HESI A2 Vocabulary Exam 2025 – 60
Verified Questions with 100% Correct
Answers | Pass on First Attempt
Question 1
What does the prefix "hyper-" mean in medical terminology?
A) Below normal
B) Above normal
C) Within
D) Without
B) Above normal
Rationale: The prefix "hyper-" derives from Greek, meaning "above" or "excessive." In medical
terms, it indicates a condition above normal, such as in "hyperglycemia" (high blood sugar).
Understanding prefixes is key for interpreting medical vocabulary.
Question 2
The term "dyspnea" refers to:
A) Difficulty breathing
B) Excessive bleeding
C) Rapid heart rate
D) Severe pain
A) Difficulty breathing
Rationale: "Dyspnea" combines the prefix "dys-" (difficult) and "pnea" (breathing). It describes
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, commonly used in medical contexts like respiratory
assessments.
Question 3
What is the meaning of the suffix "-itis"?
A) Inflammation
B) Pain
C) Tumor
D) Removal
A) Inflammation
Rationale: The suffix "-itis" indicates inflammation, as in "arthritis" (joint inflammation). It’s a
common suffix in medical terminology for conditions involving inflammatory processes.
,Question 4
A nurse documents a client as "febrile." This means the client has:
A) A fever
B) Low blood pressure
C) A rash
D) Nausea
A) A fever
Rationale: "Febrile" comes from Latin "febris" (fever), meaning an elevated body temperature.
It’s used in clinical settings to describe a patient with a fever.
Question 5
The term "cyanosis" refers to:
A) Blue skin discoloration
B) Yellowing of the skin
C) Excessive sweating
D) Muscle weakness
A) Blue skin discoloration
Rationale: "Cyanosis" combines "cyan-" (blue) and "-osis" (condition), describing bluish skin
due to low oxygen levels. It’s critical in medical assessments for respiratory or circulatory
issues.
Question 6
What does the prefix "brady-" mean?
A) Fast
B) Slow
C) Normal
D) Painful
B) Slow
Rationale: The prefix "brady-" means slow, as in "bradycardia" (slow heart rate).
Understanding this prefix aids in interpreting cardiac and neurological terms.
Question 7
The term "hematology" refers to the study of:
A) Blood
B) Heart
C) Lungs
D) Kidneys
, A) Blood
Rationale: "Hematology" derives from "hema-" (blood) and "-logy" (study of). It’s the medical
field focused on blood and its disorders, essential for laboratory and diagnostic contexts.
Question 8
What does the suffix "-ectomy" indicate?
A) Surgical removal
B) Inflammation
C) Study of
D) Pain
A) Surgical removal
Rationale: The suffix "-ectomy" means surgical removal, as in "appendectomy" (removal of the
appendix). It’s widely used in surgical terminology.
Question 9
A client is described as having "tachycardia." This means:
A) Slow heart rate
B) Rapid heart rate
C) Normal heart rate
D) Irregular heart rate
B) Rapid heart rate
Rationale: "Tachycardia" combines "tachy-" (fast) and "-cardia" (heart), indicating a heart rate
above normal. It’s a key term in cardiovascular assessments.
Question 10
The term "analgesic" refers to a medication that:
A) Reduces pain
B) Lowers fever
C) Promotes sleep
D) Prevents infection
A) Reduces pain
Rationale: "Analgesic" comes from "an-" (without) and "-algia" (pain), meaning a drug that
relieves pain, such as ibuprofen. It’s a critical term in pharmacology.
Question 11
What does the prefix "hypo-" mean?
A) Above normal
Verified Questions with 100% Correct
Answers | Pass on First Attempt
Question 1
What does the prefix "hyper-" mean in medical terminology?
A) Below normal
B) Above normal
C) Within
D) Without
B) Above normal
Rationale: The prefix "hyper-" derives from Greek, meaning "above" or "excessive." In medical
terms, it indicates a condition above normal, such as in "hyperglycemia" (high blood sugar).
Understanding prefixes is key for interpreting medical vocabulary.
Question 2
The term "dyspnea" refers to:
A) Difficulty breathing
B) Excessive bleeding
C) Rapid heart rate
D) Severe pain
A) Difficulty breathing
Rationale: "Dyspnea" combines the prefix "dys-" (difficult) and "pnea" (breathing). It describes
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, commonly used in medical contexts like respiratory
assessments.
Question 3
What is the meaning of the suffix "-itis"?
A) Inflammation
B) Pain
C) Tumor
D) Removal
A) Inflammation
Rationale: The suffix "-itis" indicates inflammation, as in "arthritis" (joint inflammation). It’s a
common suffix in medical terminology for conditions involving inflammatory processes.
,Question 4
A nurse documents a client as "febrile." This means the client has:
A) A fever
B) Low blood pressure
C) A rash
D) Nausea
A) A fever
Rationale: "Febrile" comes from Latin "febris" (fever), meaning an elevated body temperature.
It’s used in clinical settings to describe a patient with a fever.
Question 5
The term "cyanosis" refers to:
A) Blue skin discoloration
B) Yellowing of the skin
C) Excessive sweating
D) Muscle weakness
A) Blue skin discoloration
Rationale: "Cyanosis" combines "cyan-" (blue) and "-osis" (condition), describing bluish skin
due to low oxygen levels. It’s critical in medical assessments for respiratory or circulatory
issues.
Question 6
What does the prefix "brady-" mean?
A) Fast
B) Slow
C) Normal
D) Painful
B) Slow
Rationale: The prefix "brady-" means slow, as in "bradycardia" (slow heart rate).
Understanding this prefix aids in interpreting cardiac and neurological terms.
Question 7
The term "hematology" refers to the study of:
A) Blood
B) Heart
C) Lungs
D) Kidneys
, A) Blood
Rationale: "Hematology" derives from "hema-" (blood) and "-logy" (study of). It’s the medical
field focused on blood and its disorders, essential for laboratory and diagnostic contexts.
Question 8
What does the suffix "-ectomy" indicate?
A) Surgical removal
B) Inflammation
C) Study of
D) Pain
A) Surgical removal
Rationale: The suffix "-ectomy" means surgical removal, as in "appendectomy" (removal of the
appendix). It’s widely used in surgical terminology.
Question 9
A client is described as having "tachycardia." This means:
A) Slow heart rate
B) Rapid heart rate
C) Normal heart rate
D) Irregular heart rate
B) Rapid heart rate
Rationale: "Tachycardia" combines "tachy-" (fast) and "-cardia" (heart), indicating a heart rate
above normal. It’s a key term in cardiovascular assessments.
Question 10
The term "analgesic" refers to a medication that:
A) Reduces pain
B) Lowers fever
C) Promotes sleep
D) Prevents infection
A) Reduces pain
Rationale: "Analgesic" comes from "an-" (without) and "-algia" (pain), meaning a drug that
relieves pain, such as ibuprofen. It’s a critical term in pharmacology.
Question 11
What does the prefix "hypo-" mean?
A) Above normal
