Medical Terminology 2026/2027 Exam Paper:
Multiple-Choice Questions on Suffixes, Prefixes &
Combining Forms with Answer Explanations for
University Students
Section 1: Suffixes (Pertaining to, Conditions, and Procedures)
1. Which suffix correctly means "pertaining to" and can be used to form adjectives
from noun stems?
A. -algia
B. -ac
C. -emia
D. -oma
Answer: B
Explanation: The suffix -ac means "pertaining to," as seen in terms like cardiac
(pertaining to the heart) or iliac (pertaining to the ilium). Other suffixes with
similar meanings include -al, -ar, -ary, and -ic, but -ac is specifically tested here.
2. A patient diagnosed with gastritis has inflammation of which organ?
A. Liver
B. Intestine
C. Stomach
D. Kidney
Answer: C
Explanation: The suffix -itis means "inflammation of." Gastr/o refers to the
stomach, so gastritis is inflammation of the stomach. Hepatitis is liver
inflammation, enteritis is intestinal inflammation, and nephritis is kidney
inflammation.
3. The suffix -ectomy appears in the term appendectomy. What does this procedure
involve?
,A. Viewing of the appendix
B. Surgical removal of the appendix
C. Artificial opening into the appendix
D. Recording of the appendix
Answer: B
Explanation: The suffix -ectomy means "surgical removal." Appendectomy is the
surgical excision of the appendix. Viewing involves -scopy, artificial opening
involves -stomy, and recording involves -gram.
4. Which suffix means "surgical puncture to remove fluid"?
A. -centesis
B. -ectomy
C. -ostomy
D. -otomy
Answer: A
Explanation: -centesis means surgical puncture to aspirate fluid (e.g.,
amniocentesis, thoracentesis). -ectomy is removal, -ostomy is creating an opening,
-otomy is incision.
5. The suffix -plasty is used in terms like rhinoplasty. What does -plasty mean?
A. Repair or reconstruction
B. Cutting into
C. Destruction
D. Binding
Answer: A
Explanation: -plasty means surgical repair or reconstruction (e.g., rhinoplasty –
nose repair). -tomy means cutting, -lysis means destruction, -desis means binding.
6. A patient with hepatomegaly has an enlarged:
A. Spleen
B. Kidney
, C. Liver
D. Heart
Answer: C
Explanation: Hepat/o = liver; -megaly = enlargement. Splenomegaly is spleen
enlargement, nephromegaly is kidney, cardiomegaly is heart.
7. The suffix -scopy means:
A. Instrument to view
B. Process of viewing
C. Record of viewing
D. Surgical removal
Answer: B
Explanation: -scopy means the process of visual examination (e.g., endoscopy). -
scope is the instrument, -gram is the record.
8. Which suffix indicates a "record" or "image"?
A. -graph
B. -graphy
C. -gram
D. -meter
Answer: C
Explanation: -gram means the record or image (e.g., mammogram,
electrocardiogram). -graph is the instrument, -graphy is the process of recording.
9. A term meaning "difficult breathing" uses which suffix?
A. -pnea
B. -pnea with prefix dys- (dyspnea) – The suffix -pnea means breathing. Dyspnea
is difficult breathing.
Options:
A. -phasia
B. -phagia
Multiple-Choice Questions on Suffixes, Prefixes &
Combining Forms with Answer Explanations for
University Students
Section 1: Suffixes (Pertaining to, Conditions, and Procedures)
1. Which suffix correctly means "pertaining to" and can be used to form adjectives
from noun stems?
A. -algia
B. -ac
C. -emia
D. -oma
Answer: B
Explanation: The suffix -ac means "pertaining to," as seen in terms like cardiac
(pertaining to the heart) or iliac (pertaining to the ilium). Other suffixes with
similar meanings include -al, -ar, -ary, and -ic, but -ac is specifically tested here.
2. A patient diagnosed with gastritis has inflammation of which organ?
A. Liver
B. Intestine
C. Stomach
D. Kidney
Answer: C
Explanation: The suffix -itis means "inflammation of." Gastr/o refers to the
stomach, so gastritis is inflammation of the stomach. Hepatitis is liver
inflammation, enteritis is intestinal inflammation, and nephritis is kidney
inflammation.
3. The suffix -ectomy appears in the term appendectomy. What does this procedure
involve?
,A. Viewing of the appendix
B. Surgical removal of the appendix
C. Artificial opening into the appendix
D. Recording of the appendix
Answer: B
Explanation: The suffix -ectomy means "surgical removal." Appendectomy is the
surgical excision of the appendix. Viewing involves -scopy, artificial opening
involves -stomy, and recording involves -gram.
4. Which suffix means "surgical puncture to remove fluid"?
A. -centesis
B. -ectomy
C. -ostomy
D. -otomy
Answer: A
Explanation: -centesis means surgical puncture to aspirate fluid (e.g.,
amniocentesis, thoracentesis). -ectomy is removal, -ostomy is creating an opening,
-otomy is incision.
5. The suffix -plasty is used in terms like rhinoplasty. What does -plasty mean?
A. Repair or reconstruction
B. Cutting into
C. Destruction
D. Binding
Answer: A
Explanation: -plasty means surgical repair or reconstruction (e.g., rhinoplasty –
nose repair). -tomy means cutting, -lysis means destruction, -desis means binding.
6. A patient with hepatomegaly has an enlarged:
A. Spleen
B. Kidney
, C. Liver
D. Heart
Answer: C
Explanation: Hepat/o = liver; -megaly = enlargement. Splenomegaly is spleen
enlargement, nephromegaly is kidney, cardiomegaly is heart.
7. The suffix -scopy means:
A. Instrument to view
B. Process of viewing
C. Record of viewing
D. Surgical removal
Answer: B
Explanation: -scopy means the process of visual examination (e.g., endoscopy). -
scope is the instrument, -gram is the record.
8. Which suffix indicates a "record" or "image"?
A. -graph
B. -graphy
C. -gram
D. -meter
Answer: C
Explanation: -gram means the record or image (e.g., mammogram,
electrocardiogram). -graph is the instrument, -graphy is the process of recording.
9. A term meaning "difficult breathing" uses which suffix?
A. -pnea
B. -pnea with prefix dys- (dyspnea) – The suffix -pnea means breathing. Dyspnea
is difficult breathing.
Options:
A. -phasia
B. -phagia
