Page 1 of 151
AAPC CPC EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026–
2027
250+ PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS AND DETAILED
RATIONALES
# PART I: FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE
## Chapter 1: Medical Terminology
### Question 1
A patient's medical record documents "hepatojugular reflux." The prefix "hepato-" refers to
which organ?
A) Kidney
B) Liver
C) Heart
D) Spleen
**Correct Answer: B) Liver**
**Rationale:** The prefix "hepato-" derives from the Greek *hepar*, meaning liver.
Hepatojugular reflux is a physical examination finding where pressure on the liver causes an
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elevation in jugular venous pressure, indicating right-sided heart failure. "Nephro-" refers to
kidney (A), "cardio-" refers to heart (C), and "spleno-" refers to spleen (D).
---
### Question 2
The suffix "-ectomy" in the term "cholecystectomy" indicates:
A) Incision into
B) Removal or excision
C) Repair of
D) Creation of an opening
**Correct Answer: B) Removal or excision**
**Rationale:** The suffix "-ectomy" means surgical removal or excision. Cholecystectomy is
the surgical removal of the gallbladder. "-otomy" means incision into (A), "-plasty" means
surgical repair (C), and "-ostomy" means creation of an artificial opening (D).
---
### Question 3
A patient is diagnosed with "tachycardia." The prefix "tachy-" means:
A) Slow
B) Fast
C) Irregular
D) Painful
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**Correct Answer: B) Fast**
**Rationale:** The prefix "tachy-" means fast or rapid. Tachycardia is a condition where the
heart beats faster than normal (typically over 100 beats per minute in adults). "Brady-" means
slow (A), "arrhythm-" refers to irregular rhythm (C), and "dys-" or "algo-" relates to pain (D).
---
### Question 4
The combining form "nephr/o" refers to which body structure?
A) Liver
B) Kidney
C) Nerve
D) Stomach
**Correct Answer: B) Kidney**
**Rationale:** "Nephr/o" is the combining form for kidney. This is essential for understanding
terms like nephrectomy (kidney removal), nephritis (kidney inflammation), and nephrology
(study of the kidneys). "Hepat/o" refers to liver (A), "neur/o" refers to nerve (C), and "gastr/o"
refers to stomach (D).
---
### Question 5
The suffix "-itis" indicates:
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A) Tumor
B) Inflammation
C) Disease
D) Enlargement
**Correct Answer: B) Inflammation**
**Rationale:** The suffix "-itis" denotes inflammation. Examples include appendicitis
(inflammation of the appendix), dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), and arthritis
(inflammation of joints). "-oma" indicates tumor (A), "-pathy" indicates disease (C), and "-
megaly" indicates enlargement (D).
---
### Question 6
"Hypertension" is a condition characterized by:
A) Low blood pressure
B) High blood pressure
C) Rapid heart rate
D) Slow heart rate
**Correct Answer: B) High blood pressure**
**Rationale:** "Hypertension" combines the prefix "hyper-" (excessive or above normal) with
"tension" (pressure), indicating abnormally high blood pressure. Hypotension is low blood
pressure (A), tachycardia is rapid heart rate (C), and bradycardia is slow heart rate (D).
---
AAPC CPC EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026–
2027
250+ PRACTICE QUESTIONS WITH
VERIFIED ANSWERS AND DETAILED
RATIONALES
# PART I: FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE
## Chapter 1: Medical Terminology
### Question 1
A patient's medical record documents "hepatojugular reflux." The prefix "hepato-" refers to
which organ?
A) Kidney
B) Liver
C) Heart
D) Spleen
**Correct Answer: B) Liver**
**Rationale:** The prefix "hepato-" derives from the Greek *hepar*, meaning liver.
Hepatojugular reflux is a physical examination finding where pressure on the liver causes an
,Page 2 of 151
elevation in jugular venous pressure, indicating right-sided heart failure. "Nephro-" refers to
kidney (A), "cardio-" refers to heart (C), and "spleno-" refers to spleen (D).
---
### Question 2
The suffix "-ectomy" in the term "cholecystectomy" indicates:
A) Incision into
B) Removal or excision
C) Repair of
D) Creation of an opening
**Correct Answer: B) Removal or excision**
**Rationale:** The suffix "-ectomy" means surgical removal or excision. Cholecystectomy is
the surgical removal of the gallbladder. "-otomy" means incision into (A), "-plasty" means
surgical repair (C), and "-ostomy" means creation of an artificial opening (D).
---
### Question 3
A patient is diagnosed with "tachycardia." The prefix "tachy-" means:
A) Slow
B) Fast
C) Irregular
D) Painful
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**Correct Answer: B) Fast**
**Rationale:** The prefix "tachy-" means fast or rapid. Tachycardia is a condition where the
heart beats faster than normal (typically over 100 beats per minute in adults). "Brady-" means
slow (A), "arrhythm-" refers to irregular rhythm (C), and "dys-" or "algo-" relates to pain (D).
---
### Question 4
The combining form "nephr/o" refers to which body structure?
A) Liver
B) Kidney
C) Nerve
D) Stomach
**Correct Answer: B) Kidney**
**Rationale:** "Nephr/o" is the combining form for kidney. This is essential for understanding
terms like nephrectomy (kidney removal), nephritis (kidney inflammation), and nephrology
(study of the kidneys). "Hepat/o" refers to liver (A), "neur/o" refers to nerve (C), and "gastr/o"
refers to stomach (D).
---
### Question 5
The suffix "-itis" indicates:
, Page 4 of 151
A) Tumor
B) Inflammation
C) Disease
D) Enlargement
**Correct Answer: B) Inflammation**
**Rationale:** The suffix "-itis" denotes inflammation. Examples include appendicitis
(inflammation of the appendix), dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), and arthritis
(inflammation of joints). "-oma" indicates tumor (A), "-pathy" indicates disease (C), and "-
megaly" indicates enlargement (D).
---
### Question 6
"Hypertension" is a condition characterized by:
A) Low blood pressure
B) High blood pressure
C) Rapid heart rate
D) Slow heart rate
**Correct Answer: B) High blood pressure**
**Rationale:** "Hypertension" combines the prefix "hyper-" (excessive or above normal) with
"tension" (pressure), indicating abnormally high blood pressure. Hypotension is low blood
pressure (A), tachycardia is rapid heart rate (C), and bradycardia is slow heart rate (D).
---
