MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY FOR
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)ANN EHRLICH
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Primary Medical Terms & Word Parts
Stem: A patient chart lists "epistaxis." Using word parts,
determine the meaning and the most appropriate clinical
description.
A. Inflammation of the epiglottis
B. Nosebleed
C. Swelling of the epithelium
D. Surgical removal of a lesion
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
, • Correct: epistaxis breaks into epi- (upon) is misleading
here; the root staxis means "dripping" or "bleeding" —
together the term means "nosebleed." This is a standard
primary medical term.
• Incorrect A: Epiglottitis is inflammation of the epiglottis;
epistaxis does not involve -itis.
• Incorrect C: Epithelium-related terms use the root
epitheli/o or epithelium, not staxis.
• Incorrect D: Surgical removal uses suffixes like -ectomy; -
staxis does not indicate removal.
Teaching Point: Break words into roots, prefixes, and
suffixes first.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Word Roots & Combining Vowels
Stem: Which combining form correctly links the root cardi- to
the suffix -logy without changing meaning or pronunciation?
A. cardiology (cardi + o + logy)
B. cardilogy (cardi + logy)
C. cardiolelogy (cardi + ole + logy)
D. carlogy (car + logy)
Correct Answer: A
Rationales:
, • Correct: The combining vowel -o- is used between the root
cardi- and suffix -logy to form cardiology, preserving
pronunciation and meaning ("study of the heart").
• Incorrect B: Omitting the combining vowel leads to a
difficult-to-pronounce and nonstandard form.
• Incorrect C: Adds an extra element (ole) that is not part of
standard word formation.
• Incorrect D: Uses an incorrect root (car-), changing the
meaning.
Teaching Point: Use combining vowel o between root and
suffix when needed.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes as Noun Endings
Stem: A nurse sees the term nephrectomy in a surgical report.
Identify which suffix signals the word is a noun indicating a
procedure.
A. -ectomy
B. -ic
C. -algia
D. -logy
Correct Answer: A
Rationales:
, • Correct: -ectomy is a noun-forming suffix meaning
"surgical removal," indicating a procedural noun.
Nephrectomy = removal of a kidney.
• Incorrect B: -ic is an adjective suffix meaning "pertaining
to," not a procedure noun.
• Incorrect C: -algia denotes pain and is a noun, but not a
procedural suffix.
• Incorrect D: -logy denotes "study of" and forms nouns but
not surgical procedures.
Teaching Point: Recognize -ectomy as a procedure (noun)
suffix.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
4
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Pertaining To”
Stem: In a pathology note, the term hepatic appears. Using
suffix knowledge, choose the best interpretation.
A. Condition of the liver
B. Pertaining to the liver
C. Disease of the liver
D. Surgical removal of the liver
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
HEALTH PROFESSIONS
9TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)ANN EHRLICH
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Primary Medical Terms & Word Parts
Stem: A patient chart lists "epistaxis." Using word parts,
determine the meaning and the most appropriate clinical
description.
A. Inflammation of the epiglottis
B. Nosebleed
C. Swelling of the epithelium
D. Surgical removal of a lesion
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
, • Correct: epistaxis breaks into epi- (upon) is misleading
here; the root staxis means "dripping" or "bleeding" —
together the term means "nosebleed." This is a standard
primary medical term.
• Incorrect A: Epiglottitis is inflammation of the epiglottis;
epistaxis does not involve -itis.
• Incorrect C: Epithelium-related terms use the root
epitheli/o or epithelium, not staxis.
• Incorrect D: Surgical removal uses suffixes like -ectomy; -
staxis does not indicate removal.
Teaching Point: Break words into roots, prefixes, and
suffixes first.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
2
Reference: Ch. 1 — Word Roots & Combining Vowels
Stem: Which combining form correctly links the root cardi- to
the suffix -logy without changing meaning or pronunciation?
A. cardiology (cardi + o + logy)
B. cardilogy (cardi + logy)
C. cardiolelogy (cardi + ole + logy)
D. carlogy (car + logy)
Correct Answer: A
Rationales:
, • Correct: The combining vowel -o- is used between the root
cardi- and suffix -logy to form cardiology, preserving
pronunciation and meaning ("study of the heart").
• Incorrect B: Omitting the combining vowel leads to a
difficult-to-pronounce and nonstandard form.
• Incorrect C: Adds an extra element (ole) that is not part of
standard word formation.
• Incorrect D: Uses an incorrect root (car-), changing the
meaning.
Teaching Point: Use combining vowel o between root and
suffix when needed.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes as Noun Endings
Stem: A nurse sees the term nephrectomy in a surgical report.
Identify which suffix signals the word is a noun indicating a
procedure.
A. -ectomy
B. -ic
C. -algia
D. -logy
Correct Answer: A
Rationales:
, • Correct: -ectomy is a noun-forming suffix meaning
"surgical removal," indicating a procedural noun.
Nephrectomy = removal of a kidney.
• Incorrect B: -ic is an adjective suffix meaning "pertaining
to," not a procedure noun.
• Incorrect C: -algia denotes pain and is a noun, but not a
procedural suffix.
• Incorrect D: -logy denotes "study of" and forms nouns but
not surgical procedures.
Teaching Point: Recognize -ectomy as a procedure (noun)
suffix.
Citation: Ehrlich, A. (2022). Medical Terminology for Health
Professions (9th ed.). Ch. 1.
4
Reference: Ch. 1 — Suffixes Meaning “Pertaining To”
Stem: In a pathology note, the term hepatic appears. Using
suffix knowledge, choose the best interpretation.
A. Condition of the liver
B. Pertaining to the liver
C. Disease of the liver
D. Surgical removal of the liver
Correct Answer: B
Rationales:
