Certified Medical Coding Specialist Medical Terminology & Anatomy for Coding 3

Question 1

The suffix '-itis' in medical terminology denotes:

Accepted Answer

Inflammation

Answer

The suffix -itis means inflammation, as in appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix) or arthritis (inflammation of joints).

Question 2

Which organ is responsible for producing insulin, relevant when coding diabetes mellitus?

Accepted Answer

Pancreas

Answer

The pancreatic beta cells produce insulin; failure of this function leads to diabetes mellitus, coded under ICD-10-CM category E10–E13.

Question 3

The prefix 'hemi-' in medical terminology means:

Accepted Answer

Half

Answer

Hemi- means half, as in hemiplegia (paralysis of one side/half of the body).

Question 4

Which term describes the surgical creation of a new opening into the colon?

Accepted Answer

Colostomy

Answer

A colostomy is the surgical creation of an opening (stoma) from the colon to the abdominal wall, using the suffix -ostomy (new opening).

Question 5

In medical coding documentation, 'proximal' describes a location that is:

Accepted Answer

Closer to the point of origin or trunk of the body

Answer

Proximal means nearer to the point of attachment or origin, such as the proximal femur being closest to the hip joint.

Certified Medical Coding Specialist Practice Test