Question 1

Which prefix would you use to indicate a condition involving 'many' or 'much' of something?

Accepted Answer

poly-

Question 2

A patient is diagnosed with 'tachycardia.' Based on your knowledge of prefixes, what does this term most likely mean?

Accepted Answer

Rapid heart rate

Question 3

Which of the following terms best describes a condition of 'half paralysis'?

Accepted Answer

Hemiplegia

Question 4

If a medication is described as 'ultra-fast,' which prefix is being used to indicate this quality?

Accepted Answer

ultra-

Question 5

A 10-month-old infant is brought to a pediatrician with a head size that measures beyond the 98th percentile. The most likely diagnosis is:

Accepted Answer

megalocephaly

Question 6

Which prefix would you use to indicate 'below normal' as in 'hypothermia'?

Accepted Answer

hypo-

Question 7

The prefix 'endo-' in the term 'endoscope' means:

Accepted Answer

Inside, within

Question 8

Which of the following best describes the meaning of 'malfunction' based on its prefix?

Accepted Answer

Bad or poor function

Question 9

A person with 'euphoria' is experiencing which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A good feeling

Question 10

Which prefix would you use to indicate 'surrounding' as in 'pericardium'?

Accepted Answer

peri-

Question 11

If the root word 'pnea' refers to breathing, which of the following terms would mean 'difficulty breathing'?

Accepted Answer

Dyspnea

Question 12

Which prefix means 'towards' as in 'adduction'?

Accepted Answer

ad-

Question 13

A person with 'nullipara' has had how many pregnancies resulting in a viable offspring?

Accepted Answer

None

Question 14

Which of the following terms means 'through the skin'?

Accepted Answer

Transdermal

Question 15

If a patient is diagnosed with 'polycythemia,' what does this indicate?

Accepted Answer

An excess of red blood cells

Question 16

Which prefix would you use to indicate 'outside' as in 'exocrine'?

Accepted Answer

exo-

Question 17

A person with 'megacolon' is likely to have which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A very large colon

Question 18

Which prefix means 'different' as in 'heterogeneous'?

Accepted Answer

hetero-

Question 19

If a person is described as 'ambidextrous,' what does the prefix 'ambi-' indicate?

Accepted Answer

Both

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the meaning of 'hypodermatitis'?

Accepted Answer

Inflammation of the skin below the dermis

Medical Terminology: Understanding Prefixes

Study Guide - Practice Questions