1. Basic Elements of a Medical Word

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.

____	1.	Most medical word roots are derived from:
a.	Latin and French.	
b.	German and Latin.	
c.	Spanish and French.	
d.	Latin and Greek.	
e.	Russian and Latin.	

____	2.	The word root for liver is:
a.	mast.	
b.	hepat.	
c.	oste.	
d.	my.	
e.	trache.	

____	3.	Which is an example of a word root linking a suffix that begins with a vowel?
a.	Cardi/o/centesis	
b.	Enter/o/lysis	
c.	Therm/o/meter	
d.	Scler/osis	
e.	Cardi/o/megaly	

____	4.	The word root in a medical term usually indicates a(n):
a.	position.	
b.	number.	
c.	condition.	
d.	anatomical structure.	
e.	procedure.	

____	5.	Which element is a word root?
a.	Nephr	
b.	Nephro	
c.	Nephros	
d.	Nephrotomy	
e.	Tomy	

____	6.	Arthr/o is an example of a:
a.	suffix.	
b.	combining form.	
c.	word root.	
d.	prefix.	
e.	combining vowel.	

____	7.	The term stomat/itis means:
a.	inflammation of the stomach.	
b.	inflammation of the liver.	
c.	inflammation of the face.	
d.	inflammation of the mouth.	
e.	inflammation of the skin.	

____	8.	A combining form (CF) is a word root plus a:
a.	prefix.	
b.	suffix.	
c.	vowel.	
d.	word root.	
e.	consonant.	

____	9.	The CF for joint is:
a.	oste/o.	
b.	chondr/o.	
c.	-ist.	
d.	arthr/o.	
e.	-osis.	

____	10.	A CF is used to link a suffix that begins with a:
a.	letter o.	
b.	connecting vowel.	
c.	prefix.	
d.	vowel.	
e.	consonant.	

____	11.	In cardi/o/centesis, cardi/o is a:
a.	combining form.	
b.	prefix.	
c.	word root.	
d.	suffix.	
e.	vowel.	

____	12.	In the word pelvimetry, the combining vowel is:
a.	i.	
b.	e.	
c.	y.	
d.	pelvi.	
e.	metry.	

____	13.	In mast/o/pexy, the o is a:
a.	combining form.	
b.	prefix.	
c.	combining vowel.	
d.	suffix.	
e.	word root.	

____	14.	Which element is commonly used for ease of pronunciation?
a.	Combining form	
b.	Combining vowel	
c.	Prefix	
d.	Suffix	
e.	Word root	

____	15.	Which vowel is most commonly attached to word roots to create a CF?
a.	a	
b.	e	
c.	i	
d.	o	
e.	u	

____	16.	Which suffix means inflammation?
a.	-megaly	
b.	-oma	
c.	-ia	
d.	-itis	
e.	-ous	

____	17.	In the word thermometer, meter is a(n):
a.	adjective.	
b.	prefix.	
c.	combining form.	
d.	compound word.	
e.	suffix.	

____	18.	Word endings are called:
a.	prefixes.	
b.	suffixes.	
c.	vowels.	
d.	consonants.	
e.	word roots.	

____	19.	In medical terminology, a suffix usually indicates:
a.	position, direction, color, number, or negation.	
b.	procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech.	
c.	position, direction, or color.	
d.	color, number, condition, or disease.	
e.	procedure, condition, or negation.	

____	20.	A medical word consisting of more than one word root joined together with an o is a(n):
a.	simple word.	
b.	adjective.	
c.	compound word.	
d.	disease.	
e.	condition.	

____	21.	Oste/o/chondr/itis is an example of a:
a.	suffix that begins with a consonant.	
b.	simple word.	
c.	compound word.	
d.	medical word containing a prefix.	
e.	word with only one word element.	

____	22.	Which is an example of a CF linked to a word root?
a.	Gastr/itis	
b.	Gastr/o/dynia	
c.	Gastr/o/esophag/itis	
d.	Gastr/o/megaly	
e.	Gastr/oma	

____	23.	When building a compound word, the first element is usually a:
a.	combining vowel.	
b.	consonant.	
c.	vowel.	
d.	combining form.	
e.	suffix.	

____	24.	Define a medical word by first defining the:
a.	prefix.	
b.	suffix.	
c.	middle part of the word.	
d.	combining form.	
e.	word root.	

____	25.	Which word means inflammation of the joints?
a.	Oste/itis	
b.	Chondr/itis	
c.	Arthr/itis	
d.	Oste/o/arthr/itis	
e.	Oste/o/chondr/itis	

____	26.	Vowels marked with a macron (-) indicate a:
a.	short sound.	
b.	stress.	
c.	silent letter.	
d.	long sound.	
e.	diphthong.	

____	27.	The letter combination ps at the beginning of a word (as in psychosis) is pronounced:
a.	“pee.”	
b.	“eff.”	
c.	“ss.”	
d.	“sh.”	
e.	“see.”	

____	28.	The oe in roentgen is pronounced:
a.	“eh.”	
b.	“oy.”	
c.	“uh.”	
d.	“oh.”	
e.	“ah.”	

____	29.	In medical terms, ch (as in cholera) is usually pronounced:
a.	“chal.”	
b.	“cha.”	
c.	“k.”	
d.	“aitch.”	
e.	“see.”	

____	30.	In the terms bronchi and fungi, the i is pronounced:
a.	“ah.”	
b.	“ee.”	
c.	“eye.”	
d.	"ay."	
e.	"eh."	

____	31.	Which prefix means before or in front of?
a.	Retro-	
b.	Pre-	
c.	Super-	
d.	Micro-	
e.	Post-	

____	32.	Which element is located at the beginning of a medical word?
a.	Word stem	
b.	Combining vowel	
c.	Suffix	
d.	Prefix	
e.	Combining form	

____	33.	Which element is a prefix?
a.	Abdomin	
b.	Abdomino	
c.	Tomy	
d.	Abdomen	
e.	Hyper	

____	34.	In macroglossia (large tongue), macro- is a:
a.	consonant.	
b.	suffix.	
c.	word root.	
d.	prefix.	
e.	combining form.	

____	35.	Which term contains a prefix?
a.	Gastritis	
b.	Hepatoma	
c.	Cardiology	
d.	Monocyte	
e.	Nephritis	

True/False
Indicate whether the statement is true or false.

____	36.	Compound words may consist of two or more word roots.

____	37.	A word root plus o results in a CF.

____	38.	Gastr/o is a CF.

____	39.	A CF consists of a prefix plus a word root.

____	40.	A CF consists of a word root and a vowel.

____	41.	The combining vowel e is commonly used to form medical words.

____	42.	A combining vowel always connects a word root to a suffix.

____	43.	A combining vowel is usually an i.

____	44.	All suffixes begin with a vowel.

____	45.	In medical terminology, a suffix usually describes a position or direction.

____	46.	When a word changes from singular to plural form, the word suffix is the part that changes.

____	47.	All medical words contain a prefix.

____	48.	Gastroenterologist is an example of a compound word.

____	49.	When defining a medical word, first define the suffix.

____	50.	Most medical words have Greek or Spanish origins.

____	51.	When adding a suffix that begins with a vowel, the CF, rather than the word root, precedes the suffix.

____	52.	There are four basic rules for building medical words.

____	53.	The four elements used to form medical words are word roots, prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms.

____	54.	In the word salpingitis, the g is given a hard sound.

____	55.	In the word syncope, the final e is pronounced as a separate syllable.

____	56.	Pronunciation guidelines are included in the inside front cover of the textbook.

____	57.	In the term psychiatric, the p is pronounced as a hard p.

Matching

Match the word elements with their meanings.
a.	arthr/o	
b.	dermat/o	
c.	gastr/o	
d.	muscul/o	
e.	nas/o	
f.	nephr/o	
g.	stomat/o	
h.	-cyte	
i.	-itis	
j.	-oma	
k.	-megaly	
l.	an-	
m.	-ia	
n.	intra-	
o.	poly-	
p.	post-	
q.	sub-	
r.	retro-	

____	58.	enlargement

____	59.	inflammation

____	60.	stomach

____	61.	in, within

____	62.	kidney

____	63.	tumor

____	64.	joint

____	65.	skin

____	66.	cell

____	67.	many, much

____	68.	muscle

____	69.	nose

____	70.	mouth

____	71.	without, not

____	72.	condition

____	73.	backward, behind

____	74.	after

____	75.	under, below

1. Basic Elements of a Medical Word
Answer Section

MULTIPLE CHOICE

	1.	ANS:	D	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Roots

	2.	ANS:	B	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Roots

	3.	ANS:	D	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Roots

	4.	ANS:	D	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Roots

	5.	ANS:	A	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Roots

	6.	ANS:	B	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Forms	

	7.	ANS:	D	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Forms	

	8.	ANS:	C	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Forms	

	9.	ANS:	D	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Forms	

	10.	ANS:	E	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Forms	

	11.	ANS:	A	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Forms	

	12.	ANS:	A	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Vowels	

	13.	ANS:	C	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Vowels	

	14.	ANS:	B	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Vowels	

	15.	ANS:	D	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Vowels	

	16.	ANS:	D	PTS:	1	TOP:	Suffixes

	17.	ANS:	E	PTS:	1	TOP:	Suffixes

	18.	ANS:	B	PTS:	1	TOP:	Suffixes

	19.	ANS:	B	PTS:	1	TOP:	Suffixes

	20.	ANS:	C	PTS:	1	TOP:	Compound Words	

	21.	ANS:	C	PTS:	1	TOP:	Compound Words	

	22.	ANS:	C	PTS:	1	TOP:	Compound Words	

	23.	ANS:	D	PTS:	1	TOP:	Compound Words	

	24.	ANS:	B	PTS:	1	TOP:	Define and Build Medical Words

	25.	ANS:	C	PTS:	1	TOP:	Define and Build Medical Words

	26.	ANS:	D	PTS:	1	TOP:	Pronunciations	

	27.	ANS:	C	PTS:	1	TOP:	Pronunciations	

	28.	ANS:	A	PTS:	1	TOP:	Pronunciations	

	29.	ANS:	C	PTS:	1	TOP:	Pronunciations	

	30.	ANS:	C	PTS:	1	TOP:	Pronunciations	

	31.	ANS:	B	PTS:	1	TOP:	Prefixes

	32.	ANS:	D	PTS:	1	TOP:	Prefixes

	33.	ANS:	E	PTS:	1	TOP:	Prefixes

	34.	ANS:	D	PTS:	1	TOP:	Prefixes

	35.	ANS:	D	PTS:	1	TOP:	Prefixes

TRUE/FALSE

	36.	ANS:	T	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Roots

	37.	ANS:	T	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Forms	

	38.	ANS:	T	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Forms	

	39.	ANS:	F	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Forms	

	40.	ANS:	T	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Forms	

	41.	ANS:	F	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Vowels	

	42.	ANS:	F	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Vowels	

	43.	ANS:	F	PTS:	1	TOP:	Combining Vowels	

	44.	ANS:	F	PTS:	1	TOP:	Suffixes

	45.	ANS:	F	PTS:	1	TOP:	Suffixes

	46.	ANS:	T	PTS:	1	TOP:	Suffixes

	47.	ANS:	F	PTS:	1	TOP:	Prefixes

	48.	ANS:	T	PTS:	1	TOP:	Compound Words	

	49.	ANS:	T	PTS:	1	TOP:	Define and Build Medical Words

	50.	ANS:	F	PTS:	1	TOP:	Define and Build Medical Words

	51.	ANS:	F	PTS:	1	TOP:	Define and Build Medical Words

	52.	ANS:	F	PTS:	1	TOP:	Define and Build Medical Words

	53.	ANS:	T	PTS:	1	TOP:	Define and Build Medical Words

	54.	ANS:	F	PTS:	1	TOP:	Pronunciations	

	55.	ANS:	T	PTS:	1	TOP:	Pronunciations	

	56.	ANS:	T	PTS:	1	TOP:	Pronunciations	

	57.	ANS:	F	PTS:	1	TOP:	Pronunciations	

MATCHING

	58.	ANS:	K	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	59.	ANS:	I	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	60.	ANS:	C	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	61.	ANS:	N	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	62.	ANS:	F	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	63.	ANS:	J	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	64.	ANS:	A	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	65.	ANS:	B	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	66.	ANS:	H	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	67.	ANS:	O	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	68.	ANS:	D	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	69.	ANS:	E	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	70.	ANS:	G	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	71.	ANS:	L	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	72.	ANS:	M	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	73.	ANS:	R	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	74.	ANS:	P	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching

	75.	ANS:	Q	PTS:	1	TOP:	Word Elements Matching