Test Bank Faor Medical Terminology
Adaptive Learning for Mastering
Healthcare Terminology 7th Edition
Author :
Betsy J. Shiland
,Chapter 1: Introduction
1. Which of the following is the correct definition of the term "prefix" in medical
terminology?
A) A root word that refers to a specific body part
B) A suffix added to the end of a word
C) A word part placed at the beginning of a medical term
D) A combining form that modifies the root word
Answer: C) A word part placed at the beginning of a medical term
Rationale: In medical terminology, a prefix is a word part placed at the beginning of a term to
modify or change its meaning. It typically indicates location, number, time, or status, such as
"hypo-" meaning "below" or "under."
2. What is the role of a combining vowel in medical terminology?
A) To link root words and suffixes
B) To create a connection between prefix and root word
C) To combine a root word with a combining form
D) To link two root words when necessary
Answer: D) To link two root words when necessary
Rationale: A combining vowel is used to link two root words, especially when the second root
word begins with a consonant. This makes the term easier to pronounce, as in "cardiovascular,"
where "cardi/o" (heart) and "vascular" (blood vessels) are combined.
3. Which of the following correctly defines the term "suffix"?
A) A word part placed at the beginning of a word
B) A word part that changes the meaning of a root word
C) A part of the term that indicates the body's structure
D) A combination of a prefix and root word
Answer: B) A word part that changes the meaning of a root word
Rationale: A suffix is a word part added to the end of a root word to alter its meaning or indicate
a specific condition, procedure, or disease. For example, "-itis" means inflammation, as seen in
"arthritis."
4. How are medical terms typically structured?
A) Prefix + Combining vowel + Suffix
B) Root word + Combining vowel + Suffix
C) Root word + Prefix + Suffix
D) Prefix + Root word + Suffix
Answer: D) Prefix + Root word + Suffix
Rationale: Most medical terms are structured with a prefix, followed by a root word, and ending
with a suffix. This structure helps in understanding the overall meaning of the term.
5. The combining form "oste/o" refers to which of the following?
A) Bone
B) Joint
,C) Muscle
D) Ligament
Answer: A) Bone
Rationale: The combining form "oste/o" refers to bone. For example, "osteoporosis" refers to a
condition where bones become brittle and fragile.
6. What does the medical suffix "-ectomy" mean?
A) Inflammation
B) Removal or excision
C) Condition or disease
D) Surgical repair
Answer: B) Removal or excision
Rationale: The suffix "-ectomy" refers to the surgical removal of a body part, such as in
"appendectomy," which refers to the removal of the appendix.
7. Which of the following prefixes means "under" or "below"?
A) Hyper-
B) Sub-
C) Pre-
D) Inter-
Answer: B) Sub-
Rationale: The prefix "sub-" means "under" or "below." For example, "subcutaneous" means
beneath the skin.
8. In the term "cardiologist," what does the suffix "-ist" denote?
A) A medical condition
B) A specialist
C) A procedure
D) A disease
Answer: B) A specialist
Rationale: The suffix "-ist" refers to a specialist or expert in a particular field. In "cardiologist,"
it refers to a specialist in heart disease.
9. The combining form "dermat/o" refers to which of the following?
A) Lungs
B) Skin
C) Heart
D) Stomach
Answer: B) Skin
Rationale: The combining form "dermat/o" refers to the skin. For example, "dermatology" is the
study of the skin.
10. Which of the following describes a compound word in medical terminology?
A) A term that includes multiple prefixes and suffixes
B) A term made from two or more root words
C) A term consisting of only one root word
, D) A term that does not require a suffix
Answer: B) A term made from two or more root words
Rationale: A compound word in medical terminology is created by combining two or more root
words, such as "cardiomyopathy" (heart muscle disease).
11. What is the primary purpose of medical terminology in healthcare?
A) To simplify medical documents
B) To ensure clear communication among healthcare professionals
C) To increase medical costs
D) To replace the use of medical symbols
Answer: B) To ensure clear communication among healthcare professionals
Rationale: Medical terminology standardizes communication across the healthcare field,
allowing healthcare professionals to understand and interpret terms accurately.
12. Which of the following is the meaning of the prefix "hyper-"?
A) Under
B) Above or excessive
C) Before
D) Between
Answer: B) Above or excessive
Rationale: The prefix "hyper-" means "above" or "excessive." For example, "hypertension"
means high blood pressure.
13. What is the meaning of the combining form "nephr/o"?
A) Heart
B) Kidney
C) Liver
D) Brain
Answer: B) Kidney
Rationale: The combining form "nephr/o" refers to the kidney. For example, "nephrology" is the
study of kidney diseases.
14. The suffix "-itis" refers to what?
A) Infection
B) Tumor
C) Inflammation
D) Pain
Answer: C) Inflammation
Rationale: The suffix "-itis" indicates inflammation of a specific organ or tissue, such as in
"arthritis" (inflammation of the joints).
15. In the term "gastroenterology," which combining form refers to the stomach?
A) Enter/o
B) Gastr/o
C) Hepat/o
D) Col/o
Adaptive Learning for Mastering
Healthcare Terminology 7th Edition
Author :
Betsy J. Shiland
,Chapter 1: Introduction
1. Which of the following is the correct definition of the term "prefix" in medical
terminology?
A) A root word that refers to a specific body part
B) A suffix added to the end of a word
C) A word part placed at the beginning of a medical term
D) A combining form that modifies the root word
Answer: C) A word part placed at the beginning of a medical term
Rationale: In medical terminology, a prefix is a word part placed at the beginning of a term to
modify or change its meaning. It typically indicates location, number, time, or status, such as
"hypo-" meaning "below" or "under."
2. What is the role of a combining vowel in medical terminology?
A) To link root words and suffixes
B) To create a connection between prefix and root word
C) To combine a root word with a combining form
D) To link two root words when necessary
Answer: D) To link two root words when necessary
Rationale: A combining vowel is used to link two root words, especially when the second root
word begins with a consonant. This makes the term easier to pronounce, as in "cardiovascular,"
where "cardi/o" (heart) and "vascular" (blood vessels) are combined.
3. Which of the following correctly defines the term "suffix"?
A) A word part placed at the beginning of a word
B) A word part that changes the meaning of a root word
C) A part of the term that indicates the body's structure
D) A combination of a prefix and root word
Answer: B) A word part that changes the meaning of a root word
Rationale: A suffix is a word part added to the end of a root word to alter its meaning or indicate
a specific condition, procedure, or disease. For example, "-itis" means inflammation, as seen in
"arthritis."
4. How are medical terms typically structured?
A) Prefix + Combining vowel + Suffix
B) Root word + Combining vowel + Suffix
C) Root word + Prefix + Suffix
D) Prefix + Root word + Suffix
Answer: D) Prefix + Root word + Suffix
Rationale: Most medical terms are structured with a prefix, followed by a root word, and ending
with a suffix. This structure helps in understanding the overall meaning of the term.
5. The combining form "oste/o" refers to which of the following?
A) Bone
B) Joint
,C) Muscle
D) Ligament
Answer: A) Bone
Rationale: The combining form "oste/o" refers to bone. For example, "osteoporosis" refers to a
condition where bones become brittle and fragile.
6. What does the medical suffix "-ectomy" mean?
A) Inflammation
B) Removal or excision
C) Condition or disease
D) Surgical repair
Answer: B) Removal or excision
Rationale: The suffix "-ectomy" refers to the surgical removal of a body part, such as in
"appendectomy," which refers to the removal of the appendix.
7. Which of the following prefixes means "under" or "below"?
A) Hyper-
B) Sub-
C) Pre-
D) Inter-
Answer: B) Sub-
Rationale: The prefix "sub-" means "under" or "below." For example, "subcutaneous" means
beneath the skin.
8. In the term "cardiologist," what does the suffix "-ist" denote?
A) A medical condition
B) A specialist
C) A procedure
D) A disease
Answer: B) A specialist
Rationale: The suffix "-ist" refers to a specialist or expert in a particular field. In "cardiologist,"
it refers to a specialist in heart disease.
9. The combining form "dermat/o" refers to which of the following?
A) Lungs
B) Skin
C) Heart
D) Stomach
Answer: B) Skin
Rationale: The combining form "dermat/o" refers to the skin. For example, "dermatology" is the
study of the skin.
10. Which of the following describes a compound word in medical terminology?
A) A term that includes multiple prefixes and suffixes
B) A term made from two or more root words
C) A term consisting of only one root word
, D) A term that does not require a suffix
Answer: B) A term made from two or more root words
Rationale: A compound word in medical terminology is created by combining two or more root
words, such as "cardiomyopathy" (heart muscle disease).
11. What is the primary purpose of medical terminology in healthcare?
A) To simplify medical documents
B) To ensure clear communication among healthcare professionals
C) To increase medical costs
D) To replace the use of medical symbols
Answer: B) To ensure clear communication among healthcare professionals
Rationale: Medical terminology standardizes communication across the healthcare field,
allowing healthcare professionals to understand and interpret terms accurately.
12. Which of the following is the meaning of the prefix "hyper-"?
A) Under
B) Above or excessive
C) Before
D) Between
Answer: B) Above or excessive
Rationale: The prefix "hyper-" means "above" or "excessive." For example, "hypertension"
means high blood pressure.
13. What is the meaning of the combining form "nephr/o"?
A) Heart
B) Kidney
C) Liver
D) Brain
Answer: B) Kidney
Rationale: The combining form "nephr/o" refers to the kidney. For example, "nephrology" is the
study of kidney diseases.
14. The suffix "-itis" refers to what?
A) Infection
B) Tumor
C) Inflammation
D) Pain
Answer: C) Inflammation
Rationale: The suffix "-itis" indicates inflammation of a specific organ or tissue, such as in
"arthritis" (inflammation of the joints).
15. In the term "gastroenterology," which combining form refers to the stomach?
A) Enter/o
B) Gastr/o
C) Hepat/o
D) Col/o
