Medical Terminology Quiz

Key Combining Forms

• aneurysm/o: Refers to an aneurysm, indicating a widening of a blood vessel.
• angi/o: Pertains to vessels, can refer to blood or lymph vessels.
• aort/o: Specifically denotes the aorta, the main artery leaving the heart.
• arter/o, arteri/o: Indicates arteries, which carry blood away from the heart.
• ather/o: Relates to a fatty substance, often associated with atherosclerosis.
• atri/o: Refers to the atrium, the upper chamber of the heart.

Additional Combining Forms

• axill/o: Denotes the armpit region.
• brachi/o: Refers to the arm.
• cardi/o: Indicates the heart, central to cardiovascular health.
• cholesterol/o: Relates specifically to cholesterol, a type of lipid.
• cyan/o: Refers to blue, often used in medical contexts to describe skin color due to lack of oxygen.
• isch/o: Signifies the concept of holding back or restriction.

Muscle and Respiratory Terms

• my/o: Indicates muscle tissue.
• myx/o: Refers to mucus, often related to respiratory or gastrointestinal conditions.
• ox/o: Relates to oxygen, essential for respiration.
• pericardi/o: Refers to the pericardium, the membrane surrounding the heart.
• phleb/o: Denotes veins, which return blood to the heart.
• pulmon/o: Pertains to the lungs, vital for gas exchange.

Activity and Cycles

• rrhythm/o: Refers to rhythm, often used in relation to heartbeats.
• sphygm/o: Indicates pulse, a vital sign reflecting heart rate.
• steth/o: Pertains to the chest area, often examined with a stethoscope.
• thromb/o: Relates to clots, significant in conditions like thrombosis.
• valv/o, valvul/o: Both refer to valves in the heart that control blood flow.

Vessel Terms

• vas/o: Refers to vessels, including arteries and veins.
• vascul/o: Pertains to blood vessels collectively.
• ven/o, ven/i: Both denote veins, emphasizing their role in circulation.
• ventricul/o: Refers to ventricles, the lower chambers of the heart.

Suffixes and Their Meanings

• -constriction: Indicates narrowing, significant in conditions like stenosis.
• -dilation: Signifies widening, often used in procedures to open up narrowed areas.
• -emia: Refers to a blood condition, related to various diseases.
• -graphy: Describes the process of recording or imaging, such as ECG.
• -lysis: Indicates destruction or breakdown, as seen in certain diseases.
• -megaly: Refers to enlargement, a common term in imaging reports.
• -meter: Related to measurement; often paired with other terms.
• -oma: Indicates tumors or abnormal growths.
• -osis: Refers to a condition, often indicating a pathological state.
• -plasty: Indicates surgical repair, commonly in reference to tissues or vessels.
• -sclerosis: Refers to hardening, applicable in vascular conditions.
• -stenosis: Indicates tightening or stricture, affecting blood flow.

Prefixes and Their Meanings

• a-, an-: Signifies absence or lack of; useful in describing conditions.
• brady-: Refers to slow, often seen in heart rates.
• de-: Indicating removal or lack of, relevant in various medical descriptions.
• dys-: Describes something bad or painful, often indicating pathological states.
• endo-: Means within, indicating structures located inside the body.
• hyper-: Refers to above or excessive, often used in hypertension.
• hypo-: Denotes below or deficient, seen in hypoactivity.
• inter-: Means between, often used to describe locations or relationships.
• peri-: Signifies around, relevant to anatomical structures like pericardium.
• tachy-: Refers to fast, typically used in reference to heart rates.
• tetra-: Means four, used in various medical conditions.
• tri-: Refers to three, applicable in anatomical and physiological contexts.

Important Terms

• CAD: Coronary Artery Disease, a significant cardiovascular condition.
• ECG: Electro-Cardio Gram, a test to measure electrical activity of the heart.
• ECHO: Echocardiography, an imaging method to visualize heart structures.
• MI: Myocardial Infarction, also known as a heart attack, a critical health emergency.