Medical Terminology Quiz

Digestive System Roots

• Stomat: means mouth; stomatitis means inflammation of the mouth, stomatomycosis means fungal infection of the mouth.
• Lingua or Glossa: means tongue; glossitis means tongue inflammation, sublingual means under the tongue.
• Dento or Odonto: means tooth; dentalgia means tooth pain, odontal means pertaining to teeth.
• Cheilo: means lip; cheiloplasty means surgical repair of lips.
• Gingivo: means gum; gingivitis means gum inflammation.
• Pharyng: means pharynx; pharyngitis means pharynx inflammation.
• Esophag: means esophagus; esophagitis means esophageal inflammation.
• Gastr: means stomach; gastrectomy means surgical removal of the stomach.
• Entero: means intestine; gastroenteritis means inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
• Dudeno: means duodenum (first part of small intestine); duodenal means pertaining to the duodenum, duodenal ulcers means ulcers in the duodenum.
• Jejuno: means jejunum (second part of small intestine); jejunectomy means surgical removal of the jejunum.

Genitourinary System Roots

• Nephr: means kidney; nephritis means kidney inflammation, nephrolithiasis means kidney stones.
• Ren: means kidney; suprarenal means above the kidney.
• Uretero: means ureter; ureteritis means ureter inflammation.
• Cyst: means bladder; cystitis means urinary bladder inflammation.
• Urethr: means urethra; urethritis means urethra inflammation.
• Uri: means urine; hematuria means bloody urine, anuria means lack of urine, urophobia means pathological fear of urine.
• Litho: means stone; lithotripsy means stone crushing.
• Oophor: means ovary; oophorectomy means surgical removal of the ovary.
• Salpingo: means fallopian tube; salpingitis means fallopian tube inflammation.
• Hyster: means uterus; hysteropexy means uterus fixation, hysterectomy means uterus removal.
• metr: means uterus; endometriosis means inflammation of the uterine wall (endometrium).

Hematopoietic, Lymphatic and Autonomic Nervous Systems Roots

• Cyte: means cell; erythrocyte means red blood cell, leucocyte means white blood cell, thrombocyte means blood platelet.
• Neutr: means neutrophil; neutropenia means decreased neutrophil count.
• Eosinophil: means acidophils; eosinophilia means increased eosinophil count.
• Basophil: refers to a type of white blood cell; in tissues, these are termed mast cells.
• Phago: means to eat; phagocytes are white blood cells that eat or engulf microorganisms and foreign particles; in circulation, these are termed monocytes.
• Hema or hemato: means blood; hematoma means a blood tumor, hematology means the science of blood.
• Lymph: means lymph; lymphocyte means lymph cell.
• Splen: means spleen; splenectomy means surgical removal of the spleen.
• Neuro: means nerve; neurotransmitter means chemical that transmits impulses between nerves or between a nerve and an effector organ.
• Ganglion: means ganglion; pre-ganglionic nerve is the nerve before ganglion, post-ganglionic nerve is the nerve after the ganglion.

Miscellaneous Roots

• Ceptor: means receptor; adrenoceptor means adrenergic receptor.
• Cholin: means acetylcholine; cholinergic nerve releases acetylcholine, cholinergic receptor's agonist is acetylcholine.
• Adren: means adrenaline or noradrenaline; adrenergic nerve or adrenergic receptor.
• Sympatho: means sympathetic; sympathomimetic drug produces actions similar to sympathetic nervous system stimulation.
• Parasympatho: means parasympathetic; parasympatholytic drug inhibits actions of parasympathetic stimulation.
• Autonomic: means involuntary; autonomic nervous system is the involuntary nervous system.

Prefixes Pertaining to Location

• Intra or in: inside; intracellular means inside cells, inhalation means drawing in breath.
• Inter: between; intercellular means between cells, intercostals means between ribs.
• Endo: within or inside; endometriosis means within the uterus, endocarditis means inflammation within the heart (endocardium).
• Peri, circum: around; pericarditis means around the heart, periocular means around the eye, circumcision means cutting around.
• Ec, exo or ecto: outside; ectopic pregnancy means pregnancy outside the uterine cavity, ectoparasite means a parasite outside the body, exocytosis means expelling particles outside a cell.
• Em or en: inside; empyema means pus inside a body cavity, encephalitis means inflammation of the brain.
• Retro: behind; retroperitoneal means behind the peritoneal cavity, retrocardial means behind the heart.

Prefixes Pertaining to Time

• Ante: before; antepartum means before childbirth.
• Pre or pro: before; prenatal means before birth, premenopausal means before menopause, premenstrual means before menstrual cycle, prodrug means a form that needs metabolism or conversion before being a drug.
• Post: after; postoperative means after surgery, postanaesthetic means after surgery.

Prefixes Pertaining to Negation

• A or an: without; anuria means no urine, atony means loss of muscle tone, anaesthesia means without feeling, afebrile means without fever, aseptic means without infection.
• Anti: against; antiemetic means a drug which stops emesis, antidiarrheal means against diarrhea.

Prefixes Pertaining to Amount and Comparison

• Mono or uni: single or one; monocyte means a single cell, unidirectional means has one direction.
• Bi or bis: two; bilateral refers to two sides.
• Tri: three; tricuspid valve has three parts.
• Quadri: four; quadriplegia means paralysis in all four limbs.
• Multi or poly: many or much; polyneuritis means inflammation in many nerves, multipara means a female that has four pregnancies.
• Semi or hemi: half; semiconscious means half conscious, hemiplegia means paralysis in one half of the body.
• Hypo: lower than normal; hypotension means low blood pressure.
• Hyper: above normal; hyperthyroidism means increased thyroid hormones, hyperemesis means excessive vomiting, hypertension means higher blood pressure.
• Homo or homeo: same; homomorphic means same shape, homeostasis means state of equilibrium in the body.
• Hetero: different; heterotypic means with different types.
• Allo: different; allopathy means different disease.

Prefixes Pertaining to Color

• Leuko or leuco: white; leukocytes means white cells, leukemia is cancer of leucocytes.
• Erythro: red; erythrocyte means red blood cell, erythema means redness.
• Cyan: blue; cyanosis means bluishness of skin.
• Melan: black; melanoma means a black tumor, melanocyte secretes black pigment melanin.
• Polio: gray; poliomyelitis means inflammation of gray matter in the brain.
• Chloro: green; chloroma means greenish yellow tumor originating from myeloid tissue.
• Cirrh: yellow; cirrhotic means yellowish (fibrotic).
• Glauco: gray; glaucoma means increased intra-ocular pressure.

Prefixes Pertaining to Size

• Micro: small; microcardia means a small heart, micro-organism means a small organism.
• Macro, mega or megalo: large; megaloblastic anemia means large blood cells, macromolecule means a large molecule, megacolon means a large colon, macroscopic means large and can be seen with naked eye.

Miscellaneous Prefixes

• Hydro: water; hydrophobia means pathological fear of water, dehydration means low body water content.
• Lipo or adipo: fat; lipoma means a fatty tumor, adipose tissue means fatty tissue.
• Dys: difficulty or pain; dysmenorrhea means difficult menstruation, dyspnea means difficult or painful breathing.
• Nox or noct: night; nocturnal enuresis means urination during night.
• Nycht: darkness; nychtophobia means pathological fear of darkness.
• Mal: bad; malodorous means having a bad odor.

Test your knowledge on key medical terminology roots, prefixes, and meanings. This quiz covers essential concepts including digestive, neurological, and hematological terms. Perfect for students in health-related courses or for anyone interested in medical language.