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Medical Terminology > Chapter 1 - Basic Elements of a Medical Word > Flashcards

Chapter 1 - Basic Elements of a Medical Word Flashcards

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USMLE® Step 1 flashcards
1
Q

A medical word consists of some or all of what elements?

A
  1. Word root
  2. Prefix
  3. Suffix
  4. Combining form
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2
Q

Define: Word Root

A

The main part or foundation of a word.

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3
Q

Define: Combining Forms

A

A combining form is created when a word root is combined with a vowel. It is usually an o, but sometimes an i. (The vowel is known as a combining vowel.)

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4
Q

Define: Suffix

A

A word element placed at the end of a word that alters its meaning. Usually describes a pathology (disease or abnormality), a surgical or diagnostic procedure, condition, symptom, or part of speech.

(All medical terms have a suffix.)

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5
Q

Define: Prefix

A

A word element attached to the beginning of a word or word root. Prefixes usually indicate a number, time, position, direction or negation.

(Not all medical terms have a prefix.)

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6
Q

List the steps for defining a medical word

A
  1. Define the suffix
  2. Define the first part of the word. (Which may be a word root, combining form or prefix).
  3. Define the middle parts of the word.
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7
Q

What are the three basic rules for building medical words?

A
  1. A word root links a suffix that begins with a vowel.
  2. A combining form (root + o) links a suffix that begins with a consonant.
  3. A combining form links one root to another root to form a compound word. (This rule holds true even if the second root begins with a vowel, such as: oste/o/arthr/itis.
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8
Q

True or False:
A combining vowel is usually an e.

A

False

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9
Q

True or False:
A word root links a suffix that begins with a consonant.

A

False

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10
Q

True or False:
A combining form links multiple roots to each other.

A

True

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11
Q

True or False:
A combining form links a suffix that begins with a consonant.

A

True

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12
Q

True or False:
To define a medical word, first define the prefix.

A

False

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13
Q

True or False:
In the term intramuscular, intra is the prefix.

A

True

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14
Q

Underline the word root:
splen/o

A

splen

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15
Q

Underline the word root:
hyster/o

A

hyster

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16
Q

Underline the word root:
enter/o

A

enter

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17
Q

Underline the word root:
neur/o

A

neur

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18
Q

Underline the word root:
ot/o

A

ot

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19
Q

Underline the word root:
dermat/o

A

dermat

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20
Q

Underline the word root:
hydr/o

A

hydr

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21
Q

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:

nephritis

A

inflammation of the kidney.

nephr

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22
Q

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:

arthrodesis

A

fixation of a joint.

arthr

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23
Q

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:

dermatitis

A

inflammation of the skin.

dermat

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24
Q

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:

dentist

A

specialist in teeth.

dent

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25
Q

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:

gastrectomy

A

excision of the stomach.

gastr

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26
Q

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:

chondritis

A

inflammation of the cartilage.

chondr

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27
Q

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:

hepatoma

A

tumor of the liver.

hepat

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28
Q

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:

muscular

A

pertaining to the muscle.

muscul

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29
Q

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:

gastric

A

pertaining to the stomach.

gastr

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30
Q

What is the meaning of the word and underline the word root:

osteoma

A

tumor of the bone.

oste

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31
Q

Underline the combining forms and what does it mean?

nephr

A

nothing to underline.

kidney

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32
Q

Underline the combining forms and what does it mean?

hepat/o

A

hepat/o

liver

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33
Q

Underline the combining forms and what does it mean?

arthr

A

nothing to underline.

joint

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34
Q

Underline the combining forms and what does it mean?

oste/o/arthr

A

oste/o/

bone, joint

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35
Q

Underline the combining forms and what does it mean?

cholangi/o

A

cholangi/o

bile vessel

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36
Q

Write the suffix:

thoracotomy

A

-tomy

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37
Q

Write the suffix:

gastroscope

A

-scope

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38
Q

Write the suffix:

tonsillitis

A

-itis

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39
Q

Write the suffix:

gastric

A

-ic

40
Q

Write the suffix:

tonsillectomy

A

-ectomy

41
Q

Write the prefix:

anesthesia

A

an-

42
Q

Write the prefix:

hyperthermia

A

hyper-

43
Q

Write the prefix:

intramuscular

A

intra-

44
Q

Write the prefix:

paranasal

A

para-

45
Q

Write the prefix:

polyuria

A

poly-

46
Q

Define the word:

gastritis

A

Inflammation of the stomach.

47
Q

Define the word:

nephritis

A

Inflammation of the kidney(s).

48
Q

Define the word:

gastrectomy

A

Excision of the stomach.

49
Q

Define the word:

osteoma

A

Tumor of bone.

50
Q

Define the word:

hepatoma

A

Tumor of the liver.

51
Q

Define the word:

hepatitis

A

Inflammation of the liver.

52
Q

Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the:

spleen

A

splenectomy

53
Q

Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the:

appendix

A

appendectomy

54
Q

Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the:

pancreas

A

pancreatectomy

55
Q

Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the:

gallbladder

A

cholecystectomy

56
Q

Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the:

colon

A

colectomy

57
Q

Use -ectomy (excision) to build medial words that mean excision of the:

stomach

A

gastrectomy

58
Q

Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the:

spleen

A

splenitis

59
Q

Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the:

liver

A

hepatitis

60
Q

Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the:

pancreas

A

pancreatitis

61
Q

Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the:

gallbladder

A

cholecystitis

62
Q

Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the:

colon

A

colitis

63
Q

Use -itis (inflammation) to build medial words that mean inflammation of the:

stomach

A

gastritis

64
Q

Use -megaly (enlargement) to build medical words that mean enlargement of the:

liver

A

hepatomegaly

65
Q

Use -megaly (enlargement) to build medical words that mean enlargement of the:

spleen

A

splenomegaly

66
Q

Use -megaly (enlargement) to build medical words that mean enlargement of the:

stomach

A

gastromegaly

67
Q

Abbreviation:

abd

A

Abdomen

68
Q

Abbreviation:

AP

A

Anteroposterior

69
Q

Abbreviation:

Bx, bx

A

Biopsy

70
Q

Abbreviation:

Dx

A

Diagnosis

71
Q

Abbreviation:

LAT, lat

A

Lateral

72
Q

Abbreviation:

LLQ

A

Left Lower Quadrant

73
Q

Abbreviation:

LUQ

A

Left Upper Quadrant

74
Q

Abbreviation:

PA

A

Posteroanterior

75
Q

Abbreviation:

RLQ

A

Right Lower Quadrant

76
Q

Abbreviation:

RUQ

A

Right Upper Quadrant

77
Q

Abbreviation:

Sx

A

Symptom

78
Q

Abbreviation:

Tx

A

Treatment

79
Q

Diagnostic Word:

CT

A

Computed Tomography

80
Q

Diagnostic Word:

CXR

A

Chest X-Ray

81
Q

Diagnostic Word:

MRI

A

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

82
Q

Diagnostic Word:

PET

A

Position Emission Tomography

83
Q

Diagnostic Word:

US

A

Ultrasonography

84
Q

Define:

Anastomosis

A

Surgical joining of two ducts, blood vessels, or bowel segments to allow flow from one to the other.

85
Q

Define:

Cauterize

A

Process of burning tissue by using thermal heat, steam, electricity, laser or dry ice.

86
Q

What direction is this:

Superior (cranial)

A

Toward the head

87
Q

What direction is this:

Inferior (caudal)

A

Toward the bottom (tail)

88
Q

What direction is this:

Anterior (ventral)

A

Toward the front

89
Q

What direction is this:

Posterior (dorsal)

A

Toward the back

90
Q

What direction is this:

Medial

A

Toward the midline of the body

91
Q

What direction is this:

Lateral

A

Toward the side of the body

92
Q

What direction is this:

Internal (deep)

A

Away from the surface of the body

93
Q

What direction is this:

External (superficial)

A

Towards the surface of the body

94
Q

What direction is this:

Proximal

A

Toward the main mass of the body

95
Q

What direction is this:

Distal

A

Away from the main mass of the body

96
Q

What direction is this:

Visceral

A

Related to internal organs

97
Q

What direction is this:

Parietal

A

Related to the body walls

Medical Terminology (4 decks)

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