NCMA Medical Terminology and Abbreviations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the prefix 'brady-' mean in medical terminology?
- Rapid or fast
- Slow (Correct answer)
- Double or two
- Painful
Correct answer: Slow
The prefix 'brady-' means slow. Examples: bradycardia (slow heart rate), bradypnea (slow breathing rate), bradykinesia (slow movement, seen in Parkinson's disease).
Common medical prefixes for rate/speed: brady- = slow (bradycardia <60 bpm, bradypnea <12/min); tachy- = fast (tachycardia >100 bpm, tachypnea >20/min); Common directional prefixes: epi- = upon, above (epidermis); hypo- = below, under (hypothermia, hypodermic); hyper- = above, excessive (hypertension, hyperthermia); sub- = under (subcutaneous, sublingual); trans- = across, through (transdermal); peri- = around (pericardium); endo- = within (endoscopy). Medical terminology follows a systematic structure: prefix (modifies meaning) + root word (body part/condition) + suffix (function/procedure/condition). Mastery of prefixes, root words, and suffixes allows decoding of unfamiliar medical terms.
Question 2: Which of the following correctly defines the suffix '-ectomy'?
- Inflammation of
- Surgical removal of (Correct answer)
- Visual examination of
- Disease or condition of
Correct answer: Surgical removal of
The suffix '-ectomy' means surgical removal. Examples: appendectomy (removal of appendix), cholecystectomy (removal of gallbladder), mastectomy (removal of breast), hysterectomy (removal of uterus).
Key surgical suffixes: -ectomy = surgical removal/excision; -otomy = surgical incision into (tracheotomy); -ostomy = surgically created opening (colostomy, tracheostomy); -plasty = surgical repair/reconstruction (rhinoplasty, arthroplasty); -pexy = surgical fixation (nephropexy); -rraphy = surgical suturing/repair (herniorrhaphy); -scopy = visual examination (colonoscopy, laparoscopy); -gram = record/image (electrocardiogram); -graphy = process of recording (radiography); -logy = study of (cardiology, pathology); -itis = inflammation (appendicitis, arthritis); -osis = condition/disease process (fibrosis, cyanosis); -emia = blood condition (anemia, hyperglycemia); -algia/-dynia = pain (neuralgia, myodynia).
Question 3: The combining form 'cardi/o' refers to which body structure?
- Liver
- Lung
- Heart (Correct answer)
- Kidney
Correct answer: Heart
The combining form 'cardi/o' refers to the heart. Examples: cardiology (study of the heart), cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), pericardium (sac around the heart), electrocardiogram (electrical recording of the heart).
Common combining forms by organ system: Cardiovascular: cardi/o = heart, angi/o = vessel, phleb/o = vein, arteri/o = artery, hem/o or hemat/o = blood; Respiratory: pneum/o = lung/air, bronch/o = bronchus, rhin/o = nose, laryng/o = larynx; Digestive: gastr/o = stomach, hepat/o = liver, col/o or colon/o = colon, enter/o = intestine; Urinary: nephr/o or ren/o = kidney, cyst/o = bladder, ur/o = urine; Musculoskeletal: oste/o = bone, arthr/o = joint, my/o = muscle, tend/o = tendon; Nervous: neur/o = nerve, encephal/o = brain; Integumentary: derm/o or dermat/o = skin. Building medical terms: root + suffix: hepat/o + -itis = hepatitis (liver inflammation).
Question 4: What does the abbreviation 'PRN' mean on a medication order?
- Take before meals
- Take as needed (Correct answer)
- Take at bedtime
- Take with food
Correct answer: Take as needed
PRN is from Latin 'pro re nata' meaning 'for the thing born' or as the situation demands — commonly translated as 'as needed.' PRN orders specify conditions under which the medication can be given (e.g., ibuprofen 400 mg PRN pain every 6 hours).
Common medication order abbreviations: PRN = as needed; QD/OD = once daily; BID = twice daily; TID = three times daily; QID = four times daily; Q4H = every 4 hours; AC = before meals (ante cibum); PC = after meals (post cibum); HS = at bedtime (hora somni); STAT = immediately; SL = sublingual; PO = by mouth (per os); IM = intramuscular; IV = intravenous; SC/SQ = subcutaneous; TOP = topical; NPO = nothing by mouth (nulla per os); The ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practices) lists 'Do Not Use' abbreviations that cause errors: U (units — looks like 0), IU (international units), QD (confusable with QID), trailing zeros (1.0 mg), naked decimal points (.5 mg). Medical assistants should use only approved abbreviations in documentation.
Question 5: The term 'dysphagia' refers to difficulty with which function?
- Breathing
- Swallowing (Correct answer)
- Speaking
- Walking
Correct answer: Swallowing
Dysphagia is derived from 'dys-' (difficult, painful) + 'phagia' (swallowing/eating). It describes difficulty swallowing solids, liquids, or both, and can be caused by neurological conditions, esophageal disorders, or structural problems.
Terminology built with 'dys-' (difficult, painful, abnormal): Dysphagia = difficulty swallowing; Dysphasia = difficulty with language/speech comprehension (distinguished from dysphagia); Dysarthria = difficulty articulating speech (motor function); Dyspnea = difficulty breathing; Dysuria = painful urination; Dysmenorrhea = painful menstruation; Dyslipidemia = abnormal lipid levels. Related swallowing terms: Aphagia = inability to swallow (complete); Odynophagia = painful swallowing; Regurgitation = passive flow of gastric contents backward. Terms for speaking: Aphonia = loss of voice; Dysphonia = abnormal voice; Aphasia = loss of language ability (receptive, expressive, or mixed); Dysarthria = difficulty with speech muscle coordination.
Question 6: Which directional term describes a position closer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body?
- Distal
- Lateral
- Proximal (Correct answer)
- Inferior
Correct answer: Proximal
Proximal means closer to the point of origin or attachment (e.g., the proximal end of the femur is closer to the hip). Distal means farther from the origin. In the limbs, proximal is toward the trunk; distal is toward the fingers or toes.
Anatomical directional terms (relative to anatomical position — standing upright, palms forward): Superior = above, toward the head (cephalad); Inferior = below, toward the feet (caudal); Anterior (ventral) = front; Posterior (dorsal) = back; Medial = toward midline; Lateral = away from midline; Proximal = closer to attachment/trunk; Distal = farther from attachment/trunk; Superficial = closer to surface; Deep = farther from surface; Ipsilateral = same side; Contralateral = opposite side; Bilateral = both sides. Examples: The knee is proximal to the ankle; the shoulder is proximal to the wrist; the radial artery is distal to the brachial artery. Medical assistants use these terms to describe anatomy, wound locations, injection sites, and diagnostic findings.
NCMA Medical Terminology and Abbreviations 1
What does the prefix 'brady-' mean in medical terminology?