Module 1: Introduction to Medical
Terminology & Word Parts
This section covers word roots, prefixes,
suffixes, combining forms, and general rules.
1. What is the primary function of a prefix in medical terminology?
A) To indicate a surgical procedure
B) To describe the location or intensity of the term
C) To identify the main part of the word
D) To connect two roots
Answer: B) To describe the location or intensity of the term
Rationale: Prefixes are attached to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning,
often indicating position, time, number, or status. The word root provides the core
meaning.
2. The word root "hepat" refers to which organ?
A) Kidney
B) Heart
C) Liver
D) Stomach
Answer: C) Liver
Rationale: "Hepat" is the Greek root for liver. This is a foundational root for terms
like hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) and hepatomegaly (enlargement of the
liver).
3. Which of the following is a correct Combining Form for the root "cardi"?
A) Card
B) Card/i/o
C) Cardi/o
D) Cardio
Answer: C) Cardi/o
Rationale: A combining form is the word root plus a vowel (usually "o"), used
,when the root is joined to another root or a suffix. "Cardi/o" is the standard
combining form for heart.
4. The suffix "-itis" means:
A) Enlargement
B) Surgical removal
C) Inflammation
D) Tumor
Answer: C) Inflammation
Rationale: "-itis" is one of the most common suffixes in medical terminology,
denoting inflammation. It is combined with various roots (e.g., arthritis,
appendicitis, dermatitis).
5. If a term ends with the suffix "-ology," what does it refer to?
A) Fear of
B) The study of
C) A specialist in
D) A disease of
Answer: B) The study of
Rationale: "-ology" means the study of. For example, "cardiology" is the study of
the heart, and "neurology" is the study of the nervous system.
6. What does the prefix "hyper-" indicate?
A) Deficient, below
B) Normal
C) Above, excessive
D) Slow
Answer: C) Above, excessive
Rationale: "Hyper-" means excessive or increased. It is the opposite of "hypo-,"
which means deficient or below. An example is hypertension (high blood pressure).
7. The prefix "brady-" means:
A) Fast
B) Slow
C) Difficult
D) Painful
Answer: B) Slow
,Rationale: "Brady-" is a prefix meaning slow. It is often used with "cardia" (heart)
to form "bradycardia," meaning a slow heart rate.
8. The suffix "-ectomy" means:
A) To cut into
B) To examine visually
C) Surgical removal
D) Surgical repair
Answer: C) Surgical removal
Rationale: "-ectomy" indicates excision or surgical removal. A cholecystectomy is
the removal of the gallbladder.
9. The suffix "-plasty" means:
A) Surgical repair
B) A new opening
C) Inflammation
D) Record of
Answer: A) Surgical repair
Rationale: "-plasty" refers to surgical repair or reconstruction. A rhinoplasty is the
surgical repair of the nose.
10. What is the rule for writing a combining vowel when the suffix begins with
a vowel?
A) Always use the combining vowel
B) Never use the combining vowel
C) Only use it if the root ends with a consonant
D) It depends on the specific term
Answer: B) Never use the combining vowel
Rationale: When combining a word root with a suffix that begins with a vowel,
the combining vowel is not used. For example, "gastr" + "-itis" = "gastritis" (not
"gastroitis").
11. What is the correct combining form for "stomach"?
A) Stomach/o
B) Gastr/o
C) Gast/o
D) Stom/o
, Answer: B) Gastr/o
Rationale: "Gastr/o" is the standard combining form for stomach. It is derived
from the Greek word for stomach.
12. Which term means "inflammation of the kidney"?
A) Nephritis
B) Nephrosis
C) Nephrectomy
D) Cystitis
Answer: A) Nephritis
Rationale: "Nephr" is the root for kidney, and "-itis" means inflammation.
"Nephritis" is the inflammation of the kidney.
13. The prefix "retro-" means:
A) Forward
B) Toward
C) Behind
D) Across
Answer: C) Behind
Rationale: "Retro-" is a prefix meaning behind or backward. Retroperitoneal
means behind the peritoneum.
14. The suffix "-algia" means:
A) Pertaining to
B) Pain
C) Disease
D) Breathing
Answer: B) Pain
Rationale: "-algia" is a suffix used to denote pain. "Myalgia" means muscle pain,
and "neuralgia" means nerve pain.
15. What does the suffix "-emia" refer to?
A) Vomiting
B) Blood
C) Hernia
D) Pertaining to
Answer: B) Blood
Terminology & Word Parts
This section covers word roots, prefixes,
suffixes, combining forms, and general rules.
1. What is the primary function of a prefix in medical terminology?
A) To indicate a surgical procedure
B) To describe the location or intensity of the term
C) To identify the main part of the word
D) To connect two roots
Answer: B) To describe the location or intensity of the term
Rationale: Prefixes are attached to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning,
often indicating position, time, number, or status. The word root provides the core
meaning.
2. The word root "hepat" refers to which organ?
A) Kidney
B) Heart
C) Liver
D) Stomach
Answer: C) Liver
Rationale: "Hepat" is the Greek root for liver. This is a foundational root for terms
like hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) and hepatomegaly (enlargement of the
liver).
3. Which of the following is a correct Combining Form for the root "cardi"?
A) Card
B) Card/i/o
C) Cardi/o
D) Cardio
Answer: C) Cardi/o
Rationale: A combining form is the word root plus a vowel (usually "o"), used
,when the root is joined to another root or a suffix. "Cardi/o" is the standard
combining form for heart.
4. The suffix "-itis" means:
A) Enlargement
B) Surgical removal
C) Inflammation
D) Tumor
Answer: C) Inflammation
Rationale: "-itis" is one of the most common suffixes in medical terminology,
denoting inflammation. It is combined with various roots (e.g., arthritis,
appendicitis, dermatitis).
5. If a term ends with the suffix "-ology," what does it refer to?
A) Fear of
B) The study of
C) A specialist in
D) A disease of
Answer: B) The study of
Rationale: "-ology" means the study of. For example, "cardiology" is the study of
the heart, and "neurology" is the study of the nervous system.
6. What does the prefix "hyper-" indicate?
A) Deficient, below
B) Normal
C) Above, excessive
D) Slow
Answer: C) Above, excessive
Rationale: "Hyper-" means excessive or increased. It is the opposite of "hypo-,"
which means deficient or below. An example is hypertension (high blood pressure).
7. The prefix "brady-" means:
A) Fast
B) Slow
C) Difficult
D) Painful
Answer: B) Slow
,Rationale: "Brady-" is a prefix meaning slow. It is often used with "cardia" (heart)
to form "bradycardia," meaning a slow heart rate.
8. The suffix "-ectomy" means:
A) To cut into
B) To examine visually
C) Surgical removal
D) Surgical repair
Answer: C) Surgical removal
Rationale: "-ectomy" indicates excision or surgical removal. A cholecystectomy is
the removal of the gallbladder.
9. The suffix "-plasty" means:
A) Surgical repair
B) A new opening
C) Inflammation
D) Record of
Answer: A) Surgical repair
Rationale: "-plasty" refers to surgical repair or reconstruction. A rhinoplasty is the
surgical repair of the nose.
10. What is the rule for writing a combining vowel when the suffix begins with
a vowel?
A) Always use the combining vowel
B) Never use the combining vowel
C) Only use it if the root ends with a consonant
D) It depends on the specific term
Answer: B) Never use the combining vowel
Rationale: When combining a word root with a suffix that begins with a vowel,
the combining vowel is not used. For example, "gastr" + "-itis" = "gastritis" (not
"gastroitis").
11. What is the correct combining form for "stomach"?
A) Stomach/o
B) Gastr/o
C) Gast/o
D) Stom/o
, Answer: B) Gastr/o
Rationale: "Gastr/o" is the standard combining form for stomach. It is derived
from the Greek word for stomach.
12. Which term means "inflammation of the kidney"?
A) Nephritis
B) Nephrosis
C) Nephrectomy
D) Cystitis
Answer: A) Nephritis
Rationale: "Nephr" is the root for kidney, and "-itis" means inflammation.
"Nephritis" is the inflammation of the kidney.
13. The prefix "retro-" means:
A) Forward
B) Toward
C) Behind
D) Across
Answer: C) Behind
Rationale: "Retro-" is a prefix meaning behind or backward. Retroperitoneal
means behind the peritoneum.
14. The suffix "-algia" means:
A) Pertaining to
B) Pain
C) Disease
D) Breathing
Answer: B) Pain
Rationale: "-algia" is a suffix used to denote pain. "Myalgia" means muscle pain,
and "neuralgia" means nerve pain.
15. What does the suffix "-emia" refer to?
A) Vomiting
B) Blood
C) Hernia
D) Pertaining to
Answer: B) Blood
