Common Medical Suffixes! Trivia Questions Quiz

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  • 1/50 Questions

    Urine condition

    • - uria
    • - emia
    • - otia
    • - pnea
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About This Quiz

Below is a trivia questions quiz on Common Medical Suffixes! If you are looking to see if you understand all or most of the suffixes to some common medical terms, the quiz below will be perfect for you. Do give it a shot and see how well you will do. All the best and keep a look out for other quizzes like it!

Common Medical Suffixes! Trivia Questions Quiz - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    Pain

    • -pathy

    • -algia

    • - oma

    • -ptosis

    Correct Answer
    A. -algia
    Explanation
    The suffix "-algia" is used to describe pain or a painful condition. It is commonly used in medical terminology to indicate a specific type of pain or discomfort in a certain area of the body. For example, "neuralgia" refers to pain along the course of a nerve, and "arthralgia" refers to pain in a joint. Therefore, the correct answer is "-algia" because it is the suffix related to pain.

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  • 3. 

    Tumor, mass

    • - ectasis

    • - oma

    • - plasia

    • - tripsy

    Correct Answer
    A. - oma
    Explanation
    The suffix "-oma" is commonly used in medical terminology to indicate a tumor or a mass. It is derived from the Greek word "oma" meaning swelling or tumor. Therefore, when a word ends with "-oma," it suggests the presence of a tumor or a mass in that particular context.

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  • 4. 

    Excision, removal

    • - stomy

    • - tomy

    • - ectomy

    • - scopy

    Correct Answer
    A. - ectomy
    Explanation
    The suffix "-ectomy" refers to the surgical removal or excision of a specific body part or tissue. In this case, "excision" and "removal" are both synonyms for the act of cutting out or removing something, which aligns with the meaning of "-ectomy". Therefore, "-ectomy" is the correct answer.

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  • 5. 

    Disease condition

    • -pathy

    • -sis

    • -ion

    • -iasis

    Correct Answer
    A. -pathy
    Explanation
    The suffix "-pathy" is commonly used in medical terminology to refer to a disease or disorder. It is derived from the Greek word "pathos," meaning suffering or disease. Therefore, when "-pathy" is added to the root word, it indicates a pathological condition or disease. This makes it the correct answer in the given options.

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  • 6. 

    Movement

    • - pnea

    • - kinesia

    • - phage

    • - philia

    Correct Answer
    A. - kinesia
    Explanation
    Kinesia refers to the ability to move or the study of movement. It is derived from the Greek word "kinesis," which means motion. The other options, pnea, phage, and philia, do not relate to movement. Pnea refers to breathing or respiration, phage refers to something that destroys or eats, and philia refers to a strong affinity or love for something. Therefore, kinesia is the correct answer as it is the only option that is related to movement.

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  • 7. 

    Eat, swallow

    • - phage

    • - philia

    • - pnea

    • - sthenia

    Correct Answer
    A. - phage
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "phage" because it means "to eat" or "to swallow." This is evident from the root word "phag-" which refers to eating or swallowing. The other options - "philia," "pnea," and "sthenia" - do not have any relation to eating or swallowing. Therefore, "phage" is the most appropriate choice.

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  • 8. 

    Pore, passage

    • - otia

    • - sclerosis

    • - stenosis

    • - porosis

    Correct Answer
    A. - porosis
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "porosis". Porosis is the most suitable word that can be formed by using the given letters "pore" and "passage". It is a medical term used to describe a condition characterized by loss of bone density, making the bones weak and brittle.

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  • 9. 

    Hardening

    • - megaly

    • - plasia

    • - sclerosis

    • -lysis

    Correct Answer
    A. - sclerosis
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "sclerosis." Sclerosis refers to the abnormal hardening of body tissues or organs, often caused by the deposition of fibrous connective tissue. In the context of medical terminology, it is commonly used to describe conditions such as multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system. The other options, megaly, plasia, and -lysis, do not relate to the concept of hardening and are not relevant in this context.

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  • 10. 

    Discharge

    • - tocia

    • - rrhea

    • - uria

    • - emia

    Correct Answer
    A. - rrhea
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "-rrhea" because it is a suffix that means "flow" or "discharge." The other options, "tocia," "uria," and "emia," do not have the same meaning as "discharge." Therefore, "-rrhea" is the most appropriate choice in relation to the given word "discharge."

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  • 11. 

    Seizure

    • - lepsy

    • - paresis

    • - phasia

    • - plegia

    Correct Answer
    A. - lepsy
    Explanation
    The term "seizure" refers to a sudden and abnormal electrical activity in the brain, which can cause various symptoms such as convulsions, loss of consciousness, and abnormal behavior. The suffix "-lepsy" is commonly used to denote a condition or disorder characterized by recurrent seizures. Therefore, "-lepsy" is the correct answer as it accurately represents the medical term for a seizure disorder.

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  • 12. 

    Breathing

    • - ocia

    • - pnea

    • - penia

    • - philia

    Correct Answer
    A. - pnea
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "-pnea" because it is a suffix commonly used in medical terminology to refer to breathing or respiration. Examples of words that use this suffix include apnea (temporary cessation of breathing), dyspnea (difficulty breathing), and tachypnea (rapid breathing).

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  • 13. 

    Softening

    • -dynia

    • - malacia

    • - stasis

    • - penia

    Correct Answer
    A. - malacia
    Explanation
    The suffix "-malacia" refers to the abnormal softening or degeneration of a tissue or organ. Therefore, "softening" is the correct term that matches the meaning of the suffix. The other options, "-dynia" refers to pain, "-stasis" refers to a state of equilibrium or balance, and "-penia" refers to a deficiency or decrease in a specific component.

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  • 14. 

    Formation

    • - logy

    • - pathy

    • - genesis

    • - kinesia

    Correct Answer
    A. - genesis
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "- genesis" because it is a suffix that means "origin" or "creation." It is commonly used in scientific and medical terms to refer to the beginning or development of something. The other options, "- logy," "- pathy," and "- kinesia," are also suffixes but have different meanings. "- logy" refers to the study or science of something, "- pathy" refers to a disease or disorder, and "- kinesia" refers to movement.

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  • 15. 

    Vision

    • - opia

    • - otia

    • - porosis

    • - physis

    Correct Answer
    A. - opia
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "opia." The word "opia" refers to a visual condition or impairment, such as myopia (nearsightedness) or presbyopia (difficulty focusing on close objects). The other options, "otia," "porosis," and "physis," do not relate to vision or visual conditions.

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  • 16. 

    Vomiting

    • - uria

    • - emia

    • - emesis

    • - stasis

    Correct Answer
    A. - emesis
    Explanation
    The term "emesis" refers to the act of vomiting. It is derived from the Greek word "emein," which means "to vomit." Therefore, among the given options, "emesis" is the most appropriate term related to the symptom of vomiting.

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  • 17. 

    Breakdown, destruction

    • - lysis

    • - trophy

    • - stomy

    • - trophy

    Correct Answer
    A. - lysis
    Explanation
    The term "lysis" refers to the breakdown or destruction of cells. This process involves the disintegration of cell membranes or the rupture of cells, leading to the release of their contents. The other options, "trophy" and "stomy," do not relate to the concept of breakdown or destruction. Therefore, "lysis" is the correct answer in this context.

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  • 18. 

    Drooping, sagging, prolapse

    • - lysis

    • - atresis

    • - ptosis

    • - osis

    Correct Answer
    A. - ptosis
    Explanation
    Ptosis refers to the drooping or sagging of a body part, usually in reference to the eyelid. It can occur due to weakened or stretched muscles that are responsible for lifting the eyelid. This condition can affect one or both eyelids and can be caused by various factors such as age, injury, nerve damage, or certain medical conditions. Therefore, ptosis is the most appropriate term to describe the given list of words, which all relate to a downward or sagging position or condition.

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  • 19. 

    Stopping, controlling

    • - stasis

    • - ptosis

    • - cele

    • - cyte

    Correct Answer
    A. - stasis
    Explanation
    The word "stasis" refers to a state of stability or balance, often used in medical terms to describe the slowing or stopping of normal bodily functions. It is related to the words "stopping" and "controlling" mentioned in the question. The other options - "ptosis" refers to drooping or sagging, "cele" refers to a hernia or swelling, and "cyte" refers to a cell. None of these options directly relate to the concept of stopping or controlling. Therefore, the correct answer is "stasis".

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  • 20. 

    To shine

    • - lucent

    • - oid

    • - opaque

    • - leptic

    Correct Answer
    A. - lucent
    Explanation
    The word "lucent" means to shine or give off light. It is the only word among the options that relates to brightness or luminosity. "Oid" means resembling or having the form of, "opaque" means not allowing light to pass through, and "leptic" is not a known word. Therefore, "lucent" is the correct answer as it is the only word that aligns with the meaning of "to shine."

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  • 21. 

    Ear condition

    • - clast

    • - opia

    • - otia

    • - cusis

    Correct Answer
    A. - otia
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "- otia." This is because the other options ("- clast," "- opia," and "- cusis") are all suffixes that are used to refer to specific conditions or disorders. However, "- otia" is not a commonly used suffix in medical terminology, and therefore it does not have a specific meaning or association with a particular condition.

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  • 22. 

    Stretching, dilation

    • - ectasis

    • - oid

    • - trophy

    • - stosis

    Correct Answer
    A. - ectasis
    Explanation
    The term "-ectasis" refers to the dilation or stretching of a particular organ or structure. It is used to describe conditions where there is an abnormal enlargement or expansion. This can occur in various parts of the body, such as the blood vessels (angiectasis) or the bronchi in the lungs (bronchiectasis). The suffix "-ectasis" is derived from the Greek word "ektasis," which means expansion or stretching.

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  • 23. 

    Narrowing

    • - stenosis

    • - acusis

    • - otia

    • - leptic

    Correct Answer
    A. - stenosis
    Explanation
    Stenosis refers to the abnormal narrowing of a body passage or opening. It is a medical term commonly used to describe the narrowing of blood vessels, airways, or other anatomical structures. The other options - acusis, otia, and leptic - are not related to the concept of narrowing. Therefore, stenosis is the correct answer in this context.

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  • 24. 

    Abnormal condition

    • -osis

    • -pathy

    • -sis

    • -ion

    Correct Answer
    A. -osis
    Explanation
    The suffix "-osis" is used to indicate an abnormal condition or a diseased state. It is commonly used in medical terminology to describe various disorders or pathological conditions. This suffix is derived from the Greek word "osis" meaning "condition" or "disease". Therefore, when added to a word root, it forms a noun that denotes an abnormal or pathological condition.

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  • 25. 

    New opening to form a mouth

    • - ectomy

    • - stenosis

    • - stomy

    • - ectasis

    Correct Answer
    A. - stomy
    Explanation
    The term "stomy" refers to the creation of an opening or surgical connection between a body cavity or organ and the surface of the body. In this case, the new opening to form a mouth would require the creation of a connection between the oral cavity and the surface of the body. Therefore, the correct answer is "-stomy".

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  • 26. 

    Resembling

    • - oid

    • - emesis

    • - poietin

    • - uria

    Correct Answer
    A. - oid
    Explanation
    The term "-oid" refers to something that resembles or is similar to the specified word or concept. In this case, it is used as a suffix to indicate that the word it is attached to resembles or is similar to something else. Therefore, the correct answer is "-oid" because it fits the pattern of the other given terms, which all end in a specific suffix.

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  • 27. 

    Fixation, put in place

    • - praxia

    • - lepsy

    • - pexy

    • - algesia

    Correct Answer
    A. - pexy
    Explanation
    The term "pexy" refers to a surgical procedure in which a structure or organ is fixed or anchored in place. It is derived from the Greek word "pekho," meaning "to fix." In medical terminology, "pexy" is commonly used to describe procedures such as nephropexy (fixation of the kidney), colopexy (fixation of the colon), or gastropexy (fixation of the stomach). Therefore, "pexy" is the correct answer as it aligns with the given definition of "fixation, put in place."

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  • 28. 

    Process of cutting, incision

    • -stomy

    • -ectomy

    • -tomy

    • -pathy

    Correct Answer
    A. -tomy
    Explanation
    The suffix "-tomy" refers to a process of cutting or making an incision. It is commonly used in medical terms to describe surgical procedures that involve cutting or incising a specific part of the body. For example, "appendectomy" refers to the surgical removal of the appendix, where "ectomy" means removal and "tomy" refers to the cutting or incision. Similarly, "tracheotomy" refers to the surgical procedure of creating an incision in the trachea. Thus, the correct answer is "-tomy" because it accurately represents the process of cutting or incision.

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  • 29. 

    Substance that forms

    • - tripsy

    • - poietin

    • - uria

    • - malacia

    Correct Answer
    A. - poietin
    Explanation
    Poietin is the correct answer because it is the only term in the given options that refers to a substance that forms. Tripsy refers to a condition of crushing or grinding, uria refers to a condition of urine, and malacia refers to a condition of softening. Therefore, poietin is the only option that aligns with the given statement.

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  • 30. 

    Speech

    • - algia

    • - lexia

    • - phasia

    • - praxia

    Correct Answer
    A. - phasia
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "phasia." Phasia refers to a speech disorder or difficulty in speaking. The other options, algia, lexia, and praxia, do not relate to speech. Algia refers to pain, lexia refers to reading, and praxia refers to motor coordination. Therefore, phasia is the only option that is related to speech and is the correct answer.

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  • 31. 

    Smell

    • - penia

    • - osmia

    • - phage

    • - pnea

    Correct Answer
    A. - osmia
    Explanation
    Osmia is the correct answer because it is the only option that is related to the sense of smell. Osmia refers to the sense of smell or the ability to perceive odors, while the other options (penia, phage, pnea) do not have any connection to smell.

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  • 32. 

    Obscure

    • - lucent

    • - listhesis

    • - clast

    • - opaque

    Correct Answer
    A. - opaque
    Explanation
    The word "opaque" means not transparent or not allowing light to pass through. Out of the given options, "opaque" is the only word that is related to the opposite meaning of "obscure". While "obscure" means unclear or difficult to understand, "opaque" refers to something that is completely clear or easily understood. Therefore, "opaque" is the correct answer in this context.

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  • 33. 

    Deficiency

    • -trophy

    • - plasty

    • - penia

    • - lysis

    Correct Answer
    A. - penia
    Explanation
    The suffix "-penia" refers to a deficiency or lack of something. In medical terminology, it is commonly used to indicate a decrease or shortage of a specific type of cell or substance in the body. Therefore, "-penia" is the correct answer as it aligns with the meaning of deficiency.

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  • 34. 

    To crush

    • - sclerosis

    • - ole

    • - megaly

    • - tripsy

    Correct Answer
    A. - tripsy
    Explanation
    The term "tripsy" refers to a surgical procedure or intervention. It is commonly used in medical terms to indicate the crushing or breaking down of a structure or substance. In this case, "to crush" is the closest definition to "tripsy" among the given options. The suffix "-tripsy" is often used to describe procedures like lithotripsy (breaking down kidney stones) or cholecystolithotripsy (breaking down gallstones). Therefore, "to crush" is the correct answer.

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  • 35. 

    Strength

    • - sclerosis

    • - praxia

    • - sthenia

    • - malacia

    Correct Answer
    A. - sthenia
    Explanation
    The term "strength" refers to the physical or mental power and ability to perform tasks. Among the given options, "sthenia" is the most suitable term as it means strength or vigor. "Sclerosis" refers to the hardening or thickening of tissues, "praxia" refers to the ability to perform coordinated movements, and "malacia" refers to the softening of tissues. Therefore, "sthenia" best relates to the concept of strength.

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  • 36. 

    Attraction for, an increase in cell numbers

    • - philia

    • - penia

    • - oma

    • - emesis

    Correct Answer
    A. - philia
    Explanation
    The suffix "-philia" refers to a strong attraction or love for something. In the context of the question, it suggests that there is an increase in cell numbers due to an attraction or affinity towards something. This explanation is supported by the fact that "-philia" is commonly used in medical terminology to describe conditions where there is an excessive attraction or affinity towards certain substances or cells.

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  • 37. 

    Lack of strength

    • - stenia

    • - leptic

    • - asthenia

    • - malacia

    Correct Answer
    A. - asthenia
    Explanation
    Asthenia refers to a lack of strength or weakness. It is the most appropriate term among the given options to describe the condition. "Stenia" and "leptic" are not valid terms, and "malacia" refers to softening of tissue rather than weakness. Therefore, "asthenia" is the correct answer.

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  • 38. 

    Hernia

    • - trophy

    • - coccus

    • - dynia

    • - cele

    Correct Answer
    A. - cele
    Explanation
    The term "hernia" refers to a medical condition where an organ or tissue protrudes through a weak spot in the surrounding muscle or connective tissue. The suffix "-cele" is commonly used in medical terminology to denote a swelling or herniation. Therefore, the correct answer is "-cele" as it directly relates to the given term "hernia".

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  • 39. 

    Development, growth

    • - trophy

    • - ectasis

    • - emesis

    • - tripsy

    Correct Answer
    A. - trophy
    Explanation
    The suffix "-trophy" refers to the condition or process of nourishment or growth. It is commonly used in medical terms to describe abnormal or excessive growth of a specific organ or tissue. In the context of the given options, "trophy" is the only suffix that relates to development and growth. "Ectasis" refers to dilation or expansion, "emesis" refers to vomiting, and "tripsy" refers to surgical crushing. Therefore, "trophy" is the correct answer as it aligns with the theme of development and growth.

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  • 40. 

    Excessive sensitivity to pain

    • - algia

    • - dynia

    • - lepsy

    • - algesia

    Correct Answer
    A. - algesia
    Explanation
    The term "algesia" refers to excessive sensitivity to pain. It is derived from the Greek word "algos," which means pain. The suffix "-esia" is commonly used to indicate a condition or state. Therefore, "algesia" accurately describes the condition of heightened sensitivity to pain. The other options, "algia," "dynia," and "lepsy," do not specifically pertain to pain sensitivity and are not as appropriate as "algesia" in this context.

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  • 41. 

    Immature tumor

    • - oma

    • - sarcoma

    • - blastoma

    • - lucent

    Correct Answer
    A. - blastoma
    Explanation
    A blastoma is a type of tumor that is characterized by the presence of immature or undifferentiated cells. These cells have the potential to develop into various types of tissues. The suffix "-oma" is commonly used to denote a tumor, while "sarcoma" refers to a malignant tumor arising from connective tissues. "Lucent" means transparent or clear, and does not relate to tumors. Therefore, the correct answer is "blastoma" as it specifically describes an immature tumor.

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  • 42. 

    To break

    • - lucent

    • - blast

    • - clast

    • - otia

    Correct Answer
    A. - clast
    Explanation
    The word "clast" is the correct answer because it is the only option that is related to the word "break". "Clast" means a fragment or a broken piece, which directly connects to the concept of breaking. The other options, "lucent", "blast", and "otia", do not have any direct association with breaking.

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  • 43. 

    Little, small

    • - oid

    • - ole

    • - ia

    • - plasty

    Correct Answer
    A. - ole
    Explanation
    The given options all end with different suffixes (-oid, -ole, -ia, -plasty). Out of these options, only "-ole" is a suffix that can be added to the word "little" to form a new word, "little + -ole" = "little". Therefore, the correct answer is "-ole".

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  • 44. 

    Feeling, bearing

    • - phoria

    • - mania

    • - thymia

    • - leptic

    Correct Answer
    A. - phoria
    Explanation
    The suffix "-phoria" refers to a condition or state of feeling or bearing. It is commonly used in medical terms to describe a tendency or inclination towards a particular emotion or state. The other options listed (-mania, -thymia, -leptic) do not have the same meaning and are not related to feeling or bearing. Therefore, the correct answer is "-phoria".

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  • 45. 

    State of; condition (any)

    • -pathy

    • -osis

    • -iasis

    • -sis

    Correct Answer
    A. -sis
    Explanation
    The suffix "-sis" is used to indicate a state or condition. It is commonly added to the end of a word root to form a noun that describes a particular state or condition. Examples of words that use this suffix include "diagnosis" (the state of determining the cause of a disease), "analysis" (the state of examining something in detail), and "prognosis" (the state of predicting the outcome of a disease).

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  • 46. 

    Weakness

    • - phasia

    • - paresis

    • - plegia

    • - praxia

    Correct Answer
    A. - paresis
    Explanation
    Paresis refers to a partial loss of muscle strength or weakness. It is characterized by a decreased ability to voluntarily move muscles due to damage or impairment in the nerves that control muscle movement. In contrast, phasia refers to a language disorder, plegia refers to complete paralysis, and praxia refers to a motor planning disorder. Therefore, paresis is the correct answer as it is the only option that directly relates to weakness.

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  • 47. 

    To grow

    • - stenosis

    • - otia

    • - physis

    • - cusis

    Correct Answer
    A. - physis
    Explanation
    The term "physis" refers to the growth plate in bones, which is responsible for the longitudinal growth of bones during childhood and adolescence. This term is commonly used in medical and anatomical contexts to describe the process of bone growth.

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  • 48. 

    Pregnancy

    • - cyesis

    • - parous

    • - rrhea

    • - arche

    Correct Answer
    A. - cyesis
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "cyesis" because it is the term used to refer to the condition of being pregnant. The other options - parous, rrhea, and arche - do not directly relate to pregnancy.

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  • 49. 

    Hearing

    • - acusis

    • - otia

    • - lucent

    • - opia

    Correct Answer
    A. - acusis
    Explanation
    The word "acusis" is derived from the Greek word "akousis" which means hearing. It is a medical term used to refer to the sense of hearing or the ability to perceive sound. Therefore, out of the given options, "acusis" is the only word related to the concept of hearing.

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  • Mar 21, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
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  • Feb 23, 2016
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