Chap 1, Prefixes

Question 1

a-, an-

Answer 1

no, not, without

Question 2

anemia

Answer 2

a decrease in erythrocytes or hemoglobin

emia = blood condition

Anemia is a decreased number of erythrocytes or an abnormality of the hemoglobin (a chemical) within the red blood cells. This results in decreased delivery of oxygen to cells of the body. Anemic patients look so pale that early physicians thought they were literally “without blood.”

Question 3

aut-, auto-

Answer 3

self, own

Question 4

autopsy

Answer 4

examination of a dead body (cadaver or corpse) to determine the cause of death and nature of disease

-opsy = process of viewing

This term literally means “process of viewing by oneself.” Hence, an autopsy is the examination of a dead body with one’s own eyes to determine the cause of death and nature of disease.

Question 5

dia-

Answer 5

complete, through

Question 6

diagnosis

Answer 6

state of complete knowledge; information gathered about a patient’s illness

diagnoses (plural)

Question 7

endo-

Answer 7

within

Question 8

endocrinologist

Answer 8

specialist of inwardly secreting glands (endocrine glands)

Question 9

epi-

Answer 9

above, upon

Question 10

epigastric

Answer 10

pertaining to above or upon the stomach

Question 11

epidermis

Answer 11

outer layer of skin; above the dermis layer

This outermost layer of skin lies above the middle layer of skin, known as the dermis.

Question 12

ex-, exo-

Answer 12

out, outside of, outward

Question 13

excision

Answer 13

process of cutting out; to resection

-ion = process

Question 14

exocrine glands

Answer 14

glands that secrete chemicals outside the body (i.e.: tears, sweat, sebum)

Question 15

hyper-

Answer 15

excessive, above, more than normal

Question 16

hyperthyroidism

Answer 16

condition of excessively secreting hormone (thyroxine) from the thyroid gland

-ism = process or condition

Question 17

hypo-

Answer 17

deficient, below, under, less than normal

Question 18

hypogastric

Answer 18

pertaining to below the stomach

When hypo- is used with a part of the body, it means below.

Question 19

hypoglycemia

Answer 19

condition of low blood sugar

In this term, hypo- means deficient.

Question 20

in-

Answer 20

into, in

Question 21

incision

Answer 21

process of cutting into; to section

cis/o = to cut
-ion = process

Question 22

peri-

Answer 22

surrounding, around

Question 23

pericardium

Answer 23

structure (membrane) surrounding the heart

The suffix -um means a structure. The pericardium is the membrane that surrounds the heart.

Question 24

pro-

Answer 24

before, forward

Question 25

prostate gland

Answer 25

exocrine gland in front of (before) the urinary bladder in males

This exocrine gland “stands” (-state) before or in front of the urinary bladder. It produces semen, which contains fluid and sperm cells.

Question 26

re-

Answer 26

back, backward, again

Question 27

resection

Answer 27

removal; excision

sect = to cut

This is an operation in which tissue is “cut back” or removed. The Latin resectio means a trimming or pruning.

Question 28

retro-

Answer 28

behind

Question 29

retrocardiac

Answer 29

pertaining to behind the heart

Question 30

sub-

Answer 30

below, under

Question 31

subhepatic

Answer 31

pertaining to below the liver

Question 32

trans-

Answer 32

across, through

Question 33

transhepatic

Answer 33

pertaining to across or through the liver

Question 34

Plurals

Answer 34

Terms ending in -is (diagnosis, prognosis) form their plural by dropping the -is and adding -es.

Question 35

Understanding Hyperthyroidism

Answer 35

In hyperthyroidism, a hyperactive thyroid gland (an endocrine gland in the neck) secretes a greater than normal amount of thyroxine (thyroid hormone, or T4). Because thyroxine causes cells to burn fuel and release energy, signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism are increased energy level and nervousness, tachycardia (increased heart rate), weight loss, and exophthalmos (bulging eyeballs).