CCMA Medical Terminology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which prefix means 'many' or 'much'?
- Mono-
- Bi-
- Poly- (Correct answer)
- Hemi-
Correct answer: Poly-
The prefix 'poly-' derives from Greek and means 'many' or 'much,' as in polyuria (excessive urination) or polydipsia (excessive thirst).
Medical prefixes for quantity: mono-/uni- (one), bi-/di- (two), tri- (three), quad-/tetra- (four), poly-/multi- (many). Examples with poly-: polyuria (excessive urine output), polydipsia (excessive thirst), polycythemia (excessive red blood cells), polyneuropathy (disease of many nerves), polyarthritis (inflammation of multiple joints). Hemi- means half; mono- means one. Understanding these prefixes allows medical assistants to decode unfamiliar terms.
Question 2: The medical term 'bradycardia' means:
- Rapid heart rate
- Irregular heart rate
- Slow heart rate (Correct answer)
- Stopped heart
Correct answer: Slow heart rate
Brady- means slow; -cardia refers to the heart. Bradycardia literally means slow heart (rate), defined as <60 bpm in adults.
Key cardiac medical terms built from roots: Brady- (slow) + cardia (heart) = bradycardia (slow heart rate, <60 bpm); Tachy- (fast) + cardia = tachycardia (fast HR, >100 bpm); -arrhythmia (irregular rhythm) = arrhythmia; Cardio- (heart) + megaly (enlargement) = cardiomegaly; Endocarditis (inflammation of the inner heart lining); Myocardial (pertaining to the heart muscle). Brady- appears in other terms: bradypnea (slow breathing), bradykinesia (slow movement — seen in Parkinson's disease).
Question 3: Which suffix means 'surgical removal of'?
- -itis
- -ectomy (Correct answer)
- -oscopy
- -plasty
Correct answer: -ectomy
The suffix '-ectomy' means surgical excision or removal of a body part or organ.
Important surgical suffixes: -ectomy (surgical removal): appendectomy, tonsillectomy, cholecystectomy; -otomy (incision into): tracheotomy, laparotomy; -ostomy (creating a new opening): colostomy, tracheostomy; -plasty (surgical repair/reconstruction): rhinoplasty, arthroplasty; -oscopy (visual examination): colonoscopy, bronchoscopy; -pexy (surgical fixation): nephropexy; -rrhaphy (suturing): herniorrhaphy. -itis means inflammation. Recognizing these suffixes allows medical assistants to understand surgical procedure names without memorizing each individually.
Question 4: The combining form 'hepat/o' refers to which organ?
- Kidney
- Spleen
- Liver (Correct answer)
- Pancreas
Correct answer: Liver
Hepat/o is the combining form for liver, derived from the Greek word 'hepar' (liver).
Organ combining forms: hepat/o (liver), nephr/o or ren/o (kidney), splen/o (spleen), pancreat/o (pancreas), gastr/o (stomach), enter/o (intestine), col/o or colon/o (colon), cardi/o (heart), pneum/o or pulmon/o (lung), neur/o (nerve), oste/o (bone), arthr/o (joint), derm/o or dermat/o (skin), hem/o or hemat/o (blood). Medical terms using hepat/o: hepatitis (liver inflammation), hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), hepatocellular (pertaining to liver cells), hepatocyte (liver cell), hepatotoxic (toxic to the liver).
Question 5: What does the prefix 'hyper-' mean in medical terminology?
- Below normal
- Within normal range
- Above normal or excessive (Correct answer)
- Without
Correct answer: Above normal or excessive
The prefix 'hyper-' means above, beyond, or excessive — as in hypertension (high blood pressure) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
Hyper- vs. hypo- are commonly confused prefixes: Hyper- = above, excessive, beyond normal (hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperthyroidism, hypercalcemia, hyperventilation); Hypo- = below, deficient, under normal (hypotension, hypoglycemia, hypothyroidism, hypocalcemia, hypoventilation). Other directional prefixes: sub- (under/below), supra-/super- (above), peri- (around), inter- (between), intra- (within), extra- (outside), endo- (within). Accurate use of hyper- and hypo- is essential for charting and communication.
Question 6: The medical term 'dyspnea' refers to:
- Absence of breathing
- Difficulty or painful breathing (Correct answer)
- Rapid breathing
- Slow breathing
Correct answer: Difficulty or painful breathing
Dys- means difficult or painful; -pnea means breathing. Dyspnea means difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
Breathing-related medical terms using -pnea (breathing): Apnea (a-pnea) = absence of breathing; Dyspnea = difficult/labored breathing; Tachypnea = rapid breathing (>20 breaths/min); Bradypnea = slow breathing (<12 breaths/min); Hyperpnea = increased depth of breathing; Orthopnea = difficulty breathing except in upright position; Eupnea = normal breathing. Dys- appears in many terms: dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), dysuria (painful urination), dyslipidemia (abnormal lipids), dysrhythmia (abnormal rhythm).
CCMA Medical Terminology 2
Which prefix means 'many' or 'much'?