Medical Terminology Flashcards

A patient has 'blepharoptosis' noted in their chart. What condition is this?

Answer: Drooping of the upper eyelid

Blephar/o means eyelid and -ptosis means drooping or prolapse.

The provider asks the medical assistant to place the patient face down on the exam table. Which position is this?

Answer: Prone

Prone position is lying flat on the abdomen with the face down.

Which suffix means 'suturing' or 'surgical repair by stitching'?

Answer: -rrhaphy

-rrhaphy means suture, as in herniorrhaphy; -rrhexis is rupture, -rrhagia is bursting forth of blood, -rrhea is flow.

A patient is diagnosed with nephrolithiasis. What does the patient have?

Answer: Kidney stones

Nephr/o (kidney) + lith (stone) + -iasis (abnormal condition) means kidney stones.

While taking vitals, the medical assistant records an adult resting pulse of 48 beats per minute. Which term describes this?

Answer: Bradycardia

Bradycardia is a slow heart rate, generally below 60 beats per minute in adults.

A prescription reads 'acetaminophen 500 mg PO PRN for pain.' What does PRN mean?

Answer: As needed

PRN comes from the Latin 'pro re nata,' meaning as needed.

Which directional term means 'farther from the point of attachment or origin'?

Answer: Distal

Distal means farther from the trunk or point of attachment, such as the wrist being distal to the elbow.