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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

Singular of -oses: Quick Medical Terminology Quiz

Quick quiz on plural rules, from -oses to -osis. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Chiara BusinUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art style medical terminology quiz design on teal background with anatomical icons term cards and score indicators

This quiz helps you master the singular of -oses and check common plural rules in medical terms. Answer a quick set of items, then review the osis suffix meaning, compare the singular of prognoses, and drill broader skills with a medical prefixes and suffixes quiz.

What is the correct plural form of 'appendix' in medical terminology?
Appendixe
Appendixes
Appendices
Appendixs
The word appendix derives from Latin and uses the -ix suffix. When pluralized, the -ix changes to -ices, making appendices the correct form. Although some style guides accept appendixes, appendices is more commonly used in clinical and academic writing.
Choose the plural form of 'bronchus'.
Bronchuses
Bronchii
Bronchi
Bronchiis
Bronchus is a Latin-derived term ending in -us. In medical terminology, terms ending in -us often change to -i in the plural, so bronchus becomes bronchi. This follows the same pattern as alveolus to alveoli.
What is the plural of 'bacterium'?
Bacteriuma
Bacteriae
Bacteriums
Bacteria
Bacterium ends with the neuter Latin suffix -um, which in the plural becomes -a. Thus, bacterium becomes bacteria. This is consistent across terms like datum to data.
Select the correct plural form of 'epidermis'.
Epidermises
Epidermides
Epidermi
Epidermes
Terms ending in -is of Greek origin form their plural by changing -is to -es. Therefore, epidermis becomes epidermises. This mirrors other examples like diagnosis to diagnoses.
How is 'cortex' correctly pluralized?
Corticies
Cortices
Cortexes
Cortexi
In Latin-derived words ending in -ex, the plural changes to -ices. Thus cortex becomes cortices. This is similar to vertex to vertices.
What is the plural form of 'carcinoma'?
Carcinomae
Carcinomas
Carcinomata
Carcinomies
The suffix -oma in medical terms is of Greek origin and often pluralizes to -omata. Therefore, carcinoma becomes carcinomata, although carcinomas is accepted in general usage.
Choose the correct plural of 'neurosis'.
Neuroses
Neurosises
Neurosi
Neurroses
Words ending in -osis form their plurals by replacing -is with -es. Thus neurosis becomes neuroses, following the pattern of diagnosis to diagnoses.
What is the correct plural form of 'ganglion'?
Ganglia
Ganglions
Ganglioni
Gangliae
Ganglion ends in the Greek-derived -on, which pluralizes to -a in medical terminology. Therefore, ganglion becomes ganglia, similar to spermatozoon to spermatozoa.
Select the plural form of 'thrombus'.
Thrombusii
Thrombuses
Thrombi
Thrombus
The Latin suffix -us commonly changes to -i in the plural for medical terms like thrombus to thrombi. This pattern is also seen in alveolus to alveoli.
What is the plural of 'phalanx' in medical terminology?
Phalanges
Phalanxes
Phalangies
Phalanxi
Phalanx ends in -nx and follows the rule where -nx changes to -nges in the plural, making phalanges correct. This parallels larynx to larynges.
How is 'schema' pluralized?
Schemata
Schemae
Schemi
Schemas
Schema is derived from Greek and ends in -ma; its plural is formed with -mata, so schema becomes schemata. This is similar to stigma to stigmata.
Choose the correct plural form of 'stoma'.
Stomata
Stomi
Stomas
Stomae
The singular stoma ends in -a and is Greek in origin; its plural changes to -ata, yielding stomata. This mirrors phenomena like glomus to glomera.
What is the plural form of 'carpus', referring to the wrist bones?
Carpi
Carpei
Carpusi
Carpuses
Carpus ends in the Latin -us suffix, which in anatomical terms typically becomes -i in the plural, so carpus becomes carpi. This follows the same pattern as radius to radii.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand Core Pluralization Rules -

    Recognize core principles for medical terminology plural formation, including suffix changes such as -ix to -ices and -osis to -oses.

  2. Apply the plural ending for ix -

    Transform terms ending in -ix by using the rule that the plural ending for ix is -ices, converting appendix to appendices and matrix to matrices.

  3. Explain the singular form of the plural suffix -oses -

    Describe how the singular form of the plural suffix -oses is -osis, applying this knowledge to terms like diagnosis to diagnoses.

  4. Differentiate irregular plural forms -

    Distinguish between regular and irregular plural forms in medical terminology to ensure precise usage of varied suffix transformations.

  5. Reinforce learning through practice -

    Engage in a scored quiz that challenges your understanding of plural forms in medical terminology and tracks your progress.

Cheat Sheet

  1. From - a to - ae: First Declension Nouns -

    In medical terminology plural forms ending in - a (like "vertebra") change to - ae ("vertebrae"), reinforcing first declension patterns found in Latin. According to university linguistic guides, practicing with flashcards of common - a words helps cement this change. Try the mnemonic "a to ae, clap away!" to recall this rule under exam conditions.

  2. - us to - i: Masculine Second Declension -

    Words ending in - us (e.g., "bacillus") form their plurals by dropping - us and adding - i ("bacilli"), a key pattern in medical terminology plural rules. Reliable medical dictionaries note that mastering this shift is essential for terms like "alveolus" → "alveoli." Visualize a colony of "-i" bacteria multiplying to remember that - us becomes - i.

  3. Neuter - um to - a: Universal Rule -

    Neuter nouns ending in - um (such as "ovum" or "bacterium") universally pluralize to - a ("ova," "bacteria"), one of the simplest plural forms in medical terminology. Peer-reviewed anatomy texts stress that this rule applies across most neuter terms, making it a dependable guideline. Use the rhyme "um to a, every day" to solidify your recall during quizzes.

  4. - is to - es: Third Declension Greek Terms -

    Greek-derived nouns ending in - is (like "diagnosis") become - es ("diagnoses"), a transformation highlighted in academic journals on classical medical language. Practice by converting "metastasis" → "metastases" and "crisis" → "crises." Remember that the plural ending for ix is similar logic, shifting endings rather than simply adding an - s.

  5. Mastering - osis to - oses and - ix to - ices -

    Recognize that the singular form of the plural suffix - oses is - osis (e.g., "fibrosis" → "fibroses"), and the plural ending for ix is - ices (e.g., "appendix" → "appendices"), according to medical style guides. A handy mnemonic for ix→ices is "I X marks the spot, add ICE to plot," while recalling - osis→ - oses by thinking "O to OSES, many processes." Regular quizzes on these endings boost confidence for clinical terminology.

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