Medical Terminology for Nursing Practice
Exam - Indiana University Curriculum
Reference - 2026/, Answers & Rationales
Practice Question Bank & Answer Rationale
THIS PACK CONTAINS
100 exam-style multiple-choice questions. Each question includes the correct answer and a complete
rationale for focused revision.
COVERAGE
This exam assesses mastery of medical word roots, prefixes, suffixes, and their application across all body
systems using current ICD-10-CM/PCS and SNOMED CT terminology standards. It emphasizes integration of
terminology into nursing communication, documentation, and clinical reasoning as outlined in the Indiana
University School of Nursing Curriculum Reference 2026. Questions require analysis, synthesis, and
application rather than rote recall.
STUDY GUIDE
Recommended duration: 2 hours. Passing target: 80% (40/50 correct) for course credit; A+ designation
requires 95%.
HIGHP - Page 1 of 29
,1. Which term denotes a surgical incision into the renal pelvis?
[ ] A. Nephrolithotomy
[ ] B. Pyelotomy
[ ] C. Nephrostomy
[ ] D. Pyeloplasty
CORRECT: B. Pyelotomy
Pyel/o means renal pelvis and -tomy means incision, so pyelotomy is incision into the renal pelvis.
Nephrolithotomy is removal of a kidney stone; nephrostomy is creation of an opening into the kidney;
pyeloplasty is surgical repair of the renal pelvis.
2. In the term 'hypercholesterolemia,' what does the suffix '-emia' signify?
[ ] A. Presence in the blood
[ ] B. Abnormal condition
[ ] C. Inflammation
[ ] D. Enlargement
CORRECT: A. Presence in the blood
The suffix -emia specifically means 'presence in the blood' (e.g., hypercholesterolemia = high cholesterol in
the blood). -osis indicates abnormal condition, -itis means inflammation, and -megaly denotes enlargement.
3. A patient's chart notes 'hepatosplenomegaly.' Which organs are affected?
[ ] A. Liver and gallbladder
[ ] B. Liver and spleen
[ ] C. Spleen and stomach
[ ] D. Kidney and spleen
CORRECT: B. Liver and spleen
Hepat/o refers to the liver and splen/o refers to the spleen; -megaly means enlargement. Therefore,
hepatosplenomegaly is enlargement of the liver and spleen. The other options misattribute the roots.
4. Which abbreviation is correctly matched to its meaning?
[ ] A. NPO - nothing by mouth
[ ] B. BID - three times a day
[ ] C. PRN - by mouth
[ ] D. qHS - every hour
CORRECT: A. NPO - nothing by mouth
NPO stands for nil per os, meaning nothing by mouth. BID means twice a day, PRN means as needed, and
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, qHS means every bedtime. The other pairings are incorrect.
5. The term 'arteriosclerosis' literally means:
[ ] A. Hardening of an artery
[ ] B. Narrowing of a vein
[ ] C. Inflammation of an artery
[ ] D. Clotting within a vessel
CORRECT: A. Hardening of an artery
Arteri/o means artery and -sclerosis means hardening. Thus arteriosclerosis is hardening of an artery.
Narrowing is -stenosis, inflammation is -itis, and clotting is thrombosis.
6. Which term describes a rapid heart rate?
[ ] A. Bradycardia
[ ] B. Tachycardia
[ ] C. Palpitation
[ ] D. Arrhythmia
CORRECT: B. Tachycardia
Tachy- means fast and -cardia means heart condition. Tachycardia is a rapid heart rate. Bradycardia is slow
heart rate; palpitation is a sensation of fluttering; arrhythmia is any irregular rhythm.
7. The combining form 'cost/o' refers to which body part?
[ ] A. Rib
[ ] B. Cartilage
[ ] C. Vertebra
[ ] D. Sternum
CORRECT: A. Rib
Cost/o is the combining form for rib. Chondr/o means cartilage, vertebr/o means vertebra, and stern/o means
sternum.
8. Which term means 'pertaining to the skin'?
[ ] A. Dermal
[ ] B. Epidermal
[ ] C. Hypodermal
[ ] D. Subcutaneous
HIGHP - Page 3 of 29
Exam - Indiana University Curriculum
Reference - 2026/, Answers & Rationales
Practice Question Bank & Answer Rationale
THIS PACK CONTAINS
100 exam-style multiple-choice questions. Each question includes the correct answer and a complete
rationale for focused revision.
COVERAGE
This exam assesses mastery of medical word roots, prefixes, suffixes, and their application across all body
systems using current ICD-10-CM/PCS and SNOMED CT terminology standards. It emphasizes integration of
terminology into nursing communication, documentation, and clinical reasoning as outlined in the Indiana
University School of Nursing Curriculum Reference 2026. Questions require analysis, synthesis, and
application rather than rote recall.
STUDY GUIDE
Recommended duration: 2 hours. Passing target: 80% (40/50 correct) for course credit; A+ designation
requires 95%.
HIGHP - Page 1 of 29
,1. Which term denotes a surgical incision into the renal pelvis?
[ ] A. Nephrolithotomy
[ ] B. Pyelotomy
[ ] C. Nephrostomy
[ ] D. Pyeloplasty
CORRECT: B. Pyelotomy
Pyel/o means renal pelvis and -tomy means incision, so pyelotomy is incision into the renal pelvis.
Nephrolithotomy is removal of a kidney stone; nephrostomy is creation of an opening into the kidney;
pyeloplasty is surgical repair of the renal pelvis.
2. In the term 'hypercholesterolemia,' what does the suffix '-emia' signify?
[ ] A. Presence in the blood
[ ] B. Abnormal condition
[ ] C. Inflammation
[ ] D. Enlargement
CORRECT: A. Presence in the blood
The suffix -emia specifically means 'presence in the blood' (e.g., hypercholesterolemia = high cholesterol in
the blood). -osis indicates abnormal condition, -itis means inflammation, and -megaly denotes enlargement.
3. A patient's chart notes 'hepatosplenomegaly.' Which organs are affected?
[ ] A. Liver and gallbladder
[ ] B. Liver and spleen
[ ] C. Spleen and stomach
[ ] D. Kidney and spleen
CORRECT: B. Liver and spleen
Hepat/o refers to the liver and splen/o refers to the spleen; -megaly means enlargement. Therefore,
hepatosplenomegaly is enlargement of the liver and spleen. The other options misattribute the roots.
4. Which abbreviation is correctly matched to its meaning?
[ ] A. NPO - nothing by mouth
[ ] B. BID - three times a day
[ ] C. PRN - by mouth
[ ] D. qHS - every hour
CORRECT: A. NPO - nothing by mouth
NPO stands for nil per os, meaning nothing by mouth. BID means twice a day, PRN means as needed, and
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, qHS means every bedtime. The other pairings are incorrect.
5. The term 'arteriosclerosis' literally means:
[ ] A. Hardening of an artery
[ ] B. Narrowing of a vein
[ ] C. Inflammation of an artery
[ ] D. Clotting within a vessel
CORRECT: A. Hardening of an artery
Arteri/o means artery and -sclerosis means hardening. Thus arteriosclerosis is hardening of an artery.
Narrowing is -stenosis, inflammation is -itis, and clotting is thrombosis.
6. Which term describes a rapid heart rate?
[ ] A. Bradycardia
[ ] B. Tachycardia
[ ] C. Palpitation
[ ] D. Arrhythmia
CORRECT: B. Tachycardia
Tachy- means fast and -cardia means heart condition. Tachycardia is a rapid heart rate. Bradycardia is slow
heart rate; palpitation is a sensation of fluttering; arrhythmia is any irregular rhythm.
7. The combining form 'cost/o' refers to which body part?
[ ] A. Rib
[ ] B. Cartilage
[ ] C. Vertebra
[ ] D. Sternum
CORRECT: A. Rib
Cost/o is the combining form for rib. Chondr/o means cartilage, vertebr/o means vertebra, and stern/o means
sternum.
8. Which term means 'pertaining to the skin'?
[ ] A. Dermal
[ ] B. Epidermal
[ ] C. Hypodermal
[ ] D. Subcutaneous
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