TheoryMedical Terms Flashcards
Practice Test
Master medical vocabulary fast with smart flashcards. Learn prefixes, suffixes, and root words used in healthcare and clinical settings.
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30 free Medical Terms Flashcards questions
Sampled across every topic area — not just the first page. Try them as a quiz or flip them as flashcards.
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prefixes_suffixes
a-/an-
Correct — A. The prefix a- or an- means 'without.' Example: anemia (without blood/iron), apnea (without breathing), anuria (no urine output). -
prefixes_suffixes
brady-
Correct — A. Brady- means slow. Bradycardia = slow heart rate (<60 bpm). Bradypnea = slow breathing. From Greek 'bradys.' -
prefixes_suffixes
tachy-
Correct — A. Tachy- means fast. Tachycardia = heart rate >100 bpm. Tachypnea = rapid breathing (>20 breaths/min in adults). -
prefixes_suffixes
hyper-
Correct — A. Hyper- means above or excessive. Hypertension = high blood pressure. Hyperglycemia = high blood glucose. Hyperthermia = elevated body temperature. -
prefixes_suffixes
hypo-
Correct — A. Hypo- means below or deficient. Hypoglycemia = low blood glucose. Hypothermia = low body temperature. Hypotension = low blood pressure. -
prefixes_suffixes
pre-
Correct — A. Pre- means before. Prenatal = before birth. Preoperative = before surgery. Precordial = before/in front of the heart. -
prefixes_suffixes
post-
Correct — A. Post- means after. Postoperative = after surgery. Postnatal = after birth. Postmortem = after death. -
prefixes_suffixes
peri-
Correct — A. Peri- means around. Pericardium = sac around the heart. Periosteum = membrane around bone. Peritoneum = membrane around abdominal organs. -
prefixes_suffixes
endo-
Correct — A. Endo- means within. Endocardium = inner lining of the heart. Endoscopy = looking inside. Endocrine = secreting internally. -
prefixes_suffixes
exo-/extra-
Correct — A. Exo- and extra- mean outside or beyond. Extracellular = outside the cell. Exocrine = secreting externally (e.g., sweat glands). -
prefixes_suffixes
inter-
Correct — A. Inter- means between. Intercostal = between the ribs. Interstitial = between cells/tissues. Interphalangeal = between finger joints. -
prefixes_suffixes
intra-
Correct — A. Intra- means within. Intravenous (IV) = within a vein. Intramuscular (IM) = within a muscle. Intracranial = within the skull. -
prefixes_suffixes
anti-
Correct — A. Anti- means against. Antibiotic = against bacteria. Anticoagulant = against clotting. Antiemetic = against vomiting. -
prefixes_suffixes
poly-
Correct — A. Poly- means many or excessive. Polydipsia = excessive thirst. Polyuria = excessive urination. Polycythemia = too many red blood cells. -
prefixes_suffixes
mono-/uni-
Correct — A. Mono- and uni- mean one. Monocyte = single-lobed white cell. Unilateral = one side. Monotherapy = treatment with one drug. -
prefixes_suffixes
bi-/di-
Correct — A. Bi- and di- mean two. Bilateral = both sides. Diplopia = double vision. Bicuspid = two cusps (heart valve). -
prefixes_suffixes
tri-
Correct — A. Tri- means three. Tricuspid = three cusps (right heart valve). Trimester = three-month period. Triceps = three-headed muscle. -
prefixes_suffixes
semi-/hemi-
Correct — A. Semi- and hemi- mean half. Hemisphere = half of the brain. Hemiplegia = paralysis of one side of the body. Semiconscious = partially conscious. -
prefixes_suffixes
micro-
Correct — A. Micro- means small. Microscope = instrument to see small things. Microorganism = tiny living organism. Microcyte = abnormally small red blood cell. -
prefixes_suffixes
macro-
Correct — A. Macro- means large. Macrocyte = abnormally large red blood cell. Macrophage = large phagocytic immune cell. Macroscopic = visible to the naked eye. -
prefixes_suffixes
-itis
Correct — A. -itis means inflammation. Appendicitis = inflammation of the appendix. Arthritis = inflammation of joints. Dermatitis = inflammation of skin. -
prefixes_suffixes
-ectomy
Correct — A. -ectomy means surgical removal. Appendectomy = removal of appendix. Cholecystectomy = removal of gallbladder. Mastectomy = removal of breast. -
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-otomy/-tomy
Correct — A. -otomy means cutting into. Tracheotomy = incision into trachea. Laparotomy = incision into abdomen. Thoracotomy = incision into chest. -
prefixes_suffixes
-ostomy
Correct — A. -ostomy means creating an artificial opening. Colostomy = opening from colon to skin. Tracheostomy = permanent opening in trachea. Ileostomy = opening from ileum. -
prefixes_suffixes
-scopy
Correct — A. -scopy means visual examination. Colonoscopy = viewing the colon. Bronchoscopy = viewing airways. Endoscopy = viewing inside body cavities. -
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-plasty
Correct — A. -plasty means surgical repair. Rhinoplasty = nose reshaping. Angioplasty = repair of blood vessel. Arthroplasty = joint replacement/repair. -
prefixes_suffixes
-ology/-logy
Correct — A. -logy means study of. Cardiology = study of heart. Neurology = study of nervous system. Dermatology = study of skin. -
prefixes_suffixes
-pathy
Correct — A. -pathy means disease or disorder. Cardiomyopathy = disease of heart muscle. Neuropathy = nerve disease. Nephropathy = kidney disease. -
prefixes_suffixes
-emia
Correct — A. -emia refers to a blood condition. Anemia = low red blood cells. Hyperglycemia = high blood glucose. Leukemia = cancer of white blood cells. -
prefixes_suffixes
-uria
Correct — A. -uria refers to urine. Hematuria = blood in urine. Proteinuria = protein in urine. Polyuria = excessive urine output. Glycosuria = glucose in urine.
Medical Terms Flashcards sample questions
Tap any question below to reveal the answer and a plain-English explanation.
prefixes_suffixes -rrhea
A. Discharge, flow ✓
B. Inflammation
C. Rupture
D. Pain
Correct — A. -rrhea means flow or discharge. Diarrhea = excessive loose stool. Rhinorrhea = runny nose. Hemorrhage = discharge of blood.
anatomy Cranium
A. The bony skull that encloses and protects the brain ✓
B. The vertebral column
C. The pelvic girdle
D. The thoracic cage
Correct — A. The cranium is the bony skull protecting the brain. It includes the frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, sphenoid, and ethmoid bones. The face is formed by separate facial bones.
abbreviations BID (bis in die)
A. Twice daily ✓
B. Once daily
C. Three times daily
D. Four times daily
Correct — A. BID = bis in die (Latin: twice a day). Medications prescribed BID are given every 12 hours (e.g., 8 AM and 8 PM). Always verify the schedule with facility policy.
lab_values Normal fasting blood glucose
A. 70–99 mg/dL ✓
B. 50–69 mg/dL
C. 100–125 mg/dL
D. 126–200 mg/dL
Correct — A. Normal fasting blood glucose is 70–99 mg/dL. 100–125 mg/dL = prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose). ≥126 mg/dL on two occasions = diabetes mellitus diagnosis.
cardiology Normal troponin I (cardiac)
A. Less than 0.04 ng/mL (varies by assay) ✓
B. 0.04–0.1 ng/mL
C. 0.1–0.5 ng/mL
D. 0.5–1.0 ng/mL
Correct — A. Troponin I and T are highly sensitive and specific for myocardial injury. Elevated troponin (above the assay's 99th percentile) indicates myocardial damage. In MI, troponin rises 3–4 hours after injury and remains elevated for days.
neurology Afterload
A. The resistance the ventricle must overcome to eject blood (systemic vascular resistance) ✓
B. The filling volume before contraction
C. The heart's intrinsic contractile force
D. The heart rate
Correct — A. Afterload is the resistance against which the heart pumps. In the left ventricle, this is primarily systemic vascular resistance (SVR). High afterload (hypertension) increases cardiac workload. Vasodilators reduce afterload.
pulmonology Nuchal rigidity
A. Stiffness of the neck, hallmark of meningeal irritation (meningitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage) ✓
B. Abnormal neck muscle spasm from torticollis
C. Neck pain from cervical disc disease
D. Normal neck muscle tone
Correct — A. Nuchal rigidity is involuntary resistance to neck flexion (chin-to-chest). A key sign of meningeal irritation from meningitis or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Assessed alongside Kernig's sign and Brudzinski's sign.
pharmacology V/Q mismatch (ventilation-perfusion mismatch)
A. Imbalance between alveolar ventilation and pulmonary blood flow, leading to impaired gas exchange ✓
B. Equal ventilation and perfusion in all lung segments
C. Complete absence of ventilation in one lung
D. Excessive ventilation with inadequate circulation
Correct — A. V/Q mismatch occurs when some alveoli are ventilated but poorly perfused (dead space, e.g., PE) or perfused but poorly ventilated (shunt, e.g., pneumonia). Most common cause of hypoxemia. V/Q scan evaluates this in suspected PE.
About the Medical Terms Flashcards test
Build a solid foundation in medical terminology with 300+ flashcards covering the essential building blocks of clinical language.
What you get
- 300+ cards spanning prefixes, suffixes, roots, anatomical terms, clinical abbreviations (BID, PRN, NPO, STAT, QID, SOB), lab value reference ranges, and system-by-system vocabulary for cardiology, neurology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, musculoskeletal, and more.
- Each card: term, correct definition, plausible distractors, and a plain-English explanation that anchors the meaning in clinical context.
- Study by category (prefixes & suffixes, anatomy, abbreviations, lab values, body systems).
Who it's for
Medical and nursing students, allied health students, EMT/paramedic trainees, and anyone learning clinical vocabulary for the first time.
You will be tested on
- Safe and effective care environment
- Health promotion and maintenance
- Psychosocial and physiological integrity
- Pharmacology, infection control and patient safety
How TheoryPractice helps you pass
- Real exam-style questions with instant, detailed explanations
- Full timed mock exams that mirror the real test format
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Topics in this question bank
Safe and effective care environment
Health promotion and maintenance
Psychosocial and physiological integrity
Pharmacology, infection control and patient safety
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