HOSA Medical Terminology Competition Study Guide
Comprehensive Guide for 10th Grade Success
Test Plan Breakdown
Competition Overview
Medical Terminology allows members to gain knowledge and skills regarding prefixes,
suffixes, word roots, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and occupations related to the
health field.
Test Format
Format 50 multiple-choice questions
Time 60 minutes (≈ 1.2 min/question)
Tiebreaker 20 additional questions (spelling must be perfect)
Division Secondary & Postsecondary/Collegiate
Event Type Individual competitor
Keys to Success
Master word parts first (45% of test)
Study body systems methodically (5% each)
Official References
Practice breaking down complex terms
Ehrlich: Medical Terminology for Health Professions (latest)
Use mark-and-return strategy for difficult questions
Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary
Review common spelling pitfalls for tiebreakers
Stanhope & Turnbull: Introduction to Medical Terminology
Dean Vaughn's Medical Terminology by Body Systems
Competitor Requirements
Must Bring Photo ID; Two #2 lead pencils (not mechanical) with eraser
Dress Code Business attire or official HOSA uniform (bonus points)
HOSA Future Health Professionals • Medical Terminology Competition 2025-2026
,Essential Prefixes – Complete Quick Reference
Negative/Absence
a-, an- (without) → apnea anti- (against) → antibiotic contra- (against) → contraindication dis- (apart, not) → dislocate
de- (down, away) → dehydrate ab- (away from) → abduction aniso- (unequal) → anisocytosis non- (not) → nonmalignant
Size/Number
mono-, uni- (one) → monocyte bi-, di- (two) → bilateral tri- (three) → tricuspid quadri- (four) → quadriplegia
poly- (many) → polyuria pan- (all) → pandemic hemi-, semi- (half) → hemiplegia oligo- (few) → oliguria
micro- (small) → microscope macro-, mega- (large) → macrocyte multi- (many) → multifocal nano- (very small) → nanogram
Position/Location
endo-, intra- (within) → endoscopy exo-, ecto- (outside) → exocrine epi- (upon) → epidermis sub-, infra- (below) → subcutaneous
super-, supra- (above) → supraorbital meta- (beyond, change) → metastasis para- (beside) → parathyroid extra- (outside) → extracellular
Direction/Time
ante-, pre- (before) → antenatal post- (after) → postoperative retro- (backward) → retrograde peri- (around) → pericardium
circum- (around) → circumoral trans- (across) → transfusion inter- (between) → intercostal pro- (forward) → prognosis
Intensity/Quality
hyper- (excessive) → hypertension hypo- (deficient) → hypoglycemia eu- (normal) → eupnea dys- (difficult) → dysphagia
tachy- (fast) → tachycardia brady- (slow) → bradycardia iso- (equal) → isotonic homo-/hetero- (same/different) → homogeneous
neo- (new) → neoplasm mal- (bad) → malnutrition ortho- (straight) → orthopedic auto- (self) → autoimmune
Total: 44 key prefixes | 5 categories | HOSA Medical Terminology Study Guide
, Essential Suffixes – Complete Quick Reference
Diagnostic/Measurement
-graph (recording instrument) →
-gram (record) → cardiogram -graphy (process of recording) → angiography -meter (measuring device) → spirometer
electrocardiograph
-metry (measurement) → oximetry -scope (viewing instrument) → endoscope -scopy (visual exam) → endoscopy -scan (image procedure) → ultrascan
Surgical/Procedural
-ectomy (removal) → appendectomy -tomy (incision) → tracheotomy -plasty (repair) → rhinoplasty -pexy (fixation) → orchiopexy
-stomy (new opening) → colostomy -desis (binding) → arthrodesis -tripsy (crushing) → lithotripsy -centesis (puncture) → amniocentesis
Pathological/Condition
-itis (inflammation) → tonsillitis -osis (abnormal condition) → cyanosis -oma (tumor) → lymphoma -pathy (disease) → neuropathy
-plasia (formation) → hyperplasia -malacia (softening) → osteomalacia -sclerosis (hardening) → arteriosclerosis -emia (blood condition) → anemia
-uria (urine condition) → hematuria -cele (hernia, pouch) → meningocele -iasis (condition) → psoriasis -ism (condition) → dwarfism
Descriptive/Extent
-algia, -dynia (pain) → neuralgia -pnea (breathing) → apnea -rrhea (flow) → diarrhea -rrhage/-rrhagia (burst forth) → hemorrhage
-rrhexis (rupture) → angiorrhexis -penia (deficiency) → leukopenia -cytosis (increased cells) → leukocytosis -megaly (enlargement) → cardiomegaly
-lysis (breakdown) → hemolysis -stasis (stopping) → hemostasis -phobia (fear) → claustrophobia -ptosis (drooping) → blepharoptosis
Profession/Field Function/Performance
-ology (study of) → cardiology -ologist (specialist) → cardiologist -plegia (paralysis) → paraplegia -paresis (weakness) → hemiparesis
-iatry (medical specialty) → psychiatry -iatrist (specialist) → psychiatrist -trophy (nourishment) → atrophy -cyte (cell) → erythrocyte
Total: 38 key suffixes | 5 categories | HOSA Medical Terminology Study Guide
Comprehensive Guide for 10th Grade Success
Test Plan Breakdown
Competition Overview
Medical Terminology allows members to gain knowledge and skills regarding prefixes,
suffixes, word roots, anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, and occupations related to the
health field.
Test Format
Format 50 multiple-choice questions
Time 60 minutes (≈ 1.2 min/question)
Tiebreaker 20 additional questions (spelling must be perfect)
Division Secondary & Postsecondary/Collegiate
Event Type Individual competitor
Keys to Success
Master word parts first (45% of test)
Study body systems methodically (5% each)
Official References
Practice breaking down complex terms
Ehrlich: Medical Terminology for Health Professions (latest)
Use mark-and-return strategy for difficult questions
Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary
Review common spelling pitfalls for tiebreakers
Stanhope & Turnbull: Introduction to Medical Terminology
Dean Vaughn's Medical Terminology by Body Systems
Competitor Requirements
Must Bring Photo ID; Two #2 lead pencils (not mechanical) with eraser
Dress Code Business attire or official HOSA uniform (bonus points)
HOSA Future Health Professionals • Medical Terminology Competition 2025-2026
,Essential Prefixes – Complete Quick Reference
Negative/Absence
a-, an- (without) → apnea anti- (against) → antibiotic contra- (against) → contraindication dis- (apart, not) → dislocate
de- (down, away) → dehydrate ab- (away from) → abduction aniso- (unequal) → anisocytosis non- (not) → nonmalignant
Size/Number
mono-, uni- (one) → monocyte bi-, di- (two) → bilateral tri- (three) → tricuspid quadri- (four) → quadriplegia
poly- (many) → polyuria pan- (all) → pandemic hemi-, semi- (half) → hemiplegia oligo- (few) → oliguria
micro- (small) → microscope macro-, mega- (large) → macrocyte multi- (many) → multifocal nano- (very small) → nanogram
Position/Location
endo-, intra- (within) → endoscopy exo-, ecto- (outside) → exocrine epi- (upon) → epidermis sub-, infra- (below) → subcutaneous
super-, supra- (above) → supraorbital meta- (beyond, change) → metastasis para- (beside) → parathyroid extra- (outside) → extracellular
Direction/Time
ante-, pre- (before) → antenatal post- (after) → postoperative retro- (backward) → retrograde peri- (around) → pericardium
circum- (around) → circumoral trans- (across) → transfusion inter- (between) → intercostal pro- (forward) → prognosis
Intensity/Quality
hyper- (excessive) → hypertension hypo- (deficient) → hypoglycemia eu- (normal) → eupnea dys- (difficult) → dysphagia
tachy- (fast) → tachycardia brady- (slow) → bradycardia iso- (equal) → isotonic homo-/hetero- (same/different) → homogeneous
neo- (new) → neoplasm mal- (bad) → malnutrition ortho- (straight) → orthopedic auto- (self) → autoimmune
Total: 44 key prefixes | 5 categories | HOSA Medical Terminology Study Guide
, Essential Suffixes – Complete Quick Reference
Diagnostic/Measurement
-graph (recording instrument) →
-gram (record) → cardiogram -graphy (process of recording) → angiography -meter (measuring device) → spirometer
electrocardiograph
-metry (measurement) → oximetry -scope (viewing instrument) → endoscope -scopy (visual exam) → endoscopy -scan (image procedure) → ultrascan
Surgical/Procedural
-ectomy (removal) → appendectomy -tomy (incision) → tracheotomy -plasty (repair) → rhinoplasty -pexy (fixation) → orchiopexy
-stomy (new opening) → colostomy -desis (binding) → arthrodesis -tripsy (crushing) → lithotripsy -centesis (puncture) → amniocentesis
Pathological/Condition
-itis (inflammation) → tonsillitis -osis (abnormal condition) → cyanosis -oma (tumor) → lymphoma -pathy (disease) → neuropathy
-plasia (formation) → hyperplasia -malacia (softening) → osteomalacia -sclerosis (hardening) → arteriosclerosis -emia (blood condition) → anemia
-uria (urine condition) → hematuria -cele (hernia, pouch) → meningocele -iasis (condition) → psoriasis -ism (condition) → dwarfism
Descriptive/Extent
-algia, -dynia (pain) → neuralgia -pnea (breathing) → apnea -rrhea (flow) → diarrhea -rrhage/-rrhagia (burst forth) → hemorrhage
-rrhexis (rupture) → angiorrhexis -penia (deficiency) → leukopenia -cytosis (increased cells) → leukocytosis -megaly (enlargement) → cardiomegaly
-lysis (breakdown) → hemolysis -stasis (stopping) → hemostasis -phobia (fear) → claustrophobia -ptosis (drooping) → blepharoptosis
Profession/Field Function/Performance
-ology (study of) → cardiology -ologist (specialist) → cardiologist -plegia (paralysis) → paraplegia -paresis (weakness) → hemiparesis
-iatry (medical specialty) → psychiatry -iatrist (specialist) → psychiatrist -trophy (nourishment) → atrophy -cyte (cell) → erythrocyte
Total: 38 key suffixes | 5 categories | HOSA Medical Terminology Study Guide
