Medical Prefixes and Suffixes Quiz
Questions: 16 · 10 minutes
1. Instructions refer to “postoperative care.” When does this care occur relative to surgery?
After surgery
During surgery
Instead of surgery
Before surgery
2. In the term “nephritis,” what does the suffix “-itis” indicate?
An abnormal condition
Enlargement
Inflammation
Pain
3. What does the prefix “brady-” usually indicate?
Irregularity
Slowness
Excessive size
Separation
4. In the word “colonoscopy,” what does the suffix “-scopy” indicate?
Visual examination using an instrument
Measurement of the colon
Surgical removal of the colon
Creation of an opening
5. In the term “cardiomegaly,” what does the suffix “-megaly” mean?
Hardening
Enlargement
Inflammation
Surgical repair
6. A patient reports dysphagia. Based on the word parts, what problem does this term describe?
Excessive thirst
Painful speaking
Difficulty swallowing
Loss of appetite
7. What does the suffix “-ectomy” mean?
An incision into something
Visual examination of something
Surgical repair of something
Surgical removal of something
8. What does the suffix “-algia” indicate?
Swelling
Weakness
Bleeding
Pain
9. A blood test report mentions “leukopenia.” What does the suffix “-penia” indicate?
A deficiency or reduced number
An excess or increase
Inflammation of tissue
Formation or production
10. A note describes “unilateral knee pain.” What does “uni-” tell you about the pain?
It alternates between both knees
It affects one side or one knee
It affects both knees equally
It occurs only below the knee
11. A prenatal appointment is scheduled during pregnancy. What timing does “pre-” identify?
After birth
During birth
Before birth
Around the time of birth
12. Medication instructions specify a subcutaneous injection. What does “sub-” indicate about where the medication is delivered?
Around the skin
Through an artery
Above the skin surface
Under the skin
13. In the word “hypodermic,” what location does “hypo-” identify relative to the skin?
Beneath the skin
Inside a vein
Across the skin surface
Above the skin
14. A clinician records “tachypnea.” Based on “tachy-” and “-pnea,” what does the term describe?
Difficult breathing
Shallow breathing
Rapid breathing
Temporary absence of breathing
15. A laboratory report uses the term “hyperglycemia.” What does “hyper-” suggest about the blood glucose level?
It changes unpredictably
It is above the expected range
It is below the expected range
It is absent from the blood
16. In “endocarditis,” what location does the prefix “endo-” identify?
Around or surrounding
Away from the heart
Below or underneath
Within or on the inner side