NBSTSA Medical Terminology for Surgical Technology

Question 1

The suffix '-ectomy' means:

Accepted Answer

Surgical removal of

Answer

'-ectomy' means surgical removal or excision. Examples: appendectomy (removal of the appendix), cholecystectomy (removal of the gallbladder), mastectomy (removal of breast tissue). It is one of the most frequently used surgical suffixes.

Question 2

What does the prefix 'brady-' mean?

Accepted Answer

Slow

Answer

'Brady-' means slow. Bradycardia = slow heart rate; bradypnea = slow respiratory rate. Its opposite is 'tachy-' (fast), as in tachycardia (rapid heart rate).

Question 3

The medical term 'laparotomy' refers to:

Accepted Answer

A surgical incision into the abdominal cavity

Answer

'Laparo-' refers to the abdomen/flank, and '-tomy' means incision into. Laparotomy = surgical incision into the abdominal cavity (open surgery). It is distinct from laparoscopy ('-scopy' = to view), which involves camera-assisted minimally invasive examination.

Question 4

Which anatomical directional term describes the front surface of the body?

Accepted Answer

Answer

'Anterior' (also called ventral) refers to the front surface of the body. 'Posterior' (dorsal) = back. 'Lateral' = toward the side. 'Medial' = toward the body's midline. These directional terms are used extensively in surgical wound descriptions and anatomy.

Question 5

The suffix '-plasty' means:

Accepted Answer

Surgical repair or reconstruction

Answer

'-plasty' means surgical repair, reconstruction, or reshaping. Examples: rhinoplasty (reshaping of the nose), arthroplasty (repair/replacement of a joint), mammoplasty (reshaping of the breast). The word 'plastic' in plastic surgery derives from the same Greek root meaning to mold or form.

NBSTSA - National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Practice Test

NBSTSA - National Board of Surgical Technology and Surgical Assisting Practice Test

NBSTSA Medical Terminology for Surgical Technology