Medical Terminology Quiz: Prefixes & Combining Forms

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Questions and Answers

What does hyperglycemia refer to?

Depressed amounts of blood glucose

Normal amounts of blood glucose

Elevated amounts of blood glucose (correct)

Scant amounts of blood glucose

Which prefix means 'between'?

Extra

Intra

Inter (correct)

Sub

What does the term oliguria refer to?

Frequent urination

Scant amount of urination (correct)

Excessive urination

Normal urination

What does the prefix 'sublingual' imply?

Under the tongue Signup and view all the answers

Which combining vowel is most commonly used in medical terms?

o Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean when a term has the prefix 'infra'?

Below or beneath Signup and view all the answers

In the term 'gastroenteritis', which combining vowel is used?

o Signup and view all the answers

What does the prefix 'meta-' signify?

Beyond Signup and view all the answers

What components are combined to form a combining form?

Word root and a combining vowel Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix -ectomy mean?

Surgical removal Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following terms indicates a deficiency in all types of white blood cells?

Panleukopenia Signup and view all the answers

Which suffix means 'cutting into'?

-tomy Signup and view all the answers

What term describes a surgically created opening between the stomach and the body surface?

Gastrostomy Signup and view all the answers

Which suffix is associated with surgical repair?

-plasty Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following suffixes pertains to the kidneys?

-ic Signup and view all the answers

What combining form means stomach?

Gastr/o Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix '-centesis' indicate in medical terminology?

Surgical puncture to remove fluid or gas Signup and view all the answers

Which suffix indicates a procedure used to record bodily activity?

-graphy Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix '-rrhage' signify in medical terminology?

Bursting forth Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following suffixes means 'inflammation'?

-itis Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix '-malacia' refer to?

Abnormal softening Signup and view all the answers

Which suffix indicates 'surgical suturing'?

-rrhaphy Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the suffix '-opathy'?

A disease Signup and view all the answers

Which suffix is used to denote an instrument for visual examination?

-scope Signup and view all the answers

What is the meaning of the term 'cyanosis'?

Condition of blue discoloration Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements correctly describes the term 'anemia'?

A condition involving deficient red blood cells and/or hemoglobin Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix '-ectomy' indicate in medical terminology?

Surgical removal Signup and view all the answers

In the term 'mucous', what does the term relate to?

Pertaining to mucus Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'condylar' refer to?

Pertaining to rounded projections on a bone Signup and view all the answers

Which analysis method is suggested for breaking down medical terms?

Dissect the terms by dividing into basic components Signup and view all the answers

How is the order of word parts in a medical term typically structured?

In anatomical order related to organ systems Signup and view all the answers

What does the combining form 'hysteri/o' signify in medical terminology?

Relating to the uterus Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of a prefix in a medical term?

To modify the meaning of a word or root. Signup and view all the answers

Which term indicates the absence of urine?

Anuria Signup and view all the answers

What does the suffix in a medical term generally convey?

The procedure, condition, disease, or disorder. Signup and view all the answers

The prefix 'peri-' relates to which of the following?

Around Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'exocrine' refer to in medical terminology?

Secreted externally via a duct. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following prefixes indicates 'above normal'?

Hyper- Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a combining vowel in medical terminology?

To create a combining form with a root. Signup and view all the answers

The term 'hypothyroid' suggests which condition?

Lower than normal thyroid function. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Directional Prefixes and Their Meanings

epi- means upper
**extra- ** means outside
**hyper- **means increased
**hypo- ** means decreased
**infra- ** means below
**inter- **means between
**intra- ** means within
**meta- ** means beyond
**per- ** means throughout
**sub- ** means below
**super- ** means increased
**supra- ** means increased
**trans- ** means across
**ultra- ** means increased

Combining Vowels

They are used to make words easier to pronounce
They are most commonly the vowel 'o'
Combining vowels are usually used when a suffix begins with a consonant, as in the suffix "-scope".
Combining vowels are not used when the suffix begins with a vowel, as in the suffix "-itis".
Combining vowels are always used when two or more root words are joined.
Combining vowels are not used between a prefix and a root word.

Combining Forms

They are the combination of a word root and a combining vowel
They are usually used to define a part of the body
They are used to create new words
**Combining Forms Examples: **
- leuk/o - white
- **pan- **- all
- gastr/o - stomach
- enter/o - small intestine

Suffixes

They are attached to the end of a word to modify its meaning
They can be grouped by meaning or category.
"Pertaining To" Suffixes:
- -ac: Cardiac (pertaining to the heart)
- -al: Renal (pertaining to the kidney)
- -an: Ovarian (pertaining to the ovary)
- -ar: Lumbar (pertaining to the loin)
- -ary: Alimentary (pertaining to the gastrointestinal tract)
- -eal: Laryngeal (pertaining to the larynx)
- -ic: Enteric (pertaining to the intestines)
- -ine: Uterine (pertaining to the uterus)
- -ous: Cutaneous (pertaining to the skin)
- -tic: Nephrotic (pertaining to the kidneys)
Surgical Suffixes:
- -ectomy = surgical removal (mastectomy - removal of the breast)
- -pexy = suture to stabilize (gastropexy - stabilizing the stomach to the abdominal wall)
- -plasty = surgical repair (rhinoplasty - surgical repair of the nose)
- -stomy = surgically created opening (colostomy - opening between the colon and the body surface)
- -tomy = cutting into ( laparotomy - incision into the abdomen)

Medical Term Components

Prefix: Found at the beginning of the word. It usually indicates number, location, time or status.
Root: Gives the essential meaning of the word.
Combining vowel: Single vowel, usually "o", added to the end of a root to make it easier to pronounce.
Combining form: The combination of the root and a combining vowel.
Suffix: Found at the end of a word. It usually indicates procedure, condition, disease or disorder.

Prefixes

They are added to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning.
Prefix Examples:
- pre- means before
- **peri- ** means around
- pre- means after

Contrasting Prefixes

**a- ** means without
**an- ** means without
**ab- ** means away from
**ad- ** means toward
**anti- ** means against
**dys- ** means difficult or painful
**eu- ** means good or normal
**endo- ** means within
**ex- ** or **exo- ** means outside
**ecto- ** means outside
**hyper- ** means elevated
**hypo- ** means depressed

Procedural Suffixes

-centesis = surgical puncture to remove fluid or gas (cystocentesis - puncture of the urinary bladder to remove urine)
-gram = record of (electrocardiogram - a record of the electrical activity of the heart)
-graph = instrument that records (electrocardiograph- machine that records heartbeat)
-graphy = procedure that records (electrocardiography - procedure used to record the electrical activity of the heart)
-lysis = separation or breakdown (urinalysis - separation of urine)
-scope = instrument to visually examine (endoscope - to visually examine inside the body)
-scopy = procedure to visually examine (endoscopy - procedure used to visually examine inside the body)
-therapy = treatment (chemotherapy - treatment using chemical substances)

Double R Suffixes

-rrhagia or -rrhage = bursting forth (hemorrhage - blood bursting from blood vessels)
-rrhaphy = to suture (enterorrhaphy - suturing of the intestines)
-rrhea = flow, discharge (diarrhea - bowels discharge)
-rrhexis = rupture (myorrhexis - rupture of the muscle)

Conditional And Structural Suffixes

-algia and -dynia = pain (arthralgia and arthrodynia- joint pain)
-itis = inflammation (hepatitis - inflammation of the liver)
-malacia = abnormal softening (osteomalacia - abnormal softening of bone)
-megaly = enlargement (cardiomegaly - enlargement of the heart)
-osis = abnormal condition (cardiosis - abnormal condition of the heart)
-pathy = disease (enteropathy - small intestine disease)
-sclerosis = abnormal hardening (arteriosclerosis - hardening of the arteries)
-um = structure (pericardium - structure around the heart)

How to Analyze A Medical Term:

Dissect the word into its basic components.
Begin at the end, defining the suffix first.
Anatomical order - follow the order of the body system.

Examples

ovariohysterectomy :
- Component parts: ovari/o/hyster/ectomy
- Meaning: Surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus.

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Description

Test your knowledge on directional prefixes and their meanings in medical terminology as well as understanding combining vowels and forms. This quiz will help solidify your understanding of how these components are used in word formation.