How Medical Words Are Built Practice Questions

42 multiple-choice questions on How medical words are built for paramedic and EMT students, from Chapter 7 (Medical Terminology). Read each question, pick your answer, then tap Show answer to check it and read the explanation.

42 practice questions

1. The foundation or core meaning of a medical term is the:

   1. A. Word root
   2. B. Combining vowel
   3. C. Suffix
   4. D. Prefix
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Word root

   Cardi- meaning heart is a word root.

2. A prefix is placed:

   1. A. At the start of a word
   2. B. At the very end of a word
   3. C. After the combining vowel
   4. D. In between two word roots
   Show answer

   Answer: A. At the start of a word

   A prefix sits at the beginning and modifies the meaning; brady- in bradycardia tells you the rate is slow.

3. A suffix is placed:

   1. A. Before the combining vowel
   2. B. At the beginning of a word
   3. C. Between two word roots
   4. D. At the end of a word
   Show answer

   Answer: D. At the end of a word

   A suffix sits at the end and often indicates a condition, procedure, or disease; -itis in appendicitis means inflammation.

4. A combining vowel is used to:

   1. A. Show the term is of Greek origin
   2. B. Change the meaning of the root
   3. C. Indicate that a term is plural
   4. D. Ease pronunciation when joining parts
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Ease pronunciation when joining parts

   It makes a term easier to pronounce when joining word parts; it is usually the letter o, as in cardi-o-logy.

5. A combining form consists of:

   1. A. A prefix plus a suffix
   2. B. A root plus a combining vowel
   3. C. A word root plus a suffix
   4. D. A prefix plus a word root
   Show answer

   Answer: B. A root plus a combining vowel

   Gastr/o is the combining form of the root gastr.

6. The general rule for using a combining vowel is to:

   1. A. Drop it whenever two roots are joined
   2. B. Drop it when the suffix begins with a vowel
   3. C. Use it only between a prefix and root
   4. D. Keep it before every suffix and root
   Show answer

   Answer: B. Drop it when the suffix begins with a vowel

   Gastr/o + itis becomes gastritis, not gastroitis.

7. The term "myocarditis" breaks down as:

   1. A. Muscle, vessel, disease
   2. B. Heart, muscle, enlargement
   3. C. Muscle, heart, surgical repair
   4. D. Muscle, heart, inflammation
   Show answer

   Answer: D. Muscle, heart, inflammation

   My/o means muscle, cardi means heart, -itis means inflammation.

8. The plural of "diagnosis" is:

   1. A. Diagnoses
   2. B. Diagnosum
   3. C. Diagnosi
   4. D. Diagnosises
   Show answer

   Answer: A. Diagnoses

   Words ending in -is typically become -es.

9. The plural of "bronchus" is:

   1. A. Bronchuses
   2. B. Bronchi
   3. C. Bronchia
   4. D. Bronchae
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   Answer: B. Bronchi

   Words ending in -us typically become -i.

10. The plural of "vertebra" is:

    1. A. Vertebrae
    2. B. Vertebrums
    3. C. Vertebrata
    4. D. Vertebri
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Vertebrae

    Words ending in -a typically become -ae. Vertebrata is the zoological group of animals with backbones, not the plural of vertebra.

11. Why should a paramedic use correct medical terminology?

    1. A. It makes documentation shorter to write
    2. B. It is required by federal law on every call
    3. C. It communicates precisely with other providers
    4. D. It makes reports sound more professional
    Show answer

    Answer: C. It communicates precisely with other providers

    Precise terms reduce misunderstanding between providers. Use plain language with patients and precise terms with clinicians.

12. A term you do not recognize can often be decoded by:

    1. A. Breaking it into prefix, root, and suffix
    2. B. Matching it to a similar-sounding word
    3. C. Asking the patient what it means
    4. D. Guessing from the surrounding context
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Breaking it into prefix, root, and suffix

    Most long terms are just familiar parts combined.

13. Most medical terms derive from:

    1. A. Arabic and Hebrew
    2. B. Greek and Latin
    3. C. German and Old English
    4. D. English and French
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Greek and Latin

    This is why roots look unfamiliar at first.

14. A word root can stand alone as a word:

    1. A. Only when it is made plural
    2. B. Never; it must take a prefix
    3. C. Sometimes, but it rarely does
    4. D. Always, with no other parts needed
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Sometimes, but it rarely does

    A root usually needs a prefix, suffix, or combining vowel; cardi rarely appears alone, while cardiac does.

15. When a suffix begins with a consonant, the combining vowel is:

    1. A. Dropped, as in cardi-logy
    2. B. Replaced with a, as in cardi-a-logy
    3. C. Kept, as in cardi-o-logy
    4. D. Doubled, as in cardi-oo-logy
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Kept, as in cardi-o-logy

    The vowel eases pronunciation.

16. When two roots are joined, the combining vowel is:

    1. A. Used only if the suffix starts with a consonant
    2. B. Replaced by a hyphen between the roots
    3. C. Kept between them, as in gastroenteritis
    4. D. Dropped if the second root starts with a vowel
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Kept between them, as in gastroenteritis

    The vowel is kept between roots regardless of the second root's first letter; gastr-o-enter-itis keeps the o.

17. The term electrocardiogram contains:

    1. A. Two roots and a suffix
    2. B. A prefix, a root, and a suffix
    3. C. One root and a suffix
    4. D. Three roots and no suffix
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Two roots and a suffix

    Electr/o, cardi/o, and -gram.

18. In the term hypoglycemia, the prefix is:

    1. A. Glycemia
    2. B. Hypo
    3. C. Emia
    4. D. Glyc
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Hypo

    Hypo- means below normal.

19. In the term hepatomegaly, the root is:

    1. A. Hepat
    2. B. Megaly
    3. C. Hepato
    4. D. O
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Hepat

    Hepat refers to the liver.

20. In the term pericarditis, the suffix is:

    1. A. Cardi
    2. B. Itis
    3. C. Peri
    4. D. Pericard
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Itis

    -itis means inflammation.

21. Terms are generally decoded by reading:

    1. A. Root first, then the suffix
    2. B. Prefix only, ignoring the root
    3. C. Left to right, prefix first
    4. D. Suffix, then prefix, then root
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Suffix, then prefix, then root

    Cardiomyopathy: disease (-pathy) of heart (cardi/o) muscle (my/o).

22. Eponyms are terms named after:

    1. A. Latin words for symptoms
    2. B. The organs they affect
    3. C. People, such as Parkinson
    4. D. The drugs that treat them
    Show answer

    Answer: C. People, such as Parkinson

    Parkinson disease is an example; modern usage is dropping the possessive form.

23. An acronym is:

    1. A. A suffix marking a surgical procedure
    2. B. A long word built from several roots
    3. C. A term borrowed unchanged from Latin
    4. D. A word built from initials, such as CPAP
    Show answer

    Answer: D. A word built from initials, such as CPAP

    An acronym is formed from the first letters of a phrase. Many EMS terms are acronyms.

24. The plural of thorax is:

    1. A. Thoraces
    2. B. Thoracic
    3. C. Thoraca
    4. D. Thoraxi
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Thoraces

    Words ending in -x often become -ces. Thoracic is the adjective meaning pertaining to the chest, not a plural.

25. The plural of appendix is:

    1. A. Appendixes or appendices
    2. B. Appendia or appendixae
    3. C. Appendices only, never appendixes
    4. D. Appendixi or appendixa
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Appendixes or appendices

    Both are accepted.

26. The plural of ovum is:

    1. A. Ovi
    2. B. Ova
    3. C. Ovae
    4. D. Ovums
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Ova

    Words ending in -um become -a.

27. The plural of phalanx is:

    1. A. Phalanges
    2. B. Phalanxi
    3. C. Phalanga
    4. D. Phalanxes
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Phalanges

    Finger and toe bones.

28. The plural of ganglion is:

    1. A. Ganglionic
    2. B. Ganglionae
    3. C. Ganglia
    4. D. Ganglii
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Ganglia

    Words ending in -on become -a. Ganglionic is the adjective form, not a plural.

29. The plural of nucleus is:

    1. A. Nucleons
    2. B. Nucleoli
    3. C. Nuclei
    4. D. Nucleae
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Nuclei

    Words ending in -us become -i. Nucleoli is the plural of nucleolus, a structure inside the nucleus.

30. The plural of larynx is:

    1. A. Laryngeal
    2. B. Larynxi
    3. C. Laryngi
    4. D. Larynges
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Larynges

    Follows the -x to -ges pattern. Laryngeal is the adjective form, not a plural.

31. The plural of fungus is:

    1. A. Fungal
    2. B. Fungi
    3. C. Fungoid
    4. D. Fungae
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Fungi

    Common in infection terminology. Fungal and fungoid are adjectives meaning caused by or resembling a fungus, not plurals.

32. The plural of bacterium is:

    1. A. Bacterii
    2. B. Bacteriae
    3. C. Bacteria
    4. D. Bacteriums
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Bacteria

    Bacteria is already plural.

33. The plural of pleura is:

    1. A. Pleurae
    2. B. Pleurons
    3. C. Pleuri
    4. D. Pleural
    Show answer

    Answer: A. Pleurae

    Each lung has its own. Pleural is the adjective form, not a plural.

34. Pronunciation of medical terms matters because:

    1. A. It makes the provider sound more professional
    2. B. It determines how the term must be spelled
    3. C. Misheard terms cause errors, especially by radio
    4. D. It is scored on the national certification exam
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Misheard terms cause errors, especially by radio

    Mispronounced terms can be misunderstood. Ileum and ilium sound alike and mean different things.

35. Ileum and ilium differ in that the ileum is:

    1. A. A bone of the pelvic girdle
    2. B. Part of the small bowel
    3. C. A nerve of the lower back
    4. D. A muscle of the hip joint
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Part of the small bowel

    The ileum is the last part of the small intestine; the ilium is the pelvic bone.

36. Spelling errors in medical terms can:

    1. A. Be fixed later without consequence
    2. B. Matter only on legal documents
    3. C. Be ignored if the meaning is clear
    4. D. Change the meaning, as in hypo vs hyper
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Change the meaning, as in hypo vs hyper

    One letter reverses the meaning.

37. A medical term's meaning is determined by:

    1. A. How it is pronounced out loud
    2. B. Its parts' combined meaning
    3. C. Its suffix, which sets the meaning
    4. D. Its word root alone
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Its parts' combined meaning

    A term means the combined meaning of its parts. Learn the parts and you can decode thousands of words. The suffix and the root each contribute only part of the meaning; neither decides it alone.

38. Which term correctly uses a combining vowel?

    1. A. Gastrectasis
    2. B. Gastroenteritis
    3. C. Gastritis
    4. D. Gastrectomy
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Gastroenteritis

    The vowel joins two roots.

39. Which term correctly drops the combining vowel?

    1. A. Cardiology
    2. B. Cardiomegaly
    3. C. Carditis
    4. D. Cardiogram
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Carditis

    The suffix -itis starts with a vowel.

40. The study of word origins is called:

    1. A. Pathology
    2. B. Anatomy
    3. C. Etymology
    4. D. Terminology
    Show answer

    Answer: C. Etymology

    Knowing origins aids memory.

41. Learning medical terminology by components rather than memorizing whole words:

    1. A. Is slower and less reliable
    2. B. Lets you decode terms you've never seen
    3. C. Is unnecessary for paramedics
    4. D. Is less accurate than memorizing
    Show answer

    Answer: B. Lets you decode terms you've never seen

    A few hundred parts unlock the vocabulary.

42. Medical terminology with patients should be:

    1. A. Used only with educated patients
    2. B. Avoided entirely in all settings
    3. C. Used freely to sound credible
    4. D. Translated into plain language
    Show answer

    Answer: D. Translated into plain language

    Precision with colleagues, clarity with patients.