MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY & ANATOMY
FOR CPC EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Hypospadias— - Congenital defect in which the urethra opens on the underside of the
penis or on the perineum
Mammography— - A graphic recording of the breast using X-ray technology
Mastectomy— - Surgical excision of the breast
Menorrhagia— - Excessive blood flow during menstruation
Menorrhea— - Normal menstruation
Myometritis— - Inflammation of the muscular wall (myometrium) of the uterus
Oophorectomy— - Surgical excision of one or both of the ovaries
Orchiectomy— - Surgical excision of a testicle
Postpartum— - Period after childbirth
Salpingectomy— - Surgical excision of fallopian tube(s)
Prostatalgia— - Pain in the prostate
Trimester— - Period of three months; in pregnancy there are first, second, and third
trimesters
Vaginitis— - Inflammation of the vagina
Vasectomy— - Excision of the vas deferens surgically
Amnesia— - Loss of memory
Ataxia— - Loss of muscular coordination
Bradykinesia— - Abnormal or slowness of motion
Cephalgia/Cephalalgia— - Headache
,Cerebrospinal— - Pertaining to the brain and spinal cord
Craniotomy— - Surgical opening into the skull
Discectomy— - Surgical excision of an intervertebral disc
Dysphasia— - Impairment of speech (Syn.- aphasia)
Encephalomalacia— - Softening of the brain often due to ischemia or infarction
Epidural— - Pertaining to above or outside the dura mater
Epilepsy— - A brain disorder characterized by electrical-like disturbances resulting in
seizures
Intracranial— - Within the skull
Intrathecal administration— - Injection into the spinal canal, or into the subarachnoid
space
Laminectomy— - Excision of the vertebral posterior arch or spinal process
Meningitis— - Inflammation of the meninges or the membranes covering the spinal cord
or brain
Myelitis— - Inflammation of spinal cord
Neuralgia— - Severe or stabbing pain in the course or distribution of a nerve
Neurolysis— - Destruction of nerve tissue or lysis (breaking up) perineural adhesions
Neurorrhaphy— - Repair of severed nerve by suture, graft or with synthetic conduit
Neurosis— - Emotional condition or disorder; anxiety is a primary characteristic
Neurotransmitters— - A chemical that transmits energy across a synapse
Poliomyelitis— - Inflammation of gray matter of the spinal cord
Psychosis— - An abnormal condition of the mind, gross disorganization, or distortion of
mental capacity
Quadriplegia— - Paralysis of all four extremities
Radiculitis— - Inflammation of the spinal nerve roots
, Sciatica— - Severe pain along the sciatic nerve, usually unilateral based on the nerve
root affected
Subdural— - Below the dura mater
Vagotomy— - Surgical incision of the vagus nerve
Amblyopia— - Lazy eye causing dullness of vision
Ametropia— - Defect in the refractive power of the eye
Aphakia— - Absence of lens of the eye
Astigmatism— - Due to an abnormal curve of the cornea, rays of light do not focus on
the retina, but are spread over area causing out-of-focus vision
Blepharitis— - An inflammation of the edges of the eyelids
Conjunctiva— - A mucous membrane that covers the outer surface of the eye and lines
the inside of the eyelids
Cycloplegia— - Ciliary muscle paralysis
Diplopia— - Double vision
Ectropion— - Turning outward (eyelid)
Entropion— - Turning inward (eyelid)
Lacrimal— - Relating to tears or to the glands that secrete tears
Ophthalmoscope— - An instrument used to examine the interior portion of the eye
Presbyopia— - Farsightedness associated with aging and progressive disease
Retinopathy— - Non-inflammatory degenerative disease of the retina
Tonometer— - Instrument to measure intraocular pressure
Trichiasis— - Ingrown eyelashes; can rub against the cornea irritating the eye
Audiology— - Study of hearing disorders
Auricle— - External ear
Myringoplasty— - Repair of the tympanic membrane
FOR CPC EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
Hypospadias— - Congenital defect in which the urethra opens on the underside of the
penis or on the perineum
Mammography— - A graphic recording of the breast using X-ray technology
Mastectomy— - Surgical excision of the breast
Menorrhagia— - Excessive blood flow during menstruation
Menorrhea— - Normal menstruation
Myometritis— - Inflammation of the muscular wall (myometrium) of the uterus
Oophorectomy— - Surgical excision of one or both of the ovaries
Orchiectomy— - Surgical excision of a testicle
Postpartum— - Period after childbirth
Salpingectomy— - Surgical excision of fallopian tube(s)
Prostatalgia— - Pain in the prostate
Trimester— - Period of three months; in pregnancy there are first, second, and third
trimesters
Vaginitis— - Inflammation of the vagina
Vasectomy— - Excision of the vas deferens surgically
Amnesia— - Loss of memory
Ataxia— - Loss of muscular coordination
Bradykinesia— - Abnormal or slowness of motion
Cephalgia/Cephalalgia— - Headache
,Cerebrospinal— - Pertaining to the brain and spinal cord
Craniotomy— - Surgical opening into the skull
Discectomy— - Surgical excision of an intervertebral disc
Dysphasia— - Impairment of speech (Syn.- aphasia)
Encephalomalacia— - Softening of the brain often due to ischemia or infarction
Epidural— - Pertaining to above or outside the dura mater
Epilepsy— - A brain disorder characterized by electrical-like disturbances resulting in
seizures
Intracranial— - Within the skull
Intrathecal administration— - Injection into the spinal canal, or into the subarachnoid
space
Laminectomy— - Excision of the vertebral posterior arch or spinal process
Meningitis— - Inflammation of the meninges or the membranes covering the spinal cord
or brain
Myelitis— - Inflammation of spinal cord
Neuralgia— - Severe or stabbing pain in the course or distribution of a nerve
Neurolysis— - Destruction of nerve tissue or lysis (breaking up) perineural adhesions
Neurorrhaphy— - Repair of severed nerve by suture, graft or with synthetic conduit
Neurosis— - Emotional condition or disorder; anxiety is a primary characteristic
Neurotransmitters— - A chemical that transmits energy across a synapse
Poliomyelitis— - Inflammation of gray matter of the spinal cord
Psychosis— - An abnormal condition of the mind, gross disorganization, or distortion of
mental capacity
Quadriplegia— - Paralysis of all four extremities
Radiculitis— - Inflammation of the spinal nerve roots
, Sciatica— - Severe pain along the sciatic nerve, usually unilateral based on the nerve
root affected
Subdural— - Below the dura mater
Vagotomy— - Surgical incision of the vagus nerve
Amblyopia— - Lazy eye causing dullness of vision
Ametropia— - Defect in the refractive power of the eye
Aphakia— - Absence of lens of the eye
Astigmatism— - Due to an abnormal curve of the cornea, rays of light do not focus on
the retina, but are spread over area causing out-of-focus vision
Blepharitis— - An inflammation of the edges of the eyelids
Conjunctiva— - A mucous membrane that covers the outer surface of the eye and lines
the inside of the eyelids
Cycloplegia— - Ciliary muscle paralysis
Diplopia— - Double vision
Ectropion— - Turning outward (eyelid)
Entropion— - Turning inward (eyelid)
Lacrimal— - Relating to tears or to the glands that secrete tears
Ophthalmoscope— - An instrument used to examine the interior portion of the eye
Presbyopia— - Farsightedness associated with aging and progressive disease
Retinopathy— - Non-inflammatory degenerative disease of the retina
Tonometer— - Instrument to measure intraocular pressure
Trichiasis— - Ingrown eyelashes; can rub against the cornea irritating the eye
Audiology— - Study of hearing disorders
Auricle— - External ear
Myringoplasty— - Repair of the tympanic membrane
