• 122 questions

Medical Terminology Final Exam Practice Test

Roots, prefixes, suffixes, whole terms and abbreviations, with the meaning of every part after each answer.

What is the beginning of a medical word, such as peri- or hyper-, called?

Pick an answer, then press Check answer. Then you see Correct or Not quite, with the reason. Keys: A to D pick, Enter checks.

Print covers the next 25 questions. Share this set copies a link to the same questions in the same order.

Exam mode: 25 questions, no time limit.

More options

Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with any school, exam board or certifying body. Bank checked October 9, 2026.

Next step Next: CMA practice examMore terms: medical interpreter practice

All 122 questions

How a medical word breaks up 7

  • A word part is written -itis, with the dash in front. Where does it go in a word? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Understanding Medical Words Tutorial", chapter Beginnings and Endings
  • Endoscopy is built from endo- and -scopy. What kinds of word part are these? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Understanding Medical Words Tutorial", chapter Beginnings and Endings
  • In a long medical word, what is the root? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Understanding Medical Words Tutorial", chapter Break It Up
  • What does the ending -ologist tell you about a person? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Understanding Medical Words Tutorial", chapter Beginnings and Endings
  • What is the beginning of a medical word, such as peri- or hyper-, called? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Understanding Medical Words Tutorial", chapter Break It Up
  • What is the ending of a medical word, such as -itis or -ectomy, called? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Understanding Medical Words Tutorial", chapter Break It Up
  • Which statement about medical words is true? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Understanding Medical Words Tutorial", chapter Break It Up
Show all 122 questions (115 more)

Roots for body parts 22

  • In a medical word, what does the root cardi- (also cardio-) mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • In a medical word, what does the root cephal- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • In a medical word, what does the root derm- (also dermato-) mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • In a medical word, what does the root gastr- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • In a medical word, what does the root hepat- (also hepato-) mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • In a medical word, what does the root lith- (also litho-) mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • In a medical word, what does the root myel- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • In a medical word, what does the root neur- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • In a medical word, what does the root ophthalm- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • In a medical word, what does the root oste- (also osteo-) mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • In a medical word, what does the root pneum- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • In a medical word, what does the root rhin- (also rhino-) mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • Which root means blood clot? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • Which root means blood? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • Which root means chest? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • Which root means ear? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • Which root means gland? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • Which root means joint? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • Which root means kidney? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • Which root means muscle? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • Which root means tongue? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • Which two roots both mean vein? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders

Prefixes 20

  • What does the prefix a- (also an-) mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • What does the prefix brady- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Numbers and Amounts
  • What does the prefix dys- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • What does the prefix epi- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Positions and Directions
  • What does the prefix hyper- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Numbers and Amounts
  • What does the prefix hypo- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Numbers and Amounts
  • What does the prefix intra- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Positions and Directions
  • What does the prefix mal- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • What does the prefix peri- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Positions and Directions
  • What does the prefix poly- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Numbers and Amounts
  • What does the prefix retro- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Positions and Directions
  • What does the prefix sub- mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Positions and Directions
  • Which prefix means against? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • Which prefix means between? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Positions and Directions
  • Which prefix means blue? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Colors
  • Which prefix means fast? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Numbers and Amounts
  • Which prefix means four? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Numbers and Amounts
  • Which prefix means half? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Numbers and Amounts
  • Which prefix means small? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Numbers and Amounts
  • Which prefix means white? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Colors

Suffixes for conditions 16

  • What does the suffix -cyte mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section General Words
  • What does the suffix -emia mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • What does the suffix -itis mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • What does the suffix -megaly mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Numbers and Amounts
  • What does the suffix -osis mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • What does the suffix -pathy mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • What does the suffix -penia mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • What does the suffix -phagia mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • What does the suffix -pnea mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • What does the suffix -rrhea mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • Which suffix means "in the urine"? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • Which suffix means bleeding? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • Which suffix means hardening? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • Which suffix means paralysis? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • Which suffix means softening? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • Which suffix means tumor? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad

Suffixes for tests and surgery 11

  • What does the suffix -centesis mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • What does the suffix -ectomy mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • What does the suffix -gram mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • What does the suffix -opsy mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • What does the suffix -ostomy mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • What does the suffix -rrhaphy mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • What does the suffix -scopy mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • Which suffix means an incision, a cut made into something? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • Which suffix means crushing? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • Which suffix means surgical reconstruction? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • Which suffix names a device used for measuring? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery

Whole terms, part by part 28

  • A drug is given by subcutaneous injection. Going by sub-, cutane and -ous, where does it go? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Positions and Directions and Body Parts and Disorders
  • Aphasia breaks into a- and -phasia. What does it mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • Arthroplasty breaks into arthro- and -plasty. What does it mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders and Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • Blepharoplasty is surgical reconstruction of which part? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • Cardiomegaly breaks into cardio- and -megaly. What does it mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders and Numbers and Amounts
  • Cystoscopy breaks into cysto- and -scopy. What does it mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders and Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • Dysphagia breaks into dys- and -phagia. What does it mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Good and Bad
  • Gastrectomy breaks into gastr- and -ectomy. What does it mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders and Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • Going by its parts, leuko- and -cyte, what is a leukocyte? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Colors and General Words
  • Hematuria breaks into hemat- and -uria. What does it mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders and Good and Bad
  • Hemiplegia breaks into hemi- and -plegia. What does it mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Numbers and Amounts and Good and Bad
  • Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia differ by one prefix. What does hypoglycemia mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Numbers and Amounts
  • Lithotripsy breaks into litho- and -tripsy. What does it mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders and Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • Mastectomy breaks into mast- and -ectomy. What does it mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders and Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • Meningitis breaks into mening- and -itis. What is inflamed? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • Nephrolithiasis is built from nephro-, lith- and -iasis. What does it mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders and Good and Bad
  • Osteomalacia breaks into osteo- and -malacia. What does it mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders and Good and Bad
  • The pericardium is built from peri-, cardi- and -ium. What is it? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Positions and Directions and Body Parts and Disorders
  • Polyuria breaks into poly- and -uria. What does it mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Numbers and Amounts and Body Parts and Disorders
  • Something intercostal lies where? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Positions and Directions and Body Parts and Disorders
  • Tachycardia breaks into tachy- and -cardia. What does it mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Numbers and Amounts and Body Parts and Disorders
  • Thoracotomy breaks into thoraco- and -otomy. What does it mean? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders and Procedures, Diagnosis and Surgery
  • Which word means a tumor made of fat? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders and Good and Bad
  • Which word means creating an opening in the colon? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Understanding Medical Words Tutorial", chapter Beginnings and Endings
  • Which word means fast breathing? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Numbers and Amounts and Good and Bad
  • Which word means inflammation of a joint? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders
  • Which word means inflammation of a vein? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders and Good and Bad
  • Which word means inflammation of the ear? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", section Body Parts and Disorders and Good and Bad

Abbreviations 18

  • A prescription label reads BID. How often is that? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • CNS stands for central nervous system. Which parts does that name? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • CVA stands for cerebrovascular accident. What is its common name? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • GI stands for gastrointestinal. Which body system is that? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • On a chart, which word does HTN stand for? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • What does BP stand for? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • What does CBC stand for? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • What does CPR stand for? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • What does ENT stand for? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • What does NKDA stand for? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • What does Rx stand for? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • What does SOB stand for on a chart? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • What does UTI stand for? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • Which abbreviation means "as needed"? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • Which abbreviation means intramuscular, a type of injection? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • Which abbreviation stands for myocardial infarction, a heart attack? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • Which test does EEG stand for? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations"
  • Why is an electrocardiogram often written EKG and not ECG? MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, "Understanding Medical Words Tutorial", chapter Abbreviations

How this list was compiled: Our own questions. The order of topics follows the chapters of the National Library of Medicine's "Understanding Medical Words Tutorial" on MedlinePlus (Break It Up, Word Roots, Beginnings and Endings, Abbreviations), https://medlineplus.gov/medwords/, read 2026-10-09. Every meaning was read in that tutorial or in the two MedlinePlus lists it points to, "Appendix A: Word Parts and What They Mean", https://medlineplus.gov/appendixa.html, and "Appendix B: Some Common Abbreviations", https://medlineplus.gov/appendixb.html, both read 2026-10-09. Licence: Questions, answer choices and explanations are original work of this site. The tutorial has short quizzes of its own; none of their questions is copied or reworded here.

How it works

This medical terminology final exam practice test is unofficial: 122 multiple-choice questions of our own for a course final, tied to no school or exam. It is practice for a test, not medical advice.

Read the full guide

Seven topics, in course order

The topics run the way a terminology course does: how a word breaks up, roots for body parts, prefixes, suffixes for conditions, suffixes for tests and surgery, whole terms taken apart, then abbreviations. Miss a whole term and the explanation gives each part and its meaning.

Where the meanings come from

Every meaning was read on MedlinePlus, from the National Library of Medicine, on October 9, 2026: its Understanding Medical Words tutorial and its lists of word parts and common abbreviations. The page used is linked under each question. Plural forms are not asked, because those pages do not state the rules.

  • Read a long term from the end: the suffix often names a test or a problem, and the root names the body part.
  • Watch the look-alikes: my- is muscle, myel- is spinal cord or bone marrow, and myc- is fungus.
  • Hyper- means above and hypo- means under: hyperglycemia is high blood sugar, hypoglycemia is low.

Questions and answers

What is on a medical terminology final exam?

Each school or program writes its own, so ask your instructor what yours covers. This practice set covers word roots, prefixes, suffixes, whole terms built from them, and common chart abbreviations.

How do you break down a medical term?

Split it into a beginning (prefix), a middle (root) and an ending (suffix). Pericardium is peri-, around, plus cardi-, heart, plus -ium, tissue: the tissue around the heart. Not every word has all three parts.

Is there a medical terminology practice test pdf?

Yes. After a round, the questions print as a paper test, and one tick adds the answer key. Choose Save as PDF in the print window to keep a copy.

Are these questions from a real medical terminology exam?

No. Every question was written for this site from the MedlinePlus word-part lists. None is copied or reworded from a school's test, a certification exam, a textbook or the quizzes in the MedlinePlus tutorial.

More tests

Show 8 more

Browse Safety and Trades