Basic Medical Terminology - A Trivia Quiz

Answer: no, not, without

The prefixes a- and an- are used at the beginning of words to denote a negative (no, not) or a condition of absence (without). For example, the word amnesia translates as "no memory": using the prefix a- (no) and -mnesia, from the Greek "mnasthai" (to recall, remember).

Answer: against

The prefix anti- is used at the beginning of words to mean against or counter-acting. For example, an antidote is given against a poison. Many medications begin with the prefix anti- as they prevent or work against something - antiemetic (against vomiting), anti-inflammatory (against inflammation), and antiseptic (prevents sepsis).

Answer: before

The prefix ante- is used at the beginning of words to mean before or forward. For example, antenatal means "before birth". Anterior is a word denoting the position of being in front of, or towards the front; for example, the kneecap is located on the anterior surface of the leg.

Answer: sharp, severe

The word acute comes from the Latin "acutus" meaning sharp or pointed. Acute is an adjective often used to describe pain. Acute pain is typically sharp, severe, with sudden onset, and having a relatively short duration.

Answer: pain

Words ending in the suffix -algia denote conditions of pain; for example, neuralgia (nerve pain), cephalaglia (head pain, or headache), and dentalgia (toothache). Typically, the other word part in front of the suffix -algia tells us where the pain is located.

Answer: armpit

The word parts axill- and axill/o come from the Latin "axillaris" meaning armpit. The correct anatomatical term for the armpit is axilla (plural axillae). The adjective is axillary (pertaining to the armpit).

Answer: self

The prefixes aut- or auto- come from the Greek "autos" meaning self. For example, autoimmune disease occurs when a person's immune system malfunctions. It loses the ability to distinguish between the body's own cells ("self") and foreign cells ("non-self") and releases proteins that attack the body's own tissues. This is what happens in rheumatoid arthritis.

Answer: joint between tibia, fibula and talus

The word "ankle" is derived from Old English and Germanic languages and refers to the joint formed by the junction of the lower leg bones (tibia and fibula) and the talus bone of the foot - or, the area where the foot forms an angle with the leg. It is not surprising that ankle is related to the word angle.

Answer: vessel

The word parts angi- and angi/o mean vessel and can refer to either blood vessels or lymph vessels. Strictly defined, an angiogram is an x-ray of a vessel. For example, a coronary angiogram involves a procedure that uses x-ray radiation and a dye to visualise the blood vessels in and around the heart and is generally done to detect blockages or narrowing of those vessels.

Answer: joint

The word parts athr- and arthr/o mean joint and come from the Greek "arthron", also meaning joint. For example, arthritis is inflammation or infection of a joint or joints.