Medical terminology questions
Which surgical suffix means "procedure or process of cutting out?"
-ec/tom/y
The suffix that means "to control or stop" is:
-stasis
which of the following cranial nerves are responsible for carrying nerve impulses associated with the special senses?
1,2,8, and 9
A patient with "leukocytosis" would have a white blood cell count of:
11,000
there are _____ cranial nerves
12
Acupuncture has been practiced in the United States since:
1970s
the optic, oculomotor, trochlear, and abducens nerves all innervate the eye and are referred to as cranial nerves___,___,___, and ___
2, 3, 4, and 6
an acoustic neuroma affects which cranial nerve?
8
All hypnosis techniques promote a relaxed state and what type of brain wave activity?
Alpha
The diagnostic term for a disease characterized by early senility, confusion, loss of recognition of persons or familiar surroundings, and restlessness is
Alzheimer's disease
Lou Gehrig's disease is also known as
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
A pathologist noted that a skin biopsy specimen exhibited "hyperplasia." This means there is/are:
An increase in cell number
Who is considered the founder of osteopathy?
Andrew Taylor Still
Which of these individuals promoted a holistic healing approach to medicine?
Andrew Weil
The word "periosteum" has a prefix which means:
Around
Which of the following is a noninvasive roentgenography diagnostic technique?
CAT scan
What is a break in the distal portion of the radius and the ulna of the arm called?
Colles' wrist fracture
Who is considered the founder of chiropractics?
Daniel David Palmer
Small acupuncture needles are used to treat which area of the body?
Ears
Acupuncture needles are used in combination with which of these during treatment?
Electrical current
Electric shock therapy is also known as:
Electroconvulsive Therapy
What method is used to treat brain cancer by directing radiation at precise brain locations?
Gamma Knife
"I swear by Apollo the Physician and Asclepius and Hygieia and Panaceia..." is the beginning of what famous oath?
Hippocratic
Which type of medicine emphasizes self-care and illness prevention?
Holistic
What physicians administer small doses of similar disease substances to allegedly stimulate the natural body response of immunity?
Homeopathic
The abbreviation ICU refers to an:
Intensive Care Unit
What kind of seizure has contractions that usually start in a group of muscles on one side of the body and spread to the extremities and the whole body
Jacksonian
Which oil might an aromatherapist use to attempt to ease a client's joint pain?
Juniper
A patient who has undergone a nephrectomy has had which of the following removed?
Kidney
Which of the following produces a radio frequency radiation pulse image of soft and hard tissue in multiple planes?
MRI
What is the manipulation of the body's soft tissues by stroking, rubbing, kneading, and tapping?
Massage
Which of these conditions would be treated with phakic intraocular lenses
Myopia
Any therapy that relies on the body's own healing powers is considered:
Natural
Which type of medicine uses vitamin therapy, herbal remedies, and chiropractic care?
Natural
The term "graphy" means:
Procedure using an instrument to record something
What treats the body using principles similar to acupuncture and acupressure?
Reflexology
Who is considered the founder of homeopathy?
Samuel Hahneman
Holistic therapies stress the importance of Self-care and illness prevention
Self-care and illness prevention
The etiologic agent of syphilis is a:
Spirochete
Which was the first 3D-printed drug approved by the FDA?
Spritam
Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross is best known for:
The Stages of Death and Dying
A patient who is adducting their arm is moving it:
Toward their body
What type of medicine has ancient origins, strong cultural ties, and trained healers?
Traditional
Dr. X has put her patient in the "prone" position. This means that the patient is:
Turned down
What does Reiki mean in Japanese?
Universal vital force
Biopsy literally means _____/"procedure of."
View of life
The term "cryo/sug/er/y" literally means:
a procedure of one who works by hand with cold
The term "mammogram" means:
a recording of the breast
The term Psycholog/ist literally means
a specialist in the science and study of the mind
Muscle terms for belly or abdomen are
abdominus or laparal
the diagnostic term photo/phobia means
abnormal aversion to or fear of light
A defibrillator is used to correct:
abnormal heart rhythms
The medical term Para/noia literally refers to a behavior that is out of touch with reality or
abnormal thinking or reasoning
what is the strongest tendon in the body?
achilles tendon
Verb variations of a stem word usually describe:
action taken, condition, or state
Ninety-nine percent of words in a medical dictionary are composed of nouns, verbs, and:
adjectives
"Reflexology" literally means:
again/bends/of/procedure of
Aromatherapy oils are: Inhaled, applied during massage, used in baths, or all of the above
all of the above
What physicians use antagonistic substances to attach to disease organisms or illness?
allopathic
Therapeutic touch therapy is classified as what type of medicine?
alternative
Acupuncture may be used during surgery for:
anesthesia
the medical term retin/itis pigmentosa can be called
animal tracks "retina or net is inflamed causing marks - blindness"
What does the word part Talus- mean?
ankle
Which example of the compound term "ankylosing" is fractured correctly?
ankylos/ing
The term coronal plane divides the body into the:
anterior and posterior portions
cerebral ischemia results in a condition termed
apoplexy
the interruption of blood supply to the brain cased by a cerebral thrombosis, cerebral embolism, or cerebral hemorrhage is called
apoplexy
The word part Axillo means
armpit
The combining form "osmio-" indicates the principle which is used in this treatment to make it effective:
aromatherapy
the diagnostic term that literally means "inflamed joint" is
arthr/itis
The term for X-ray film (recording) of a joint is
arthro/gram
The procedural term that means visual examination inside a joint is
arthroscop/y
The term "clinical" means:
at patient's bedside
a specialist who specializes in the study of hearing is an
audiologist
The diagnostic term Rheumat/oid Arthr/itis refers to
auto-immune disease often with cartilaginous hypertrophy
The word part Occiputo- means
back of the head
Which of these is one of Kubler-Ross' stages of death? Feeling powerless, Ignoring friends, confusion, bargaining
bargaining
The term "prognosis" means:
before knowledge
the hypoglossal nerve is located
below the tongue
Ultrasonography literally means _____/"rocess of recording."
beyond normal ranges/sound
A self-suggestion technique which assists patients in controlling stress is:
biofeedback
the medical term hemat/oma means
blood swelling or tumor
A patient with cyanosis has which skin color?
blue
A trephine is used to remove:
bone
A PET scan is used to detect metabolism of glucose by the:
brain
A patient having an electroencephalogram is having a recording made of the electrical activity in their:
brain
An electroencephalogram is used to record information about electrical activity in the:
brain
the combining form en/cephal/o refers to the
brain
the word part cerebro- means
brain
Cranial Nerves are string-like groups of nerves coming off of the
brain and brain stem
an electroencephalogram measures
brain electrical waves
The diagnostic term that means abnormal build up of lime or calcium in tissues is
calcin/osis
___________________ is characterized by soreness, tenderness, and weakness of the muscles of the thumb caused by pressure on the median nerve
carpal tunnel syndrome
the "wrist bones" which are composed of 8 small bones in two rows are formally called the
carpals
The directional term that means "toward the lower end of the body" is:
caudal
Mary has "idioathic" kyphoscoliosis, which indicates that her condition has no clear
cause
the profession of cytology is the study or examination of what part of the human body?
cells
The term that describes movement toward the top of the body is:
cephalic
The largest region of the brain is the
cerebrum
the first seven bones of the vertebral column forming the neck are the _______
cervical
the diagnostic term for obstruction of the eyelid sebaceous glands is
chalazion
Folk remedies are based on:
charms
What does the word part Bucco- mean?
cheek
Which of these treatments would commonly be labelled "orthodox or conventional" medicine? Chemotherapy, acupuncture, homeopathy, or hypnosis
chemotherapy
the word part Mento- means
chin
The surgical term for the repair of cartilage is called
chondr/o/plasty
the term that means cartilage swelling or cartilage tumor is
chondroma
The word part Cleido- means
clavicle
the diagnostic term cataract actually means
clouding of the lens of the eye
In the divided medical term 'arthr/o/pathy', "o" is the:
combining vowel used with both the stem word and suffix
the mucous membrane lining the inner eyelids and eyeball globe is the
conjunctiva
____________ is caused by foreign bodies or pathogenic organisms that cause inflammation and petechial hemorrhages
conjunctivitis
Miotic eye drops cause the eye's pupils to
constrict
The term 'af/ferent' which may be used to describe sensory impulses is defined as:
conveying toward the center
the combining forms or terms that literally mean "rib" are
cost/o- and pleur/o-
The literal meaning of the medical term carcin/oma is:
crab-like tumor
Which of the following means "skull"
cranio-
The combining form scolio- means
crooked and bent
the term "ankylosis" literally means
crooked, stiff, bent/condition
Lithotripsy is a procedure for:
crushing calculi
what is an inflammation of the tear sac?
dactyocystitis
"X-rays" produce pictures of what type of body tissue and bones?
dense
The diagnostic medical term multiple sclerosis refers to
deterioration or loss of the myelin sheath nerve body covering
which of the following can be diagnosed by looking at the retina: diabetes, myopia, dehydration, anemia
diabetes
Adjectives usually modify a noun to denote quality, quantity, extent, or:
distinction of the object from something else
The directional term for moveent toward the back of the body is:
dorsal
Aural effusion refers to
drainage from the hearing canal
If a patient has "ptosis" of their eyelid, you can expect to see the eyelid:
drooping
An otoscope is used to view the:
ear
A procedure of making a record of muscle activity is called
electro/myo/graph/y
The combining form that means "cause of idsease" is:
eti/o
The surgical term Phalang/ectomy means
excision of a finger or toe bone
The movement in which a limb is placed in a straight position is called:
extension
A tonometer measures pressure within the:
eye
the medical terms palpebr/itis and blepharo/ptosis refer to
eyelid inflammation and eyelid drooping
The medical term bell's palsy is also known as
facial paralysis or palsy
the diagnostic term hyperopia means
farsigthedness
The diagnostic term Muscular Dys/trophy means
faulty muscle development
The word part Fibro- means
fiber
"Fibromyalgia" literally means
fibers/muscle/pain
A tumor of the fibrous and cartilaginous tissue is called a:
fibrochondroma
the word part Dactylo- means
finger/toe
dactylitis can be associated with sickle cell disease and the term means inflammation of the
fingers
A pacemaker can be external or internal and usually generates electrical stimuli to the heart muscle with:
fixed and/or alternate impulses
The diagnostic term Pes Planus means
flat foot
The word part Frons- means
forehead or front
the prefixes quadri- and tetra- mean
four
Breaking a compound term into its component word parts combined with a vowel or vowels is called:
fracturing
the word part pia- means
gentle
A PET scan is used to detect:
glucose metabolism
What is the word part for jaw?
gnatho-
a condition that causes buildup of uric acid crystals in the blood with deposition in joints is
gout
the prefixes hemi- and semi- mean
half
Which of these body parts is commonly massaged by practitioners of reflexology? Neck, hand, abdomen, chest.
hand
the word part Mano- means
hand
the word part duro- means
hard
Antonyms comprise medical terms and are words that:
have opposite meanings
the combining forms acous- and audi/o- both mean
hearing
A thallium scan is used to detect damage to the:
heart
An "EKG or ECG" is used to record information about electrical activity in the:
heart
If an electrocardiogram shows that a patient has "tachycardia," it means that the patient's:
heart rate is elevated
the term which literally means "under/ribs cartilage/condition" refers to which diagnosis
hypochondriasis
if an athlete is circumduction their arm, they are moving it
in a circle
In the medical term "pleurisy," what is the meaning of its suffix?
inflamed
Osteoarthritis is
inflammation of a bone joint causing bone hypertrophy
the diagnostic term en/cephal/itis actually means
inflammation of the brain
the medical term myring/itis actually means
inflammation of the eardrum
The medical term Kerat/itis actually means
inflammation of the eye's cornea
The diagnostic term blephar/itis means
inflammation of the eyelid
The term con/junctiv/itis literally means together/joined/inflamed/ It actually means
inflammation of the membrane that covers the eyeball and the eyelid
The diagnostic term Anterior Polio/myel/itis means an
inflammation of the spinal cord frontal gray horn
The term "Bronchoscope" literally means:
insstrument to view trachea-like structures
The term "steho/scop/e" literally means:
instrument to examine the chest
The term "Ophtalmo/scop/e" means:
instrument to examine the eye
Complimentary or alternative medicine is now referred to as:
integrated medicine
Massage and reflexology are examples of:
integrated medicine
Nystagmus refers to
jumping eyes
Sally had a pyelogram performed today to help diagnose her:
kidney infection
A "Pyleogram" records information about the:
kidney pelvis
The "KUB" examination looks for defects in the:
kidney, ureter, and bladder
The patient with "genu osteoporosis" means the condition is located in their
knee
The diagnostic term "Genu Varum" means
knees are bent outward
the combining form of a term that means "hump or hunchback" is
kypho-
The medical condition of ________ is the backward bending of the thoracic spinal vertebrae
kyphosis
the diagnostic term ot/itis interna can also be called
labyrinthitis
the tear glands that lubricate and protect the eye are called
lacrimal glands
the small organs that produce and drain tears from the eye are the
lacrimal glands and ducts
the eye structure that lies directly behind the pupil and iris is the
lens
Cancers of the circulatory system may include:
leukemia and lymphomas
Homeo/path/ic literally means:
like or same/ as disease/ refers
Aromatherapy is thought to have its effects on which part of the brain?
limbic system
A fatty tumor is called a(n):
lipoma
If an infection is "chronic" it is characterized by:
little change, slow progression, and long duration
The set of 5 large vertebrae which form the inward curve of the lower spine are called
lumbar vetebrae
What is the yellow spot in the retina lateral to the optic nerve?
macula
The correct way to fracture or divide the medical term melanocarcinoma is:
melano/carcin/oma
the three-layered membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord and literally means membrane is called the
meninges
opisthotonos is frequently associated with
meningitis
The prefix that means "change or after" is:
meta-
The combining form ment/o- means
mind
the combining form phren/o- means
mind
the word part mater- means
mother
An abducens nerve palsy results in inability to
move eyes outwards
"Fluoroscopy" is used to record
moving body parts
if john is adducting his arm, he is
moving toward his body
Neuro/fibromat/osis is characterized by
multiple fiber-like nerve tumors
Demyelianation occurs in which of the following disease?
multiple sclerosis
My/o- is the combining form of a word part that means:
muscle
The diagnostic term my/asthenia Gravis actually means
muscle heavy and weak
The medical term "tetanus" usually refers to
muscle spasms
the somatic peripheral nervous system is composed of neurons that control the "soma" or body. They specifically control which of the following?
muscles
the term that means spinal cord inflammation is
myel/itis
This combining form ______ means bone marrow or spinal cord.
myelo-
LASIK laser surgery can be used to correct:
myopia
The medical term Myopic actually means
nearsighted
Acu/puncture
needle puncture
The medical term for new growth of abnormal tissue or a tumor is:
neoplasm
the term neuralgia is defined as
nerve pain
The cord-like structures that carry bio electrical impulses from one part of the body to another are called _____.
nerves
the diagnostic term that means tumor made up of nerve cells is
neur/oma
A patient that is "euthyroid" has:
normal thyroid function
What cellular organelle contains chromosomes and has the literal meaning "nut?"
nucleus
The most common combining vowel is:
o
A lumbar puncture is used to:
obtain spinal fluid samples
Aromatherapy uses which principle?
olfactory stimulation
The term "Nebuliz/er" means:
one who causes a mist
The term Chiro/pract/or literally means
one who practices by hand
The muscle term ad/duct/or literally means
one who/draws/toward
if a fracture has a protrusion through the skin, it is a(n)
open fracture
the nerve in the eye that carries visual impulses from the retina to the brain is the
optic
____________ is devoid of rods and cones and hence is referred to as the blind spot
optic nerve
What word part means socket
orbito-
A body part which is formed of two or more types of body tissue and performs one or more specific functions is called a(n) ________:
organ
the malleus, incus, and stapes make up the bones of the middle ear called the
ossicles
the diagnostic term that means abnormal loss of bone density is
osteoporosis
The term that means one who studies and treats disease of the ear is
otologist
the medical term for a fungal infection of the ear is
otomycosis
the medical term that means a specialist who studies and treats the diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, and throat is
otorhinolaryngologist
In the medical term "cephalgia," the combining verb form means:
pain
the diagnostic term ot/algia means
pain in the ear
What is a temporary or permanent loss of sensation, loss of ability to move, or inability to control movement?
palsy
what covers the inner surface of the ciliary process?
pars ciliaris
which part of the retina is the sensory portion associated with sight?
pars optica
The diagnostic term sub/luxation actually means
partial joint dislocation
The medical term Cerebral Palsy is characterized by
partial or complete paralysis caused by brain injury
The medical term that means "the science of or study of body changes caused by disease" is:
path/o/logy
The study of disease is referred to as:
pathology
The suffixes, -a, -ia, -iac, -al, -ar, ic, -is, -on, -os, -us, -ium, and -um are used as a generalized actual meaning (not literal meaning) for the phrase, "refers to or _____"
pertains to
which term means "flat-footed?"
pes planus
The medical term for a specialist who treats and diagnoses foot diseases and disorders is a(n)
pod/iatr/ist
the diagnostic term for inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord is
polio/myel/itis
what word part means thumb?
pollex-
In the divided medical term 'osteopor/o/sis', the slas lines (/) indicate that the vowel "o" may be used as part of which word parts?
por- and -osis
A patient diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease is characterized by
pre-senile dementia
The word part attached to the beginning of a word root in order to modify its meaning is called a(n):
prefix
Swelling of the bursa below the knee is diagnostiacally referred to as
prepatellar bursitis
The term "Tympanostomy" literally means:
procedure of cutting and making a mouth-like opening in the ear drum
The term "surgery" literally means
procedure of working by hand
the term "Auscult/ation" literally means:
process or procedure for listening
The term "percuss/ion" literally means:
process or procedure of striking
The term that describes the direction closest to the point of origin is:
proximal
Biofeedback is a type of _____ therapy.
psychosomatic
The combining word forms that refer to the "spine, vertebral column, and/or vertebra" are
rachi/o- and spondyl/o-
the word part Iro- means
rainbow
"Angiograms" are used for:
recording pictures of blood vessels
The term "ocular" literally means:
refers to the eye
what is the pathologic condition where the retina becomes separated from the choroid between the retina and the sclera?
retinal detachment
Which word part contains the fundamental meaning of the word?
root word
the medical term trach/oma refers to a chlamydial infection causing
rough swollen eye lesions
The diagnostic term "herniated disc" in reference to an intervertebral cartilage mans that the cartilage is/has
ruptured or protruded
the medical term burs/itis literally means
sac/inflamed
The term for the plane that divides the body into right and left halves is the:
sagittal
What do forensic psychiatrists specialize in?
sanity during crimes
Based on its name, the anterior serratus muscle appears to look like a
saw-tooth
the outer hard layer of the eye (white of the eye) is the
sclera
The medical term Epi/lepsy means
seizure upon the mind and body
The structure in the inner ear that contains balance receptors and endolymph is called the
semicircular lens
"Placebo" literally means:
shall please
The word part Omo- means
shoulder
a muscular dystrophy patient who presents with a condition of "winged scapulae" means that they have a problem with thier
shoulder
An atrophic muscle would appear:
shrunken
an electromyogram is used to record information about electrical activity in the:
skeletal muscle
"Hypnosis" literally means:
sleep/condition
A plantar wart is located on the:
sole of the foot
The medical term opto/metr/ist literally means
specialist in measuring sight
The structure that conducts nerve impulses to and from the brain and serves as a reflex center for some sensory information without input from the brain is the
spinal cord
the word part myelo- means
spinal cord
A "Myelogram" is used to record information about which tissue?
spinal cord and nerves
What does the word part Rachio- mean?
spine
A ______ is usually a sudden traction on a muscle, ligament, and joint capsule
sprain
The medical student class learned about "auscultation" today. In order to perform this procedure, they used a/an:
stethoscope
A patient who has a "cholecystolithotripsy" performed is havingwhat process performed to their gall bladder?
stone crushed
what is the disorder of the eye in which the optic axis cannot be directed at the same object?
strabismus
A patient with rhabdomyolysis has destruction of:
striated muscle
In the divided medical term 'sub/hepat/ic', which part is the prefix and which part is the suffix?
sub- and -ic
In the medical term 'arthr/itis', -itis is the:
suffix
The word part attached to the end of a word root in order to modify its meaning is the:
suffix
Placebo effect therapy uses the principle of:
suggestion and believability
Pectus excavatum is more commonly referred to as
sunken chest
If one is flat on their back and face up, they are in a ______ position.
supine
ankle bones are called the _____ bones
tarsal
The diagnostic term "avulsion" means
tearing a piece of bone
The diagnostic term Rotary Cuff Avulsion actually means
tearing of shoulder joint soft tissues, ligaments, and deep tendons
lacrimation refers to
teary eyes
What attaches muscles to bone
tendons
The medical term opistho/tonos means
tension that bends head backward
The term "larygno/scop/y" literally and actually means:
the procedure of viewing and examining the voice box
The term "Biopsy" literally means:
the procedure of viewing life
The medical term Psych/iatr/y literally means
the procedure or process of treating or curing the mind
the term "psychology" literally means
the process or procedure of the science or study of the mind
The diagnostic term hammer toe means
the toes are bent over or down
The term schizo/phrenia actually refers to a type of psychosis that is also characterized by
thought deterioration and lack of social functioning
The combining form hist/o- means:
tissue or web-like
The term "Phlebotomy" means:
to cut into a vein
The term "Catheter" literally means:
to let down, into
The term "Sphygmo/mano/meter" literally means:
to measure the pulse by hand
The medical term concussion means
to shake violently
The term "metastasis" means:
to spread
The directional term "lateral" describes movement in which direction:
to the side
Dento-, Donto- and Odonto- all mean:
tooth
The term "diagnosis" means:
total knowledge
The directional term "inferior" describes movement:
toward the lower end of the body
The combining form onc/o- means:
tumor
the muscle term supinator means
turns upward-one who
The procedure of using an instrument that produces high frequency sound waves to produce an image of the size or shape of a body part is called:
ultra/sono/graph/y
John's physician told him that his disease is idiopathic. This means it's cause is:
unknown
The term that describes movement toward the belly is:
ventral
Cryosurgery is used to treat:
verrucae
The combining from or term that literally means "internal organs" is:
viscer/o-
The E eye chart is used to measure
visual acuity
Parkinson's disease causes body tremors, weak speech, shuffling of feet, and depression. Other patients may experience
voice loss, sphincter problems, falls and paralysis
The medical term Glauc/oma actually means
waterfall, cloudy, or gray vision
the combining form "asthenia" means
weakness
The term "Intramuscular Injection" literally means"
within a muscle
The term "Intravenous Injection" means:
within a vein
idiopathic epilepsy is
without a known cause
The word "afebrile" has a prefix which means:
without or not
The combining form of a stem word is usually made of two component parts, the:
word root and the combining vowel
In the medical term 'intra/ven/ous', -ven- is the:
word root or stem word
A compound term is derived from two or more:
word roots
The term "trauma" refers to a
wound
