ALHS 1090 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY FOR
ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES LATEST UPDATE
SECTION 1: WORD ELEMENTS – ROOTS, PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND
COMBINING FORMS
1. Which word part contains the fundamental meaning of a medical term?
A) Prefix
B) Suffix
C) Word root
D) Combining vowel
Correct Answer: C) Word root
Rationale: The word root is the core of the medical term and contains its
fundamental meaning. Prefixes are added to the beginning, suffixes to the end, and
combining vowels connect roots. For example, in "cardi/o/logy," "cardi" is the root
meaning heart.
,2. The word part added to the end of a word to modify its meaning is called a:
A) Prefix
B) Suffix
C) Combining form
D) Word root
Correct Answer: B) Suffix
Rationale: A suffix is an affix added at the end of a word. Suffixes often indicate a
procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech. For example, in "gastritis," "itis" is
the suffix meaning inflammation.
3. In medical terminology, the combining vowel most often used is:
A) A
B) E
C) I
D) O
Correct Answer: D) O
Rationale: The combining vowel "O" is most frequently used in building medical
terms. It makes pronunciation easier when connecting word roots to suffixes or
other roots. For example, "gastr/o/enter/o/logy."
,4. A combining form consists of a word root plus a:
A) Prefix
B) Suffix
C) Combining vowel
D) Another root
Correct Answer: C) Combining vowel
Rationale: A combining form is a word root with a combining vowel attached. For
example, "cardi/o" is the combining form of "cardi" (heart) with the combining
vowel "o." The combining vowel facilitates the addition of suffixes or other roots.
5. The word part that comes at the beginning of a word and modifies its meaning is
the:
A) Word root
B) Suffix
C) Prefix
D) Combining vowel
Correct Answer: C) Prefix
, Rationale: A prefix is a syllable placed at the beginning of a word. Prefixes modify
the meaning of the root, often indicating location, time, number, or status. For
example, "hyper" in "hyperactive" means excessive.
6. Which of the following correctly defines the suffix "itis"?
A) Tumor
B) Inflammation
C) Pain
D) Enlargement
Correct Answer: B) Inflammation
Rationale: The suffix "itis" means inflammation. It is one of the most common
suffixes in medical terminology, used in terms like "appendicitis" (inflammation of
the appendix), "arthritis" (inflammation of joints), and "dermatitis" (inflammation
of the skin).
7. The suffix "ectomy" means:
A) Surgical repair
B) Surgical removal
C) Incision
D) Instrument to view
ALLIED HEALTH SCIENCES FINAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES LATEST UPDATE
SECTION 1: WORD ELEMENTS – ROOTS, PREFIXES, SUFFIXES, AND
COMBINING FORMS
1. Which word part contains the fundamental meaning of a medical term?
A) Prefix
B) Suffix
C) Word root
D) Combining vowel
Correct Answer: C) Word root
Rationale: The word root is the core of the medical term and contains its
fundamental meaning. Prefixes are added to the beginning, suffixes to the end, and
combining vowels connect roots. For example, in "cardi/o/logy," "cardi" is the root
meaning heart.
,2. The word part added to the end of a word to modify its meaning is called a:
A) Prefix
B) Suffix
C) Combining form
D) Word root
Correct Answer: B) Suffix
Rationale: A suffix is an affix added at the end of a word. Suffixes often indicate a
procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech. For example, in "gastritis," "itis" is
the suffix meaning inflammation.
3. In medical terminology, the combining vowel most often used is:
A) A
B) E
C) I
D) O
Correct Answer: D) O
Rationale: The combining vowel "O" is most frequently used in building medical
terms. It makes pronunciation easier when connecting word roots to suffixes or
other roots. For example, "gastr/o/enter/o/logy."
,4. A combining form consists of a word root plus a:
A) Prefix
B) Suffix
C) Combining vowel
D) Another root
Correct Answer: C) Combining vowel
Rationale: A combining form is a word root with a combining vowel attached. For
example, "cardi/o" is the combining form of "cardi" (heart) with the combining
vowel "o." The combining vowel facilitates the addition of suffixes or other roots.
5. The word part that comes at the beginning of a word and modifies its meaning is
the:
A) Word root
B) Suffix
C) Prefix
D) Combining vowel
Correct Answer: C) Prefix
, Rationale: A prefix is a syllable placed at the beginning of a word. Prefixes modify
the meaning of the root, often indicating location, time, number, or status. For
example, "hyper" in "hyperactive" means excessive.
6. Which of the following correctly defines the suffix "itis"?
A) Tumor
B) Inflammation
C) Pain
D) Enlargement
Correct Answer: B) Inflammation
Rationale: The suffix "itis" means inflammation. It is one of the most common
suffixes in medical terminology, used in terms like "appendicitis" (inflammation of
the appendix), "arthritis" (inflammation of joints), and "dermatitis" (inflammation
of the skin).
7. The suffix "ectomy" means:
A) Surgical repair
B) Surgical removal
C) Incision
D) Instrument to view
