HESI A2 VOCABULARY EXAM ACTUAL
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS_
Part 1: Medical Terminology & Word Roots
Understanding common prefixes, suffixes, and root words is a key strategy for deducing
the meaning of unfamiliar medical terms.
1. The term "tachypnea" means:
• A) Slow breathing
• B) Rapid breathing
• C) Painful breathing
• D) Absent breathing
Answer: B. Rapid breathing
Rationale: The prefix tachy- means "fast," and the root -pnea refers to breathing.
2. "Bradycardia" refers to:
• A) Rapid heart rate
• B) Irregular heart rate
• C) Slow heart rate
• D) Absent heart rate
Answer: C. Slow heart rate
Rationale: The prefix brady- means "slow," and -cardia refers to the heart.
3. The suffix "-itis" indicates:
• A) A tumor
• B) Inflammation
• C) A condition
• D) A blood condition
Answer: B. Inflammation
Rationale: -itis is the suffix for inflammation (e.g., appendicitis, arthritis).
4. Which term refers to the surgical removal of the gallbladder?
• A) Cholecystostomy
, • B) Cholecystoplasty
• C) Cholecystectomy
• D) Cholecystitis
Answer: C. Cholecystectomy
Rationale: The suffix -ectomy means surgical removal.
5. What is the meaning of "bilateral"?
• A) Affecting the left side
• B) Affecting the right side
• C) Present on two sides
• D) Available for exercise
Answer: C. Present on two sides
Rationale: The prefix *bi-* means "two," and lateral refers to the side.
6. The term "prognosis" refers to a(n):
• A) Set of instructions
• B) Estimate or prediction
• C) Type of behavior
• D) Outcome statement
Answer: D. Outcome statement
Rationale: A prognosis is a medical prediction of the likely course and outcome of a
disease.
7. What does "contraindication" mean?
• A) A recommended drug interaction
• B) A condition that makes a treatment inadvisable
• C) The primary therapeutic use of a medication
• D) A preferred route of drug administration
Answer: B. A condition that makes a treatment inadvisable
Rationale: A contraindication is a specific condition or factor that makes a particular
treatment or procedure potentially harmful and therefore not recommended.
8. "Posterior" refers to which part of the body?
• A) Topmost
• B) Lowermost
, • C) Front
• D) Back
Answer: D. Back
Rationale: In anatomical terms, posterior means situated at the back or rear of the
body.
9. "Anterior" means:
• A) Behind
• B) Below
• C) In front of
• D) At the side
Answer: C. In front of
Rationale: Anterior refers to the front of the body or a structure.
10. "Exogenous" factors are:
• A) Produced outside the body
• B) Produced within the body
• C) Produced by the kidneys
• D) Hereditary
Answer: A. Produced outside the body
Rationale: Exo- means "outside" or "external," so exogenous factors originate externally.
11. "Endogenous" factors are:
• A) Originating within the body
• B) Originating from the environment
• C) Cause by a virus
• D) A result of trauma
Answer: A. Originating within the body
Rationale: Endo- means "within" or "inside," so endogenous factors originate from
inside the body.
12. What is the meaning of "cardiac"?
• A) Of or relating to the lungs
• B) Of or relating to the heart
• C) Of or relating to the brain
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS_
Part 1: Medical Terminology & Word Roots
Understanding common prefixes, suffixes, and root words is a key strategy for deducing
the meaning of unfamiliar medical terms.
1. The term "tachypnea" means:
• A) Slow breathing
• B) Rapid breathing
• C) Painful breathing
• D) Absent breathing
Answer: B. Rapid breathing
Rationale: The prefix tachy- means "fast," and the root -pnea refers to breathing.
2. "Bradycardia" refers to:
• A) Rapid heart rate
• B) Irregular heart rate
• C) Slow heart rate
• D) Absent heart rate
Answer: C. Slow heart rate
Rationale: The prefix brady- means "slow," and -cardia refers to the heart.
3. The suffix "-itis" indicates:
• A) A tumor
• B) Inflammation
• C) A condition
• D) A blood condition
Answer: B. Inflammation
Rationale: -itis is the suffix for inflammation (e.g., appendicitis, arthritis).
4. Which term refers to the surgical removal of the gallbladder?
• A) Cholecystostomy
, • B) Cholecystoplasty
• C) Cholecystectomy
• D) Cholecystitis
Answer: C. Cholecystectomy
Rationale: The suffix -ectomy means surgical removal.
5. What is the meaning of "bilateral"?
• A) Affecting the left side
• B) Affecting the right side
• C) Present on two sides
• D) Available for exercise
Answer: C. Present on two sides
Rationale: The prefix *bi-* means "two," and lateral refers to the side.
6. The term "prognosis" refers to a(n):
• A) Set of instructions
• B) Estimate or prediction
• C) Type of behavior
• D) Outcome statement
Answer: D. Outcome statement
Rationale: A prognosis is a medical prediction of the likely course and outcome of a
disease.
7. What does "contraindication" mean?
• A) A recommended drug interaction
• B) A condition that makes a treatment inadvisable
• C) The primary therapeutic use of a medication
• D) A preferred route of drug administration
Answer: B. A condition that makes a treatment inadvisable
Rationale: A contraindication is a specific condition or factor that makes a particular
treatment or procedure potentially harmful and therefore not recommended.
8. "Posterior" refers to which part of the body?
• A) Topmost
• B) Lowermost
, • C) Front
• D) Back
Answer: D. Back
Rationale: In anatomical terms, posterior means situated at the back or rear of the
body.
9. "Anterior" means:
• A) Behind
• B) Below
• C) In front of
• D) At the side
Answer: C. In front of
Rationale: Anterior refers to the front of the body or a structure.
10. "Exogenous" factors are:
• A) Produced outside the body
• B) Produced within the body
• C) Produced by the kidneys
• D) Hereditary
Answer: A. Produced outside the body
Rationale: Exo- means "outside" or "external," so exogenous factors originate externally.
11. "Endogenous" factors are:
• A) Originating within the body
• B) Originating from the environment
• C) Cause by a virus
• D) A result of trauma
Answer: A. Originating within the body
Rationale: Endo- means "within" or "inside," so endogenous factors originate from
inside the body.
12. What is the meaning of "cardiac"?
• A) Of or relating to the lungs
• B) Of or relating to the heart
• C) Of or relating to the brain
