Chapter 5. Medical Terminology

Question 1

Word root

Answer 1

The foundation of the word

Conveys the essential meaning of the word and frequently indicates a body part

Question 2

Prefix

Answer 2

• What occurs before the root word (appears at the beginning)
• a prefix gives the root word specific meaning

Question 3

Suffix

Answer 3

What occurs after the root word

Usually indicate a procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech

Question 4

Combining vowels

Answer 4

The part of a term that connects a word root to a suffix or other word root
Usually an o, sometimes an I or e
Helps easy pronunciation

Question 5

Common root words in ems: meanings...
Cardi:
Hepat:
Nephr:
Neur: 
Psych:
Thorac: 
Pulmon
Oste

Answer 5

Heart
Liver
Kidney
Nerves
Mind
Chest 
Lungs 
Bones

Question 6

Common prefixes in ems: meanings...
Hyper
Hypo
Tachy
Brady
Pre
Post

Answer 6

Over, excessive, high
Under, below normal
Rapid, fast
Slow
Before
After

Question 7

Common suffixes in ems: meanings..

1. Al
2. Algia
3. Ectomy
4. Ic
5. Itis
6. Logy
7. Logist
8. Megaly
9. Meter
10. Oma
11. Pathy

Answer 7

1. Pertaining to
2. Pertaining to pain
3. Surgical removal of
4. Pertaining to
5. Inflammation
6. Study of
7. Specialist
8. Enlargement
9. Measuring instrument
10. Tumor (usually referring to cancer?
11. Disease

Question 8

Common number prefixes

1. Uni 14. Nona
2. Dipl 15. Deca
3. Null 16. Semi
4. Primi 17. Hemi
5. Multi 18. Ambi
6. Bi 19. Pan
7. Tri
8. Quad
9. Tetra
10. Quint
11. Sexti
12. Septi
13. Oct

Answer 8

One.                           Ten
Two;doubled.            Half;partial
None.                         Half;one sided
First                            Both
Many.                         All, entire 
Two
Three
Four
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine

Question 9

Word roots that describe color 
Cyan/o
Leuk/o
Erythr/o
Cirrh/o
Melan/o
Poli/o
Alb
Chlor/o

Answer 9

Blue
White
Red
Yellow-orange
Black
Gray
White green

Question 10

Prefixes that describe position: to/from
Ab-
Ad-

Answer 10

• away from

- To, towards

Question 11

Prefixes that describe position: above/below/around 
De-
Circum-
Peri-
Trans-
Epi-
Supra-
Retro-
Sub-
Infra-
Para-
Contra-

Answer 11

Down from, away
Around, about 
Around 
Across, beyond 
Above, upon, On 
Above, over 
Behind 
Under
Underneath 
Near, beside, beyond, apart from 
Against.. opposite

Question 12

Prefixes that describe position.. outside/inside
Ecto-
Endo-
Extra-
Intra-
Ipsi-

Answer 12

Out, outside 
Within 
Outside, in addition 
Inside, within 
Same

Question 13

Lateral

Answer 13

Parts of the body that lie farther from the midline

Question 14

Medial

Answer 14

The parts that lie closer to the midline of the body

Question 15

Superior

Answer 15

Any part of the body that is the portion nearer to the head from a specific reference point

Question 16

Inferior

Answer 16

Any part of the body nearer to the feet from a specific reference.

Question 17

Proximal

Answer 17

Describe structures that are closer to the trunk

For example, the elbow is proximal to the wrist and hand

Question 18

Distal

Answer 18

Describe structures that are farther from the trunk or near to the free end of the extremity

For example, the elbow is distal to the shoulder

Question 19

Superficial

Answer 19

Means closer to or on the skin

For example, a superficial burn just involves the top layer of skin, or an abrasion (superficial wound) which is just scraping your knee

Question 20

Deep

Answer 20

Deep means farther inside the body or tissue and away from the skin

An example would be a laceration, from something like a knife stab

Question 21

Anterior (Ventral)

Answer 21

Refers to the belly side of the body, or the anterior surface of the body

Question 22

Posterior (dorsal)

Answer 22

Refers to the spinal side of the body

Question 23

Directional terms:
Front and back-
Right and left-
Top and bottom -
Closest and farthest -
Middle and side -
In and out-

Answer 23

Anterior and posterior (ventral & distal)
Right and left 
Superior and inferior 
Proximal and distal
Medial and lateral 
Superficial and deep

Question 24

Palmar

Answer 24

The front region of the hand is referred to as the palm or Palmar surface

Question 25

Plantar

Answer 25

The bottom of the foot

Question 26

Apex

Answer 26

Tip of a structure

Question 27

Movement terms

Flexion

Extension

Adduction

Abduction

Answer 27

Bending of a joint

Straightening of a join

Motion towards the midline

Motion away from the midline

Question 28

Bilateral

Answer 28

A body part that appears on both sides of the midline is bilateral (eyes ears hands feet)

Question 29

Prone position

Answer 29

Lying face down

Question 30

Supine position

Answer 30

When someone is lying face up

Question 31

Fowler position

Answer 31

A patient who is sitting upright is said to be in the fowler position.
Semi fowler is a 45° angle and high fowler position is a 90° angle

Question 32

What do you do when you try to define a medical term?

Answer 32

Begin with the suffix and work backwards, try to define the prefix if there is one