BIOL 103 | BIOL103 Module 5: Medical
Terminology - Portage Learning Updated and
Latest Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationale
1. A patient undergoes a ‘cholecystectomy’ to treat recurring gallstones. Based on the word
parts, what does this procedure involve?
A. Surgical removal of the gallbladder
B. Surgical repair of the gallbladder
C. Incision into the gallbladder to remove stones
D. Visual examination of the gallbladder
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: A cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder.
The root ‘cholecyst/o’ refers specifically to the gallbladder organ. The suffix ‘-ectomy’
denotes the surgical removal or excision of a body part. This procedure is often indicated
for patients suffering from symptomatic gallstones. Understanding these components
allows clinicians to accurately identify the surgical nature of the treatment.
2. A patient reports ‘dyspepsia’ after eating spicy foods. Which of the following best describes
this condition?
A. Difficulty swallowing
B. Excessive vomiting
C. Inflammation of the stomach
D. Painful or difficult digestion
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Dyspepsia is the medical term for difficult or painful digestion. The
prefix ‘dys-’ indicates a condition that is difficult, painful, or abnormal. The suffix ‘-pepsia’ is
used specifically to denote the process of digestion. Clinically, this often presents as upper
abdominal discomfort or indigestion. Recognizing these word parts helps in diagnosing
common gastrointestinal complaints.
3. Which medical term describes the inflammation of the small intestine?
A. Enteritis
B. Colitis
C. Gastritis
,D. Stomatitis
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Enteritis refers specifically to the inflammation of the small intestine.
The root ‘enter/o’ identifies the small intestine as the affected anatomical site. The suffix ‘-
itis’ is a universal medical term meaning inflammation. This condition can lead to
symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal cramping. It is important to distinguish this from
gastritis, which affects the stomach.
4. If a surgeon performs a ‘nephropexy’, what is the primary goal of the operation?
A. To remove a kidney stone
B. To repair a ruptured kidney
C. To surgically fix a displaced kidney into place
D. To create a permanent opening in the kidney
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: A nephropexy is a surgical procedure to fix a kidney that has become
displaced. The root ‘nephr/o’ refers to the kidney. The suffix ‘-pexy’ means surgical fixation
or suspension. This is typically done to treat nephroptosis, also known as a ‘floating
kidney’. Clinicians use this term to describe the corrective stabilization of the organ.
5. A urinalysis reveals ‘hematuria’. What does this finding indicate?
A. Sugar in the urine
B. Protein in the urine
C. Pus in the urine
D. Blood in the urine
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Hematuria is the presence of blood in the urine. The root ‘hemat/o’
refers to blood. The suffix ‘-uria’ refers to the condition of the urine. Hematuria can be a
sign of infection, stones, or trauma within the urinary tract. Accurate identification of this
term is crucial for starting diagnostic investigations.
6. The abbreviation ‘GERD’ stands for a condition where stomach acid flows back into the
esophagus. What is the full term?
A. Gastric Enteric Reflux Disease
B. Gallbladder Esophageal Renal Disorder
C. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
D. Gastrointestinal Esophageal Reflux Disease
, Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: GERD stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. This condition
involves the chronic backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus. It causes irritation of the
esophageal lining, leading to heartburn. The term combines ‘gastr/o’ (stomach) and
‘esophag/o’ (esophagus) with ‘reflux’. It is one of the most common gastrointestinal
diagnoses in clinical practice.
7. Which anatomical structure carries urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder?
A. Urethra
B. Ureter
C. Nephron
D. Renal Pelvis
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: The ureter is the tube that transports urine from the kidney to the
bladder. Humans typically have two ureters, one for each kidney. They are distinct from the
urethra, which carries urine from the bladder out of the body. Obstruction in the ureter,
such as by a stone, can cause severe pain. Correctly identifying these tubes is fundamental
to urinary anatomy.
8. A patient is diagnosed with ‘glossitis’. Which part of the body is affected?
A. The gums
B. The tongue
C. The throat
D. The stomach
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Glossitis is the medical term for inflammation of the tongue. The root
‘gloss/o’ is derived from the Greek word for tongue. The suffix ‘-itis’ indicates the presence
of inflammation. This condition may cause the tongue to swell and change color.
Distinguishing this from gingivitis (gums) is important for clinical assessments.
9. What is the term for a visual examination of the large intestine using a specialized camera?
A. Colonoscopy
B. Sigmoidoscopy
C. Gastroscopy
D. Cystoscopy
Correct Answer: A
Terminology - Portage Learning Updated and
Latest Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationale
1. A patient undergoes a ‘cholecystectomy’ to treat recurring gallstones. Based on the word
parts, what does this procedure involve?
A. Surgical removal of the gallbladder
B. Surgical repair of the gallbladder
C. Incision into the gallbladder to remove stones
D. Visual examination of the gallbladder
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: A cholecystectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder.
The root ‘cholecyst/o’ refers specifically to the gallbladder organ. The suffix ‘-ectomy’
denotes the surgical removal or excision of a body part. This procedure is often indicated
for patients suffering from symptomatic gallstones. Understanding these components
allows clinicians to accurately identify the surgical nature of the treatment.
2. A patient reports ‘dyspepsia’ after eating spicy foods. Which of the following best describes
this condition?
A. Difficulty swallowing
B. Excessive vomiting
C. Inflammation of the stomach
D. Painful or difficult digestion
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Dyspepsia is the medical term for difficult or painful digestion. The
prefix ‘dys-’ indicates a condition that is difficult, painful, or abnormal. The suffix ‘-pepsia’ is
used specifically to denote the process of digestion. Clinically, this often presents as upper
abdominal discomfort or indigestion. Recognizing these word parts helps in diagnosing
common gastrointestinal complaints.
3. Which medical term describes the inflammation of the small intestine?
A. Enteritis
B. Colitis
C. Gastritis
,D. Stomatitis
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: Enteritis refers specifically to the inflammation of the small intestine.
The root ‘enter/o’ identifies the small intestine as the affected anatomical site. The suffix ‘-
itis’ is a universal medical term meaning inflammation. This condition can lead to
symptoms like diarrhea and abdominal cramping. It is important to distinguish this from
gastritis, which affects the stomach.
4. If a surgeon performs a ‘nephropexy’, what is the primary goal of the operation?
A. To remove a kidney stone
B. To repair a ruptured kidney
C. To surgically fix a displaced kidney into place
D. To create a permanent opening in the kidney
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: A nephropexy is a surgical procedure to fix a kidney that has become
displaced. The root ‘nephr/o’ refers to the kidney. The suffix ‘-pexy’ means surgical fixation
or suspension. This is typically done to treat nephroptosis, also known as a ‘floating
kidney’. Clinicians use this term to describe the corrective stabilization of the organ.
5. A urinalysis reveals ‘hematuria’. What does this finding indicate?
A. Sugar in the urine
B. Protein in the urine
C. Pus in the urine
D. Blood in the urine
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Hematuria is the presence of blood in the urine. The root ‘hemat/o’
refers to blood. The suffix ‘-uria’ refers to the condition of the urine. Hematuria can be a
sign of infection, stones, or trauma within the urinary tract. Accurate identification of this
term is crucial for starting diagnostic investigations.
6. The abbreviation ‘GERD’ stands for a condition where stomach acid flows back into the
esophagus. What is the full term?
A. Gastric Enteric Reflux Disease
B. Gallbladder Esophageal Renal Disorder
C. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
D. Gastrointestinal Esophageal Reflux Disease
, Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: GERD stands for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease. This condition
involves the chronic backflow of stomach acid into the esophagus. It causes irritation of the
esophageal lining, leading to heartburn. The term combines ‘gastr/o’ (stomach) and
‘esophag/o’ (esophagus) with ‘reflux’. It is one of the most common gastrointestinal
diagnoses in clinical practice.
7. Which anatomical structure carries urine from the kidney to the urinary bladder?
A. Urethra
B. Ureter
C. Nephron
D. Renal Pelvis
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: The ureter is the tube that transports urine from the kidney to the
bladder. Humans typically have two ureters, one for each kidney. They are distinct from the
urethra, which carries urine from the bladder out of the body. Obstruction in the ureter,
such as by a stone, can cause severe pain. Correctly identifying these tubes is fundamental
to urinary anatomy.
8. A patient is diagnosed with ‘glossitis’. Which part of the body is affected?
A. The gums
B. The tongue
C. The throat
D. The stomach
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Glossitis is the medical term for inflammation of the tongue. The root
‘gloss/o’ is derived from the Greek word for tongue. The suffix ‘-itis’ indicates the presence
of inflammation. This condition may cause the tongue to swell and change color.
Distinguishing this from gingivitis (gums) is important for clinical assessments.
9. What is the term for a visual examination of the large intestine using a specialized camera?
A. Colonoscopy
B. Sigmoidoscopy
C. Gastroscopy
D. Cystoscopy
Correct Answer: A
