MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY FOR
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)ANN EHRLICH
TEST BANK
1.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Primary Medical Terms — Word Parts and
Combining Vowels
Stem: The term arthroscopy is presented in a clinical note.
Break the word into its word parts and select the best
interpretation.
A. arthr- (joint) + -oscopy (viewing) → viewing inside a joint
B. arthr- (artery) + -oscopy (incision) → incision into an artery
C. arthr- (joint) + -osis (condition) → disease of the joint
D. arthr- (joint) + -ectomy (removal) → removal of a joint
Correct Answer: A
,Rationale — Correct: arthr/o = joint (root + combining vowel), -
scopy = visual examination; arthroscopy = visual examination of
a joint.
Rationale — B: arthr- means joint, not artery; -oscopy is
viewing, not incision.
Rationale — C: -osis = abnormal condition, not a visual exam.
Rationale — D: -ectomy = surgical removal, not visualization.
Teaching Point: Combining vowel (o) joins root and suffix for
pronunciation.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
2.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Combining Forms Vowels — Use of
combining vowel
Stem: When adding a suffix that begins with a vowel (e.g., -itis)
to a word root, choose the best rule for combining vowels.
A. Always retain the combining vowel regardless of suffix.
B. Drop the combining vowel if the suffix begins with a vowel.
C. Change the combining vowel to “a” when suffix begins with a
vowel.
D. Double the combining vowel if suffix begins with a vowel.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: If a suffix begins with a vowel (e.g., -itis),
the combining vowel (usually o) is dropped: arthr + itis →
arthritis.
Rationale — A: Retaining the vowel would create unnecessary
,vowel cluster (arthroitis is incorrect).
Rationale — C: There is no rule to change to “a.”
Rationale — D: Doubling the vowel is incorrect and creates
misspelling.
Teaching Point: Drop the “o” if the suffix starts with a vowel.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
3.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes as Noun Endings — Identifying
noun suffixes
Stem: Which suffix most commonly changes a word root into a
noun meaning “specialist” or “one who studies”?
A. -itis
B. -ologist
C. -logy
D. -algia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: -ologist denotes a specialist (e.g.,
cardiologist = heart specialist).
Rationale — A: -itis indicates inflammation, not a specialist.
Rationale — C: -logy indicates study of a subject (noun) but not
an individual specialist.
Rationale — D: -algia means pain, not a specialist.
Teaching Point: -ologist = specialist; -logy = study of.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
, 4.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Pertaining To” —
Adjectival suffixes
Stem: A chart lists the term cardiac. Identify which suffix
creates the meaning “pertaining to” and why.
A. -ac (pertaining to)
B. -ectomy (removal)
C. -osis (condition)
D. -algia (pain)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale — Correct: -ac is an adjectival suffix meaning
“pertaining to”; cardi- (heart) + -ac → cardiac (pertaining to the
heart).
Rationale — B: -ectomy denotes surgical removal.
Rationale — C: -osis denotes abnormal condition or disease.
Rationale — D: -algia denotes pain.
Teaching Point: Adjectival suffixes (-ic, -ac, -al) mean “pertaining
to.”
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
5.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Abnormal Condition” —
Interpretation of -osis
Stem: In a laboratory report the term leukocytosis appears.
Analyze the word parts to determine its meaning.
A. leuk/o (white) + cyt/o (cell) + -osis (increase/abnormal
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)ANN EHRLICH
TEST BANK
1.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Primary Medical Terms — Word Parts and
Combining Vowels
Stem: The term arthroscopy is presented in a clinical note.
Break the word into its word parts and select the best
interpretation.
A. arthr- (joint) + -oscopy (viewing) → viewing inside a joint
B. arthr- (artery) + -oscopy (incision) → incision into an artery
C. arthr- (joint) + -osis (condition) → disease of the joint
D. arthr- (joint) + -ectomy (removal) → removal of a joint
Correct Answer: A
,Rationale — Correct: arthr/o = joint (root + combining vowel), -
scopy = visual examination; arthroscopy = visual examination of
a joint.
Rationale — B: arthr- means joint, not artery; -oscopy is
viewing, not incision.
Rationale — C: -osis = abnormal condition, not a visual exam.
Rationale — D: -ectomy = surgical removal, not visualization.
Teaching Point: Combining vowel (o) joins root and suffix for
pronunciation.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
2.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Combining Forms Vowels — Use of
combining vowel
Stem: When adding a suffix that begins with a vowel (e.g., -itis)
to a word root, choose the best rule for combining vowels.
A. Always retain the combining vowel regardless of suffix.
B. Drop the combining vowel if the suffix begins with a vowel.
C. Change the combining vowel to “a” when suffix begins with a
vowel.
D. Double the combining vowel if suffix begins with a vowel.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: If a suffix begins with a vowel (e.g., -itis),
the combining vowel (usually o) is dropped: arthr + itis →
arthritis.
Rationale — A: Retaining the vowel would create unnecessary
,vowel cluster (arthroitis is incorrect).
Rationale — C: There is no rule to change to “a.”
Rationale — D: Doubling the vowel is incorrect and creates
misspelling.
Teaching Point: Drop the “o” if the suffix starts with a vowel.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
3.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes as Noun Endings — Identifying
noun suffixes
Stem: Which suffix most commonly changes a word root into a
noun meaning “specialist” or “one who studies”?
A. -itis
B. -ologist
C. -logy
D. -algia
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct: -ologist denotes a specialist (e.g.,
cardiologist = heart specialist).
Rationale — A: -itis indicates inflammation, not a specialist.
Rationale — C: -logy indicates study of a subject (noun) but not
an individual specialist.
Rationale — D: -algia means pain, not a specialist.
Teaching Point: -ologist = specialist; -logy = study of.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
, 4.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Pertaining To” —
Adjectival suffixes
Stem: A chart lists the term cardiac. Identify which suffix
creates the meaning “pertaining to” and why.
A. -ac (pertaining to)
B. -ectomy (removal)
C. -osis (condition)
D. -algia (pain)
Correct Answer: A
Rationale — Correct: -ac is an adjectival suffix meaning
“pertaining to”; cardi- (heart) + -ac → cardiac (pertaining to the
heart).
Rationale — B: -ectomy denotes surgical removal.
Rationale — C: -osis denotes abnormal condition or disease.
Rationale — D: -algia denotes pain.
Teaching Point: Adjectival suffixes (-ic, -ac, -al) mean “pertaining
to.”
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
5.
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Abnormal Condition” —
Interpretation of -osis
Stem: In a laboratory report the term leukocytosis appears.
Analyze the word parts to determine its meaning.
A. leuk/o (white) + cyt/o (cell) + -osis (increase/abnormal
