Ivy Tech Community College
★
DIM · MRET DEM
★ ★
IVY TECH School of Health Sciences
EST. 1963
CHANGING LIVES · BUILDING INDIANA
Medical Terminology — Mid-Term Examination
W O R D R O OTS , P R E F I X E S , S U F F I X E S & C L I N I C A L T E R M I N O LO G Y
INSTITUTION Ivy Tech Community College COURSE Medical Terminology (HLHS 101)
PROGRAM Health Sciences — Allied Health ACADEMIC YEAR
Programs
EXAM TITLE Mid-Term Examination — Medical TOTAL QUESTIONS 99 Questions
Terminology Foundations
COURSE TITLE Medical Terminology for Health FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Professionals Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Questions cover word roots, prefixes, suffixes, combining forms, and clinical abbreviations.
▸ Anatomical terminology, body planes, positions, and SOAP documentation are emphasized.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for review.
▸ All content reflects current medical terminology standards for allied health professionals.
, MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY — COLOR ROOTS, BODY
Questions 1 – 99
SYSTEMS, ABBREVIATIONS & CLINICAL CONCEPTS
1. The combining form "melan/o" means:
A. White
B. Red
C. Black
D. Yellow
CORRECT ANSWER C — Black
RATIONALE "Melan/o" is the combining form for black. It appears in terms such as melanoma
(a malignant tumor of melanocytes, which produce the dark pigment melanin)
and melena (black, tarry stools indicating upper GI bleeding). The other color
roots are: leuk/o and alb/o for white (option A), erythr/o for red (option B), and
xanth/o for yellow (option D).
2. The combining forms "leuk/o" and "alb/o" both mean:
A. Black
B. White
C. Red
D. Yellow
CORRECT ANSWER B — White
RATIONALE Both "leuk/o" and "alb/o" are combining forms meaning white. Leuk/o appears in
terms such as leukocyte (white blood cell) and leukemia (cancer of white blood
cells). Alb/o appears in terms such as albino (absence of pigment) and albumin (a
white-colored protein). Medical terminology frequently has multiple roots for the
same concept, often derived from different linguistic origins (Greek "leukos" and
Latin "albus").
,3. The combining form "erythr/o" means:
A. White
B. Black
C. Red
D. Yellow
CORRECT ANSWER C — Red
RATIONALE "Erythr/o" is the combining form for red. It appears in terms such as erythrocyte
(red blood cell), erythema (redness of the skin), and erythromycin (an antibiotic
named for its reddish color). The prefix derives from the Greek "erythros"
meaning red. Understanding color roots is essential for interpreting dermatologic
and hematologic terminology.
4. The combining form "xanth/o" means:
A. Black
B. White
C. Red
D. Yellow
CORRECT ANSWER D — Yellow
RATIONALE "Xanth/o" is the combining form for yellow. It appears in terms such as xanthoma
(yellowish fatty deposits in the skin) and xanthelasma (yellowish plaques on the
eyelids). Jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and sclera, is sometimes referred to
with xanth/o-based terminology in dermatology.
, 5. The combining form "xer/o" means:
A. Hard
B. Oil
C. Dry
D. Scaly
CORRECT ANSWER C — Dry
RATIONALE "Xer/o" is the combining form for dry. It appears in terms such as xeroderma (dry
skin), xerostomia (dry mouth), and xerophthalmia (dry eyes). "Kerat/o" (option A)
means hard or horny. "Seb/o" (option B) means oil. "Ichthy/o" (option D) means
scaly. These descriptive roots are frequently tested in medical terminology
courses.
6. The combining form "kerat/o" means:
A. Dry
B. Oil
C. Scaly
D. Hard, horny
CORRECT ANSWER D — Hard, horny
RATIONALE "Kerat/o" means hard or horny, deriving from the Greek "keras" meaning horn. It
appears in terms such as keratin (the tough fibrous protein in skin, hair, and nails),
keratosis (a hardened skin condition), and keratoplasty (corneal transplant — the
cornea being a tough, transparent tissue). This root also refers to the cornea of
the eye due to its tough, transparent nature.
★
DIM · MRET DEM
★ ★
IVY TECH School of Health Sciences
EST. 1963
CHANGING LIVES · BUILDING INDIANA
Medical Terminology — Mid-Term Examination
W O R D R O OTS , P R E F I X E S , S U F F I X E S & C L I N I C A L T E R M I N O LO G Y
INSTITUTION Ivy Tech Community College COURSE Medical Terminology (HLHS 101)
PROGRAM Health Sciences — Allied Health ACADEMIC YEAR
Programs
EXAM TITLE Mid-Term Examination — Medical TOTAL QUESTIONS 99 Questions
Terminology Foundations
COURSE TITLE Medical Terminology for Health FORMAT Multiple Choice — Select the
Professionals Single Best Answer
EXAMINATION INSTRUCTIONS
▸ Select the single best answer for each question.
▸ Questions cover word roots, prefixes, suffixes, combining forms, and clinical abbreviations.
▸ Anatomical terminology, body planes, positions, and SOAP documentation are emphasized.
▸ Correct answers and detailed rationales appear below each question for review.
▸ All content reflects current medical terminology standards for allied health professionals.
, MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY — COLOR ROOTS, BODY
Questions 1 – 99
SYSTEMS, ABBREVIATIONS & CLINICAL CONCEPTS
1. The combining form "melan/o" means:
A. White
B. Red
C. Black
D. Yellow
CORRECT ANSWER C — Black
RATIONALE "Melan/o" is the combining form for black. It appears in terms such as melanoma
(a malignant tumor of melanocytes, which produce the dark pigment melanin)
and melena (black, tarry stools indicating upper GI bleeding). The other color
roots are: leuk/o and alb/o for white (option A), erythr/o for red (option B), and
xanth/o for yellow (option D).
2. The combining forms "leuk/o" and "alb/o" both mean:
A. Black
B. White
C. Red
D. Yellow
CORRECT ANSWER B — White
RATIONALE Both "leuk/o" and "alb/o" are combining forms meaning white. Leuk/o appears in
terms such as leukocyte (white blood cell) and leukemia (cancer of white blood
cells). Alb/o appears in terms such as albino (absence of pigment) and albumin (a
white-colored protein). Medical terminology frequently has multiple roots for the
same concept, often derived from different linguistic origins (Greek "leukos" and
Latin "albus").
,3. The combining form "erythr/o" means:
A. White
B. Black
C. Red
D. Yellow
CORRECT ANSWER C — Red
RATIONALE "Erythr/o" is the combining form for red. It appears in terms such as erythrocyte
(red blood cell), erythema (redness of the skin), and erythromycin (an antibiotic
named for its reddish color). The prefix derives from the Greek "erythros"
meaning red. Understanding color roots is essential for interpreting dermatologic
and hematologic terminology.
4. The combining form "xanth/o" means:
A. Black
B. White
C. Red
D. Yellow
CORRECT ANSWER D — Yellow
RATIONALE "Xanth/o" is the combining form for yellow. It appears in terms such as xanthoma
(yellowish fatty deposits in the skin) and xanthelasma (yellowish plaques on the
eyelids). Jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and sclera, is sometimes referred to
with xanth/o-based terminology in dermatology.
, 5. The combining form "xer/o" means:
A. Hard
B. Oil
C. Dry
D. Scaly
CORRECT ANSWER C — Dry
RATIONALE "Xer/o" is the combining form for dry. It appears in terms such as xeroderma (dry
skin), xerostomia (dry mouth), and xerophthalmia (dry eyes). "Kerat/o" (option A)
means hard or horny. "Seb/o" (option B) means oil. "Ichthy/o" (option D) means
scaly. These descriptive roots are frequently tested in medical terminology
courses.
6. The combining form "kerat/o" means:
A. Dry
B. Oil
C. Scaly
D. Hard, horny
CORRECT ANSWER D — Hard, horny
RATIONALE "Kerat/o" means hard or horny, deriving from the Greek "keras" meaning horn. It
appears in terms such as keratin (the tough fibrous protein in skin, hair, and nails),
keratosis (a hardened skin condition), and keratoplasty (corneal transplant — the
cornea being a tough, transparent tissue). This root also refers to the cornea of
the eye due to its tough, transparent nature.
