NWCA STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS (LATEST 2025/ 2026 UPDATE)
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS| GRADE A| 100% CORRECT (VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS) REAL DEAL
Question 1
What does the prefix "hyper-" mean in medical terminology?
A) Below
B) Within
C) Excessive
D) Around
E) Slow
Correct Answer: C) Excessive
Rationale: The prefix "hyper-" is used to indicate something is above normal, excessive, or
in high amount, such as in hypertension (excessive blood pressure).
Question 2
In medical terms, the suffix "-itis" refers to:
A) Surgical removal
B) Inflammation
C) Disease
D) Pain
E) A specialist
Correct Answer: B) Inflammation
Rationale: The suffix "-itis" is added to the root of a word to denote inflammation of that
part of the body, such as in gastritis (inflammation of the stomach).
Question 3
The medical root word "cardi/o" refers to which organ?
A) Liver
B) Lungs
C) Kidney
D) Heart
E) Brain
,[Type here]
Correct Answer: D) Heart
Rationale: "Cardi/o" is the combining form that refers to the heart. It is used in terms like
cardiology (the study of the heart) and electrocardiogram (a recording of the heart's
electrical activity).
Question 4
In medical charting and documentation, what does the abbreviation "Dx" stand for?
A) Prescription
B) Treatment
C) Diagnosis
D) Discharge
E) Differential
Correct Answer: C) Diagnosis
Rationale: "Dx" is the standard medical abbreviation for diagnosis, which is the
identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.
Question 5
A patient undergoes a "nephrectomy." What does this procedure involve?
A) Creation of an opening into the kidney.
B) Surgical repair of the kidney.
C) Surgical removal of the kidney.
D) Visual examination of the kidney.
E) Crushing of a kidney stone.
Correct Answer: C) Surgical removal of the kidney.
Rationale: The root "nephr/o" refers to the kidney, and the suffix "-ectomy" means surgical
removal. Therefore, a nephrectomy is the surgical excision of a kidney.
Question 6
The word part "derm/o" or "dermat/o" refers to the:
A) Bone
B) Muscle
C) Nerves
,[Type here]
D) Skin
E) Blood
Correct Answer: D) Skin
Rationale: "Derm/o" and "dermat/o" are combining forms used in medical terminology to
refer to the skin, as in dermatology (the study of the skin) and dermatitis (inflammation of
the skin).
Question 7
A "subcutaneous" injection is administered into which layer of the body?
A) Into the muscle
B) Into the vein
C) Under the skin
D) Directly onto the skin
E) Into the bone
Correct Answer: C) Under the skin
Rationale: The prefix "sub-" means under or below, and "cutaneous" refers to the skin. A
subcutaneous injection is given into the fatty tissue layer just beneath the skin.
Question 8
Gastroenterology is the medical specialty that focuses on the study and treatment of the:
A) Heart and blood vessels
B) Brain and nervous system
C) Bones and joints
D) Stomach and intestines
E) Lungs and respiratory system
Correct Answer: D) Stomach and intestines
Rationale: The root "gastr/o" refers to the stomach, and "enter/o" refers to the intestines.
"-logy" means the study of. Therefore, gastroenterology is the study of the digestive system
and its disorders.
Question 9
A patient is diagnosed with osteoporosis. This condition is characterized by:
, [Type here]
A) Inflammation of the bone and joints.
B) A softening of the bones.
C) Bone weakening and an increased risk of fractures.
D) A cancerous tumor of the bone.
E) A curved spine.
Correct Answer: C) Bone weakening and an increased risk of fractures.
Rationale: "Oste/o" refers to bone, and "porosis" refers to a porous or weakened condition.
Osteoporosis is a disease where bone density is lost, making the bones weak, brittle, and
more susceptible to fractures.
Question 10
In the term "cardiologist," the suffix "-logist" means:
A) The study of
B) Inflammation of
C) A specialist
D) A disease of
E) An instrument for viewing
Correct Answer: C) A specialist
Rationale: The suffix "-logist" denotes a specialist in a particular field of study. A
cardiologist is a specialist who studies and treats diseases of the heart.
Question 11
A patient's Medicare Part B insurance would typically cover which of the following services?
A) A hospital stay for surgery.
B) Prescription drugs from a retail pharmacy.
C) A visit to a physician's office for a check-up.
D) Long-term nursing home care.
E) A dental cleaning.
Correct Answer: C) A visit to a physician's office for a check-up.
Rationale: Medicare Part B is the medical insurance component that covers outpatient
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS| GRADE A| 100% CORRECT (VERIFIED
SOLUTIONS) REAL DEAL
Question 1
What does the prefix "hyper-" mean in medical terminology?
A) Below
B) Within
C) Excessive
D) Around
E) Slow
Correct Answer: C) Excessive
Rationale: The prefix "hyper-" is used to indicate something is above normal, excessive, or
in high amount, such as in hypertension (excessive blood pressure).
Question 2
In medical terms, the suffix "-itis" refers to:
A) Surgical removal
B) Inflammation
C) Disease
D) Pain
E) A specialist
Correct Answer: B) Inflammation
Rationale: The suffix "-itis" is added to the root of a word to denote inflammation of that
part of the body, such as in gastritis (inflammation of the stomach).
Question 3
The medical root word "cardi/o" refers to which organ?
A) Liver
B) Lungs
C) Kidney
D) Heart
E) Brain
,[Type here]
Correct Answer: D) Heart
Rationale: "Cardi/o" is the combining form that refers to the heart. It is used in terms like
cardiology (the study of the heart) and electrocardiogram (a recording of the heart's
electrical activity).
Question 4
In medical charting and documentation, what does the abbreviation "Dx" stand for?
A) Prescription
B) Treatment
C) Diagnosis
D) Discharge
E) Differential
Correct Answer: C) Diagnosis
Rationale: "Dx" is the standard medical abbreviation for diagnosis, which is the
identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.
Question 5
A patient undergoes a "nephrectomy." What does this procedure involve?
A) Creation of an opening into the kidney.
B) Surgical repair of the kidney.
C) Surgical removal of the kidney.
D) Visual examination of the kidney.
E) Crushing of a kidney stone.
Correct Answer: C) Surgical removal of the kidney.
Rationale: The root "nephr/o" refers to the kidney, and the suffix "-ectomy" means surgical
removal. Therefore, a nephrectomy is the surgical excision of a kidney.
Question 6
The word part "derm/o" or "dermat/o" refers to the:
A) Bone
B) Muscle
C) Nerves
,[Type here]
D) Skin
E) Blood
Correct Answer: D) Skin
Rationale: "Derm/o" and "dermat/o" are combining forms used in medical terminology to
refer to the skin, as in dermatology (the study of the skin) and dermatitis (inflammation of
the skin).
Question 7
A "subcutaneous" injection is administered into which layer of the body?
A) Into the muscle
B) Into the vein
C) Under the skin
D) Directly onto the skin
E) Into the bone
Correct Answer: C) Under the skin
Rationale: The prefix "sub-" means under or below, and "cutaneous" refers to the skin. A
subcutaneous injection is given into the fatty tissue layer just beneath the skin.
Question 8
Gastroenterology is the medical specialty that focuses on the study and treatment of the:
A) Heart and blood vessels
B) Brain and nervous system
C) Bones and joints
D) Stomach and intestines
E) Lungs and respiratory system
Correct Answer: D) Stomach and intestines
Rationale: The root "gastr/o" refers to the stomach, and "enter/o" refers to the intestines.
"-logy" means the study of. Therefore, gastroenterology is the study of the digestive system
and its disorders.
Question 9
A patient is diagnosed with osteoporosis. This condition is characterized by:
, [Type here]
A) Inflammation of the bone and joints.
B) A softening of the bones.
C) Bone weakening and an increased risk of fractures.
D) A cancerous tumor of the bone.
E) A curved spine.
Correct Answer: C) Bone weakening and an increased risk of fractures.
Rationale: "Oste/o" refers to bone, and "porosis" refers to a porous or weakened condition.
Osteoporosis is a disease where bone density is lost, making the bones weak, brittle, and
more susceptible to fractures.
Question 10
In the term "cardiologist," the suffix "-logist" means:
A) The study of
B) Inflammation of
C) A specialist
D) A disease of
E) An instrument for viewing
Correct Answer: C) A specialist
Rationale: The suffix "-logist" denotes a specialist in a particular field of study. A
cardiologist is a specialist who studies and treats diseases of the heart.
Question 11
A patient's Medicare Part B insurance would typically cover which of the following services?
A) A hospital stay for surgery.
B) Prescription drugs from a retail pharmacy.
C) A visit to a physician's office for a check-up.
D) Long-term nursing home care.
E) A dental cleaning.
Correct Answer: C) A visit to a physician's office for a check-up.
Rationale: Medicare Part B is the medical insurance component that covers outpatient
