MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY EXAM – PRACTICE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
Word Roots and Combining Forms
Suffixes and Prefixes
Body Structure and Organization
Integumentary and Musculoskeletal Systems
Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems
Respiratory and Digestive Systems
Nervous and Endocrine Systems
Genitourinary and Reproductive Systems
Sensing Organs and Specialized Terminology
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures
Introduction
This comprehensive medical terminology assessment is designed to evaluate the proficiency of
healthcare students and professionals in the foundational language of medicine. The exam
assesses the ability to break down complex terms into constituent parts, understand anatomical
relationships, and apply specialized vocabulary to clinical contexts. Utilizing a mix of multiple-
choice questions and scenario-based inquiries, the assessment emphasizes real-world
application and accurate decision-making in clinical documentation and communication.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate mastery of surgical, diagnostic, and symptomatic terms
across all major body systems, ensuring clarity and safety in professional medical environments.
,Section One: Questions 1–100
1. Which of the following word parts is the foundation of a medical term?
A. Suffix
B. Prefix
🟢 C. Word Root
D. Combining Vowel
🔴 RATIONALE: The word root is the primary part of a medical term that contains its essential
meaning. Prefixes and suffixes are added to the root to modify its meaning.
2. A patient is diagnosed with hepatomegaly. What is the primary organ affected?
A. Heart
🟢 B. Liver
C. Kidney
D. Stomach
🔴 RATIONALE: The word root "hepat-" refers to the liver, and the suffix "-megaly" means
enlargement. Therefore, hepatomegaly is an enlargement of the liver.
3. Which suffix refers to the surgical removal of a body part?
🟢 A. -ectomy
B. -ostomy
C. -otomy
D. -pexy
🔴 RATIONALE: The suffix "-ectomy" means excision or surgical removal, such as in an
appendectomy.
4. In the term "subcutaneous," what does the prefix "sub-" indicate regarding the location of
the tissue?
,A. Above
B. Beside
🟢 C. Under
D. Within
🔴 RATIONALE: The prefix "sub-" means under or below. Subcutaneous tissue is located
beneath the skin layers.
5. A clinician notes "rhinorrhea" in a patient's chart. Which of the following best describes
this symptom?
A. Nosebleed
🟢 B. Runny nose
C. Difficulty breathing
D. Loss of smell
🔴 RATIONALE: "Rhin/o" refers to the nose, and "-rrhea" means discharge or flow. Rhinorrhea is
the medical term for a discharge from the nose.
6. Which term describes the study of cells?
A. Histology
B. Biology
🟢 C. Cytology
D. Pathology
🔴 RATIONALE: "Cyt/o" means cell, and "-logy" means the study of. Cytology is the branch of
science dealing with cell structure and function.
7. Which of the following terms refers to a fast heart rate?
🟢 A. Tachycardia
B. Bradycardia
, C. Arrhythmia
D. Cardiomyopathy
🔴 RATIONALE: The prefix "tachy-" means fast or rapid, and "cardi/o" refers to the heart.
Tachycardia is a heart rate exceeding the normal range.
8. A patient scheduled for an arthroscopy is having a procedure performed on which body
part?
A. Abdomen
B. Blood vessels
🟢 C. Joint
D. Ear
🔴 RATIONALE: The word root "arthr/o" means joint, and "-scopy" refers to a visual examination
using an instrument.
9. What is the meaning of the prefix "nulli-"?
🟢 A. None
B. Many
C. Half
D. One
🔴 RATIONALE: "Nulli-" is a prefix meaning none, often used in obstetrics (e.g., nulligravida
refers to a woman who has never been pregnant).
10. A physician orders a "bilateral" examination. This means the exam will cover:
A. One side only
🟢 B. Both sides
C. The front and back
D. The upper and lower halves
(VERIFIED ANSWERS) PLUS RATIONALES 2026 Q&A | INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF.
Core Domains
Word Roots and Combining Forms
Suffixes and Prefixes
Body Structure and Organization
Integumentary and Musculoskeletal Systems
Cardiovascular and Lymphatic Systems
Respiratory and Digestive Systems
Nervous and Endocrine Systems
Genitourinary and Reproductive Systems
Sensing Organs and Specialized Terminology
Diagnostic and Therapeutic Procedures
Introduction
This comprehensive medical terminology assessment is designed to evaluate the proficiency of
healthcare students and professionals in the foundational language of medicine. The exam
assesses the ability to break down complex terms into constituent parts, understand anatomical
relationships, and apply specialized vocabulary to clinical contexts. Utilizing a mix of multiple-
choice questions and scenario-based inquiries, the assessment emphasizes real-world
application and accurate decision-making in clinical documentation and communication.
Candidates are expected to demonstrate mastery of surgical, diagnostic, and symptomatic terms
across all major body systems, ensuring clarity and safety in professional medical environments.
,Section One: Questions 1–100
1. Which of the following word parts is the foundation of a medical term?
A. Suffix
B. Prefix
🟢 C. Word Root
D. Combining Vowel
🔴 RATIONALE: The word root is the primary part of a medical term that contains its essential
meaning. Prefixes and suffixes are added to the root to modify its meaning.
2. A patient is diagnosed with hepatomegaly. What is the primary organ affected?
A. Heart
🟢 B. Liver
C. Kidney
D. Stomach
🔴 RATIONALE: The word root "hepat-" refers to the liver, and the suffix "-megaly" means
enlargement. Therefore, hepatomegaly is an enlargement of the liver.
3. Which suffix refers to the surgical removal of a body part?
🟢 A. -ectomy
B. -ostomy
C. -otomy
D. -pexy
🔴 RATIONALE: The suffix "-ectomy" means excision or surgical removal, such as in an
appendectomy.
4. In the term "subcutaneous," what does the prefix "sub-" indicate regarding the location of
the tissue?
,A. Above
B. Beside
🟢 C. Under
D. Within
🔴 RATIONALE: The prefix "sub-" means under or below. Subcutaneous tissue is located
beneath the skin layers.
5. A clinician notes "rhinorrhea" in a patient's chart. Which of the following best describes
this symptom?
A. Nosebleed
🟢 B. Runny nose
C. Difficulty breathing
D. Loss of smell
🔴 RATIONALE: "Rhin/o" refers to the nose, and "-rrhea" means discharge or flow. Rhinorrhea is
the medical term for a discharge from the nose.
6. Which term describes the study of cells?
A. Histology
B. Biology
🟢 C. Cytology
D. Pathology
🔴 RATIONALE: "Cyt/o" means cell, and "-logy" means the study of. Cytology is the branch of
science dealing with cell structure and function.
7. Which of the following terms refers to a fast heart rate?
🟢 A. Tachycardia
B. Bradycardia
, C. Arrhythmia
D. Cardiomyopathy
🔴 RATIONALE: The prefix "tachy-" means fast or rapid, and "cardi/o" refers to the heart.
Tachycardia is a heart rate exceeding the normal range.
8. A patient scheduled for an arthroscopy is having a procedure performed on which body
part?
A. Abdomen
B. Blood vessels
🟢 C. Joint
D. Ear
🔴 RATIONALE: The word root "arthr/o" means joint, and "-scopy" refers to a visual examination
using an instrument.
9. What is the meaning of the prefix "nulli-"?
🟢 A. None
B. Many
C. Half
D. One
🔴 RATIONALE: "Nulli-" is a prefix meaning none, often used in obstetrics (e.g., nulligravida
refers to a woman who has never been pregnant).
10. A physician orders a "bilateral" examination. This means the exam will cover:
A. One side only
🟢 B. Both sides
C. The front and back
D. The upper and lower halves
