Medical terminology: learn to build and decode medical words
Most medical words are built from a few reusable parts. Once you know about 100 of them, you can read words you have never seen before. This quiz trains the three skills students struggle with: breaking a word apart, building a word from a meaning, and recognizing common abbreviations.
How medical words are built
A term usually has a root (the body part or subject), a suffix (what is happening) and sometimes a prefix (a modifier). A combining vowel, usually “o”, joins parts that would be hard to say together. For example, gastr/o/enter/itis combines stomach, intestine and inflammation, so it means inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
Suffixes worth memorizing first
- -itis: inflammation (arthritis, hepatitis)
- -ectomy: surgical removal (appendectomy)
- -otomy: cutting into (craniotomy)
- -ostomy: creating an opening (colostomy)
- -plasty: surgical repair (rhinoplasty)
- -emia: condition of the blood (anemia, hypoglycemia)
- -megaly: enlargement (cardiomegaly)
Prefixes that cause the most mix-ups
- hyper- (above, excessive) versus hypo- (below, deficient)
- tachy- (fast) versus brady- (slow)
- dys- (difficult, abnormal) versus eu- (normal)
- intra- (within) versus inter- (between)
- peri- (around) versus endo- (within)
Abbreviation safety
Abbreviations save time but cause errors. The Joint Commission maintains a “Do Not Use” list that includes “U” for units, “QD” for daily, trailing zeros such as 5.0 mg, and “MS” for morphine or magnesium sulfate. When in doubt, spell it out. PRN means as needed, BID means twice a day and NPO means nothing by mouth.
Study method
Study roots by body system rather than alphabetically, say terms out loud, and use flashcards that include a full term, not just the part. Quiz yourself in both directions: from term to meaning and from meaning to term.
Ready to test what you just read? or try today’s daily challenge.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three parts of a medical term?
Root, suffix and prefix, often joined by a combining vowel. Not every word has all three.
What is the difference between -ostomy and -otomy?
-otomy means cutting into an organ, and -ostomy means creating a permanent or temporary opening, as with a colostomy.
How many word parts should I learn?
Around 100 to 150 common parts cover most terms you will meet in a first terminology course.
Why are some abbreviations unsafe?
They can be misread, for example “U” for units looks like a zero. Organizations such as the Joint Commission keep lists of abbreviations to avoid.
WKQuiz is an independent study site. It is not affiliated with the NCSBN, any nursing board or any exam provider, and the questions are original practice material, not real exam items. Content is for education only and is not medical advice.
Curated Medical Quizzes
Medical Terminology Essentials
Master clinical prefixes, suffixes, root words, and vital signs abbreviations used by healthcare professionals.