MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY EXAM 1
(CHAPTER 1-7) QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Physician assistant (PA)
fuh-ZIH-shun ah-SIS-tant - Answer-A midlevel health care provider who works under
the license of a supervising physician; requires postgraduate training
Nurse practitioner (NP)
NIRS prak-TIH-shuh-ner - Answer-A nurse with postgraduate training that serves as
a midlevel health care provider; works under the license of a supervising physician
Emergency medical technician (EMT)
eh-MIR-jen-see MEh-dih-kal tek-NIH-shun - Answer-Specially trained in the
emergency care of a patient before and/or during transport to medical facility
Speech therapist
SPEECH THEH-rah-pist - Answer-Specially trained in evaluating and treating
problems with speech and/or swallowing
Occupational therapist
aw-kyoo-PAY-shuh-nal THEH-rah-pist - Answer-Specially trained in evaluating and
treating problems with performing daily activities at home, school, or work
Physical therapist
FIH-zih-kal THEH-rah-pist - Answer-Specially trained in evaluating and treating
physical impairments including disabilities or recovery from an injury
Respiratory therapist
reh-sprah-TOR-ee THEH-rah-pist - Answer-Specially trained in treating patient's
respiratory issues under the guidance of a health care provider
Dietician
dai-ah-TIH-shun - Answer-Specially trained in evaluating the nutritional status of a
patient and developing an appropriate diet plan
Licensed practical nurse (LPN) and
LAI-senzd PRAK-tih-kal NIRS
licensed vocational nurse (LVN)
LAI-senzd von-KAY-shun-al NIRS - Answer-Trained and certified to provide basic
care to a patient
Registered nurse (RN)
REH-jist-terd NIRS - Answer-An advanced level nurse who has completed an
associate's or bachelor's degree; often assist with patient care planning and patient
education
,Medical assistant
MEH-dih-kal ah-SIS-tant - Answer-Trained to carry out basic administrative and
clinical tasks under the guidance of a health care provider
Pathologist
pah-THAW-loh-jist - Answer-a physician with special training in both evaluating the
causes and effects of disease and in laboratory medicine
Medical laboratory technician
meh-DIH-kal LAH-borh-tor-ee tek-NIH-shun - Answer-trained in performing
laboratory testing on bodily fluids
Phlebotomist
fleh-BOH-tow-mist - Answer-trained in the removal of blood from the body for
diagnostic or therapeutic purposes
Radiologist
ray-dee-AW-loh-jist - Answer-a physician specially trained in evaluating images of
the body to diagnose illness or injury
Radiology technician
ray-dee-aw-lot-jee tek-NIH-shun - Answer-trained to perform radiologic testing or
administer radiation therapy under the direction of a health care provider
Ultrasonagrapher
ul-trah-saw-NAW-grah-fir - Answer-trained in performing ultrasound imaging on a
patient
Pharmacist
FAR-mah-sist - Answer-trained and licensed in preparing and dispensing medicine
Pharmacy technician
FAR-mah-see tek-NIH-shun - Answer-trained to assist a pharmacist with pharmacy-
related tasks
Patient service coordinator
PAY-shent SIR-vis coh-OR-dih-nay-tor - Answer-handles administrative tasks and
coordinates patient care
Medical transcriptionist
MEH-dih-kal tran-SKRIP-shun-ist - Answer-trained in converting the voice-recorded
dictations of health care providers into text format
CCU - Answer-coronary care unit
ECU - Answer-emergency care unit
ER - Answer-emergency room
,ED - Answer-emergency department
ICU - Answer-intensive care unit
PICU - Answer-pediatric intensive care unit
NICU - Answer-neonatal intensive care unit
SICU - Answer-surgical intensive care unit
PACU - Answer-post-anesthesia care unit
L&D - Answer-labor and deliver
OR - Answer-operating room
post-op - Answer-after surgery
pre-op - Answer-before surgery
(R) - Answer-Right
(L) - Answer-Left
(B) - Answer-Bilateral (both sides)
Up arrow - Answer-Increased
Down arrow - Answer-Decreased
VS - Answer-vital signs
T - Answer-temperature
BP - Answer-blood pressure
HR - Answer-heart rate
RR - Answer-respiratory rate
Ht - Answer-height
Wt - Answer-weight
BMI - Answer-body mass index (measurement of body fat based on height and
weight)
I/O - Answer-intake/output - amount of fluids a patient has taken in (by IV or mouth)
and produced (usually just urine output)
, Dx - Answer-diagnosis
DDx - Answer-differential diagnosis
Tx - Answer-treatment
Rx - Answer-perscription
H&P - Answer-history and physical
Hx - Answer-history
CC - Answer-chief complain - main reason for the visit
HPI - Answer-history of present illness (the story of symptoms)
ROS - Answer-review of systems (anything else not directly related to the chief
complaint)
PMHx - Answer-past medical history
FHx - Answer-family history
NKDA - Answer-no known drug allergies
PE - Answer-physical exam
Pt - Answer-patient
y/o - Answer-years old
h/o - Answer-history of
PCP - Answer-primary care provider
f/u - Answer-follow up
SOB - Answer-shortness of breath - should be replaces with SOA (shortness of air)
HEENT - Answer-head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat
PERRLA - Answer-pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation
NAD - Answer-no acute distress (the patient does not display any intense symptoms)
CV - Answer-cardiovascular
RRR - Answer-regular rate and rhythm (description of a normal heart on exam)
CTA - Answer-clear to auscultation (description of normal-sounding lungs)
(CHAPTER 1-7) QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Physician assistant (PA)
fuh-ZIH-shun ah-SIS-tant - Answer-A midlevel health care provider who works under
the license of a supervising physician; requires postgraduate training
Nurse practitioner (NP)
NIRS prak-TIH-shuh-ner - Answer-A nurse with postgraduate training that serves as
a midlevel health care provider; works under the license of a supervising physician
Emergency medical technician (EMT)
eh-MIR-jen-see MEh-dih-kal tek-NIH-shun - Answer-Specially trained in the
emergency care of a patient before and/or during transport to medical facility
Speech therapist
SPEECH THEH-rah-pist - Answer-Specially trained in evaluating and treating
problems with speech and/or swallowing
Occupational therapist
aw-kyoo-PAY-shuh-nal THEH-rah-pist - Answer-Specially trained in evaluating and
treating problems with performing daily activities at home, school, or work
Physical therapist
FIH-zih-kal THEH-rah-pist - Answer-Specially trained in evaluating and treating
physical impairments including disabilities or recovery from an injury
Respiratory therapist
reh-sprah-TOR-ee THEH-rah-pist - Answer-Specially trained in treating patient's
respiratory issues under the guidance of a health care provider
Dietician
dai-ah-TIH-shun - Answer-Specially trained in evaluating the nutritional status of a
patient and developing an appropriate diet plan
Licensed practical nurse (LPN) and
LAI-senzd PRAK-tih-kal NIRS
licensed vocational nurse (LVN)
LAI-senzd von-KAY-shun-al NIRS - Answer-Trained and certified to provide basic
care to a patient
Registered nurse (RN)
REH-jist-terd NIRS - Answer-An advanced level nurse who has completed an
associate's or bachelor's degree; often assist with patient care planning and patient
education
,Medical assistant
MEH-dih-kal ah-SIS-tant - Answer-Trained to carry out basic administrative and
clinical tasks under the guidance of a health care provider
Pathologist
pah-THAW-loh-jist - Answer-a physician with special training in both evaluating the
causes and effects of disease and in laboratory medicine
Medical laboratory technician
meh-DIH-kal LAH-borh-tor-ee tek-NIH-shun - Answer-trained in performing
laboratory testing on bodily fluids
Phlebotomist
fleh-BOH-tow-mist - Answer-trained in the removal of blood from the body for
diagnostic or therapeutic purposes
Radiologist
ray-dee-AW-loh-jist - Answer-a physician specially trained in evaluating images of
the body to diagnose illness or injury
Radiology technician
ray-dee-aw-lot-jee tek-NIH-shun - Answer-trained to perform radiologic testing or
administer radiation therapy under the direction of a health care provider
Ultrasonagrapher
ul-trah-saw-NAW-grah-fir - Answer-trained in performing ultrasound imaging on a
patient
Pharmacist
FAR-mah-sist - Answer-trained and licensed in preparing and dispensing medicine
Pharmacy technician
FAR-mah-see tek-NIH-shun - Answer-trained to assist a pharmacist with pharmacy-
related tasks
Patient service coordinator
PAY-shent SIR-vis coh-OR-dih-nay-tor - Answer-handles administrative tasks and
coordinates patient care
Medical transcriptionist
MEH-dih-kal tran-SKRIP-shun-ist - Answer-trained in converting the voice-recorded
dictations of health care providers into text format
CCU - Answer-coronary care unit
ECU - Answer-emergency care unit
ER - Answer-emergency room
,ED - Answer-emergency department
ICU - Answer-intensive care unit
PICU - Answer-pediatric intensive care unit
NICU - Answer-neonatal intensive care unit
SICU - Answer-surgical intensive care unit
PACU - Answer-post-anesthesia care unit
L&D - Answer-labor and deliver
OR - Answer-operating room
post-op - Answer-after surgery
pre-op - Answer-before surgery
(R) - Answer-Right
(L) - Answer-Left
(B) - Answer-Bilateral (both sides)
Up arrow - Answer-Increased
Down arrow - Answer-Decreased
VS - Answer-vital signs
T - Answer-temperature
BP - Answer-blood pressure
HR - Answer-heart rate
RR - Answer-respiratory rate
Ht - Answer-height
Wt - Answer-weight
BMI - Answer-body mass index (measurement of body fat based on height and
weight)
I/O - Answer-intake/output - amount of fluids a patient has taken in (by IV or mouth)
and produced (usually just urine output)
, Dx - Answer-diagnosis
DDx - Answer-differential diagnosis
Tx - Answer-treatment
Rx - Answer-perscription
H&P - Answer-history and physical
Hx - Answer-history
CC - Answer-chief complain - main reason for the visit
HPI - Answer-history of present illness (the story of symptoms)
ROS - Answer-review of systems (anything else not directly related to the chief
complaint)
PMHx - Answer-past medical history
FHx - Answer-family history
NKDA - Answer-no known drug allergies
PE - Answer-physical exam
Pt - Answer-patient
y/o - Answer-years old
h/o - Answer-history of
PCP - Answer-primary care provider
f/u - Answer-follow up
SOB - Answer-shortness of breath - should be replaces with SOA (shortness of air)
HEENT - Answer-head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat
PERRLA - Answer-pupils are equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation
NAD - Answer-no acute distress (the patient does not display any intense symptoms)
CV - Answer-cardiovascular
RRR - Answer-regular rate and rhythm (description of a normal heart on exam)
CTA - Answer-clear to auscultation (description of normal-sounding lungs)
