Chapter 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/the
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 + 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’s 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 a hard sound.

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

____	56.	Pronunciation guidelines are included on the inside back 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

Chapter 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