Medical Prefixes and Suffixes Quiz

Medical Prefixes and Suffixes

• -ology → Study of; example: cardiology (study of the heart)
• -scopy → Visual inspection; example: colonoscopy (visual inspection of the colon)
• -graphy → Recording; example: radiography (recording using x-rays)
• -plasty → Surgical repair; example: rhinoplasty (surgical repair of the nose)
• -osis → Condition; example: psychosis (mental condition involving loss of contact with reality)
• -algia → Pain; example: neuralgia (pain in a nerve)
• -cyte → Cell; example: leukocyte (white blood cell)
• -lysis → Breakdown; example: hemolysis (breakdown of red blood cells)
• -stomy → Opening; example: colostomy (opening of the colon)
• -phobia → Fear; example: arachnophobia (fear of spiders)

Parts of Speech

• Per → Through; example: percutaneous (through the skin)
• Inter → Between; example: intercostal (between the ribs)
• Extra → Outside; example: extracellular (outside the cell)
• Infra → Below; example: infraorbital (below the eye socket)
• Super → Above; example: superficial (on the surface)
• Contra → Against; example: contraindication (a reason not to use a drug or treatment)
• Peri → Around; example: pericardial (surrounding the heart)
• Trans → Across; example: transdermal (across the skin)
• Retro → Behind; example: retroperitoneal (behind the peritoneum)
• Circum → Around; example: circumcision (removal of the foreskin)

Prefixes Indicating Number or Condition

• Hyper → Excessive; example: hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Hypo → Deficient; example: hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Tachy → Fast; example: tachycardia (fast heart rate)
• Brady → Slow; example: bradycardia (slow heart rate)
• Poly → Many; example: polycystic ovary syndrome (a condition involving multiple cysts on the ovaries)

Singular and Plural Forms

• First declension: Nouns ending in -a; Plural form: change -a to -ae (e.g., vena (vein), venae (veins)).
• Second declension: Nouns ending in -us; Plural form: change -us to -i (e.g., musculus (muscle), musculi (muscles)).
• Third declension: Nouns with various endings; Plural form: add -es (e.g., diagnosis (diagnosis), diagnoses (diagnoses)).

Latin Abbreviations for Concise Medical Communication

• q.d. → quaque die (every day)

• b.i.d. → bis in die (twice a day)

• t.i.d. → ter in die (three times a day)

• q.o.d. → quaque altera die (every other day)

• p.o. → per os (by mouth)

• N.P.O. → nil per os (nothing by mouth)

• prn → pro re nata (as needed)

• IM → intramuscularis (intramuscular)

• IV → intravenosus (intravenous)

• ad lib. → ad libitum (as desired)

• a.c. → ante cibum (before meals)

• p.c. → post cibum (after meals)

• hs → hora somni (at bedtime)

• O.D. → oculus dexter (right eye)

• stat → statim (immediately)

Medical Terminology

• Alveolus → Alveoli : outer layer of an organ
• Cortex → Cortices : outer layer of an organ
• Phalanx → Phalanges : finger bones
• Appendix → Appendices : small organs
• Foramen → Foramina : openings in bone
• Apex → Apices : tips of organ
• Genus → Genera : category of organisms
• Thrombus → Thrombi : blood clots
• Nucleus → Nuclei : cell core
• Stoma → Stomata : openings

Medical Prefixes

• Oligo → Few; example: oligomenorrhea (infrequent menstruation)
• Pen → Around; example: penicillin (antibiotic that surrounds bacteria)
• Trans → Across; example: transfusion (transferring blood from one person to another)
• Dys → Bad / Difficult; example: dysphagia (difficulty swallowing)
• A-/An- → Without; example: anemia (deficiency in red blood cells)
• Pre → Before; example: premature (happening before the expected time)
• Endo → Within; example: endoscope (a medical instrument used to examine the inside of a hollow organ)
• Sub → Under; example: subcutaneous (under the skin)
• Anti → Against; example: antibiotic (a drug used to kill bacteria)
• Epi → Upon; example: epidermis (the outermost layer of skin)

Medical Suffixes indicating procedure, or special conditions

• -itis → Inflammation; example: bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchi)
• -ectomy → Surgical Removal; example: appendectomy (surgical removal of the appendix)
• -oma → Tumor; example: lipoma (a tumor composed of fat cells)
• -pathy → Disease; example: neuropathy (disease of the nerves)
• -emia → Blood condition; example: anemia (deficiency in red blood cells)

Test your knowledge on medical prefixes and suffixes with this engaging quiz. Understand the meanings and examples of various terms used in medicine. Perfect for students or professionals looking to enhance their medical vocabulary.