BIOL 103 | BIOL103 Module 7: Medical
Terminology - Portage Learning Updated and
Latest Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationale
1. Which medical term refers to the softening of the brain tissue, often caused by injury or
lack of blood flow?
A. Encephalomalacia
B. Encephaloma
C. Encephalitis
D. Encephalopathy
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: The medical term encephalomalacia is formed by the root
‘encephal/o’ meaning brain and the suffix ‘-malacia’ meaning softening. This condition
describes a pathological softening of brain substance typically resulting from ischemia or
trauma. It is an important diagnostic term used in neurological clinical reports to describe
tissue degradation. Unlike encephalitis, which refers to inflammation, this term specifically
targets structural density changes. Accurate identification of this suffix helps healthcare
providers understand the severity of brain damage.
2. In a patient record, the term ‘hydrocephalus’ is documented. This condition is best
described as:
A. An inflammation of the cerebral meninges
B. An abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles
C. A congenital absence of the cranial vault
D. The presence of blood within the brain parenchyma
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Hydrocephalus is derived from the Greek words ‘hydro’ meaning
water and ‘cephalus’ meaning head. It involves the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
within the brain’s internal cavities known as ventricles. This accumulation increases
intracranial pressure and can lead to brain tissue compression. Treatment often involves
the surgical placement of a shunt to redirect the excess fluid. Understanding this term is
vital for clinicians managing pediatric and adult neurosurgical patients.
3. The term ‘poliomyelitis’ refers to the inflammation of which specific part of the nervous
system?
A. The white matter of the brain
,B. The myelin sheath of peripheral nerves
C. The protective membranes surrounding the brain
D. The gray matter of the spinal cord
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Poliomyelitis is a viral disease that specifically targets the gray
matter of the spinal cord. The root ‘poli/o’ means gray matter, ‘myel/o’ refers to the spinal
cord, and ‘-itis’ means inflammation. This condition can lead to muscle weakness and
permanent paralysis in severe cases. Historically, it was a major cause of disability before
the development of effective vaccines. Medical coding requires precise terminology to
distinguish between gray matter and white matter diseases.
4. A physician performs a ‘neuroplasty’ on a patient. What does this procedure involve?
A. Incision into a nerve fiber
B. Surgical removal of a nerve
C. Surgical repair of a nerve
D. Suturing of a ruptured nerve
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Neuroplasty is the surgical repair or restoration of a nerve to
improve function or relieve pain. The suffix ‘-plasty’ denotes surgical repair or plastic
surgery. This procedure might be necessary after a traumatic injury that severs or
compresses a peripheral nerve. It aims to restore the pathway for electrical signals to reach
the target muscles or organs. Mastery of surgical suffixes allows students to decode
complex procedural documentation in medical charts.
5. A patient experiences a brief, temporary loss of consciousness. The clinical term for this
‘fainting’ spell is:
A. Coma
B. Syncope
C. Lethargy
D. Stupor
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Syncope is the medical term for a sudden and temporary loss of
consciousness, often called fainting. It is usually caused by a transient decrease in blood
flow to the brain. In a clinical setting, syncope must be differentiated from seizures or
strokes. Correct documentation of this event is essential for determining the underlying
, cardiovascular or neurological cause. It is a common symptom addressed in both
emergency and primary care modules.
6. The suffix ‘-plegia’ is used in medical terminology to denote which condition?
A. Slight weakness
B. Inflammation
C. Total paralysis
D. Abnormal sensation
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: The suffix ‘-plegia’ specifically means total paralysis or a complete
loss of motor function. It is used in terms such as quadriplegia, which refers to paralysis of
all four limbs. This differs from ‘-paresis’, which indicates only partial weakness rather than
total loss. Recognizing this distinction is critical for evaluating the severity of a patient’s
motor deficit. Clinicians use these suffixes to describe the physical manifestations of
nervous system lesions.
7. A patient reporting ‘diplopia’ is experiencing which sensory system symptom?
A. Ringing in the ears
B. Loss of smell
C. Double vision
D. Night blindness
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Diplopia is the medical term for double vision, where a person sees
two images of a single object. The prefix ‘dipl/o’ means double, and the suffix ‘-opia’ refers
to a visual condition. This symptom can arise from issues with the eye muscles or the
cranial nerves controlling eye movement. It often alerts a physician to potential
neurological issues like a stroke or brain tumor. Documentation of diplopia helps in
locating the site of neural dysfunction within the visual pathway.
8. What does the abbreviation ‘TIA’ stand for in neurological documentation?
A. Total Intracranial Atrophy
B. Transient Ischemic Attack
C. Temporal Ischemic Amnesia
D. Traumatic Injury Awakening
Correct Answer: B
Terminology - Portage Learning Updated and
Latest Questions and Correct Answers with
Rationale
1. Which medical term refers to the softening of the brain tissue, often caused by injury or
lack of blood flow?
A. Encephalomalacia
B. Encephaloma
C. Encephalitis
D. Encephalopathy
Correct Answer: A
Expert Explanation: The medical term encephalomalacia is formed by the root
‘encephal/o’ meaning brain and the suffix ‘-malacia’ meaning softening. This condition
describes a pathological softening of brain substance typically resulting from ischemia or
trauma. It is an important diagnostic term used in neurological clinical reports to describe
tissue degradation. Unlike encephalitis, which refers to inflammation, this term specifically
targets structural density changes. Accurate identification of this suffix helps healthcare
providers understand the severity of brain damage.
2. In a patient record, the term ‘hydrocephalus’ is documented. This condition is best
described as:
A. An inflammation of the cerebral meninges
B. An abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles
C. A congenital absence of the cranial vault
D. The presence of blood within the brain parenchyma
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Hydrocephalus is derived from the Greek words ‘hydro’ meaning
water and ‘cephalus’ meaning head. It involves the buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
within the brain’s internal cavities known as ventricles. This accumulation increases
intracranial pressure and can lead to brain tissue compression. Treatment often involves
the surgical placement of a shunt to redirect the excess fluid. Understanding this term is
vital for clinicians managing pediatric and adult neurosurgical patients.
3. The term ‘poliomyelitis’ refers to the inflammation of which specific part of the nervous
system?
A. The white matter of the brain
,B. The myelin sheath of peripheral nerves
C. The protective membranes surrounding the brain
D. The gray matter of the spinal cord
Correct Answer: D
Expert Explanation: Poliomyelitis is a viral disease that specifically targets the gray
matter of the spinal cord. The root ‘poli/o’ means gray matter, ‘myel/o’ refers to the spinal
cord, and ‘-itis’ means inflammation. This condition can lead to muscle weakness and
permanent paralysis in severe cases. Historically, it was a major cause of disability before
the development of effective vaccines. Medical coding requires precise terminology to
distinguish between gray matter and white matter diseases.
4. A physician performs a ‘neuroplasty’ on a patient. What does this procedure involve?
A. Incision into a nerve fiber
B. Surgical removal of a nerve
C. Surgical repair of a nerve
D. Suturing of a ruptured nerve
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Neuroplasty is the surgical repair or restoration of a nerve to
improve function or relieve pain. The suffix ‘-plasty’ denotes surgical repair or plastic
surgery. This procedure might be necessary after a traumatic injury that severs or
compresses a peripheral nerve. It aims to restore the pathway for electrical signals to reach
the target muscles or organs. Mastery of surgical suffixes allows students to decode
complex procedural documentation in medical charts.
5. A patient experiences a brief, temporary loss of consciousness. The clinical term for this
‘fainting’ spell is:
A. Coma
B. Syncope
C. Lethargy
D. Stupor
Correct Answer: B
Expert Explanation: Syncope is the medical term for a sudden and temporary loss of
consciousness, often called fainting. It is usually caused by a transient decrease in blood
flow to the brain. In a clinical setting, syncope must be differentiated from seizures or
strokes. Correct documentation of this event is essential for determining the underlying
, cardiovascular or neurological cause. It is a common symptom addressed in both
emergency and primary care modules.
6. The suffix ‘-plegia’ is used in medical terminology to denote which condition?
A. Slight weakness
B. Inflammation
C. Total paralysis
D. Abnormal sensation
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: The suffix ‘-plegia’ specifically means total paralysis or a complete
loss of motor function. It is used in terms such as quadriplegia, which refers to paralysis of
all four limbs. This differs from ‘-paresis’, which indicates only partial weakness rather than
total loss. Recognizing this distinction is critical for evaluating the severity of a patient’s
motor deficit. Clinicians use these suffixes to describe the physical manifestations of
nervous system lesions.
7. A patient reporting ‘diplopia’ is experiencing which sensory system symptom?
A. Ringing in the ears
B. Loss of smell
C. Double vision
D. Night blindness
Correct Answer: C
Expert Explanation: Diplopia is the medical term for double vision, where a person sees
two images of a single object. The prefix ‘dipl/o’ means double, and the suffix ‘-opia’ refers
to a visual condition. This symptom can arise from issues with the eye muscles or the
cranial nerves controlling eye movement. It often alerts a physician to potential
neurological issues like a stroke or brain tumor. Documentation of diplopia helps in
locating the site of neural dysfunction within the visual pathway.
8. What does the abbreviation ‘TIA’ stand for in neurological documentation?
A. Total Intracranial Atrophy
B. Transient Ischemic Attack
C. Temporal Ischemic Amnesia
D. Traumatic Injury Awakening
Correct Answer: B
