This is Part 1 of the Medical
Terminology Certificate 13th Edition
Comprehensive Test Bank by Davi-Ellen
Chabner, The Language of Medicine.
TABLE OF CONTENTS — PART 1
Chapter 1: Basic Word Structure — Questions 1–20
Chapter 2: Body Organization — Questions 21–40
Chapter 3: Skeletal System — Questions 41–60
Chapter 4: Muscular System — Questions 61–80
Chapter 5: Cardiovascular System — Questions 81–100
Chapter 1: Basic Word Structure — Questions 1–20
Q1. Which word part is the foundation of a medical term and carries the core meaning?
A. Root
B. Prefix
C. Suffix
D. Combining vowel
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The root is the foundation of a medical term and carries its core meaning. Option B is
incorrect because a prefix is attached before the root to modify meaning. Option C is wrong because
a suffix is attached after the root to indicate condition or procedure. Option D is incorrect because a
combining vowel joins word parts but does not carry core meaning. Identifying roots helps decode
unfamiliar medical terms.
Q2. Which prefix means "before"?
A. Post-
B. Sub-
,C. Inter-
D. Pre-
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The prefix pre- means before, as in preoperative. Option A is incorrect because post-
means after. Option B is wrong because sub- means under or below. Option C is incorrect because
inter- means between. Knowing common prefixes improves term interpretation.
Q3. Which suffix means "inflammation"?
A. -ectomy
B. -itis
C. -ology
D. -pathy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The suffix -itis means inflammation, as in arthritis. Option A is incorrect because
-ectomy means surgical removal. Option C is wrong because -ology means study of. Option D is
incorrect because -pathy means disease. Recognizing suffixes helps identify clinical conditions.
Q4. What is the combining form for "heart"?
A. Hepat/o
B. Nephro/o
C. Cardi/o
D. Gastr/o
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cardi/o is the combining form for heart. Option A is incorrect because hepat/o refers
to liver. Option B is wrong because nephro/o refers to kidney. Option D is incorrect because gastr/o
refers to stomach. Combining forms are root plus vowel.
Q5. Which term means "study of the stomach and intestines"?
A. Gastrology
B. Gastroenterology
C. Gastritis
D. Gastrectomy
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Gastroenterology is the study of the stomach and intestines. Option A is incorrect
because gastrology is not the standard term. Option C is wrong because gastritis means stomach
inflammation. Option D is incorrect because gastrectomy means stomach removal. Combining forms
clarify specialties.
Q6. Which prefix means "against"?
A. Anti-
B. Pro-
C. Syn-
D. Dia-
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Anti- means against, as in antibiotic. Option B is incorrect because pro- means before
or forward. Option C is wrong because syn- means together. Option D is incorrect because dia-
means through. Prefixes alter meaning significantly.
Q7. Which suffix means "surgical removal"?
A. -otomy
B. -plasty
C. -ectomy
D. -scopy
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The suffix -ectomy means surgical removal, as in appendectomy. Option A is incorrect
because -otomy means incision. Option B is wrong because -plasty means surgical repair. Option D is
incorrect because -scopy means visual examination. Suffixes indicate procedures.
Q8. What is the combining form for "kidney"?
A. Cardi/o
B. Hepat/o
C. Gastr/o
D. Nephr/o
Correct Answer: D
, Rationale: Nephr/o is the combining form for kidney. Option A is incorrect because cardi/o
refers to heart. Option B is wrong because hepat/o refers to liver. Option C is incorrect because
gastr/o refers to stomach. Combining forms aid term building.
Q9. Which term means "inflammation of the liver"?
A. Hepatitis
B. Nephritis
C. Carditis
D. Gastritis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Option B is incorrect because nephritis is kidney
inflammation. Option C is wrong because carditis is heart inflammation. Option D is incorrect
because gastritis is stomach inflammation. Roots identify organs.
Q10. Which prefix means "under" or "below"?
A. Hyper-
B. Sub-
C. Super-
D. Trans-
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sub- means under or below, as in subcutaneous. Option A is incorrect because hyper-
means above or excessive. Option C is wrong because super- means above. Option D is incorrect
because trans- means across. Prefixes describe location.
Q11. Which suffix means "incision"?
A. -ectomy
B. -plasty
C. -otomy
D. -scopy
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The suffix -otomy means incision, as in laparotomy. Option A is incorrect because
-ectomy means removal. Option B is wrong because -plasty means repair. Option D is incorrect
because -scopy means examination. Suffixes define surgical actions.
Terminology Certificate 13th Edition
Comprehensive Test Bank by Davi-Ellen
Chabner, The Language of Medicine.
TABLE OF CONTENTS — PART 1
Chapter 1: Basic Word Structure — Questions 1–20
Chapter 2: Body Organization — Questions 21–40
Chapter 3: Skeletal System — Questions 41–60
Chapter 4: Muscular System — Questions 61–80
Chapter 5: Cardiovascular System — Questions 81–100
Chapter 1: Basic Word Structure — Questions 1–20
Q1. Which word part is the foundation of a medical term and carries the core meaning?
A. Root
B. Prefix
C. Suffix
D. Combining vowel
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The root is the foundation of a medical term and carries its core meaning. Option B is
incorrect because a prefix is attached before the root to modify meaning. Option C is wrong because
a suffix is attached after the root to indicate condition or procedure. Option D is incorrect because a
combining vowel joins word parts but does not carry core meaning. Identifying roots helps decode
unfamiliar medical terms.
Q2. Which prefix means "before"?
A. Post-
B. Sub-
,C. Inter-
D. Pre-
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The prefix pre- means before, as in preoperative. Option A is incorrect because post-
means after. Option B is wrong because sub- means under or below. Option C is incorrect because
inter- means between. Knowing common prefixes improves term interpretation.
Q3. Which suffix means "inflammation"?
A. -ectomy
B. -itis
C. -ology
D. -pathy
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The suffix -itis means inflammation, as in arthritis. Option A is incorrect because
-ectomy means surgical removal. Option C is wrong because -ology means study of. Option D is
incorrect because -pathy means disease. Recognizing suffixes helps identify clinical conditions.
Q4. What is the combining form for "heart"?
A. Hepat/o
B. Nephro/o
C. Cardi/o
D. Gastr/o
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Cardi/o is the combining form for heart. Option A is incorrect because hepat/o refers
to liver. Option B is wrong because nephro/o refers to kidney. Option D is incorrect because gastr/o
refers to stomach. Combining forms are root plus vowel.
Q5. Which term means "study of the stomach and intestines"?
A. Gastrology
B. Gastroenterology
C. Gastritis
D. Gastrectomy
,Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Gastroenterology is the study of the stomach and intestines. Option A is incorrect
because gastrology is not the standard term. Option C is wrong because gastritis means stomach
inflammation. Option D is incorrect because gastrectomy means stomach removal. Combining forms
clarify specialties.
Q6. Which prefix means "against"?
A. Anti-
B. Pro-
C. Syn-
D. Dia-
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Anti- means against, as in antibiotic. Option B is incorrect because pro- means before
or forward. Option C is wrong because syn- means together. Option D is incorrect because dia-
means through. Prefixes alter meaning significantly.
Q7. Which suffix means "surgical removal"?
A. -otomy
B. -plasty
C. -ectomy
D. -scopy
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The suffix -ectomy means surgical removal, as in appendectomy. Option A is incorrect
because -otomy means incision. Option B is wrong because -plasty means surgical repair. Option D is
incorrect because -scopy means visual examination. Suffixes indicate procedures.
Q8. What is the combining form for "kidney"?
A. Cardi/o
B. Hepat/o
C. Gastr/o
D. Nephr/o
Correct Answer: D
, Rationale: Nephr/o is the combining form for kidney. Option A is incorrect because cardi/o
refers to heart. Option B is wrong because hepat/o refers to liver. Option C is incorrect because
gastr/o refers to stomach. Combining forms aid term building.
Q9. Which term means "inflammation of the liver"?
A. Hepatitis
B. Nephritis
C. Carditis
D. Gastritis
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. Option B is incorrect because nephritis is kidney
inflammation. Option C is wrong because carditis is heart inflammation. Option D is incorrect
because gastritis is stomach inflammation. Roots identify organs.
Q10. Which prefix means "under" or "below"?
A. Hyper-
B. Sub-
C. Super-
D. Trans-
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Sub- means under or below, as in subcutaneous. Option A is incorrect because hyper-
means above or excessive. Option C is wrong because super- means above. Option D is incorrect
because trans- means across. Prefixes describe location.
Q11. Which suffix means "incision"?
A. -ectomy
B. -plasty
C. -otomy
D. -scopy
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The suffix -otomy means incision, as in laparotomy. Option A is incorrect because
-ectomy means removal. Option B is wrong because -plasty means repair. Option D is incorrect
because -scopy means examination. Suffixes define surgical actions.
