Chapter 1: Building a Medical Vocabulary
TRUE/FALSE
1. A word element may be a medical word by itself.
ANS: T
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Correct A word element may be a medical word by itself.
Incorrect For example, the suffix -emesis may stand alone as meaning “vomiting.”
PTS: 1
2. A combining form includes the vowelo to provide ease in saying the word.
ANS: F
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Correct A combining form includes the vowelso or i to provide ease in saying the word.
Incorrect The vowel i may also be used in a combining form.
PTS: 1
3. A word may not end in a combining form.
ANS: T
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Correct A word may not end in a combining form.
Incorrect To make the word either a noun or adjective, drop the combining vowel and add a
suffix.
PTS: 1
4. A root will attach directly to a suffix if the suffix begins with a vowel.
ANS: T
Feedback
Correct A root will attach directly to a suffix if the suffix begins with a vowel.
Incorrect A combining vowel is needed only if the suffix does not begin with a vowel.
PTS: 1
5. If a suffix begins with a consonant, add a combining vowel to the root.
ANS: T
Feedback
Correct If a suffix begins with a consonant, add a combining vowel to the root.
Incorrect Add a combining vowel to the root when a suffix begins with a consonant.
PTS: 1
6. The suffixes -ac, -iac, and -ic are examples of noun suffixes.
ANS: F
, 8. Use of the English plural form is suggested by the American Medical Association.
ANS: T
Feedback
Correct Use of the English plural formis suggested by the American Medical
Association.
Incorrect This suggestion is not always followed, and Latin or Greek forms are sometimes
used.
PTS: 1
9. Diagnosis is the plural form of that word.
ANS: F
Feedback
Correct Diagnoses is the plural form of that word.
Incorrect Diagnosis is the singular form of that word.
PTS: 1
10. Biceps is an example of a word that retains the same form whether usage is singular or plural.
ANS: T
Feedback
Correct Biceps is an example of a word that retains the same form whether usage is
singular or plural.
Incorrect Biceps, as well as facies, are examples of a word that retains the same form
whether usage is singular or plural.
PTS: 1
11. Breathe means “respiration.”
ANS: F
Feedback
Correct Breath means “respiration.”
Incorrect Breathe means “to inhale and exhale.”
PTS: 1
12. Bell’s palsy is an example of a homonym.
ANS: F
Feedback
Correct Bell’s palsy is an example of an eponym.
Incorrect A homonym is one of a group of words that share the same spelling or
pronunciation (or both) but have different meanings.
PTS: 1
13. The possessive form of an eponym is preferred by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AH
ANS: F
TRUE/FALSE
1. A word element may be a medical word by itself.
ANS: T
Feedback
Correct A word element may be a medical word by itself.
Incorrect For example, the suffix -emesis may stand alone as meaning “vomiting.”
PTS: 1
2. A combining form includes the vowelo to provide ease in saying the word.
ANS: F
Feedback
Correct A combining form includes the vowelso or i to provide ease in saying the word.
Incorrect The vowel i may also be used in a combining form.
PTS: 1
3. A word may not end in a combining form.
ANS: T
Feedback
Correct A word may not end in a combining form.
Incorrect To make the word either a noun or adjective, drop the combining vowel and add a
suffix.
PTS: 1
4. A root will attach directly to a suffix if the suffix begins with a vowel.
ANS: T
Feedback
Correct A root will attach directly to a suffix if the suffix begins with a vowel.
Incorrect A combining vowel is needed only if the suffix does not begin with a vowel.
PTS: 1
5. If a suffix begins with a consonant, add a combining vowel to the root.
ANS: T
Feedback
Correct If a suffix begins with a consonant, add a combining vowel to the root.
Incorrect Add a combining vowel to the root when a suffix begins with a consonant.
PTS: 1
6. The suffixes -ac, -iac, and -ic are examples of noun suffixes.
ANS: F
, 8. Use of the English plural form is suggested by the American Medical Association.
ANS: T
Feedback
Correct Use of the English plural formis suggested by the American Medical
Association.
Incorrect This suggestion is not always followed, and Latin or Greek forms are sometimes
used.
PTS: 1
9. Diagnosis is the plural form of that word.
ANS: F
Feedback
Correct Diagnoses is the plural form of that word.
Incorrect Diagnosis is the singular form of that word.
PTS: 1
10. Biceps is an example of a word that retains the same form whether usage is singular or plural.
ANS: T
Feedback
Correct Biceps is an example of a word that retains the same form whether usage is
singular or plural.
Incorrect Biceps, as well as facies, are examples of a word that retains the same form
whether usage is singular or plural.
PTS: 1
11. Breathe means “respiration.”
ANS: F
Feedback
Correct Breath means “respiration.”
Incorrect Breathe means “to inhale and exhale.”
PTS: 1
12. Bell’s palsy is an example of a homonym.
ANS: F
Feedback
Correct Bell’s palsy is an example of an eponym.
Incorrect A homonym is one of a group of words that share the same spelling or
pronunciation (or both) but have different meanings.
PTS: 1
13. The possessive form of an eponym is preferred by the Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity (AH
ANS: F
