Question 1

Diabetes mellitus results if there is not enough insulin in the body, or if the cells are resistant to insulin. Which endocrine gland produces insulin?

Accepted Answer

The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels.

Question 2

If a patient had a GTT, what did they have?

Accepted Answer

GTT stands for glucose tolerance test, which is a diagnostic test for diabetes mellitus.

Question 3

Sometimes cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) must be obtained for testing. The procedure to do this is commonly known as a spinal tap, but what is the correct medical term and abbreviation?

Accepted Answer

The correct medical term for a spinal tap is a lumbar puncture (LP), and this is the only option listed that corresponds with the description given. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) are imaging tests and do not involve obtaining CSF. Craniotomy (CT) is a surgical procedure to remove a portion of the skull and would not be used to obtain CSF.

Question 4

What is the correct medical term for a nerve cell?

Accepted Answer

A nerve cell is called a neuron. Myelin is a substance that covers and protects nerve fibers, neuropathy is a condition that affects nerves, and the spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that runs down the back.

Question 5

Any endocrine gland can cause disease by becoming either overactive or underactive. If an endocrine gland is overactive and is secreting too much hormone, which prefix would be used to build the name of the condition? prefix ________ + root [name of gland] + suffix -ism

Accepted Answer

The prefix "Hyper-" means excessive or above normal, therefore it would be used to indicate an overactive endocrine gland that is secreting too much hormone.

Question 6

If a patient has glaucoma, what is wrong with her?

Accepted Answer

Glaucoma is a condition characterized by increased fluid pressure inside the eyeball, which puts pressure on the optic nerve and can cause vision loss. It is not related to coma or high blood pressure, nor is it caused by diabetes specifically affecting the retina.

Question 7

Suzette is nearsighted. (She can see "near," but needs glasses to see "far.") What is the correct spelling of the medical term for nearsighted?

Accepted Answer

The correct spelling for nearsightedness is "myopia." Options A and C are misspelled versions of the correct term, and option B refers to farsightedness, which is the opposite condition.

Question 8

Ms. Teller comes to clinic because she is experiencing numbness and tingling in her right leg. She denies having any pain. What does the nurse write down as Ms. Teller's symptom?

Accepted Answer

Numbness and tingling are symptoms of paresthesia, which is a sensation of tingling or numbness in the extremities. Paralysis refers to the loss of muscle function, narcolepsy is a sleep disorder, and neuralgia is a type of pain.

Question 9

What is the medical definition of dementia, and what is one example of dementia?

Accepted Answer

Dementia is an impairment of mental function characterized by memory loss, confusion, and disorientation. An example of dementia is Alzheimer's disease, which is the most common form of dementia.

Question 10

Montez is 4 years old. He wakes up crying in the night because his ear hurts. His mother takes him to a clinic and is told that Montez has a middle ear infection. What is the medical term for this diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

Montez's symptoms, including ear pain and crying in the night, are consistent with a middle ear infection, also known as otitis media. A hordeolum is a stye or infection in the eyelid, conjunctivitis is an infection or inflammation of the eye surface, and otitis externa is an infection of the outer ear canal.

Question 11

Suzette has just moved to a new city, and during the move she lost her contact lenses. She managed to get her Internet hooked up, and she is now searching for a place to get some new contact lenses and maybe some glasses, too. Suzette does not have any type of eye disease. What type of professional should Suzette search for?

Accepted Answer

Suzette should search for an optometrist, as they are trained to perform eye exams, prescribe corrective lenses, and fit patients with contact lenses and glasses. An otologist specializes in the ear, a physician who specializes in treating eye diseases and performing eye surgeries is called an ophthalmologist, and an orthopedist specializes in the musculoskeletal system. None of these professionals would be the best choice for Suzette's situation.

Question 12

Ms. Gibbs has chosen a military career. A few months ago, she served as part of a supply line for a combat zone. Her unit came under enemy fire on two occasions. The second time, one of her close friends was killed and two were injured. Ms. Gibbs is having difficulty sleeping, and at times she feels anxious and afraid. She has always been a strong, courageous person, and she is very troubled by these feelings. She wonders if she is going crazy. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms of difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and fear following exposure to a traumatic event (in this case, combat and the death of a close friend) are indicative of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is not uncommon for individuals with PTSD to question their own sanity or feel as though they are losing control, but this does not necessarily indicate psychosis or any other mental disorder. Bipolar disorder (BPD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are not relevant to the symptoms described in this scenario.

Question 13

What does the suffix -itis mean?

Accepted Answer

The suffix -itis means inflammation, as in conditions like tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils) or arthritis (inflammation of the joints). Option A (too little) and B (too much) are not related to the suffix -itis, while option C (pain) may be a symptom of conditions ending in -itis, but it is not the actual meaning of the suffix itself.

Question 14

LaWanda is a pharmacy tech. Mrs. Jones comes in with two prescriptions: one for ophthalmic drops and one for otic drops. The doctor's scribbled instructions read only, "Use both twice a day." Where is Mrs. Jones supposed to put the drops?

Accepted Answer

Ophthalmic drops are intended for the eyes, while otic drops are intended for the ears. Therefore, Mrs. Jones should put the ophthalmic drops in her eyes and the otic drops in her ears, as prescribed by the doctor.

Question 15

What does PID stand for?

Accepted Answer

PID stands for pelvic inflammatory disease.

Question 16

The brain and spinal cord are surrounded by special membranes. If these membranes become inflamed or infected, this is a serious condition. Build the medical term for this condition.

Accepted Answer

Meningitis is the inflammation or infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord, indicated by the root word "mening" and the suffix "itis."

Question 17

Mr. Barret was in a terrible car accident. He was not wearing a seat belt, and he suffered a broken neck and a spinal cord injury. He ended up paralyzed from the neck down. Build the medical term for his condition.

Accepted Answer

The prefix quadri- means "four," and the suffix -plegia means "paralysis." Thus, quadriplegia means paralysis of all four limbs (arms and legs), which is an accurate description of Mr. Barret's condition. The other answer choices do not accurately describe his condition.

Question 18

Build the medical term for low blood sugar.

Accepted Answer

The prefix hypo- means low, the root glyc- refers to sugar, and the suffix -emia refers to blood. Therefore, hypoglycemia means low blood sugar.

Question 19

Janine has not seen her Aunt Esther for several years. When they meet at a family reunion, Janine notices that Aunt Esther is very thin and has bulging, protruding eyes. Janine asks Aunt Esther if she has seen a doctor recently. "I surely did," replies Aunt Esther. "He told me some long word about why I'm looking 'bug-eyed.' My heart's beating real fast, too, and it's all got to do with my thyroid gland." What is the name of Aunt Esther's eye condition, and what is the name of her endocrine gland condition?

Accepted Answer

Aunt Esther's eye condition is exophthalmos, which is a common symptom of hyperthyroidism. Choice A is a made-up word and diabetes is not related to the symptoms described. Choice C is incorrect because hyperopia is a condition where a person can see distant objects clearly but has difficulty seeing nearby objects, and Cushing syndrome is not related to the symptoms described. Choice D is incorrect because bradycardia is a slow heart rate and is not related to Aunt Esther's symptoms, and hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland is underactive, which would not cause the symptoms described.

Question 20

What is the correct abbreviation for a stroke, and what do the letters stand for?

Accepted Answer

The correct abbreviation for a stroke is CVA, which stands for cerebrovascular accident. The other options are incorrect – MI stands for myocardial infarction (a heart attack), and MIA is not a recognized medical abbreviation.

Quiz 16: Medical Anatomy and Terminology