MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY FOR
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)ANN EHRLICH
TEST BANK
Q1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Word Roots & Combining Forms
Stem: A patient chart lists hepatomegaly. Break down the term
to determine the correct meaning in context. Which is the best
interpretation?
A. Inflammation of the liver
B. Surgical repair of the liver
C. Enlargement of the liver
D. Study of the liver
Correct Answer: C
Rationales
, • Correct (C): Hepat/o = liver (word root/combining form); -
megaly = enlargement. Thus hepatomegaly means
enlargement of the liver.
• A: -itis indicates inflammation; hepatitis would be
inflammation, not -megaly.
• B: -plasty or -rrhaphy indicate surgical repair; those suffixes
are not present.
• D: -logy indicates study of; not present here.
Teaching Point: -megaly = enlargement.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Combining Vowels & Word Construction
Stem: Which form correctly combines gastr- (stomach) and -itis
(inflammation) following standard combining-vowel rules?
A. Gastritis
B. Gastroitis
C. Gastr-o-itis
D. Gastrititis
Correct Answer: A
Rationales
, • Correct (A): When a word root ends in a consonant and
the suffix begins with a vowel, the combining vowel is
usually omitted; gastr- + -itis → gastritis.
• B: Gastroitis adds an unnecessary combining vowel;
uncommon and awkward.
• C: Gastr-o-itis is redundant; combining vowel not needed
before a vowel-starting suffix.
• D: Gastrititis duplicates syllables and is incorrect.
Teaching Point: Omit combining vowel before vowel-starting
suffixes.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes as Noun Endings
Stem: In the medical record the term cardiomegaly appears.
Which suffix type is -megaly and what grammatical role does it
play?
A. Noun ending indicating condition; names condition
(enlargement)
B. Adjective ending indicating pertaining to; describes heart-
related
C. Verb ending indicating removal; action performed
D. Noun ending indicating specialist; person who treats heart
Correct Answer: A
, Rationales
• Correct (A): -megaly is a noun-forming suffix meaning
enlargement and names a condition.
• B: Adjective suffixes include -al or -ic, not -megaly.
• C: Verb/action suffixes include -ize; -megaly is not a verb.
• D: Suffixes for specialists include -ologist; -megaly is not for
persons.
Teaching Point: -megaly names conditions (noun).
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q4
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Pertaining To”
Stem: Which term correctly uses a suffix meaning “pertaining
to” to describe something related to the liver?
A. Hepatology
B. Hepatic
C. Hepatitis
D. Hepatorrhexis
Correct Answer: B
Rationales
• Correct (B): -ic is an adjective suffix meaning “pertaining
to”; hepatic = pertaining to the liver.
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)ANN EHRLICH
TEST BANK
Q1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Word Roots & Combining Forms
Stem: A patient chart lists hepatomegaly. Break down the term
to determine the correct meaning in context. Which is the best
interpretation?
A. Inflammation of the liver
B. Surgical repair of the liver
C. Enlargement of the liver
D. Study of the liver
Correct Answer: C
Rationales
, • Correct (C): Hepat/o = liver (word root/combining form); -
megaly = enlargement. Thus hepatomegaly means
enlargement of the liver.
• A: -itis indicates inflammation; hepatitis would be
inflammation, not -megaly.
• B: -plasty or -rrhaphy indicate surgical repair; those suffixes
are not present.
• D: -logy indicates study of; not present here.
Teaching Point: -megaly = enlargement.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Combining Vowels & Word Construction
Stem: Which form correctly combines gastr- (stomach) and -itis
(inflammation) following standard combining-vowel rules?
A. Gastritis
B. Gastroitis
C. Gastr-o-itis
D. Gastrititis
Correct Answer: A
Rationales
, • Correct (A): When a word root ends in a consonant and
the suffix begins with a vowel, the combining vowel is
usually omitted; gastr- + -itis → gastritis.
• B: Gastroitis adds an unnecessary combining vowel;
uncommon and awkward.
• C: Gastr-o-itis is redundant; combining vowel not needed
before a vowel-starting suffix.
• D: Gastrititis duplicates syllables and is incorrect.
Teaching Point: Omit combining vowel before vowel-starting
suffixes.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes as Noun Endings
Stem: In the medical record the term cardiomegaly appears.
Which suffix type is -megaly and what grammatical role does it
play?
A. Noun ending indicating condition; names condition
(enlargement)
B. Adjective ending indicating pertaining to; describes heart-
related
C. Verb ending indicating removal; action performed
D. Noun ending indicating specialist; person who treats heart
Correct Answer: A
, Rationales
• Correct (A): -megaly is a noun-forming suffix meaning
enlargement and names a condition.
• B: Adjective suffixes include -al or -ic, not -megaly.
• C: Verb/action suffixes include -ize; -megaly is not a verb.
• D: Suffixes for specialists include -ologist; -megaly is not for
persons.
Teaching Point: -megaly names conditions (noun).
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
Q4
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Pertaining To”
Stem: Which term correctly uses a suffix meaning “pertaining
to” to describe something related to the liver?
A. Hepatology
B. Hepatic
C. Hepatitis
D. Hepatorrhexis
Correct Answer: B
Rationales
• Correct (B): -ic is an adjective suffix meaning “pertaining
to”; hepatic = pertaining to the liver.
