MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY FOR
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)ANN EHRLICH
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Primary Medical Terms / Word Roots
Stem: A nursing student encounters the term cardiomegaly in a
chart. Using word parts, what is the best definition?
A. Inflammation of the heart
B. Enlargement of the heart
C. Disease of the heart muscle
D. Hardening of the heart valves
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
, • Correct Option: cardi/o = heart; -megaly = enlargement;
combined = enlargement of the heart.
• A: -itis denotes inflammation; cardiomegaly does not use -
itis.
• C: Disease of muscle would use -pathy (cardiomyopathy) or
my/o; not -megaly.
• D: Hardening (sclerosis) would use -sclerosis; not present
here.
Teaching Point: -megaly = enlargement.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Combining Vowel Use
Stem: Which constructed term correctly uses a combining
vowel to join a root and a suffix that begins with a consonant?
A. oste + itis → osteitis
B. neur + o + pathy → neuropathy
C. gastr + o + enteritis → gastroenteritis
D. hepat + o + -logy → hepatlogy
Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• Correct Option: gastr/o/enter/itis uses the combining
vowel o between roots; correct construction.
, • A: osteitis is possible, but combining vowel typically
appears as oste/o/itis; omission makes it less standard.
• B: neuropathy is incorrect spelling; correct is neuropathy
(no extra o needed between root and suffix because -pathy
joins directly to neur/o → neuropathy).
• D: hepatlogy is incorrect; combining vowel o should
produce hepato- + -logy → hepatology or more commonly
hepatology (rarely hepato- used).
Teaching Point: Use combining vowel o between roots and
before consonant-starting suffixes.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Pertaining To”
Stem: Choose the correct meaning of the term hepatic by
analyzing the suffix.
A. Pertaining to the liver
B. Inflammation of the liver
C. Enlargement of the liver
D. Removal of the liver
Correct Answer: A
Rationales:
• Correct Option: hepat- = liver; -ic = pertaining to; so
hepatic = pertaining to the liver.
, • B: Inflammation would be hepatitis (-itis), not -ic.
• C: Enlargement would be hepatomegaly (-megaly).
• D: Removal would be hepatectomy (-ectomy).
Teaching Point: -ic commonly means “pertaining to.”
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
4
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Related to Pathology (-itis, -osis)
Stem: A chart lists dermatosis. Which describes the condition?
A. Inflammation of the skin
B. Any disease condition of the skin
C. Surgical removal of skin
D. Study of skin diseases
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct Option: dermat/o = skin; -osis = abnormal
condition or disease; so any disease of the skin.
• A: -itis would indicate inflammation (dermatitis).
• C: Removal would be dermatoectomy or dermectomy (-
ectomy).
• D: Study would be dermatology (-logy).
Teaching Point: -osis = abnormal condition; -itis =
inflammation.
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)ANN EHRLICH
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Primary Medical Terms / Word Roots
Stem: A nursing student encounters the term cardiomegaly in a
chart. Using word parts, what is the best definition?
A. Inflammation of the heart
B. Enlargement of the heart
C. Disease of the heart muscle
D. Hardening of the heart valves
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
, • Correct Option: cardi/o = heart; -megaly = enlargement;
combined = enlargement of the heart.
• A: -itis denotes inflammation; cardiomegaly does not use -
itis.
• C: Disease of muscle would use -pathy (cardiomyopathy) or
my/o; not -megaly.
• D: Hardening (sclerosis) would use -sclerosis; not present
here.
Teaching Point: -megaly = enlargement.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Combining Vowel Use
Stem: Which constructed term correctly uses a combining
vowel to join a root and a suffix that begins with a consonant?
A. oste + itis → osteitis
B. neur + o + pathy → neuropathy
C. gastr + o + enteritis → gastroenteritis
D. hepat + o + -logy → hepatlogy
Correct Answer: C
Rationales:
• Correct Option: gastr/o/enter/itis uses the combining
vowel o between roots; correct construction.
, • A: osteitis is possible, but combining vowel typically
appears as oste/o/itis; omission makes it less standard.
• B: neuropathy is incorrect spelling; correct is neuropathy
(no extra o needed between root and suffix because -pathy
joins directly to neur/o → neuropathy).
• D: hepatlogy is incorrect; combining vowel o should
produce hepato- + -logy → hepatology or more commonly
hepatology (rarely hepato- used).
Teaching Point: Use combining vowel o between roots and
before consonant-starting suffixes.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Pertaining To”
Stem: Choose the correct meaning of the term hepatic by
analyzing the suffix.
A. Pertaining to the liver
B. Inflammation of the liver
C. Enlargement of the liver
D. Removal of the liver
Correct Answer: A
Rationales:
• Correct Option: hepat- = liver; -ic = pertaining to; so
hepatic = pertaining to the liver.
, • B: Inflammation would be hepatitis (-itis), not -ic.
• C: Enlargement would be hepatomegaly (-megaly).
• D: Removal would be hepatectomy (-ectomy).
Teaching Point: -ic commonly means “pertaining to.”
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
4
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Related to Pathology (-itis, -osis)
Stem: A chart lists dermatosis. Which describes the condition?
A. Inflammation of the skin
B. Any disease condition of the skin
C. Surgical removal of skin
D. Study of skin diseases
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
• Correct Option: dermat/o = skin; -osis = abnormal
condition or disease; so any disease of the skin.
• A: -itis would indicate inflammation (dermatitis).
• C: Removal would be dermatoectomy or dermectomy (-
ectomy).
• D: Study would be dermatology (-logy).
Teaching Point: -osis = abnormal condition; -itis =
inflammation.
