©EVERLY 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Chapter 21 – Gerontology Exam Study
Guide.
Ankylo- - Answer✔bent, crooked, stiff
arteri-, arterio- - Answer✔artery
arthr-, arthro- - Answer✔joint, articulation
centi- - Answer✔hindred
derm-, derma- - Answer✔skin
gero-, geront-, geronto-, presby-, presbyo- - Answer✔old age
hyper- - Answer✔above, over
hypo- - Answer✔deficient, below normal
mort- - Answer✔death
noct- - Answer✔night
-ology - Answer✔study of
-opia - Answer✔vision
ost-, oste-, osteo- - Answer✔bone
-penia - Answer✔deficiency
phaco- - Answer✔relating to the lens
phot-, photo- - Answer✔light
sarco- - Answer✔muscle
scler-, sclero- - Answer✔hard
spondyl-, spondylo- - Answer✔vertebrae
xero- - Answer✔dry
aging - Answer✔process of growing old
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gerontology - Answer✔scientific study of the clinical, sociological, biological, and psychological
aspects of aging
gerontologist - Answer✔person who specializes in gerontology
geriatrics - Answer✔branch of medicine concerned with the health care of the elderly
senescence - Answer✔changes that occur with aging
longevity - Answer✔duration of life beyond the norm for the species
lifespan - Answer✔normal or average duration og life for members of a given species
life expectancy - Answer✔average number of years a person born today can expect to live under
current conditions
centenarians - Answer✔individuals who live to be 100 years old or more
morbidity - Answer✔condition of being ill
mortality - Answer✔refers to death
epidemiology - Answer✔branch of science that deals with the incidence, distribution, and
possible control of diseases and other factors related to health
activities of daily living (ADL) - Answer✔acts of basic care such as bathing, dressing, going to
the bathroom, getting in or out of bed or a chair, walking, and eating
instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) - Answer✔activities of daily living plus tasks such
as shopping, preparing meals, managing money, using the telephone, and doing housework
occupational therapy (OT) - Answer✔form of therapy for individuals recuperating from physical
or mental illness that encourages rehabilitation through the performance of activities required for
daily life
occupational therapist (OT) - Answer✔person trained to practice occupational therapy
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) - Answer✔gives public health information,
recommendations, and epidemiology data; published by the CDC
heart disease - Answer✔what is the leading cause of death among the elderly?
xeroderma - Answer✔excessive skin dryness
photoaging - Answer✔skin wrinkling and damage due to years of sun exposure
skin tag - Answer✔an outgrowth from the skin that hangs from the durface by a thin stalk
hypothermia - Answer✔body temperature lower than 98.6
heatstroke - Answer✔severe and often fatal illness produced by exposure to excessively high
temperatures
2|Page
Chapter 21 – Gerontology Exam Study
Guide.
Ankylo- - Answer✔bent, crooked, stiff
arteri-, arterio- - Answer✔artery
arthr-, arthro- - Answer✔joint, articulation
centi- - Answer✔hindred
derm-, derma- - Answer✔skin
gero-, geront-, geronto-, presby-, presbyo- - Answer✔old age
hyper- - Answer✔above, over
hypo- - Answer✔deficient, below normal
mort- - Answer✔death
noct- - Answer✔night
-ology - Answer✔study of
-opia - Answer✔vision
ost-, oste-, osteo- - Answer✔bone
-penia - Answer✔deficiency
phaco- - Answer✔relating to the lens
phot-, photo- - Answer✔light
sarco- - Answer✔muscle
scler-, sclero- - Answer✔hard
spondyl-, spondylo- - Answer✔vertebrae
xero- - Answer✔dry
aging - Answer✔process of growing old
1|Page
, ©EVERLY 2025 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
gerontology - Answer✔scientific study of the clinical, sociological, biological, and psychological
aspects of aging
gerontologist - Answer✔person who specializes in gerontology
geriatrics - Answer✔branch of medicine concerned with the health care of the elderly
senescence - Answer✔changes that occur with aging
longevity - Answer✔duration of life beyond the norm for the species
lifespan - Answer✔normal or average duration og life for members of a given species
life expectancy - Answer✔average number of years a person born today can expect to live under
current conditions
centenarians - Answer✔individuals who live to be 100 years old or more
morbidity - Answer✔condition of being ill
mortality - Answer✔refers to death
epidemiology - Answer✔branch of science that deals with the incidence, distribution, and
possible control of diseases and other factors related to health
activities of daily living (ADL) - Answer✔acts of basic care such as bathing, dressing, going to
the bathroom, getting in or out of bed or a chair, walking, and eating
instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) - Answer✔activities of daily living plus tasks such
as shopping, preparing meals, managing money, using the telephone, and doing housework
occupational therapy (OT) - Answer✔form of therapy for individuals recuperating from physical
or mental illness that encourages rehabilitation through the performance of activities required for
daily life
occupational therapist (OT) - Answer✔person trained to practice occupational therapy
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) - Answer✔gives public health information,
recommendations, and epidemiology data; published by the CDC
heart disease - Answer✔what is the leading cause of death among the elderly?
xeroderma - Answer✔excessive skin dryness
photoaging - Answer✔skin wrinkling and damage due to years of sun exposure
skin tag - Answer✔an outgrowth from the skin that hangs from the durface by a thin stalk
hypothermia - Answer✔body temperature lower than 98.6
heatstroke - Answer✔severe and often fatal illness produced by exposure to excessively high
temperatures
2|Page
