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What is the combining vowel most commonly used in medical terminology?
Which of the following terms correctly represents the process of studying blood?
When is a combining vowel used between a word root and a suffix?
What is the meaning of the root 'hepat'?
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Which of the following terms is built without a word root?
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What does the combining form 'hepat/o' refer to?
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Which combining form indicates the study of the mind?
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In the term 'gastroenterology', what is the purpose of the combining vowel?
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Which combining form means 'to cut'?
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What does the combining form 'cyst/o' refer to?
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Which suffix would most likely indicate a procedure or operation?
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Which combining form refers to 'joint'?
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What does 'cytology' study?
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What does the term 'pathogenic' refer to?
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Which combining form refers to the uterus?
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What is the meaning of 'hyperthyroidism'?
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What does 'hematology' study?
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What term describes a 'tumor of the liver'?
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What is the purpose of a prefix in a medical term?
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Which of the following is a condition of low blood sugar?
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Which word represents the 'uppermost layer of the skin'?
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Which statement about a suffix is true?
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What is a combining vowel typically used for?
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What does 'excision' mean?
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How should complex medical terms be read for their meanings?
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What defines a combining form of a medical term?
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What is the significance of learning medical terminology?
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In the term 'Hematology', what does 'Hemat' represent?
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What role does the suffix play in the word 'Endometritis'?
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What does the suffix '-algia' indicate in medical terminology?
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Which prefix means 'no, not, without'?
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What does the suffix '-ectomy' mean in medical terms?
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Which term refers to a specialist in the endocrine system?
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What does the prefix 'hyper-' convey in medical language?
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What is the meaning of the suffix '-oma'?
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What does the prefix 'peri-' indicate?
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What does the suffix '-scopy' represent in terms of medical procedures?
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Which of the following terms indicates a condition that is usually abnormal?
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What does the term 'transurethral' indicate based on the prefix?
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Study Notes
Medical Terminology: Basic Word Structure
- Communication in Healthcare: Medical professionals and related individuals use specific terminology for effective communication.
- Medical Literature Uses Medical Language: The medical field relies heavily on established terms for clarity and understanding.
- Global Language: Medical terminology acts as a universal language for healthcare professionals worldwide.
- Breaking Down Complex Terms: Understanding the components of medical terms helps interpret long, unfamiliar words.
The Basics of Medical Terms
- Prefix: The beginning of a medical word, modifying its meaning.
- Root: The core of a term, representing a body part, action, or concept.
- Suffix: The ending of a word, indicating a procedure, condition, disorder, or disease.
- Combining Vowel: Typically the letter "o", used to link a root to a suffix or another root.
- Combining Form: A root combined with a combining vowel ("o").
Identifying and Understanding Components
- Reading from Suffix to Beginning: Begin analyzing a medical term by deciphering the suffix and then working backwards.
Root Words - Key Definitions
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Root Examples:
- Hemat - Blood
- Cis - To cut
- Kardia (Greek) - Heart
- Gaster (Greek) - Stomach
- Hepar (Greek) - Liver
- Osteon (Greek) - Bone
Combining Vowels
- Purpose: Facilitate pronunciation by smoothly linking word parts.
- Common Combining Vowel: "O"
-
Example:
- cardi/o - Cardio
Combining Forms
- Root and Vowel Combination: A root plus a combining vowel forms the combining form.
Basic Combining Forms
- aden/o: Gland
- arthr/o: Joint
- bi/o: Life
- carcin/o: Cancerous, cancer
- cardi/o: Heart
- cephal/o: Head
- cerebr/o: Cerebrum
- cis/o: To cut
- crin/o: To secrete
- cyst/o: Bladder
- cyt/o: Cell
- derm/o, dermat/o: Skin
- electr/o: Electricity
- encephal/o: Brain
- enter/o: Intestines (small)
- erythr/o: Red
- gastr/o: Stomach
- gnos/o: Knowledge
- gynec/o: Woman, female
- hemat/o, hem/o: Blood
- hepat/o: Liver
- iatr/o: Treatment, healing
- leuk/o: White
- log/o: Study of
- nephr/o: Kidney
- neur/o: Nerve
- onc/o: Tumor
- ophthalm/o: Eye
- oste/o: Bone
- path/o: Disease
- ped/o: Child
- psych/o: Mind
- radi/o: Radiation
- ren/o: Kidney
- rhin/o: Nose
- sarc/o: Flesh
- sect/o: To cut
- thromb/o: Clot, clotting
- ur/o: Urinary tract, urine
Basic Suffixes
- Purpose: Typically indicate a procedure, condition, disorder, or disease.
- Attached After Root: Suffixes are always added to the root word to complete the term.
-
Example:
- neur/o: Nerves
- Neural: Pertaining to nerves
- Neuralgia: Painful condition of nerves
Basic Suffix Definitions
- -ac: Pertaining to
- -al, -ar: Pertaining to
- -ic, -ical: Pertaining to
- -algia: Condition of pain
- -cyte: Cell
- -ectomy: Excision, removal
- -emia: Blood condition
- -genic: Pertaining to producing
- -globin: Protein
- -gram: Record
- -ion: Process
- -ist: Specialist
- -itis: Inflammation
- -logy: Process of study
- -oma: Tumor
- -opsy: Process of viewing
- -osis: Condition, usually abnormal
- -pathy: Disease condition
- -scope: An instrument for visual examination
- -scopy: Process of visual examination
- -sis: State of or condition of
- -tomy: Process of cutting
Basic Prefixes
- Purpose: Typically indicate a number, measurement, position/direction, color, or status.
- Not All Terms Have Prefixes: Some medical words do just have a root and a suffix.
Basic Prefix Definitions
- A-, An-: No, not without
- Auto-, Aut-: Self, own
- Dia-: Through, complete
- Endo-: In, within, inside
- Epi-: Upon, above
- Ex-: Out
- Exo-: Outside of, outward
- Hypo-: Below, less than normal
- Hyper-: Excessive, more than normal
- In-: Into, in
- Peri-: Surrounding, around
- Pro-: Before, forward
- Re-: Back, backward, again
- Retro-: Behind
- Sub-: Below, under
- Trans-: Across, through
Determining the Meaning of Medical Terms
-
Steps:
- 1. Define the Suffix
- 2. Define the Prefix
- 3. Define the Root
Example Term Breakdown
- Transhepatic: Pertaining to across the liver
- Hypoglycemia: Blood condition of low sugar
Points to Remember
- Multiple Accepted Spellings: Some words have different spellings depending on region.
- Similar Meaning Combining Forms: Multiple combining forms can have the same meaning.
- Similar Sounding Forms with Different Meanings: Be cautious as some forms have similar sounds but distinct meanings.
- Homophones: Terms with identical pronunciation but different spellings and meanings.
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Description
This quiz explores the fundamental components of medical terminology, focusing on prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Understanding these elements is essential for effective communication in healthcare. Additionally, it highlights how medical language serves as a universal communication tool across the global healthcare community.
