NBCMI Written Exam Questions and
Solutions (A+)
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) - Answers -✔✔ Severe "heartburn" in
laymen's language. Weakness of the valve between the esophagus and stomach may
allow stomach acid to reflux (regurgitate, backup) into the esophagus and irritate and
inflame the lining. This results in chest pain which can mimic that of angina (pain of
cardiac ischemia or an MI).
Diverticulosis/diverticulitis - Answers -✔✔ Small pouches may form along the walls of
the large intestine called diverticuli which if symptomatic, causing discomfort to the
patient, is called diverticulosis. These abnormal outpocketings may collect and not be
able to empty fecal material which can lead to inflammation, diverticulitis.
Portal hypertension - Answers -✔✔ A potential complication of chronic alcoholism
resulting in liver damage and obstruction of venous blood flow through the liver. The
rising blood pressure in the veins between the gastrointestinal tract and liver causes
engorgement of veins around the umbilicus (navel). The characteristic radiating pattern
of veins is called a "caput medusae" (head of Medusa). Medusa was the "snake-haired
lady" in Greek mythology.
Esophageal varices - Answers -✔✔ bulging, engorged veins in the walls of the
esophagus are often a complication of chronic alcoholism (see portal hypertension).
The thin-walled, swollen veins are at risk of tearing resulting in severe, possibly fatal,
bleeding.
Dysphagia - Answers -✔✔ Difficulty swallowing. May be related to GERD (see above),
esophageal tumor or other causes.
Crohn's Disease - Answers -✔✔ a chronic inflammatory disease primarily of the bowel.
Typical symptoms are abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhea. There may also be rectal
bleeding that can lead to anemia. Special X-rays and tests are needed to differentiate
Crohn's from other diseases with similar symptoms.
Peritonitis - Answers -✔✔ Inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity. Before
antibiotics, people would die from peritonitis if an inflamed appendix burst. Indications of
peritonitis are called "peritoneal signs": tender abdomen, rebound pain (pain when
manual pressure released from examining abdomen), board-like rigidity of abdominal
muscles, no bowel sounds (gurgles). The peritoneal membrane is very sensitive to
exposure to foreign substances. Contact with blood, bile, urine, pus will cause
peritoneal signs.
,Gastroenterologist - Answers -✔✔ a physician specializing in diseases of the digestive
system including esophagus, stomach and intestines. These specialists do not do
surgery. Patients needing surgery are referred to a general surgeon.
Proctologist - Answers -✔✔ a physician specializing in diseases of the rectum and
anus. Proctology is a surgical subspecialty.
Guaiac test (Hemoccult, Fecult) - Answers -✔✔ special chemical test to identify blood
in the stool (feces). Blood in the stool may have many causes including cancer and
hemorrhoids.
Upper GI series - Answers -✔✔ a series of X-rays of the esophagus and stomach and
small intestines having the patient swallow a "milkshake" of barium. The element barium
is opaque, i.e. blocks , X-rays. This procedure may be used to identify problems with
swallowing, stomach ulcers, twisting of the small intestines.
Lower GI series - Answers -✔✔ a series of X-rays using a barium enema to show the
large intestine and rectum. This procedure can be used to identify problems such as
diverticulitis/diverticulosis, and tumors.
Endoscopy - Answers -✔✔ use of a flexible fiberoptic instrument attached to a video
camera that can be used to directly visualize the esophagus, stomach and large bowel.
Special names may be used for each area explored such as colonoscopy
Ultrasonography (ultrasound) - Answers -✔✔ a procedure using high frequency sound
waves to visualize internal organs. Primarily used to visualize abdominal and pelvic
organs, such as the pregnant uterus.
Rhin/o - Answers -✔✔ Nose
Laryng/o - Answers -✔✔ Larynx, "voice box"*
Trache/o - Answers -✔✔ Trachea, "windpipe"
Bronch/o - Answers -✔✔ Lung air passageways
Pne/u, -pnea - Answers -✔✔ Breath, air, lung
Pulmo/o - Answers -✔✔ Lung
-ptysis - Answers -✔✔ Spitting (coughing)
-plasty - Answers -✔✔ Reconstruction
,Pneumoconiosis - Answers -✔✔ iterally, "an abnormal condition of dust in the lungs." A
generic name for conditions where toxic particles become trapped in the lungs and
cause symptoms and disability such a "black lung" or "miner's lung" disease. Terms
specific to the particulate matter may be given such as asbestosis.
Epistaxis - Answers -✔✔ nosebleed
Emphysema (COPD) - Answers -✔✔ Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, of which
emphysema is one of, results in progressive destruction of the air sacs in the lungs and
loss of respiratory membrane for oxygen exchange. The bane of long term smokers.
Atelectasis - Answers -✔✔ a collapsed lung
Nephr/o, ren/o - Answers -✔✔ Kidney
Hydro/o - Answers -✔✔ Water
Cyst/o - Answers -✔✔ Bladder
Pyel/o - Answers -✔✔ Renal collecting ducts
Ur/o, -uria - Answers -✔✔ Urine
Olig/o - Answers -✔✔ Scanty, less than normal
-pexy - Answers -✔✔ To surgically reattach, fix in normal position
Nephrosis - Answers -✔✔ a noninflammatory disease of kidneys.
Nephrolith - Answers -✔✔ a kidney stone.
Urethritis - Answers -✔✔ inflammation of the urethra, the final pathway for urine in both
sexes, and the common pathway for urine and semen in the male.
Nocturia - Answers -✔✔ frequently getting up and urinating during the night.
Enuresis - Answers -✔✔ involuntary release of urine, most often in reference to
"bedwetting."
Cystoscopy - Answers -✔✔ looking into the urinary bladder with a fiberoptic instrument.
Intravenous pyelogram - Answers -✔✔ special X-rays showing the drainage pattern of
the kidneys. A dye opaque to X-rays is injected into a vein. After a waiting period for the
, blood and dye to pass through the kidneys, X-rays can be taken of the collecting system
of the kidney, ureter and bladder.
Retrograde pyelogram - Answers -✔✔ In this procedure a dye opaque to X-rays is
flushed backwards up the urethra and bladder and up the ureters to the kidneys.
Voiding cystourethrogram - Answers -✔✔ take this apart starting at the end of the
word: an imaging technique (X-ray) displaying the urethra and bladder while urinating!
How did the opaque dye get into the bladder? One guess then see retrograde
pyelogram above.
Dialysis - Answers -✔✔ a procedure for cleansing the blood of waste products in
individuals with complete kidney failure or who have had kidneys removed by surgery.
With the in-hospital procedure, the patient's blood is circulated through a machine that
removes waste products. The blood is recirculated back into the patien
Lithotripsy - Answers -✔✔ Crushing kidney stones with sound waves. Unlike
cholelithotripsy (crushing of gallstones), which is no longer done, the sludge from
crushing kidney stones has an easy direct pathway out of the body (down the ureter to
the bladder and out the urethra). Nephrolithotripsy is an elective procedure that may
spare a patient surgery.
Orchid/o, test/o - Answers -✔✔ Testes
Balan/o - Answers -✔✔ Head of the penis
Andr/o - Answers -✔✔ Male
Prostat/o - Answers -✔✔ Prostate
Vas/o - Answers -✔✔ Vessel, duct
-rrhaphy - Answers -✔✔ To suture
Hypospadias - Answers -✔✔ literally "below the fleshy spike." A condition in which the
external urinary meatus (opening) opens anywhere below the tip of the penis rather
than at the tip.
Hydrocele - Answers -✔✔ fluid filled sac partially surrounding the testis. Manifests itself
as a swelling on the side of the scrotum. May cause discomfort. Can be surgically
corrected. And, who would most likely be doing the surgery? A urologist!
Varicocele - Answers -✔✔ dilated and twisted veins of the testis, sort of "hemorrhoids"
of the scrotum! Manifests itself as a swelling on the side of the scrotum which may look
and feel like a "bag of worms." May be surgically corrected if causing discomfort. This
Solutions (A+)
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) - Answers -✔✔ Severe "heartburn" in
laymen's language. Weakness of the valve between the esophagus and stomach may
allow stomach acid to reflux (regurgitate, backup) into the esophagus and irritate and
inflame the lining. This results in chest pain which can mimic that of angina (pain of
cardiac ischemia or an MI).
Diverticulosis/diverticulitis - Answers -✔✔ Small pouches may form along the walls of
the large intestine called diverticuli which if symptomatic, causing discomfort to the
patient, is called diverticulosis. These abnormal outpocketings may collect and not be
able to empty fecal material which can lead to inflammation, diverticulitis.
Portal hypertension - Answers -✔✔ A potential complication of chronic alcoholism
resulting in liver damage and obstruction of venous blood flow through the liver. The
rising blood pressure in the veins between the gastrointestinal tract and liver causes
engorgement of veins around the umbilicus (navel). The characteristic radiating pattern
of veins is called a "caput medusae" (head of Medusa). Medusa was the "snake-haired
lady" in Greek mythology.
Esophageal varices - Answers -✔✔ bulging, engorged veins in the walls of the
esophagus are often a complication of chronic alcoholism (see portal hypertension).
The thin-walled, swollen veins are at risk of tearing resulting in severe, possibly fatal,
bleeding.
Dysphagia - Answers -✔✔ Difficulty swallowing. May be related to GERD (see above),
esophageal tumor or other causes.
Crohn's Disease - Answers -✔✔ a chronic inflammatory disease primarily of the bowel.
Typical symptoms are abdominal pain, weight loss, diarrhea. There may also be rectal
bleeding that can lead to anemia. Special X-rays and tests are needed to differentiate
Crohn's from other diseases with similar symptoms.
Peritonitis - Answers -✔✔ Inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity. Before
antibiotics, people would die from peritonitis if an inflamed appendix burst. Indications of
peritonitis are called "peritoneal signs": tender abdomen, rebound pain (pain when
manual pressure released from examining abdomen), board-like rigidity of abdominal
muscles, no bowel sounds (gurgles). The peritoneal membrane is very sensitive to
exposure to foreign substances. Contact with blood, bile, urine, pus will cause
peritoneal signs.
,Gastroenterologist - Answers -✔✔ a physician specializing in diseases of the digestive
system including esophagus, stomach and intestines. These specialists do not do
surgery. Patients needing surgery are referred to a general surgeon.
Proctologist - Answers -✔✔ a physician specializing in diseases of the rectum and
anus. Proctology is a surgical subspecialty.
Guaiac test (Hemoccult, Fecult) - Answers -✔✔ special chemical test to identify blood
in the stool (feces). Blood in the stool may have many causes including cancer and
hemorrhoids.
Upper GI series - Answers -✔✔ a series of X-rays of the esophagus and stomach and
small intestines having the patient swallow a "milkshake" of barium. The element barium
is opaque, i.e. blocks , X-rays. This procedure may be used to identify problems with
swallowing, stomach ulcers, twisting of the small intestines.
Lower GI series - Answers -✔✔ a series of X-rays using a barium enema to show the
large intestine and rectum. This procedure can be used to identify problems such as
diverticulitis/diverticulosis, and tumors.
Endoscopy - Answers -✔✔ use of a flexible fiberoptic instrument attached to a video
camera that can be used to directly visualize the esophagus, stomach and large bowel.
Special names may be used for each area explored such as colonoscopy
Ultrasonography (ultrasound) - Answers -✔✔ a procedure using high frequency sound
waves to visualize internal organs. Primarily used to visualize abdominal and pelvic
organs, such as the pregnant uterus.
Rhin/o - Answers -✔✔ Nose
Laryng/o - Answers -✔✔ Larynx, "voice box"*
Trache/o - Answers -✔✔ Trachea, "windpipe"
Bronch/o - Answers -✔✔ Lung air passageways
Pne/u, -pnea - Answers -✔✔ Breath, air, lung
Pulmo/o - Answers -✔✔ Lung
-ptysis - Answers -✔✔ Spitting (coughing)
-plasty - Answers -✔✔ Reconstruction
,Pneumoconiosis - Answers -✔✔ iterally, "an abnormal condition of dust in the lungs." A
generic name for conditions where toxic particles become trapped in the lungs and
cause symptoms and disability such a "black lung" or "miner's lung" disease. Terms
specific to the particulate matter may be given such as asbestosis.
Epistaxis - Answers -✔✔ nosebleed
Emphysema (COPD) - Answers -✔✔ Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, of which
emphysema is one of, results in progressive destruction of the air sacs in the lungs and
loss of respiratory membrane for oxygen exchange. The bane of long term smokers.
Atelectasis - Answers -✔✔ a collapsed lung
Nephr/o, ren/o - Answers -✔✔ Kidney
Hydro/o - Answers -✔✔ Water
Cyst/o - Answers -✔✔ Bladder
Pyel/o - Answers -✔✔ Renal collecting ducts
Ur/o, -uria - Answers -✔✔ Urine
Olig/o - Answers -✔✔ Scanty, less than normal
-pexy - Answers -✔✔ To surgically reattach, fix in normal position
Nephrosis - Answers -✔✔ a noninflammatory disease of kidneys.
Nephrolith - Answers -✔✔ a kidney stone.
Urethritis - Answers -✔✔ inflammation of the urethra, the final pathway for urine in both
sexes, and the common pathway for urine and semen in the male.
Nocturia - Answers -✔✔ frequently getting up and urinating during the night.
Enuresis - Answers -✔✔ involuntary release of urine, most often in reference to
"bedwetting."
Cystoscopy - Answers -✔✔ looking into the urinary bladder with a fiberoptic instrument.
Intravenous pyelogram - Answers -✔✔ special X-rays showing the drainage pattern of
the kidneys. A dye opaque to X-rays is injected into a vein. After a waiting period for the
, blood and dye to pass through the kidneys, X-rays can be taken of the collecting system
of the kidney, ureter and bladder.
Retrograde pyelogram - Answers -✔✔ In this procedure a dye opaque to X-rays is
flushed backwards up the urethra and bladder and up the ureters to the kidneys.
Voiding cystourethrogram - Answers -✔✔ take this apart starting at the end of the
word: an imaging technique (X-ray) displaying the urethra and bladder while urinating!
How did the opaque dye get into the bladder? One guess then see retrograde
pyelogram above.
Dialysis - Answers -✔✔ a procedure for cleansing the blood of waste products in
individuals with complete kidney failure or who have had kidneys removed by surgery.
With the in-hospital procedure, the patient's blood is circulated through a machine that
removes waste products. The blood is recirculated back into the patien
Lithotripsy - Answers -✔✔ Crushing kidney stones with sound waves. Unlike
cholelithotripsy (crushing of gallstones), which is no longer done, the sludge from
crushing kidney stones has an easy direct pathway out of the body (down the ureter to
the bladder and out the urethra). Nephrolithotripsy is an elective procedure that may
spare a patient surgery.
Orchid/o, test/o - Answers -✔✔ Testes
Balan/o - Answers -✔✔ Head of the penis
Andr/o - Answers -✔✔ Male
Prostat/o - Answers -✔✔ Prostate
Vas/o - Answers -✔✔ Vessel, duct
-rrhaphy - Answers -✔✔ To suture
Hypospadias - Answers -✔✔ literally "below the fleshy spike." A condition in which the
external urinary meatus (opening) opens anywhere below the tip of the penis rather
than at the tip.
Hydrocele - Answers -✔✔ fluid filled sac partially surrounding the testis. Manifests itself
as a swelling on the side of the scrotum. May cause discomfort. Can be surgically
corrected. And, who would most likely be doing the surgery? A urologist!
Varicocele - Answers -✔✔ dilated and twisted veins of the testis, sort of "hemorrhoids"
of the scrotum! Manifests itself as a swelling on the side of the scrotum which may look
and feel like a "bag of worms." May be surgically corrected if causing discomfort. This
