Question 1

Men have a gland surrounding the urethra, and this gland often develops problems in later life. Some abbreviations that relate to this gland are BPH, PSA, and TURP. The name of this gland appears frequently in medical charts, and it is frequently misspelled. What is the correct spelling?

Accepted Answer

The correct spelling of the gland surrounding the urethra is the prostate gland. It frequently appears in medical charts and is often misspelled as "prostrate." However, "prostrate" refers to a different word that means lying flat on the ground. BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia), PSA (prostate-specific antigen), and TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate) all relate to the prostate gland.

Question 2

What is the difference between the urethra and the ureter?

Accepted Answer

The ureters are tubes that connect each kidney to the bladder, while the urethra is a tube that connects the bladder to the outside of the body. They have different functions and locations within the urinary system.

Question 3

Dr. Martin is writing a chart note on her patient, Ms. Patrick, who is not doing well. Ms. Patrick has smoked for 30 years and has a chronic cough, a barrel-shaped chest, dyspnea, and hypoxemia. What is the correct spelling for the diagnosis that Dr. Martin will write?

Accepted Answer

The correct spelling for the diagnosis is Emphysema. This is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by the destruction of the alveoli in the lungs, which leads to difficulty breathing, chronic cough, and hypoxemia. Ms. Patrick's longstanding history of smoking puts her at high risk for developing emphysema.

Question 4

Using medical terminology rules, what is the most exact term for a surgical incision into the chest wall?

Accepted Answer

The term "surgical incision into the chest wall" refers specifically to a thoracotomy. While open heart surgery may involve a thoracotomy, it is not the most exact term as open heart surgery can involve other incisions as well. Tracheostomy refers to an incision in the trachea for the placement of a breathing tube, and pneumonectomy refers to the removal of a lung, neither of which necessarily involve an incision into the chest wall itself.

Question 5

Rosalia is trying to code out a surgery note, but the handwriting is very poor, and the terms look very much the same. Which statement makes sense? (Hint: Understanding the suffixes will help you answer this question. Assume that Mrs. Horton had a surgery procedure performed.)

Accepted Answer

- Cholecystitis means inflammation of the gallbladder
- Cholelithiasis means presence of gallstones
- Colitis means inflammation of the colon
- Cholecystectomy means removal of the gallbladder
Out of the options given, D is the only one that makes sense - Mrs. Horton was admitted with inflammation of the gallbladder and a surgical procedure to remove the gallbladder (cholecystectomy) was performed.

Question 6

The medical term for the large intestine is the colon. The large intestine can develop many issues, but one of the most serious is colon cancer. A procedure of viewing the colon with an endoscope can be done to see if a person has colon cancer. What is the name of this procedure?

Accepted Answer

The procedure of viewing the colon with an endoscope is called a colonoscopy. Choices A, B, and D are not related to this particular procedure.

Question 7

Arlena's father, Mr. Muntz, is in the hospital, and the doctor tells Arlena that her father's kidneys have failed. Her father will have to go on hemodialysis. What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

Mr. Muntz's kidneys are no longer removing waste products from his blood. His blood will have to be pushed through a machine to filter out the waste products. This is a process known as hemodialysis.

Question 8

When treating reproductive system disorders, sometimes a body part must be removed. Build a medical term that means removal of a breast.

Accepted Answer

The root mast refers to the breast, and the suffix -ectomy means removal. Therefore, mastectomy means the surgical removal of a breast.

Question 9

Adrian has just graduated as a surgery assistant. He is preparing a patient who will have a kidney removed. Let's make sure Adrian spells the name of the procedure correctly! Which spelling is correct?

Accepted Answer

Nephrectomy is the correct term for the surgical removal of a kidney. The other options listed are not correct spellings of the term.

Question 10

Jannetta is a medical transcriptionist. She is typing up a dictated report on a patient who was admitted to the Internal Medicine Service with a liver problem. The diagnosis sounds like "ser ROH siss." What is the correct spelling for this diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

"Ser ROH siss" is most likely "cirrhosis." Choice A is close but misspelled. Choice B is not a recognized medical term. Choice D is incorrect with misspellings.

Question 11

A couple consults an infertility clinic because they are having difficulty getting pregnant. The husband is diagnosed with oligospermia. What does this mean?

Accepted Answer

Oligospermia means the husband has a low sperm count, typically defined as having fewer than 15 million sperm per milliliter of semen.

Question 12

A patient had her appendix removed. What is the correct name and spelling of this procedure?

Accepted Answer

Appendectomy is the correct name and spelling for the procedure of removing the appendix.

Question 13

The suffix -uria means "pertaining to urine or urination." The condition of a person's urine gives information about the health of the urinary system and often about the health of the entire body. What prefix can be combined with -uria to mean "painful urination"?

Accepted Answer

The prefix dys- means difficult or painful, so combined with -uria it creates dysuria, which means painful urination.

Question 14

What is the most common bacterial STI in North America?

Accepted Answer

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), chlamydia is the most common bacterial STI in North America, with over 1.7 million cases reported in 2017. Syphilis and HIV are also common STIs, but they are caused by a different type of germ than Chlamydia. Cryptorchidism is not an STI, but a condition where the testicles do not descend properly.

Question 15

Women frequently have difficulties involving menstruation. The following medical terms are all real terms, and they are correctly spelled, but they have different meanings. Which one means "painful menstruation"?

Accepted Answer

Dysmenorrhea means painful menstruation, while Amenorrhea means the absence of menstruation, Menorrhagia means heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, and Oligomenorrhea means infrequent or light menstrual periods.

Question 16

Mrs. Lewis seems embarrassed to explain why she came to the clinic today. Finally, she says, "Nurse, I just can't hold my water. For no reason at all, or especially if I cough, sometimes I just pee on myself." What medical term will the nurse write as Mrs. Lewis's symptom?

Accepted Answer

Incontinence is the medical term for the inability to control urine or feces. Mrs. Lewis is describing urinary incontinence, specifically stress urinary incontinence, which is the leakage of urine with activities such as coughing, sneezing, or laughing. Renal calculi are also known as kidney stones, cystitis is inflammation of the bladder, and nocturia is the need to wake up at night to urinate. None of these terms fit Mrs. Lewis's symptom as well as incontinence.

Question 17

What is the medical term for a fibroid?

Accepted Answer

The medical term for a fibroid is leiomyoma. Uterine cancer (A) is a different condition altogether, which involves the malignant growth of cells in the uterus. Endometriosis (B) is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus, causing pain and inflammation. Carcinoma in situ (D) refers to cancer cells that are confined to the site where they first developed and have not yet spread to other tissues or organs.

Question 18

What is GERD?

Accepted Answer

GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease, which is a digestive disorder characterized by acid regurgitation, heartburn, and discomfort in the upper abdomen or chest. It occurs when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus, causing irritation and inflammation.

Question 19

Most people have heard of an OB-GYN doctor, and most people know that this is a doctor who specializes in women's health. But what does this abbreviation mean exactly? Choose the answer that has both words spelled correctly and both definitions correct.

Accepted Answer

An obstetrician is a doctor who specializes in pregnancy and childbirth, while a gynecologist is a doctor who specializes in women's reproductive health and diseases.

Question 20

The organs of the digestive system frequently become inflamed. Build a medical term that means "inflammation of the stomach and small intestine."

Accepted Answer

The combining form gastr/o refers to the stomach, the root enter refers to the small intestine, and the suffix -itis indicates inflammation. Therefore, gastroenteritis is the best choice as it accurately describes inflammation of both the stomach and small intestine.

Quiz 16: Medical Anatomy and Terminology