. Surgical removal of growth
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)ANN EHRLICH
TEST BANK
Q1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Word Parts: Word Roots & Combining
Forms
Stem: A nurse reads the charted term cardiomyopathy. Break
down the word to determine its meaning in this clinical context.
A. Inflammation of the heart muscle
B. Disease of the heart muscle
C. Surgical repair of the heart muscle
D. Study of the heart muscle
Correct Answer: B
Rationale (Correct): Cardi/o = heart; my/o = muscle; -pathy =
,disease — together: disease of the heart muscle.
Rationale (A): -itis indicates inflammation; -pathy means
disease, so A is incorrect.
Rationale (C): -plasty or -rrhaphy indicate surgical repair, not -
pathy.
Rationale (D): -logy indicates study; -pathy is disease, so D is
incorrect.
Teaching Point: -pathy = disease (pathology).
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Combining Vowels & Combining Forms
Stem: Which form is correct when joining the word root gastr-
(stomach) with the suffix -itis (inflammation)?
A. Gastritis
B. Gastroitis
C. Gastr-o-itis
D. Gastr-itis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale (Correct): Gastr- + -itis forms gastritis; no additional
combining vowel is needed.
Rationale (B): Gastroitis adds an unnecessary combining vowel
and is not standard spelling.
Rationale (C): Shows combining vowel use but is not a correct
final spelling; gastritis is correct.
,Rationale (D): Hyphenated form is not standard for final
terminology.
Teaching Point: Use combining vowels only when needed for
pronunciation.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes as Noun Endings
Stem: The suffix -ism in hypothyroidism functions to indicate:
A. A procedure
B. A disease or condition
C. An instrument
D. Pertaining to
Correct Answer: B
Rationale (Correct): -ism denotes a condition or disease state;
hypothyroidism = condition of low thyroid function.
Rationale (A): Procedure suffixes include -ectomy, -otomy, not -
ism.
Rationale (C): Instrument suffixes include -scope, not -ism.
Rationale (D): -ic or -al indicate "pertaining to", not -ism.
Teaching Point: -ism commonly denotes a condition or disease.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
, Q4
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Pertaining To”
Stem: A chart note lists muscular weakness. Which suffix
provides the meaning “pertaining to”?
A. -pathy
B. -al
C. -ectomy
D. -itis
Correct Answer: B
Rationale (Correct): -al means pertaining to (muscular =
pertaining to muscle).
Rationale (A): -pathy = disease, not pertaining to.
Rationale (C): -ectomy indicates surgical removal.
Rationale (D): -itis indicates inflammation.
Teaching Point: -al, -ic, -ous denote "pertaining to."
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q5
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Abnormal Condition or
Disease”
Stem: The term neoplasm contains the suffix -plasm. Based on
word parts, what does neoplasm mean?
A. New growth (tumor)
B. Inflammation of new tissue
C. Surgical removal of growth
