A patient presents with 'dyspnea'. Based on medical terminology, which of the following best describes their symptom?
Rapid heart rate
Abnormal blood pressure
Difficulty breathing
✓
Painful swallowing
Correct Answer
Difficulty breathing
The term 'dyspnea' combines the prefix 'dys-' meaning difficult or painful, and the root '-pnea' meaning breathing. Therefore, it correctly refers to difficulty breathing. Rapid heart rate would be 'tachycardia', which combines 'tachy-' for rapid and 'cardia' for heart. Painful swallowing is 'dysphagia', using 'dys-' for difficult and '-phagia' for swallowing. Abnormal blood pressure is a general description and not directly represented by 'dyspnea'.
Question 2
Which medical term means 'surgical removal of the appendix'?
Appendostomy
Appendectomy
✓
Appendicitis
Appendopathy
Correct Answer
Appendectomy
The term 'appendectomy' correctly refers to the surgical removal of the appendix, combining 'appendic/o' for appendix and '-ectomy' for surgical removal. 'Appendicitis' describes inflammation of the appendix, using '-itis' for inflammation. 'Appendostomy' would imply creating an opening into the appendix, using '-ostomy'. 'Appendopathy' is a general term for any disease of the appendix, using '-pathy'.
Question 3
A patient's chart notes 'NPO after midnight'. What instruction does 'NPO' convey?
Nothing by mouth
✓
Normal physical examination
Nerve pathway obstruction
No pain observed
Correct Answer
Nothing by mouth
The abbreviation 'NPO' stands for 'nil per os' in Latin, which translates to nothing by mouth. This instruction is critical before certain medical procedures or surgeries. 'Normal physical examination' is often abbreviated as 'NPE' or 'WNL' (within normal limits). 'No pain observed' would typically be documented as 'pain free' or 'no c/o pain'. 'Nerve pathway obstruction' is a descriptive phrase, not a standard abbreviation for NPO.
Question 4
Which prefix indicates 'below' or 'deficient'?
Supra-
Hypo-
✓
Hyper-
Inter-
Correct Answer
Hypo-
The prefix 'hypo-' means below or deficient, as seen in terms like hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). 'Hyper-' means above or excessive, like in hypertension (high blood pressure). 'Supra-' means above or over, as in supraclavicular (above the clavicle). 'Inter-' means between, as in intercostal (between the ribs).
Question 5
A 'cardiologist' specializes in which body system?
Respiratory system
Cardiovascular system
✓
Digestive system
Nervous system
Correct Answer
Cardiovascular system
A 'cardiologist' specializes in the cardiovascular system, which includes the heart and blood vessels. The root 'cardi/o' refers to the heart. The respiratory system is associated with pulmonologists. The digestive system is the domain of gastroenterologists. The nervous system is studied by neurologists.
Question 6
The suffix '-algia' means:
Pain
✓
Inflammation
Surgical repair
Tumor
Correct Answer
Pain
The suffix '-algia' means pain, as exemplified by 'myalgia' (muscle pain) or 'neuralgia' (nerve pain). 'Inflammation' is indicated by the suffix '-itis'. 'Surgical repair' is indicated by '-plasty'. 'Tumor' is indicated by '-oma'.
Question 7
A 'laparotomy' is a surgical incision into which part of the body?
Abdomen
✓
Skull
Chest
Joint
Correct Answer
Abdomen
A 'laparotomy' is a surgical incision into the abdomen. The root 'lapar/o' specifically refers to the abdomen or abdominal wall. An incision into the chest would be a 'thoracotomy'. An incision into the skull is a 'craniotomy'. An incision into a joint is an 'arthrotomy'.
Question 8
If a patient has 'tachycardia', what is characteristic of their heart rate?
It is abnormally slow
It is irregular
It is absent
It is abnormally fast
✓
Correct Answer
It is abnormally fast
The term 'tachycardia' combines the prefix 'tachy-' meaning rapid, and the root '-cardia' referring to the heart. Therefore, it means the heart rate is abnormally fast. An abnormally slow heart rate is 'bradycardia', using 'brady-' for slow. An irregular heart rate is 'arrhythmia'. An absent heart rate is 'asystole'.
Question 9
Which term describes a condition of 'sugar in the urine'?
Polyuria
Proteinuria
Hematuria
Glycosuria
✓
Correct Answer
Glycosuria
The term 'glycosuria' correctly describes sugar in the urine, combining 'glyco-' (sugar) and '-uria' (urine condition). 'Hematuria' refers to blood in the urine, using 'hemat/o' for blood. 'Proteinuria' means protein in the urine, using 'protein/o' for protein. 'Polyuria' means excessive urination, using 'poly-' for many or much.
Question 10
The root 'oste/o' refers to which body part?
Muscle
Bone
✓
Joint
Cartilage
Correct Answer
Bone
The root 'oste/o' refers to bone, as seen in terms like 'osteoporosis' (porous bones) or 'osteomyelitis' (bone infection). 'My/o' refers to muscle. 'Arthr/o' refers to a joint. 'Chondr/o' refers to cartilage.
Question 11
What does the abbreviation 'PRN' signify in a medication order?
By mouth
As needed
✓
Before meals
Every night
Correct Answer
As needed
The abbreviation 'PRN' stands for 'pro re nata' in Latin, meaning as needed. This indicates that a medication should be given only when the patient requires it, based on specific criteria. 'Before meals' is abbreviated as 'AC'. 'By mouth' is abbreviated as 'PO'. 'Every night' is often abbreviated as 'QHS (quaque hora somni)'.
Question 12
A 'nephrectomy' is the surgical removal of which organ?
Stomach
Kidney
✓
Spleen
Liver
Correct Answer
Kidney
A 'nephrectomy' is the surgical removal of a kidney. The root 'nephr/o' refers to the kidney, and '-ectomy' means surgical removal. Surgical removal of the liver would be a 'hepatectomy'. Surgical removal of the stomach is a 'gastrectomy'. Surgical removal of the spleen is a 'splenectomy'.
Question 13
Which suffix means 'surgical creation of an opening'?
-plasty
-otomy
-ostomy
✓
-rrhaphy
Correct Answer
-ostomy
The suffix '-ostomy' means the surgical creation of an opening, often to the outside of the body or between two organs, as in 'colostomy'. The suffix '-otomy' means to make an incision or cut into, like in 'tracheotomy'. The suffix '-plasty' means surgical repair or reconstruction, as in 'rhinoplasty'. The suffix '-rrhaphy' means surgical suturing or repair, as in 'herniorrhaphy'.
Question 14
A patient undergoing 'colonoscopy' is having a visual examination of which organ?
Large intestine
✓
Small intestine
Stomach
Esophagus
Correct Answer
Large intestine
A 'colonoscopy' involves a visual examination of the large intestine. The root 'colon/o' refers to the colon, which is part of the large intestine, and '-scopy' means visual examination. Examination of the small intestine is often done via 'enteroscopy' or 'capsule endoscopy'. Examination of the stomach is 'gastroscopy'. Examination of the esophagus is 'esophagoscopy'.
Question 15
The prefix 'intra-' means:
Between
Outside
Around
Within
✓
Correct Answer
Within
The prefix 'intra-' means within or inside, as in 'intravenous' (within a vein). 'Inter-' means between, such as 'intercostal' (between the ribs). 'Extra-' or 'ex/o-' means outside. 'Peri-' means around, as in 'pericardium' (around the heart).
Question 16
What is the medical term for 'inflammation of the liver'?
Hepatitis
✓
Nephritis
Gastritis
Colitis
Correct Answer
Hepatitis
The medical term for inflammation of the liver is 'hepatitis', combining the root 'hepat/o' (liver) with the suffix '-itis' (inflammation). 'Nephritis' is inflammation of the kidney. 'Gastritis' is inflammation of the stomach. 'Colitis' is inflammation of the colon.
Question 17
The abbreviation 'BID' in a prescription means the medication should be taken:
Three times a day
Once a day
Every other day
Twice a day
✓
Correct Answer
Twice a day
The abbreviation 'BID' stands for 'bis in die' in Latin, meaning twice a day. This instructs the patient to take the medication two times within a 24-hour period. 'Once a day' is abbreviated as 'QD'. 'Three times a day' is abbreviated as 'TID'. 'Every other day' is often written as 'QOD'.
Question 18
Which term describes 'pain in a joint'?
Arthralgia
✓
Neuralgia
Cephalgia
Myalgia
Correct Answer
Arthralgia
The term 'arthralgia' correctly describes pain in a joint, combining the root 'arthr/o' (joint) with the suffix '-algia' (pain). 'Myalgia' refers to muscle pain. 'Neuralgia' refers to nerve pain. 'Cephalgia' refers to headache, using 'cephal/o' for head.
Question 19
The root 'pulmon/o' is associated with which body system?
Circulatory system
Urinary system
Respiratory system
✓
Digestive system
Correct Answer
Respiratory system
The root 'pulmon/o' refers to the lungs, which are the primary organs of the respiratory system. Therefore, it is associated with the respiratory system. The circulatory system involves the heart and blood vessels ('cardi/o', 'angi/o'). The digestive system involves organs like the stomach and intestines ('gastr/o', 'enter/o'). The urinary system involves the kidneys and bladder ('nephr/o', 'cyst/o').
Question 20
A 'hemorrhage' refers to:
Blood clot formation
Blood cell destruction
Excessive bleeding
✓
Lack of blood supply
Correct Answer
Excessive bleeding
A 'hemorrhage' refers to excessive bleeding. The root 'hem/o' means blood, and the suffix '-rrhage' means excessive flow or discharge. 'Blood clot formation' is thrombosis or coagulation. 'Lack of blood supply' is ischemia. 'Blood cell destruction' is hemolysis.
Question 21
What does the prefix 'brady-' indicate?
Below
Above
Fast
Slow
✓
Correct Answer
Slow
The prefix 'brady-' indicates slowness, as in 'bradycardia' (slow heart rate). 'Tachy-' indicates fast. 'Hypo-' or 'sub-' indicates below. 'Hyper-' or 'supra-' indicates above.
Question 22
The term 'gastrectomy' means:
Surgical repair of the stomach
Visual examination of the stomach
Surgical removal of the stomach
✓
Inflammation of the stomach
Correct Answer
Surgical removal of the stomach
The term 'gastrectomy' means the surgical removal of the stomach. The root 'gastr/o' refers to the stomach, and '-ectomy' means surgical removal. 'Inflammation of the stomach' is gastritis. 'Visual examination of the stomach' is gastroscopy. 'Surgical repair of the stomach' would be gastroplasty.