Worksheet Answer Key

Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical

Terminology
True or False
Examine the following statements. Identify if the statement is true or false
True False
1. Medical terminology is based mainly on Greek and Latin words. 4
2. A suffix establishes a medical word’s basic meaning. 4
3. A root modifies a prefix’s meaning. 4
4. The root cardi means “heart.” 4
5. Neur/o is an example of a compound word. 4
6. USA is an acronym. 4
7. The word cerebrospinal is a compound word. 4
8. In the word pharyngitis, the suffix is -itis. 4
9. Medical terminology varies greatly throughout the world. 4
10. The adjective for coccyx is coccyical. 4
11. A suffix is a word ending that modifies a root. 4
12. The suffix -ous means “pertaining to.” 4
13. The plural of embolus is embols. 4
14. In the word epileptiform, the suffix means “resembling.” 4

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WORKSHEET — Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical Terminology True or False

True False
15. Vertebras is the correct plural form for bones of the spine. 4
16. The singular form of omenta is omentum. 4
17. The suffix -logy refers to a field of study or a specialty. 4
18. Podiatry is the study and treatment of mental disorders. 4
19. The word necrotic is an adjective. 4
20. Anematology is a medical specialty devoted to the study of blood. 4
21. A prefix appears before a root. 4
22. The prefix in monocular means “one.” 4
23. The opposite of abduct is antiduct. 4
24. The prefix in erythrocyte means “round.” 4
25. Two monosaccharides form a disaccharide. 4
26. The opposite of poly- is oligo-. 4
27. Endoderm is superficial to ectoderm. 4
28. The term hypoglycemia means “high blood sugar.” 4
29. A megalocyte is larger than a microcyte. 4
30. A right-handed person is dextromanual. 4
Fill-in-the-Blank WORKSHEET — Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical Terminology

Fill-in-the-Blank
Complete the sentence with the correct term(s). Answers
31. The fundamental unit of each medical word is the . root

32. A short word part added at the end of a root is a(n) suffix

33. A short word part added before a root is a(n) prefix

34. A root with a vowel added to aid in pronunciation is a(n) . combining form

35. A compound word that means “pertaining to the heart and blood cardiovascular
vessels” is .

36. The vowel in the word pet is a(n) vowel. short

37. The first vowel in the word rise is a(n) vowel. long

38. Combine hem/o meaning “blood” and rhage meaning “bursting hemorrhage
forth” to form a word that means “a bursting forth of blood”: .

39. Combine the root psych meaning “mind” with -logy meaning psychology
“study of” to form a word that means “study of the mind”: .

40. abbreviation formed from the first letter of each word in a phrase acronym
is a(n) .

41. The root cardi with a vowel added to aid pronunciation forms combining form
cardi/o, which is termed a(n) .

42. The adjective of pharynx is . pharyngeal

43. The -itis in pleuritis is the word part called a(n) . suffix

44. The pn in the word pneumonia is pronounced like the letter . n

45. The rh in the word rhinitis is pronounced like the letter . r

46. The name given to a root combined with a vowel is . combining form

47. A gastroduodenostomy is a surgical procedure that creates a suffix

connection between the stomach and the duodenum. The part of the
word gastroduodenostomy that means “surgical opening” is the .

48. A word part added to the end of a root to modify its meaning is suffix
a(n) .

49. Most medical word parts come from Greek and . Latin

50. organ of excretion (roots: ren/o, nephr/o) is the . kidney

51. A letter inserted between the root and the next word part to aid in vowel
pronunciation is a(n) .

52. means pertaining to the coccyx. Coccygeal

53. A dropping, downward displacement is . ptosis

54. A word ending that modifies a root is a(n) . suffix

WORKSHEET — Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical Terminology Fill-in-the-Blank

55. The suffix -logy means . study of

56. A physician who specializes in study and treatment of the skin dermatologist
(dermatology) is a(n) .

57. The word that means “pertaining to a vein” (root: ven) is . venous

58. The word that means “pertaining to saliva” is . salivary

59. The adjective for neurosis is . neurotic

60. The adjective for pelvis is . pelvic

61. The adjective nuclear pertains to a(n) . nucleus

62. The plural of diagnosis is . diagnoses

63. The singular of vertebrae is . vertebra

64. A specialist who studies and treats the feet is a(n) . podiatrist

65. The word that means “pertaining to the heart” is . cardiac

66. The adjective that means “pertaining to respiration” is . respiratory

67. The plural of ganglion is . ganglia

68. The suffix -sis means . condition of

69. The singular of phalanges is . phalanx

70. The plural of matrix is . matrices

71. The singular form of foci is . focus

72. The singular form of paralyses is . paralysis

73. The suffix that means “pertaining to” in the word nervous is . ous

74. A dark pigment that gives color to the hair and skin and protects melanin
the skin against the sun’s radiation is .

75. is Cyanosis
a bluish discoloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen.

76. To separate tissues for anatomic study is to . dissect

77. Introduction of blood or blood components into the bloodstream transfusion

is .

78. means “having equal Equilateral

sides.”

79. means “of Homogeneous

uniform composition.”

80. means of Microscopic

“extremely small size—visible only with the aid of the microscope.”

81. Another name for the lumen of an organ or vessel is . central opening
Fill-in-the-Blank WORKSHEET — Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical Terminology

82. Development of a blood clot within a vessel is . thrombosis

83. The care and treatment of children is . pediatrics

84. The study of the nervous system is . neurology

85. means “pertaining to a Nuclear

nucleus.”

86. means “pertaining to Anatomic

anatomy.”

87. is the plural form of Phalanges

phalanx.

88. The process of determining the cause and nature of an illness is . diagnosis

89. A word part that appears in front of a root is a(n) . prefix

90. Trifocal glasses have lenses. three

91. The term cyanotic pertains to the color . blue

92. A xanthoma is a growth that is named for the color . yellow

93. Erythrocytes are named for the color . red

94. The prefixes anti- and contra- mean . against

95. The opposite of permeable is . impermeable

96. The prefixes dia-, per-, and trans- mean . through

97. The prefix in pandemic means . all

98. The prefix syn- means . together

99. The opposite of hyperglycemia is . hypoglycemia

100. To move the arm away from the midline is to it. abduct

101. The prefix pre- means . before

102. The prefix that means “few” or “scanty” is . oligo

103. The opposite of dextromanual is . sinistromanual

104. A synonym for antenatal is . prenatal

105. The prefixes macro-, mega-, and megalo- all mean . large

106. The prefix pseudo- means . false

107. A hemisphere is of a sphere. one half

108. A tricuspid structure has parts. three

WORKSHEET — Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical Terminology Matching

Matching
Match the following terms and write the appropriate letter next to each term.

Term Answers Definition

109. bedpan A. word with a hard c
D
ren/o B. prefix that means false
C
pseudo C. combining form
B
carry D. compound word
A
110. rage A. word with a hard g
B
glue B. word with a soft g
A
oace C. word with a silent g
D

gnome C D. word with a soft c

111. FDA A. referring to double
C
KAR-dē-ak B. compound word
D
dipl/o C. acronym
A
cardiovascular D. phonetic pronunciation
B
112. prefix A. fundamental word unit
B
suffix B. comes before the root
C
root C. comes after the root
A
diarrhea D. its suffix means “to flow”
D
113. -sis A. suffix that means “study,” “study of”
D
-ous B. suffix that means “pertaining to” or “like”
B
-logy C. suffix that means “specialist”
A
-ist C D. suffix that means “condition of”

114. dermatology A. study of structure

C
insomnia B. intestinal disorder
D
anatomy C. study and treatment of the skin
A

dysentery B D. inability to sleep

Matching WORKSHEET — Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical Terminology

Term Answers Definition

115. thrombus A. blood clot in a vessel
A
ganglion B. mass of nervous tissue
B
febrile C. pertaining to fever
C
ovoid D D. resembling an egg

116. topical A. things added

C
appendices B. eggs
A
ova C. pertaining to a surface
B

lymphoid D D. pertaining to the lymphatic system

117. hemisphere A. against recommendations
B
contraindicated B. one half of a globe
A
percutaneous C. backward flow
D
regurgitation C D. through the skin

118. oligodontia A. fewer than normal number of teeth

A
abduct B. excessive breathing
C
hyperventilation C. move away from the midline
B
hypoglycemia D. low blood sugar
D
119. orthotic A. having equal sides
C
preoperative B. a newborn
D
equilateral C. correcting deformities
A
neonate D. before surgery
B
120. monocyte A. cell with one nucleus
A
mesencephalon B. having a constant temperature
D
tetralogy C. a group of four
C
homeothermic D. midbrain
B
WORKSHEET — Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical Terminology Pronounce It

Pronounce It
For each phonetic transcription in this section, pronounce the term aloud and write it in the space
provided, being careful to spell it correctly.

Answers Answers
chemical 151. prog-NO-sis prognosis
121. KEM-ih-kal
phantom 152. KWAD-ru-ped quadruped
122. FAN-tom
phobia 153. zan-tho-DER-mah xanthoderma
123. FO-be-ah
euphoria 154. eh-rih-THE-mah erythema
124. u-FOR-e-ah
dysfunction 155. ol-ih-go-DON-she- oligodontia
125. dis-FUNK-shun
ah
126. ZIF-oyd xiphoid
156. poy-kil-o-DER-mah poikiloderma
127. TO-sis ptosis
157. mak-ro-SKOP-ik macroscopic
128. RI-no-plas-te rhinoplasty
158. u-nih-LAT-er-al unilateral
129. AK-ro-nim acronym
159. ep-ih-THE-le-al epithelial
130. fah-RIN-je-al pharyngeal
160. ho-me-o-STA-sis homeostasis
131. kok-SIJ-e-al coccygeal
161. PAR-ah-sit-izm parasitism
132. RU-mah-tizm rheumatism
162. steh-NO-sis stenosis
133. nu-MAT-ik pneumatic
163. nu-ROL-o-je neurology
134. kar-de-OL-o-je cardiology
164. op-TISH-an optician
135. nef-RI-tis nephritis
165. ah-NAT-o-me anatomy
136. tho-RAS-ik thoracic
166. tek-NOL-o-je technology
137. SER-vih-kal cervical
167. MEH-trik metric
138. re-no-GAS-trik renogastric
168. VE-nus venous
139. dis-LEK-se-ah dyslexia
169. MUS-ku-lar muscular
140. FAR-mah-se pharmacy
170. feh-NOM-eh-non phenomenon
141. si-ah-NOT-ik cyanotic
171. pro-to-ZO-ah protozoa
142. LU-ko-site leukocyte
172. FUN-ji fungi
143. or-THOT-ik orthotic
173. fo-RAM-ih-nah foramina
144. ho-mo-JE-ne-us homogeneous
174. FI-broyd fibroid
145. sim-bi-o-sis symbiosis
175. RU-mah-toyd rheumatoid
146. tel-en-SEF-ah-lon telencephalon
176. di-ag-NO-sis diagnosis
147. EKS-tract extract
177. SKEL-eh-tal skeletal
148. SIN-drome syndrome
178. VER-teh-brah vertebra
149. eks-OJ-eh-nus exogenous
179. DIP-loyd diploid
150. di-AL-ih-sis dialysis
Word Building WORKSHEET — Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical Terminology

Word Building
For each item in this section, select the correct word parts from the bank below to form the term
that matches the definition. Word parts may be used more than once.

Part 1 Answers
181. Study of the heart cardi-o-logy Part 1 Word Bank
cardi logy perine
182. Inflammation of the gastr-itis dia men r
stomach gastr nephr rhage
183. Pertaining to the chest thorac-ic hem neur rhea
ic o thora
184. Loss of blood hem-o-r-rhage
itis
185. Inflammation of a nerve neur-itis

186. Study of the kidney nephr-o-logy

187. Passage of fluid stool dia-r-rhea

188. Menstrual flow men-o-r-rhea

189. Inflammation of the kidney nephr-itis

190. Study of the stomach gastr-o-logy

WORKSHEET — Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical Terminology Word Building

Part 2 Answers
Part 2 Word Bank
191. Pertaining to a yellow color xanth-ous a di o
192. A very small cell micro-cyte ab duct ous
ad leuk poikilo
193. Irregular, mottled skin poikilo-derma
cyte micro xanth
condition
derma morph
194. A cell with an irregular poikilo-cyte
shape

195. A yellow skin condition xanth-o-derma

196. Having two forms di-morph-ous

197. White cell leuk-o-cyte

198. To move away from ab-duct

199. To move toward ad-duct

200. Having no shape a-morph-ous

Part 3 Answers
Part 3 Word Bank
201. Like or resembling an ov-oid
a log psych
egg
dermat o sis
202. Study and treatment of dermat-o-log-y ic oid um
the skin ist ov y

203. Study of the mind psych-o-log-y

204. A single egg cell ov-um

205. One who studies the psych-o-log-ist

mind

206. Specialist in treatment of dermat-o-log-ist

the skin

207. Pertaining to psychology psych-o-log-ic

208. Disorder involving the psych-o-sis

mind

209. Multiple egg cells ov-a

210. Pertaining to dermat-o-log-ic

dermatology
Sorting WORKSHEET — Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical Terminology

Sorting
For each word part category in this section, list the corresponding word parts from the bank below.

Part 1 Word Bank

cardio cardiovascular hem laryngo
lymphocyte nephro neur pulm
ren thoraco urogenital wheelchair

Part 1 Answers
211. roots neur, pulm, ren, hem

212. combining forms laryngo, thoraco, nephro, cardio

213. compound words urogenital, wheelchair, cardiovascular, lymphocyte

Part 2 Word Bank

a- contra- cyan/o- dipl/o-
dis- erythr/o- leuk/o- melan/o-
mon/o- non- poly- tetra-

Part 2 Answers
214. Prefixes for number mon/o-, tetra-, poly-, dipl/o-

215. Prefixes for color leuk/o-, melan/o-, erythr/o-, cyan/o-

216. Negative prefixes contra-, non-, a-, dis-

Part 3 Word Bank

-form -ia -ian -ic
-ics -ism -ist -logy
-oid -ous -sis -y

Part 3 Answers
217. suffixes for “condition of” -sis, -y, -ia, -ism

218. suffixes for “like” or -ic, -form, -ous, -oid

“resembling”

219. suffixes for specialty or specialist -ics, -ist, -logy, -ian

WORKSHEET — Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical Terminology Look and Label

Look and Label

For each image in this section, write each label indicated on the image in the correct location or
near the image with a line pointing from the label to the correct location on the image.
220. Labels: artery, lumen, vein

221. Labels: distal phalanx, middle phalanx, phalanges, proximal phalanx

Look and Label WORKSHEET — Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical Terminology

222. Label: What stance is shown in this figure?

223. Labels: anterior, left hemisphere, posterior, right hemisphere

right left
hemisphere hemisphere

224. Labels: postsynaptic cell, presynaptic cell, synapse

WORKSHEET — Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical Terminology Case Studies

Case Studies
Read the following case studies carefully. Complete the sentence with the correct term(s).
Case Study 1: Osteoarthritis Consultation Note
HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS: The patient has a history of chronic pain in the lumbosacral spine
that has progressively gotten worse over the past 2 years. She was scheduled to have an MRI but
never completed it because of claustrophobia. She also has pain in the hands and both shoulders,
with significant morning stiffness. She has difficulty getting up from a sitting position. She reports
pain in the knee with swelling of the left knee. She has moderate swelling of both ankles, which
may be related more to her history of hypertension. She has just recently had an angiogram and is
currently on a low dose of diuretic.
PERTINENT PHYSICAL FINDINGS: Hands have no evidence of synovitis. There are Heberden and
Bouchard nodes, with changes of osteoarthritis. Wrist movement is normally maintained. There is
tenderness of both shoulders with decreased range of mobility. There is also gluteal tenderness. Hip
movement is decreased. There is bilateral crepitus of the knees with decreased range of mobility.
The ankles have moderate swelling. The feet are normal.
ASSESSMENT: Osteoarthritis of the knees.
PLAN: We will start Celebrex 100 mg bid for pain. We will check for inflammation with a
sedimentation rate, C-reactive proteins, rheumatoid factor, ANA, and uric acid levels. Will
recommend physical therapy. Local injections are an option to consider in the future.

Case Study 1: Osteoarthritis Consultation Note

Answers
225. The itis in the word osteoarthritis is a(n) . suffix

226. The word lumbosacral is formed from two roots. It is an example compound word
of a(n) .

227. MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging. This term acronym
represents a(n) .

228. The rh in the word rheumatoid is pronounced as . r

229. The bi in the word bilateral is a(n) . prefix

230. The ch in the word chronic is pronounced as . k

231. The root syn/o refers to synovial membrane. The root is written combining
in its form.

232. The word synovitis means . inflammation of

synovial membrane
233. The suffix -gram means “a recording.” In the word angiogram, root
angi is a(n) .

234. The hyper in the word hypertension is a(n) . prefix

Case Studies WORKSHEET — Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical Terminology

Case Study 2: Endocrinology Office Consultation

HISTORY: This is a 59-year-old woman who has been in good health. She had an incident where
a thyroid nodule was discovered after referral to a general surgeon for a breast lump. At that
time, thyroid ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration of a rather sizable cyst of the right lobe of the
thyroid, as well as aspiration of a nodule on the left side, were carried out. The findings suggested
hemorrhage, and the patient was seen in follow-up 6 months later. Since that time, she has noted
no hoarseness, dysphagia, local tenderness, or other focal symptoms. She also has no symptoms
suggestive of thyroid dysfunction, and her baseline thyroid function studies last September were
noted to be normal. She does admit to loud snoring and some sleep difficulty, with occasional
fatigue the following day. This has been commented upon by her husband as being particularly
coarse and loud in nature.
MEDICATIONS: She is on no medications except for Estraderm twice weekly.
FAMILY HISTORY: She does have a history of thyroid goiter in mother and grandmother.
PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: This is a healthy-appearing woman. Blood pressure is 130/74. Height
is 5 feet 4 inches. Weight is 155 pounds. Integument is normal. She is well tanned. Eyes reveal no
ophthalmopathy. Examination of the neck reveals a 2-cm nodular area in the lower part of the
neck, which moves with swallowing. Otherwise, there is no enlargement of the thyroid.
No lymphadenopathy or other abnormality is present. Chest is clear. She has no chest wall
tenderness. Cardiac exam reveals a slow, regular rate and rhythm. Reflexes are normal.
RADIOLOGY REPORT: Review of the ultrasound shows several cysts, one of which is sizable and
compatible with a hemorrhagic cyst, as well as the suggestion of two demarcated adenomas, one of
which was aspirated last October. The left-sided nodule did show follicular cells, although it is not
stated whether there are adequate numbers, that is, six separate cells present.
IMPRESSION: Probable nodular hyperplasia with rather well-demarcated thyroid nodules, not
palpable on clinical exam, and hemorrhagic thyroid cyst that has not changed in the last 6 months.
PLAN: A free T4 and TSH blood test, and it was recommended that a re-exam and ultrasound be
done in approximately 6 months.

Answers
235. The suffix in the word endocrinology means . study of

236. A doctor specializing in the field of endocrinology is a(n) . endocrinologist

237. The suffix in the word thyroid means . pertaining to

238. The term adenomas is often used as the plural form of adenoma. adenomata
The more accurate plural is .

239. The patient history notes that she occasionally has some insomnia
difficulty sleeping. In other words, she has .

240. The suffix -ia in the word dysphagia means . condition of

241. If the physical examination revealed heart problems, the patient cardiologist
would be referred to a(n) .

242. The adjective hemorrhagic is formed from the noun . hemorrhage

243. The suffix -y in the terms lymphadenopathy and condition of

ophthalmopathy means .

244. The term focal refers to a focus, or center. foci

The plural of focus is .
WORKSHEET — Concepts, Suffixes, and Prefixes of Medical Terminology Case Studies

Case Study 3: Thyroid Cancer Surgery Discharge Summary

DISCHARGE DIAGNOSIS: Follicular thyroid cancer.
HOSPITAL COURSE: The patient came into the same-day surgery department on Friday, 4 days prior
to this dictation. She underwent an uneventful left thyroid lobectomy, and intraoperatively, her
frozen section diagnosis was follicular adenoma. She did well postoperatively and was subsequently
prepared for discharge. However, the pathology demonstrated that she had a moderately well-
differentiated follicular cancer. A completion thyroidectomy was then planned, and she was
returned to the operating room. The contralateral lobe was then removed.
Parathyroid glands were well identified, as were the recurrent laryngeal nerves bilaterally, and the
procedure was well tolerated.
Postoperatively, her calcium level was 7.9, with a preoperative calcium of 8.5. She had no Chvostek
or Trousseau sign on postoperative examination and felt no irritability. She had some very mild
hoarseness after the second operation but good phonation and was able to cough well. She was
instructed on postoperative wound care, and it was discussed with her that she should have
radioiodine ablation in several weeks when she becomes hypothyroid.
PLAN: Discharge her home on oral Vicodin for pain and have her return to the office later in the
week. Additional plans for outpatient ablation will be forthcoming.

Answers
245. The prefix and its meaning in uneventful are and . un; not

246. The patient’s preoperative calcium level would be measured . before a surgery

247. The prefix and its meaning in discharge are and . dis; absence, removal,
separation
248. The word contralateral means . opposite side

249. The prefix in the word postoperative means . after

250. During a surgery, the recurrent laryngeal nerves are visualized both sides
bilaterally. This means that they are seen on .

251. The prefix and its meaning in the word ablation are and . ab; away from

252. The word hypothyroid refers to . decreased thyroid

function
253. The patient’s discharge notes predict a good outcome for the prognosis
patient. This prediction is a(n) .

254. The patient’s thyroid is surgically removed. Another word that excise
means “to cut out” is .