MED 103: Medical Terminology
Chapters 1 – 3 Textbook Worksheet
Name ______________________________________________________
True/False
_______ 1. A root is the foundation of every medical term.
_______ 2. The root dermat means skin.
_______ 3. Many words contain more than one root.
_______ 4. Roots are usually of Latin or Greek origin.
_______ 5. A term never has more than one root.
_______ 6. Some terms will have no combining vowel.
_______ 7. Modification may be necessary to make a word easier to pronounce.
___ ____ 8. A vowel must always be present in a combing form.
_______ 9. In a medical term, the suffix will always appear at the end.
______ _10. Every medical term has to have a prefix.
_______ 11. In the terms arthroscopy and arthrodesis, the combining form is the same, but the
suffix is different.
_______ 12. If a suffix begins with a consonant, you will need a combining vowel before it.
_______ 13. A suffix can have more than one meaning.
_______ 14. A suffix is a group of letters.
_______ 15. Some terms will have no combining vowel.
_______ 16. If a term ends in -a in the singular form, than –ae is used to make the term plural.
_______ 17. Endocarditis is pronounced EN-doh-kar-DIE-tis
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____ __ 18. A term ending in –is in the singular form, the ending is changed to –ides to make
the term plural
_______ 19. Prefixes can be classified into prefixes of position, of number or measurement, and
of direction.
_______ 20. Suffixes can be divided into different types, such as diagnostic, surgical, pathologic,
descriptive, and adjectival.
Complete the table by identifying the elements by placing a checkmark in the correct column;
then define the meaning of the term. Two points each/ 20 points
Word
Prefix Root/Combining Suffix
Definition
form
Cardiology
Abdomen
Arthroscopy
Endocardium
Hypotension
Hemorrhage
Epidermis
Arthritis
Endoscopy
Gastroeneteritis
Select the best answer.
1. An example of a diagnostic suffix is:
a. –gram
b. –desis
c. –scopy
d. -itis
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2. An example of a prefix meaning position is:
a. abb. unic. postd. brady-
3. An example of a prefix meaning direction or location is:
a. parab. subc. hemid. poly-
4. An example of a surgical suffix is:
a. –desis
b. -crit
c. –oma
d. –ac
5. An example of a noun suffix is:
a. –algia
b. –tomy
c. –ist
d. –philia
6. All of the following are adjectival suffixes EXCEPT:
a. –ary
b. –ior
c. –ac
d. –ole
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7. Epigastric means:
a. Below the stomach
b. Above the stomach
c. Inside the stomach
d. Stomach
8. This element can identify color.
a. Suffix
b. Prefix
c. Root
d. Combining form
9. This element can only appear at the end of the term.
a. Prefix
b. Suffix
c. Root
d. Combining form
10. This element does not require a combining vowel.
a. Suffix
b. Prefix
c. Root
d. Combining form
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