Medical Terminology Quiz on Roots and Prefixes

Word Roots

• -ia indicates a state or condition, often used in medical terminology to describe diseases or states.
• -lysis refers to the process of breaking down or cutting, important in biological and medical contexts.
• -plasm denotes fluid, typically used in terms related to cellular substances.
• -septic suggests a putrid or infected state, commonly used in infections or conditions related to decay.
• -scope implies the action of viewing, prevalent in instruments like endoscopes used for medical observation.

Medical Prefixes

• cyt-, cyto- relates to cells, forming terms in cell biology, such as cytoplasm.
• dis- indicates separation or removal, used in terms like dislocate.
• endo- means within or inside, often used for structures located inside an organ.
• exo- means outside, used in terms like exoskeleton.
• herato- pertains to horn-like structures, as in keratin.
• hetero- signifies other or different, commonly used in genetic terms.
• histo- relates to tissues, essential in histology.
• hydro- refers to water, prevalent in terms involving fluids.
• lip-, lipo- indicates fat, used in terms related to fat metabolism.
• meta- means after or beyond, often used in descriptors for changes in state.
• onco- relates to masses or tumors, a significant prefix in oncology.

Common Prefixes

• phil-, philla signifies a love or affinity for something, often used in psychology and biology.
• phobe-, phobia indicates fear or aversion, key in discussions of anxiety disorders.
• pro denotes a position before or prior, often used in terms indicating preventative measures.
• sten describes a narrowing process, crucial in medical conditions such as stenosis.
• sub means below or underneath, commonly used in anatomical contexts.
• super signifies above or beyond, used in terms indicating superiority or excess.

Test your knowledge on important medical word roots and prefixes. This quiz covers various terms used in medical contexts, including their meanings and applications. Perfect for students or anyone interested in enhancing their medical vocabulary.