This is Part 1 of 5 of the Certified
Professional Coder (CPC) Exam Prep
2026 Edition Comprehensive Test
Bank by the American Academy of
Professional Coders (AAPC).
TABLE OF CONTENTS — PART 1 of 5
Chapter 1: Medical Terminology and Anatomy for Coders — Questions 1–20
Chapter 2: Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines — Questions 21–40
Chapter 3: ICD-10-CM Coding Guidelines and Conventions — Questions 41–60
Chapter 4: CPT Coding Guidelines and Modifiers — Questions 61–80
Chapter 5: HCPCS Level II Coding — Questions 81–100
---
Q1. A coder is reviewing a patient's operative report that states the patient underwent a
cholecystectomy. Based on your knowledge of medical terminology, which organ was removed?
A. Gallbladder
B. Spleen
C. Appendix
D. Stomach
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The term cholecystectomy is derived from the combining forms chole (bile) and cyst
(bladder), referring to the gallbladder. The suffix -ectomy indicates surgical removal. The spleen is
removed via splenectomy, the appendix via appendectomy, and the stomach via gastrectomy.
Recognizing common surgical root terms and suffixes is essential for accurate procedural coding and
is heavily tested in the CPC exam's medical terminology domain.
,Q2. A patient is diagnosed with myocardial infarction. Which anatomical system is primarily affected?
A. Respiratory system
B. Cardiovascular system
C. Digestive system
D. Musculoskeletal system
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Myocardial infarction refers to tissue death (infarction) of the heart muscle
(myocardium), which is part of the cardiovascular system. The respiratory system involves the lungs,
the digestive system involves the gastrointestinal tract, and the musculoskeletal system involves
muscles and bones. Coders must accurately identify body systems to assign correct ICD-10-CM
diagnosis codes and CPT procedure codes for the affected anatomical area.
Q3. A coder is analyzing a pathology report that documents hepatomegaly. What does this term
indicate?
A. Enlargement of the liver
B. Inflammation of the liver
C. Removal of the liver
D. Cancer of the liver
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hepatomegaly combines hepato (liver) with -megaly (enlargement), indicating an
enlarged liver. Inflammation of the liver is hepatitis, removal is hepatectomy, and cancer of the liver
is hepatocellular carcinoma. Understanding the distinction between enlargement, inflammation, and
neoplastic conditions is critical for selecting the appropriate ICD-10-CM code and ensuring accurate
diagnosis reporting for reimbursement purposes.
Q4. A patient presents with dyspnea. This term describes:
A. Difficulty swallowing
B. Difficulty breathing
C. Painful urination
D. Rapid heartbeat
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dyspnea is derived from dys (difficult or painful) and -pnea (breathing), meaning
difficulty breathing. Difficulty swallowing is dysphagia, painful urination is dysuria, and rapid
,heartbeat is tachycardia. Medical terminology prefixes and suffixes often appear in CPT and ICD-10-
CM guidelines, and coders must recognize these terms to link symptoms and diagnoses correctly in
clinical documentation.
Q5. A coder is reviewing a report documenting gastroscopy. This procedure involves visualization of:
A. The stomach
B. The colon
C. The bladder
D. The joint spaces
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Gastroscopy refers to visual examination of the stomach using an endoscope.
Colonoscopy involves the colon, cystoscopy involves the bladder, and arthroscopy involves joint
spaces. Coders must correctly identify the anatomical site visualized to assign the correct CPT code
from the endoscopic procedures section. Misidentifying the site leads to incorrect code assignment
and potential claim denials.
Q6. A patient is diagnosed with nephritis. Which organ is affected?
A. Liver
B. Kidney
C. Lung
D. Heart
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Nephritis refers to inflammation of the kidney, derived from nephro (kidney) and -itis
(inflammation). Liver inflammation is hepatitis, lung inflammation is pneumonitis, and heart
inflammation is carditis. Recognizing organ-specific root words and inflammatory suffixes helps
coders select accurate ICD-10-CM codes and understand the clinical context of the patient's
condition.
Q7. A coder reads a report documenting a craniotomy. This procedure involves:
A. Incision into the skull
B. Removal of the spleen
C. Repair of a hernia
D. Reconstruction of the nose
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: Craniotomy is derived from cranio (skull) and -otomy (incision), meaning an incision
into the skull. Splenectomy is removal of the spleen, herniorrhaphy is repair of a hernia, and
rhinoplasty is reconstruction of the nose. Accurate interpretation of surgical root terms and suffixes
is essential for assigning correct CPT codes in the surgery section.
Q8. A patient is diagnosed with arthritis. This condition involves:
A. Inflammation of the joints
B. Inflammation of the arteries
C. Inflammation of the stomach
D. Inflammation of the skin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Arthritis is inflammation of the joints, from arthro (joint) and -itis (inflammation).
Arteritis is inflammation of the arteries, gastritis is inflammation of the stomach, and dermatitis is
inflammation of the skin. Coders must distinguish between these conditions to assign the correct
ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes and support medical necessity for treatment.
Q9. A coder is reviewing a report documenting a hysterectomy. This procedure involves removal of:
A. The uterus
B. The ovaries
C. The fallopian tubes
D. The vagina
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hysterectomy refers to the surgical removal of the uterus. Removal of the ovaries is
oophorectomy, removal of the fallopian tubes is salpingectomy, and removal of the vagina is
vaginectomy. Correctly identifying the organ removed is critical for accurate CPT coding in the female
genital system subsection and for preventing claim denials.
Q10. A patient is diagnosed with pneumonia. Which body system is primarily affected?
A. Digestive system
B. Respiratory system
C. Cardiovascular system
D. Nervous system
Correct Answer: A
Professional Coder (CPC) Exam Prep
2026 Edition Comprehensive Test
Bank by the American Academy of
Professional Coders (AAPC).
TABLE OF CONTENTS — PART 1 of 5
Chapter 1: Medical Terminology and Anatomy for Coders — Questions 1–20
Chapter 2: Compliance and Regulatory Guidelines — Questions 21–40
Chapter 3: ICD-10-CM Coding Guidelines and Conventions — Questions 41–60
Chapter 4: CPT Coding Guidelines and Modifiers — Questions 61–80
Chapter 5: HCPCS Level II Coding — Questions 81–100
---
Q1. A coder is reviewing a patient's operative report that states the patient underwent a
cholecystectomy. Based on your knowledge of medical terminology, which organ was removed?
A. Gallbladder
B. Spleen
C. Appendix
D. Stomach
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The term cholecystectomy is derived from the combining forms chole (bile) and cyst
(bladder), referring to the gallbladder. The suffix -ectomy indicates surgical removal. The spleen is
removed via splenectomy, the appendix via appendectomy, and the stomach via gastrectomy.
Recognizing common surgical root terms and suffixes is essential for accurate procedural coding and
is heavily tested in the CPC exam's medical terminology domain.
,Q2. A patient is diagnosed with myocardial infarction. Which anatomical system is primarily affected?
A. Respiratory system
B. Cardiovascular system
C. Digestive system
D. Musculoskeletal system
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Myocardial infarction refers to tissue death (infarction) of the heart muscle
(myocardium), which is part of the cardiovascular system. The respiratory system involves the lungs,
the digestive system involves the gastrointestinal tract, and the musculoskeletal system involves
muscles and bones. Coders must accurately identify body systems to assign correct ICD-10-CM
diagnosis codes and CPT procedure codes for the affected anatomical area.
Q3. A coder is analyzing a pathology report that documents hepatomegaly. What does this term
indicate?
A. Enlargement of the liver
B. Inflammation of the liver
C. Removal of the liver
D. Cancer of the liver
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hepatomegaly combines hepato (liver) with -megaly (enlargement), indicating an
enlarged liver. Inflammation of the liver is hepatitis, removal is hepatectomy, and cancer of the liver
is hepatocellular carcinoma. Understanding the distinction between enlargement, inflammation, and
neoplastic conditions is critical for selecting the appropriate ICD-10-CM code and ensuring accurate
diagnosis reporting for reimbursement purposes.
Q4. A patient presents with dyspnea. This term describes:
A. Difficulty swallowing
B. Difficulty breathing
C. Painful urination
D. Rapid heartbeat
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Dyspnea is derived from dys (difficult or painful) and -pnea (breathing), meaning
difficulty breathing. Difficulty swallowing is dysphagia, painful urination is dysuria, and rapid
,heartbeat is tachycardia. Medical terminology prefixes and suffixes often appear in CPT and ICD-10-
CM guidelines, and coders must recognize these terms to link symptoms and diagnoses correctly in
clinical documentation.
Q5. A coder is reviewing a report documenting gastroscopy. This procedure involves visualization of:
A. The stomach
B. The colon
C. The bladder
D. The joint spaces
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Gastroscopy refers to visual examination of the stomach using an endoscope.
Colonoscopy involves the colon, cystoscopy involves the bladder, and arthroscopy involves joint
spaces. Coders must correctly identify the anatomical site visualized to assign the correct CPT code
from the endoscopic procedures section. Misidentifying the site leads to incorrect code assignment
and potential claim denials.
Q6. A patient is diagnosed with nephritis. Which organ is affected?
A. Liver
B. Kidney
C. Lung
D. Heart
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Nephritis refers to inflammation of the kidney, derived from nephro (kidney) and -itis
(inflammation). Liver inflammation is hepatitis, lung inflammation is pneumonitis, and heart
inflammation is carditis. Recognizing organ-specific root words and inflammatory suffixes helps
coders select accurate ICD-10-CM codes and understand the clinical context of the patient's
condition.
Q7. A coder reads a report documenting a craniotomy. This procedure involves:
A. Incision into the skull
B. Removal of the spleen
C. Repair of a hernia
D. Reconstruction of the nose
Correct Answer: A
, Rationale: Craniotomy is derived from cranio (skull) and -otomy (incision), meaning an incision
into the skull. Splenectomy is removal of the spleen, herniorrhaphy is repair of a hernia, and
rhinoplasty is reconstruction of the nose. Accurate interpretation of surgical root terms and suffixes
is essential for assigning correct CPT codes in the surgery section.
Q8. A patient is diagnosed with arthritis. This condition involves:
A. Inflammation of the joints
B. Inflammation of the arteries
C. Inflammation of the stomach
D. Inflammation of the skin
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Arthritis is inflammation of the joints, from arthro (joint) and -itis (inflammation).
Arteritis is inflammation of the arteries, gastritis is inflammation of the stomach, and dermatitis is
inflammation of the skin. Coders must distinguish between these conditions to assign the correct
ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes and support medical necessity for treatment.
Q9. A coder is reviewing a report documenting a hysterectomy. This procedure involves removal of:
A. The uterus
B. The ovaries
C. The fallopian tubes
D. The vagina
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Hysterectomy refers to the surgical removal of the uterus. Removal of the ovaries is
oophorectomy, removal of the fallopian tubes is salpingectomy, and removal of the vagina is
vaginectomy. Correctly identifying the organ removed is critical for accurate CPT coding in the female
genital system subsection and for preventing claim denials.
Q10. A patient is diagnosed with pneumonia. Which body system is primarily affected?
A. Digestive system
B. Respiratory system
C. Cardiovascular system
D. Nervous system
Correct Answer: A
