MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY: EXAM 1 - LC
READY QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
ANSWERS
A medication that blocks the effects of histamine is called an:
a. antimicrobial.
b. antihypertensive.
c. antihistamine.
d. anticoagulant. - Answer-antihistamine - Rationale: Anti means opposed to or
against. An antihistamine is a medication that works against histamine. An
anticoagulant prevents coagulation of the blood. Antimicrobial kills or works against
microorganisms and an antihypertensive lowers blood pressure.
The premature or partial separation of the placenta from the uterine wall is:
a. uterine rupture.
b. placenta previa.
c. menstruation.
d. abruptio placentae. - Answer-abruptio placentae - Rationale: Abruptio placentae
(also called placental abruption) is the premature separation of the placenta from the
uterine wall. It may be complete or partial. This often presents with back or
abdominal pain, contractions and vaginal bleeding.
The foot is _____ to the knee.
a. proximal
b. anterior
c. lateral
d. distal - Answer-distal - Rationale: The foot is farther from the body than the knee
so it is distal. Remember that these are relative terms. While the foot is distal to the
knee, the knee is distal to the hip.
The surgical removal of the ovary is referred to as:
a. hysterectomy.
b. oophorectomy.
c. gastrectomy.
d. cystostomy. - Answer-oophorectomy - Rationale: The suffix -ectomy means
surgical excision of, or removal. Oophoro- refers to one or both ovaries.
- Hysterectomy is a removal of all or part of the uterus.
- Gastrectomy is removal of the stomach (or more likely parts of the stomach).
- Cystostomy is creating an opening into the urinary bladder (cyst/o- means bladder).
The prefix meaning "plug" is:
a. endo-.
b. embol-.
c. episi-.
d. eschar-. - Answer-embol- - Rationale: An embolus blocks or "plugs" an artery.
The prefix endo- means inner, episi- means vulva, and eschar- means scab.
, The suffix meaning "tumor" is:
a. -opia.
b. -osis.
c. -oma.
d. -ose. - Answer--oma - Rationale: Many terms for tumors (cancerous and non-
cancerous) end in -oma including melanoma, adenoma, and sarcoma.
A patient with uncoordinated movement has:
a. ataxia.
b. anxiety.
c. dysphasia.
d. hypoxia. - Answer-ataxia - Rationale: Ataxia is uncoordinated movement.
Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing, hypoxia is low levels of oxygen in the blood and
anxiety is defined as an uneasiness of the mind.
The left arm moving away from the body is referred to as:
a. abduction.
b. flexion.
c. extension.
d. adduction. - Answer-abduction - Rationale: Abduction is moving away from the
body. Adduction is moving toward the body.
- Extension increases the angle between two body parts while flexion reduces the
angle.
The suffix meaning "crushing" is:
a. -iatric.
b. -ectomy.
c. -tripsy.
d. -pexy. - Answer--tripsy - Rationale: The suffix -tripsy means crushing. A lithotripsy
is a procedure that uses sound waves to break up (crush) kidney stones.
- -iatric refers to medical treatment (e.g. pediatric).
- -ectomy refers to surgical removal(appendectomy).
- -pexy refers to making something faster (gastropexy).
The prefix meaning "white" is:
a. erythr-.
b. albo-.
c. cyan-.
d. xanth-. - Answer-albo- - Rationale: Albo- means white. Xanth- is yellow, cyan- is
blue and eryth- is red.
The loss of memory after a concussion is referred to as:
a. amnesia.
b. ataxia.
c. anemia.
d. aphasia. - Answer-amnesia - Rationale: Amnesia is a loss of memory which may
occur after a head injury.
- Anemia is a reduction in red blood cells or hemoglobin.
- Ataxia is a lack of muscular coordination.
- Aphasia is the loss of the ability to understand or express speech.
READY QUESTIONS WITH COMPLETE
ANSWERS
A medication that blocks the effects of histamine is called an:
a. antimicrobial.
b. antihypertensive.
c. antihistamine.
d. anticoagulant. - Answer-antihistamine - Rationale: Anti means opposed to or
against. An antihistamine is a medication that works against histamine. An
anticoagulant prevents coagulation of the blood. Antimicrobial kills or works against
microorganisms and an antihypertensive lowers blood pressure.
The premature or partial separation of the placenta from the uterine wall is:
a. uterine rupture.
b. placenta previa.
c. menstruation.
d. abruptio placentae. - Answer-abruptio placentae - Rationale: Abruptio placentae
(also called placental abruption) is the premature separation of the placenta from the
uterine wall. It may be complete or partial. This often presents with back or
abdominal pain, contractions and vaginal bleeding.
The foot is _____ to the knee.
a. proximal
b. anterior
c. lateral
d. distal - Answer-distal - Rationale: The foot is farther from the body than the knee
so it is distal. Remember that these are relative terms. While the foot is distal to the
knee, the knee is distal to the hip.
The surgical removal of the ovary is referred to as:
a. hysterectomy.
b. oophorectomy.
c. gastrectomy.
d. cystostomy. - Answer-oophorectomy - Rationale: The suffix -ectomy means
surgical excision of, or removal. Oophoro- refers to one or both ovaries.
- Hysterectomy is a removal of all or part of the uterus.
- Gastrectomy is removal of the stomach (or more likely parts of the stomach).
- Cystostomy is creating an opening into the urinary bladder (cyst/o- means bladder).
The prefix meaning "plug" is:
a. endo-.
b. embol-.
c. episi-.
d. eschar-. - Answer-embol- - Rationale: An embolus blocks or "plugs" an artery.
The prefix endo- means inner, episi- means vulva, and eschar- means scab.
, The suffix meaning "tumor" is:
a. -opia.
b. -osis.
c. -oma.
d. -ose. - Answer--oma - Rationale: Many terms for tumors (cancerous and non-
cancerous) end in -oma including melanoma, adenoma, and sarcoma.
A patient with uncoordinated movement has:
a. ataxia.
b. anxiety.
c. dysphasia.
d. hypoxia. - Answer-ataxia - Rationale: Ataxia is uncoordinated movement.
Dysphagia is difficulty swallowing, hypoxia is low levels of oxygen in the blood and
anxiety is defined as an uneasiness of the mind.
The left arm moving away from the body is referred to as:
a. abduction.
b. flexion.
c. extension.
d. adduction. - Answer-abduction - Rationale: Abduction is moving away from the
body. Adduction is moving toward the body.
- Extension increases the angle between two body parts while flexion reduces the
angle.
The suffix meaning "crushing" is:
a. -iatric.
b. -ectomy.
c. -tripsy.
d. -pexy. - Answer--tripsy - Rationale: The suffix -tripsy means crushing. A lithotripsy
is a procedure that uses sound waves to break up (crush) kidney stones.
- -iatric refers to medical treatment (e.g. pediatric).
- -ectomy refers to surgical removal(appendectomy).
- -pexy refers to making something faster (gastropexy).
The prefix meaning "white" is:
a. erythr-.
b. albo-.
c. cyan-.
d. xanth-. - Answer-albo- - Rationale: Albo- means white. Xanth- is yellow, cyan- is
blue and eryth- is red.
The loss of memory after a concussion is referred to as:
a. amnesia.
b. ataxia.
c. anemia.
d. aphasia. - Answer-amnesia - Rationale: Amnesia is a loss of memory which may
occur after a head injury.
- Anemia is a reduction in red blood cells or hemoglobin.
- Ataxia is a lack of muscular coordination.
- Aphasia is the loss of the ability to understand or express speech.
