Medical Prefixes and Suffixes Quiz: Test Word Parts Fast
Quick, free medical word endings quiz with prefixes too. Instant results.
This quiz helps you practice medical prefixes and suffixes and use them in real terms. You'll match common endings, spot prefixes in context, and get instant results. For more practice, try the medical abbreviation quiz, explore nle practice questions, or review with the naegele's rule quiz.
Study Outcomes
- Identify key medical suffixes -
After completing the quiz, learners will pinpoint and explain the meanings of common medical term suffixes such as -ic, -lysis, -penia, and -asis.
- Define foundational prefixes -
Participants will define prefixes like brady- and describe their role in modifying root words to convey specific medical concepts.
- Differentiate terms by ending -
Users will distinguish medical terms based on their suffixes and understand how each ending alters term function and context.
- Apply suffix knowledge -
Readers will apply their understanding of the medical term suffix ic and other endings in quiz questions to reinforce retention and accuracy.
- Enhance terminology recall -
Through interactive testing, learners will improve memory retention of key prefixes and suffixes, supporting faster recall in clinical scenarios.
- Build vocabulary confidence -
By successfully identifying and using prefixes and suffixes in quizzes, readers will gain confidence in decoding and employing medical terms.
Cheat Sheet
- Understanding the suffix "-ic" -
The suffix "-ic" means "pertaining to" or "related to," as seen in terms like "hepatic" (pertaining to the liver) and "cardiac" (pertaining to the heart). A handy mnemonic is "IC = In a Condition," reminding you that terms ending in -ic describe a condition or characteristic. (Source: Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, Elsevier)
- Decoding the suffix "-lysis" -
"-lysis" signifies "breakdown" or "destruction," exemplified by "hemolysis" (destruction of red blood cells) and "dialysis" (filtering of blood). Remember "lyse" sounds like "slice," helping you recall that something is being split apart or broken down. (Source: Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary)
- Recognizing the suffix "-penia" -
The suffix "-penia" indicates a "deficiency" or "lack," as in "leukopenia" (low white blood cell count) and "thrombocytopenia" (low platelet count). Think "penia = penny," and imagine you have very few pennies to remember it marks scarcity. (Source: National Institutes of Health MedlinePlus)
- Interpreting the suffix "-asis" -
"-asis" denotes a "state" or "condition," found in words like "psoriasis" (a skin condition) and "nephrolithiasis" (kidney stone condition). Use the phrase "a sis = a state" to lock in that -asis refers to ongoing conditions. (Source: Stedman's Medical Dictionary)
- Defining the prefix "brady-" -
The prefix "brady-" means "slow," as in "bradycardia" (slow heart rate) or "bradypnea" (slow breathing). A fun memory trick is "brady and lazy," pairing slow movement with laziness. (Source: American Heart Association)
