WGU C804 MediCal TerMinoloGy & anaToMy – WesTern Governors UniversiTy – 2026/2027 aCadeMiC year – 100 QUesTions and ansWers CoverinG FoUr Core doMains || JUsT released .

WGU C804 MediCal TerMinoloGy & anaToMy – WesTern Governors
UniversiTy – 2026/2027 aCadeMiC year – 100 QUesTions and
ansWers CoverinG FoUr Core doMains || JUsT released .



The following 100 questions are organized into four core domains aligned with the WGU C804
Medical Terminology & Anatomy course objectives: Word Building & Terminology
Foundations (Questions 1–25), Anatomical Terminology & Body Structure (Questions 26–
45), Body Systems Terminology (Questions 46–75), and Diagnostic, Procedural & Clinical
Terminology (Questions 76–100). Each question includes four answer choices, the correct
answer, and a detailed rationale grounded in standard medical terminology principles, anatomy,
and clinical language.


Domain 1: Word Building & Terminology Foundations (Questions 1–25)


Question 1: Which of the following is the foundation of a medical term that contains the core
meaning of the word?
• A) Combining form
• B) Prefix
• C) Root
• D) Suffix

CorreCT ansWer: C

raTionale: The root is the foundation of a medical term and provides the core meaning. The
prefix is added to the beginning, the suffix to the end, and the combining form includes the root
plus a combining vowel. Understanding roots is essential for building and decoding medical
terminology.


Question 2: A diacritical mark that indicates a long vowel sound is known as a:
• A) Macron
• B) Breve
• C) Schwa
• D) Accent

CorreCT ansWer: A

,raTionale: A macron (¯) is a diacritical mark placed over a vowel to indicate that it has a long
sound. A breve (˘) indicates a short vowel sound. Proper pronunciation of medical terms often
depends on understanding these pronunciation marks.


Question 3: Which of the following medical terms contains a prefix meaning "without" or "not"?
• A) Hypertension
• B) Anemia
• C) Bilateral
• D) Dysphagia

CorreCT ansWer: B

raTionale: The prefix "an-" means without or not (an- + -emia = without blood).
"Hypertension" has the prefix "hyper-" (above normal), "bilateral" has "bi-" (two), and
"dysphagia" has "dys-" (difficult, painful). Recognizing prefixes is crucial for understanding
medical terms.


Question 4: A patient is diagnosed with "hypertension." The prefix "hyper-" in this term means:
• A) Below
• B) Normal
• C) Above or excessive
• D) Slow

CorreCT ansWer: C

raTionale: The prefix "hyper-" means above, excessive, or beyond normal. Hypertension
refers to high blood pressure. Understanding common prefixes like hyper-, hypo-, brady-, and
tachy- is essential for interpreting medical terms.


Question 5: The suffix "-ectomy" means:
• A) Inflammation
• B) Surgical repair
• C) Excision or removal
• D) Enlargement

CorreCT ansWer: C

,raTionale: The suffix "-ectomy" means excision, removal, or surgical cutting out. "-itis"
means inflammation, "-plasty" means surgical repair, and "-megaly" means enlargement.


Question 6: A word element that indicates procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech is
known as a:
• A) Prefix
• B) Root
• C) Combining vowel
• D) Suffix

CorreCT ansWer: D

raTionale: A suffix is a word element that indicates procedure, condition, disease, or part of
speech. Suffixes are added to the end of a word root to modify its meaning.


Question 7: A combining vowel allows two or more word elements to be connected as one
word. Which of the following is the most common combining vowel?
• A) A
• B) E
• C) I
• D) O

CorreCT ansWer: D

raTionale: The most common combining vowel is "O". A combining vowel allows two or more
word elements to be connected, making pronunciation easier. It is typically used when the suffix
begins with a consonant or when connecting two roots.


Question 8: The prefix "brady-" means:
• A) Fast
• B) Slow
• C) Large
• D) Small

CorreCT ansWer: B

raTionale: The prefix "brady-" means slow. For example, bradycardia means slow heart rate.
The opposite prefix is "tachy-" meaning fast.

, Question 9: The prefix "tachy-" means:
• A) Slow
• B) Fast
• C) Large
• D) Small

CorreCT ansWer: B

raTionale: The prefix "tachy-" means fast. For example, tachycardia means rapid heart rate.
This prefix is commonly used in terms related to heart rate and other fast physiological
processes.


Question 10: The prefix "peri-" means:
• A) Through
• B) Around
• C) Before
• D) After

CorreCT ansWer: B

raTionale: The prefix "peri-" means around. For example, pericardium means the membrane
around the heart. "Dia-" means through or across, "pre-" means before, and "post-" means after.


Question 11: The prefix "hypo-" means:
• A) Above, excessive
• B) Under, below, deficient
• C) Slow
• D) Large

CorreCT ansWer: B

raTionale: The prefix "hypo-" means under, below, or deficient. For example, hypoglycemia
means low blood sugar. The opposite prefix is "hyper-" meaning above or excessive.


Question 12: The prefix "macro-" means:
• A) Small