Chapter 5: Medical Terminology

Which of the following anatomic terms is synonymous with the word "dorsal"? A. Posterior B. Palmar C. Anterior D. Medial

A. Posterior

The ___________ of the heart is the inferior portion of the ventricles. A. apex B. septum C. dorsum D. base

A. apex

"Encephalo" in the word "encephalitis" means: A. brain. B. head. C. spine. D. tooth.

A. brain.

"Myo" in the word myocarditis means: A. muscle. B. cartilage. C. bone. D. vein.

A. muscle.

A patient has kidney disease that is causing him severe pain. What condition does he have and what would be administered for his pain? A. nephropathy, analgesic B. neuropathy, antibiotic C. myopathy, anesthesic D. dysuria, anti-inflammatory

A. nephropathy, analgesic

You are transporting a 26-year-old female patient who is 7 months pregnant. The patient care record indicates that the patient is primigravida. The prefix in this term indicates that the patient is: A. pregnant for the first time. B. pregnant and likely to deliver early. C. pregnant and in active labor. D. pregnant but unlikely to carry the baby to term.

A. pregnant for the first time.

You are transporting to a 66-year-old patient with a history of heart problems. The patient chart indicates that he has hepatomegaly. The root of the term indicates that: Select one: A. the problem is with the patient's liver. B. the organ involved is enlarged. C. the problem is unrelated to the patient's heart condition. D. the problem is a direct consequence of the patient's heart disease.

A. the problem is with the patient's liver.

The term "pericardiocentesis" means: A. the removal of fluid from around the heart. B. a surgical opening made in the heart. C. surgical repair of the sac around the heart. D. narrowing of the arteries supplying the heart.

A. the removal of fluid from around the heart.

Which of the following suffixes mean "pertaining to"? A. "-ic" and "-ology" B. "-al" and "-ic" C. "-ology" and "-oma" D. "-al" and "-ology"

B. "-al" and "-ic"

A young male jumped from a tree and landed feet first. Which aspect of his body has sustained the initial injury? A. Palmar B. Plantar C. Dorsal D. Ventral

B. Plantar

A diabetic patient has polydipsia. This means that she: A. urinates frequently. B. has low blood sugar. C. is excessively thirsty. D. is unable to swallow.

C. is excessively thirsty.

In relation to the chest, the back is: Select one: A. anterior. B. ventral. C. posterior. D. inferior.

C. posterior.

In relation to the wrist, the elbow is: A. lateral. B. medial. C. proximal D. distal.

C. proximal

"Gastro" in the word "gastroenteritis" means: Select one: A. intestine. B. bowel. C. stomach. D. tongue.

C. stomach.

A body part that is nearer to the head from a specific reference point is said to be: A. distal B. medial C. superior D. lateral

C. superior

The suffix "-ectomy" means: A. tumor. B. inflammation. C. surgical removal of. D. pertaining to.

C. surgical removal of.

The root word cirrh/o means: A. liver B. kidney C. blood cell D. yellow-orange

D. yellow-orange

EMTs should have a strong working knowledge of medical terminology in order to: A. communicate effectively with other members of the health care team. B. determine and document more accurate patient diagnoses. C. more clearly explain to patients the nature of their condition. D. perform and document more accurate patient assessments.

A. communicate effectively with other members of the health care team.

A 5-year-old boy has fallen and has a severe deformity of the forearm near the wrist. He has possibly sustained a fracture of the ____________ forearm. Select one: A. distal B. superior C. proximal D. dorsal

A. distal

A fracture of the humerus just above the elbow would be described as a: A. distal humerus fracture. B. proximal elbow fracture. C. distal forearm fracture. D. proximal humerus fracture.

A. distal humerus fracture.

Enlargement of the liver is called: A. hepatomegaly. B. pneumonitis. C. nephritis. D. hydrocephalus.

A. hepatomegaly.

Regarding medical terminology, the foundation of the word is called the: A. root B. prefix C. suffix D. combining vowel

A. root

A newborn has four anatomical abnormalities of the heart. What prefix is used to describe this? A. tetra B. multi C. uni D. dipl

A. tetra

You are transporting a 67-year-old female patient to the hospital for investigation of abdominal pain. The patient care record indicates that the patient has a history of AAA. Based on this information, the patient care record includes an abbreviation for: A. acute abdominal assessment. B. abdominal aortic aneurysm. C. against ambulance advice. D. acute abdominal aneurysm

B. abdominal aortic aneurysm.

"Arterio" in the word "arteriosclerosis" means: A. vein. B. artery. C. joint. D. cartilage.

B. artery.

The root "melan/o" means: A. red. B. black. C. gray. D. white.

B. black.

The suffix "-pathy" means: Select one: A. specialist. B. disease. C. enlargement. D. study of.

B. disease.

After applying a tourniquet, the injury from a patient's leg stops bleeding. This is called: A. hemiplegia. B. hemostasis C. hemolysis. D. hematemesis.

B. hemostasis

The topographic term used to describe the parts of the body that are nearer to the feet is: A. dorsal. B. inferior. C. internal. D. superior.

B. inferior.

"Hepato" in the word "hepatitis" means: A. blood. B. liver. C. kidney. D. nail.

B. liver.

The prefix "multi-" means: A. none. B. many. C. four. D. double.

B. many.

You are transporting a 30-year-old female patient with a decreased level of consciousness. The patient care record includes the abbreviation OBS in the patient's past medical history. Based on this information, you may conclude that the patient has a history of: A. obstetrical complications. B. organic brain syndrome. C. obstructive bowel syndrome. D. orthostatic blood pressure syndrome.

B. organic brain syndrome.

A pregnant patient is diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum. This means that: A. she has frequent urination. B. she has excessive vomiting. C. her respiratory rate is rapid. D. And her unborn baby is very large.

B. she has excessive vomiting.

Which of the following prefixes mean "two"? Select one: A. "primi-" and "bi-" B. "primi-" and "dipl-" C. "dipl-" and "bi-" D. "bi-" and "null-"

C. "dipl-" and "bi-"

Which of the following roots can mean "white"? A. "cyan/o" and "erythr/o" B. "erythr/o" and "leuk/o" C. "leuk/o" and "alb" D. "cyan/o" and "leuk/o"

C. "leuk/o" and "alb"

The meaning "around" can have which of the following prefixes? Select one: A. "epi-" and "sub-" B. "sub-" and "infra-" C. "peri-" and "circum-" D. "infra-" and "peri-"

C. "peri-" and "circum-"

A patient in a semireclined position with the head elevated to facilitate breathing is in the ___________ position: A. prone B. supine C. Fowler's D. recovery

C. Fowler's

"Chondro" in the word chondritis means: A. tendon. B. rib. C. cartilage. D. joint.

C. cartilage.

The medical term for painful or difficult urination is: A. anauria B. oliguria C. dysuria D. polyuria

C. dysuria

A patient lacerated the dorsal aspect of his hand. This means that the injury is: A. closer to the wrist B. on the side of his hand C. on the back of his hand D. proximal to the fingers

C. on the back of his hand

A patient with a pneumothorax has unilateral chest expansion. This means that: A. both of his lungs are expanding when he inhales. B. both sides of his chest are moving minimally. C. only one side of his chest rises when he inhales. D. his chest and his abdomen are moving in opposite directions.

C. only one side of his chest rises when he inhales.

The prefixes meaning "half" include: A. "hemi-" and "pan-". B. "pan-" and "semi-". C. "semi-" and "ambi-". D. "hemi-" and "semi-".

D. "hemi-" and "semi-".

An intoxicated 40-year-old male is found lying face down. How would you document his body's position? Select one: A. Dorsal B. Recumbent C. Supine D. Prone

D. Prone

The term "supraventricular tachycardia" means: A. a slow heart rate that originates from above the ventricles. B. a slow heart rate that originates from within the ventricles. C. a rapid heart rate that originates from within the ventricles. D. a rapid heart rate that originates from above the ventricles.

D. a rapid heart rate that originates from above the ventricles.

Movement or motion away from the body's midline is called: A. flexion. B. extension. C. adduction. D. abduction.

D. abduction.

A patient has fractured both femurs. Anatomically, these injuries would be described as being: Select one: A. unilateral. B. proximal. C. medial. D. bilateral.

D. bilateral.

"Adeno" in the word "adenectomy" means: A. bladder. B. gallbladder. C. abdominal wall. D. gland.

D. gland.

A patient is diagnosed with nephritis. This means: A. enlargement of the liver B. disease of the kidney C. dysfunction of the liver D. inflammation of the kidney

D. inflammation of the kidney

The topographic term used to describe the location of body parts that are closer toward the midline of the body is: Select one: A. midaxillary. B. midclavicular. C. lateral. D. medial.

D. medial.

"Rhino" in the word "rhinorrhea" means: A. gland. B. flow. C. ear. D. nose.

D. nose.

You are transporting a 34-year-old male who is unresponsive, and his patient care record includes the abbreviation BS. Based on this information, the patient care record: A. includes breath sounds. B. includes blood sugar. C. includes bowel sounds. D. should define the abbreviation to ensure clarity.

D. should define the abbreviation to ensure clarity.