Medical Prefixes And Suffixes Quiz

The prefix "micro-" means small. It is often used to describe things that are tiny or very small, such as "microscope" (a device to view small objects) or "microorganism" (tiny living organisms like bacteria). It is the opposite of "macro-", which means large.

The word "intra" means "within." It is often used as a prefix in medical terms to indicate something that is located or occurring within a particular organ or part of the body. For example, "intravenous" means within a vein, and "intraocular" means within the eye. In this context, "within" is the correct answer as it accurately reflects the meaning of the word "intra."

The suffix "-itis" refers to inflammation. It is a common medical suffix used in words like "arthritis" (inflammation of the joints) and "hepatitis" (inflammation of the liver). This suffix describes swelling or irritation typically caused by infection or injury.

The prefix "mega-" and the suffix "-megaly" both refer to enlargement or abnormal growth of an organ or structure. For instance, "cardiomegaly" means an enlarged heart, while "hepatomegaly" refers to an enlarged liver. These terms indicate abnormal size increases in medical diagnoses.

The prefixes "med-", "medi-", and "medio-" mean "middle" or "central." They appear in words like "mediastinum" (the central part of the chest cavity) and "median" (midline). These prefixes describe a position or structure located in the center.

The prefix "multi-" means "many" or "more than one." It is used in medical terms like "multicellular" (composed of many cells) and "multifocal" (occurring in multiple locations). This prefix denotes the presence of numerous parts or occurrences.

The prefix "neo-" means "new" or "recent." It is used in words like "neoplasm" (new growth, often referring to tumors) or "neonatal" (referring to newborn infants). It indicates something newly formed or recent in occurrence.

The suffix "-oma" refers to a tumor or abnormal growth. It is used in medical terms like "carcinoma" (cancerous tumor) or "lipoma" (a tumor made up of fat tissue). This suffix indicates a mass or swelling, often in the context of abnormal cell growth.

The prefix "inter-" means "between" or "among." For example, "intercostal" refers to the space between the ribs. It is often used to describe anatomical relationships involving two or more parts.

The prefix "mono-" means "single" or "one." It is used in terms like "mononuclear" (a single nucleus in a cell) and "monochrome" (one color). This prefix indicates something that exists in a singular form or as one unit.

The prefix "brady-" comes from the Greek word "bradys," meaning "slow." It is commonly used in medical terms to describe abnormally slow processes or conditions. For instance, "bradycardia" refers to a slower-than-normal heart rate, typically defined as fewer than 60 beats per minute in adults. This prefix helps identify and describe medical conditions where the speed or rate of bodily function is reduced.

The suffix "-isis" or "-asis" refers to a condition or pathological state. It is seen in terms like "psoriasis" (a chronic skin condition) or "tuberculosis" (a bacterial infection). This suffix is used to indicate a particular disease or abnormal state.

The suffix "-kinesis" refers to movement or motion. It is used in terms like "hyperkinesis" (excessive movement) and "dyskinesis" (impaired movement). This suffix denotes activity or the process of moving.

The prefix "macro-" means large or long. It is the opposite of "micro-" (small). Terms like "macrophage" (a large immune cell) and "macrocephaly" (abnormally large head) use this prefix to denote large size.

The suffix "-phagia" comes from the Greek word "phagein," meaning "to eat" or "to swallow." It is used in medical terminology to describe conditions related to eating or swallowing. For example, "dysphagia" refers to difficulty swallowing, and "polyphagia" refers to excessive eating, often linked to certain medical conditions like diabetes. This suffix helps specify the action or function related to consuming or swallowing substances.

The suffix "-oid" means "like" or "resembling." It is used in terms like "adenoid" (resembling a gland) or "thyroid" (resembling a shield). This suffix helps describe the shape or appearance of a structure that resembles another object.

The suffix "-iasis" indicates a pathological condition or state, often involving a disease or abnormal process. It is commonly seen in terms like "psoriasis" (a skin condition) or "cholelithiasis" (the condition of having gallstones). It signifies the presence of an abnormal or diseased condition.

The suffix "-lysis" refers to the disintegration, breakdown or destruction of cells or tissues. It is seen in medical terms like "hemolysis" (the breakdown of red blood cells) and "autolysis" (self-digestion of cells). It describes disintegration or dissolution.

The suffix "-osis" refers to an abnormal condition or disease. It is used in terms like "cirrhosis" (a condition of liver scarring) or "neurosis" (a mental condition). This suffix denotes the presence of a disease or an unhealthy state in the body.

The suffix "-iatric" relates to medicine or medical treatment. It is used in words like "pediatric" (related to children's medicine) and "geriatric" (related to elderly care). This suffix helps define medical specializations.

The suffix "-malacia" refers to the softening of tissues. It is used in words like "osteomalacia" (softening of the bones) and "chondromalacia" (softening of cartilage). This suffix indicates pathological tissue weakening.

The suffix "-ology" means "the study of" or "science of." It is used in terms like "biology" (the study of life) or "neurology" (the study of the nervous system). This suffix is widely applied in scientific fields to indicate academic study or specialization.

The suffix "-otomy" means "incision" or "cutting into." It is used in terms like "tracheotomy" (an incision into the trachea) or "gastrotomy" (an incision into the stomach). This suffix refers to the process of surgically cutting into a specific body part for treatment.

The suffix "-penia" is derived from the Greek word "penia," meaning "poverty" or "deficiency." In medical terminology, it refers to a lower-than-normal amount or deficiency of something, often in relation to cells or blood components. For example, "leukopenia" refers to a deficiency in the number of white blood cells, and "thrombocytopenia" refers to a deficiency in platelets. This suffix is commonly used to describe various conditions involving insufficient levels of specific cells or substances in the body.

The prefix "oligo-" means "few" or "scant." It is often used in terms like "oliguria" (low urine output) or "oligospermia" (low sperm count). This prefix indicates a reduced number or quantity of something.

The prefix "kypho-" refers to a humped or curved shape, as seen in "kyphosis" (an abnormal forward curvature of the spine). It often describes anatomical deformities involving a prominent hump or curve.

The prefix "juxta-" means "near" or "next to." It is used in terms like "juxtaposition" (the placement of two objects side by side for comparison) and "juxtaspinal" (located near the spine), indicating proximity.

The prefix "ob-" typically means "against" or "in opposition to." For example, "obstruction" means something that blocks or stands in the way. This prefix is used to describe a force or object that opposes or resists a process.

The suffix "-ic" means "pertaining to" or "relating to." It is used in medical terms like "hepatic" (pertaining to the liver) or "cardiac" (pertaining to the heart). It describes something in relation to a specific organ or process.

The suffix "-logia" or "-logy" means the study or science of a particular subject. It is used in words like "biology" (the study of life) or "neurology" (the study of the nervous system), denoting a scientific field of study.