Chapter 1 - Basic Elements of a Medical Word

Question 1

A medical word consists of some or all of what elements?

Answer 1

1. Word root
2. Prefix
3. Suffix
4. Combining form

Question 2

Define: Word Root

Answer 2

The main part or foundation of a word.

Question 3

Define: Combining Forms

Answer 3

A combining form is created when a word root is combined with a vowel. It is usually an o, but sometimes an i. (The vowel is known as a combining vowel.)

Question 4

Define: Suffix

Answer 4

A word element placed at the end of a word that alters its meaning. Usually describes a pathology (disease or abnormality), a surgical or diagnostic procedure, condition, symptom, or part of speech.

(All medical terms have a suffix.)

Question 5

Define: Prefix

Answer 5

A word element attached to the beginning of a word or word root. Prefixes usually indicate a number, time, position, direction or negation.

(Not all medical terms have a prefix.)

Question 6

List the steps for defining a medical word

Answer 6

1. Define the suffix
2. Define the first part of the word. (Which may be a word root, combining form or prefix).
3. Define the middle parts of the word.

Question 7

What are the three basic rules for building medical words?

Answer 7

1. A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel.
2. A combining form (root + o) links a suffix that begins with a consonant.
3. A combining form links one root to another root to form a compound word. (This rule holds true even if the second root begins with a vowel, such as: oste/o/arthr/itis.

Question 8

True or False:
A combining vowel is usually an e.

Answer 8

False

Question 9

True or False:
A word root links a suffix that begins with a consonant.

Answer 9

False

Question 10

True or False:
A combining form links multiple roots to each other.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

True or False:
A combining form links a suffix that begins with a consonant.

Answer 11

True

Question 12

True or False:
To define a medical word, first define the prefix.

Answer 12

False

Question 13

True or False:
In the term intramuscular, intra is the prefix.

Answer 13

True

Question 14

Underline the word root:
splen/o

Answer 14

splen

Question 15

Underline the word root:
hyster/o

Answer 15

hyster

Question 16

Underline the word root:
enter/o

Answer 16

enter

Question 17

Underline the word root:
neur/o

Answer 17

neur

Question 18

Underline the word root:
ot/o

Answer 18

ot

Question 19

Underline the word root:
dermat/o

Answer 19

dermat

Question 20

Underline the word root:
hydr/o

Answer 20

hydr

Question 21

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:

nephritis

Answer 21

inflammation of the kidney.

nephr

Question 22

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:

arthrodesis

Answer 22

fixation of a joint.

arthr

Question 23

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:

dermatitis

Answer 23

inflammation of the skin.

dermat

Question 24

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:

dentist

Answer 24

specialist in teeth.

dent

Question 25

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root: gastrectomy

Answer 25

excision of the stomach. gastr

Question 26

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root: chondritis

Answer 26

inflammation of the cartilage. chondr

Question 27

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root: hepatoma

Answer 27

tumor of the liver. hepat

Question 28

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root: muscular

Answer 28

pertaining to the muscle. muscul

Question 29

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root: gastric

Answer 29

pertaining to the stomach. gastr

Question 30

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root: osteoma

Answer 30

tumor of the bone. oste

Question 31

Underline the combining forms and what does it mean? nephr

Answer 31

nothing to underline. kidney

Question 32

Underline the combining forms and what does it mean? hepat/o

Answer 32

hepat/o liver

Question 33

Underline the combining forms and what does it mean? arthr

Answer 33

nothing to underline. joint

Question 34

Underline the combining forms and what does it mean? oste/o/arthr

Answer 34

oste/o/ bone, joint

Question 35

Underline the combining forms and what does it mean? cholangi/o

Answer 35

cholangi/o bile vessel

Question 36

Write the suffix: thoracotomy

Answer 36

-tomy

Question 37

Write the suffix: gastroscope

Answer 37

-scope

Question 38

Write the suffix: tonsillitis

Answer 38

-itis

Question 39

Write the suffix: gastric

Answer 39

-ic

Question 40

Write the suffix: tonsillectomy

Answer 40

-ectomy

Question 41

Write the prefix: anesthesia

Answer 41

an-

Question 42

Write the prefix: hyperthermia

Answer 42

hyper-

Question 43

Write the prefix: intramuscular

Answer 43

intra-

Question 44

Write the prefix: paranasal

Answer 44

para-

Question 45

Write the prefix: polyuria

Answer 45

poly-

Question 46

Define the word: gastritis

Answer 46

Inflammation of the stomach.

Question 47

Define the word: nephritis

Answer 47

Inflammation of the kidney(s).

Question 48

Define the word: gastrectomy

Answer 48

Excision of the stomach.

Question 49

Define the word: osteoma

Answer 49

Tumor of bone.

Question 50

Define the word: hepatoma

Answer 50

Tumor of the liver.

Question 51

Define the word: hepatitis

Answer 51

Inflammation of the liver.

Question 52

Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the: spleen

Answer 52

splenectomy

Question 53

Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the: appendix

Answer 53

appendectomy

Question 54

Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the: pancreas

Answer 54

pancreatectomy

Question 55

Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the: gallbladder

Answer 55

cholecystectomy

Question 56

Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the: colon

Answer 56

colectomy

Question 57

Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the: stomach

Answer 57

gastrectomy

Question 58

Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the: spleen

Answer 58

splenitis

Question 59

Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the: liver

Answer 59

hepatitis

Question 60

Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the: pancreas

Answer 60

pancreatitis

Question 61

Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the: gallbladder

Answer 61

cholecystitis

Question 62

Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the: colon

Answer 62

colitis

Question 63

Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the: stomach

Answer 63

gastritis

Question 64

Use -megaly (enlargement) to build medical words that mean enlargement of the: liver

Answer 64

hepatomegaly

Question 65

Use -megaly (enlargement) to build medical words that mean enlargement of the: spleen

Answer 65

splenomegaly

Question 66

Use -megaly (enlargement) to build medical words that mean enlargement of the: stomach

Answer 66

gastromegaly

Question 67

Abbreviation: abd

Answer 67

Abdomen

Question 68

Abbreviation: AP

Answer 68

Anteroposterior

Question 69

Abbreviation: Bx, bx

Answer 69

Biopsy

Question 70

Abbreviation: Dx

Answer 70

Diagnosis

Question 71

Abbreviation: LAT, lat

Answer 71

Lateral

Question 72

Abbreviation: LLQ

Answer 72

Left Lower Quadrant

Question 73

Abbreviation: LUQ

Answer 73

Left Upper Quadrant

Question 74

Abbreviation: PA

Answer 74

Posteroanterior

Question 75

Abbreviation: RLQ

Answer 75

Right Lower Quadrant

Question 76

Abbreviation: RUQ

Answer 76

Right Upper Quadrant

Question 77

Abbreviation: Sx

Answer 77

Symptom

Question 78

Abbreviation: Tx

Answer 78

Treatment

Question 79

Diagnostic Word: CT

Answer 79

Computed Tomography

Question 80

Diagnostic Word: CXR

Answer 80

Chest X-Ray

Question 81

Diagnostic Word: MRI

Answer 81

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Question 82

Diagnostic Word: PET

Answer 82

Position Emission Tomography

Question 83

Diagnostic Word: US

Answer 83

Ultrasonography

Question 84

Define: Anastomosis

Answer 84

Surgical joining of two ducts, blood vessels, or bowel segments to allow flow from one to the other.

Question 85

Define: Cauterize

Answer 85

Process of burning tissue by using thermal heat, steam, electricity, laser or dry ice.

Question 86

What direction is this: Superior (cranial)

Answer 86

Toward the head

Question 87

What direction is this: Inferior (caudal)

Answer 87

Toward the bottom (tail)

Question 88

What direction is this: Anterior (ventral)

Answer 88

Toward the front

Question 89

What direction is this: Posterior (dorsal)

Answer 89

Toward the back

Question 90

What direction is this: Medial

Answer 90

Toward the midline of the body

Question 91

What direction is this: Lateral

Answer 91

Toward the side of the body

Question 92

What direction is this: Internal (deep)

Answer 92

Away from the surface of the body

Question 93

What direction is this: External (superficial)

Answer 93

Towards the surface of the body

Question 94

What direction is this: Proximal

Answer 94

Toward the main mass of the body

Question 95

What direction is this: Distal

Answer 95

Away from the main mass of the body

Question 96

What direction is this: Visceral

Answer 96

Related to internal organs

Question 97

What direction is this: Parietal

Answer 97

Related to the body walls