Medical Terminology Practice Test 10
Medical Terminology NCLEX Practice Test
Medical Terminology is a key topic within the NCLEX test plan, located under Nursing Science → Clinical Foundations → Medical Terminology. This section builds precise healthcare vocabulary for accurate communication, documentation, and education. Each test contains 50 questions designed to mirror the difficulty and variety of the real exam.
This is the 10th part of the Medical Terminology series. To explore all practice tests under this topic, use the “Back to Main Topic” button at the end of the page.
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In the Medical Terminology Study Cards section, shared by real NCLEX candidates, you’ll find concise summaries and high-yield insights related to the most tested concepts. It’s a perfect space to reinforce challenging topics and sharpen your recall through quick, focused repetitions. Short, powerful, and repeatable!
Medical Terminology Practice Test 10
Bleeding from nose is called...?
- Hematemesis
- Hematuria
- Epistaxis
- Leukemia
Explanation: Answer reason: The key principle is correct use of medical terminology for the source of bleeding. Nosebleed is termed epistaxis, describing hemorrhage originating from the nasal mucosa. Hematemesis refers to vomiting blood from the gastrointestinal tract, and hematuria is blood in the urine. Leukemia is a malignancy of blood-forming tissues and can cause bleeding tendencies, but it is not the term for bleeding from the nose.
Inflammation of stomach is called...?
- Colitis
- Nephritis
- Hepatitis
- Gastritis
Explanation: Answer reason: “Gastr-” refers to the stomach, so inflammation of the stomach is termed gastritis. The other options name inflammation of different organs: colitis (colon), nephritis (kidney), and hepatitis (liver). Therefore, the stomach-specific inflammation term is the correct choice.
Inflammation of tongue is called —?
- Glossitis
- Gastritis
- Sormatitis
- Otitis
Explanation: Answer reason: Therefore inflammation of the tongue is termed glossitis. Gastritis instead refers to inflammation of the stomach lining, and otitis refers to inflammation of the ear. The option “Sormatitis” is not the standard medical term for tongue inflammation (stomatitis refers to inflammation of the oral mucosa).
Lack of oxygen in tissue is;?
- Apnea
- Anoxia
- Hyperoxia
- Hypoxia
Explanation: Answer reason: In contrast, hypoxia refers to a reduced (not absent) amount of oxygen in tissues. Apnea is cessation of breathing, which can lead to low tissue oxygen but is not the term defining tissue oxygen status itself. Hyperoxia is an abnormally high oxygen level, the opposite of the condition asked.
Nose bleeding is termed as...?
- Sinusitis
- Otitis
- Epistaxis
- Rhinorrhea
Explanation: Answer reason: The correct medical term for bleeding from the nasal mucosa is epistaxis, commonly due to irritation or rupture of vessels in the anterior nasal septum (Kiesselbach plexus). Sinusitis refers to inflammation/infection of the paranasal sinuses, otitis is inflammation/infection of the ear, and rhinorrhea is nasal discharge rather than bleeding. Therefore the term that specifically denotes nasal bleeding is the one chosen.
A condition where one side of the body is paralysis is called _?
- Paraplegia
- Monoplegia
- Hemiplegia
- Quadriplegia
Explanation: Answer reason: The prefix “hemi-” means half, so paralysis affecting one side of the body corresponds to paralysis of one half of the body. In contrast, paraplegia refers to paralysis of both lower extremities, quadriplegia to all four limbs, and monoplegia to a single limb. This pattern is classically seen after a contralateral cerebral stroke affecting motor pathways.
The suffix "otomy" means??
- To close
- To suture
- To cut into
- To fixate
Explanation: Answer reason: g., tracheotomy, laparotomy). This differs from “-ectomy,” which means removal of a structure, and from “-rrhaphy,” which refers to suturing. “To close” is more consistent with “-rrhaphy” (closure via suturing) or “-plasty” (repair), depending on context. “To fixate” aligns more with “-pexy,” which indicates surgical fixation of an organ.
Inflammation of laxrux (voice box) is --?
- Otitis
- Larrngitis
- Rhinitis
- Colitis
Explanation: Answer reason: The larynx is the “voice box,” so inflammation of the larynx is termed laryngitis. Otitis refers to ear inflammation, rhinitis to nasal mucosa inflammation, and colitis to inflammation of the colon, making them incorrect for the voice box. Clinically, laryngitis commonly presents with hoarseness and voice changes, matching the anatomic function of the larynx.
Loss of smell is called —?
- Anosmia
- Ageusia
- Aphasia
- Amnesia
Explanation: Answer reason: This can occur with upper respiratory infections, nasal obstruction, head trauma, or neurodegenerative disease, but the question is asking only for the correct term. Ageusia refers to loss of taste, aphasia to impaired language, and amnesia to memory loss, making them incorrect. Therefore the best match for loss of smell is the olfactory deficit term.
Inflammation of the gums is called-?
- Gingivitis
- Glossitis
- Dermatitis
- Otitis
Explanation: Answer reason: Inflammation of the gums from plaque-related irritation is therefore termed gingivitis. By contrast, glossitis is inflammation of the tongue, dermatitis is inflammation of the skin, and otitis is inflammation of the ear. The question is testing correct anatomic root-word recognition in medical terminology.
Inflammation of joints is called –?
- Gastritis
- Arthris
- Dermatitis
- Nephritis
Explanation: Answer reason: Therefore the term for inflammation of joints is formed from arthr- + -itis. The other options correctly refer to inflammation in different organs: stomach lining, skin, and kidney, respectively. Even though the option is misspelled compared with the standard term, it is the only joint-related choice and is clearly intended to represent the correct concept.
Bad smell from the mouth is medically called?
- Halitosis
- Xerostomia
- Glossitis
- Sialadenitis
Explanation: Answer reason: The medical term for unpleasant mouth odor is halitosis. Xerostomia refers to dry mouth (which can contribute to odor but is not the term for it), glossitis is inflammation of the tongue, and sialadenitis is inflammation of a salivary gland. Therefore, the best matching medical term is the one that specifically denotes bad breath.
Blood in nose is called..?
- Hematemesis
- Hematuria
- Epistaxis
- Hemoptysis
Explanation: Answer reason: The correct term is distinct from bleeding from other body systems. Hematemesis refers to vomiting blood from the gastrointestinal tract, hematuria is blood in urine, and hemoptysis is coughing up blood from the lower respiratory tract. Therefore the term for blood coming from the nose is the one that precisely names a nosebleed.
The stool discharge from the ostomy is called?
- Effluent
- Cathartics
- Colonic fluid
- Mucosa
Explanation: Answer reason: This encompasses fecal output and any intestinal secretions, with consistency varying by stoma location (e.g., ileostomy more liquid, colostomy more formed). One distractor is a medication class: cathartics are laxatives used to promote bowel evacuation, not the name of ostomy output. Mucosa refers to the tissue lining of the bowel and is not the discharge itself.
Select the medical term for loss of the ability to swallow?
- Achalasia
- Dysphagia
- Dysphasia
- Aphagia
Explanation: Answer reason: The term therefore indicates complete inability to swallow, distinguishing it from “dysphagia,” which means difficulty swallowing rather than total loss. “Dysphasia” relates to impaired speech/language, not swallowing. “Achalasia” is a specific esophageal motility disorder (failure of LES relaxation) and does not literally mean loss of swallowing ability.
Pain in stomach is termed as?
- Cephalalgia
- Gastralgia
- Myalgia
- Neuralgia
Explanation: Answer reason: The root “gastr-” refers to the stomach and the suffix “-algia” means pain, so the term describes stomach pain. In contrast, “cephalalgia” is head pain, “myalgia” is muscle pain, and “neuralgia” is nerve pain, making them incorrect for stomach pain. Recognizing these common roots helps accurately document and communicate patient symptoms.
What does the acronym NPO stand for?
- No Problem
- Nothing by Mouth
- No Particular Order
- Nurses Professional Organization
Explanation: Answer reason: This restriction is commonly used before procedures requiring anesthesia or when aspiration risk is high, to reduce the chance of gastric contents entering the airway. The abbreviation comes from Latin (nil per os) and is used broadly across inpatient and perioperative care. The other options are non-clinical or unrelated expansions and do not match accepted healthcare terminology.
Pain during urination called–?
- Cystitis
- Hematuria
- Dysuria
- Pyelonephri
Explanation: Answer reason: The question asks specifically for the name of the symptom, not a diagnosis. Hematuria refers to blood in urine, which may occur with urinary pathology but does not define painful urination. Cystitis and pyelonephritis are infectious/inflammatory conditions that can cause dysuria, but they are disease entities rather than the term for the symptom itself.
Headache is medically termed as?
- Myalgia
- Cephalalgia
- Neuralgia
- Arthralgia
Explanation: Answer reason: This directly denotes pain in the head, i.e., headache. The other choices use the same pain suffix but different body roots: “my-” muscle, “neur-” nerve, and “arthr-” joint, making them incorrect for head pain. Recognizing roots and suffixes is the key principle for decoding clinical terms accurately.
Tooth pain is known as..?
- Odontalgia
- Arthralgia
- Neuralgia
- Myalgia
Explanation: Answer reason: The prefix “odonto-” refers to tooth and “-algia” means pain, so this term precisely denotes tooth pain. By contrast, “arthralgia” is joint pain, “myalgia” is muscle pain, and “neuralgia” refers to pain arising from a nerve. Therefore the term that correctly names tooth pain is the one built from the tooth root plus the pain suffix.
Fever with chills?
- Rigors
- Asthma
- Anemia
- Otitis
Explanation: Answer reason: It is a classic descriptive term used for “fever with chills,” often seen with systemic infections or bacteremia. The other options are disease states (asthma, anemia, otitis) and do not specifically denote the symptom complex of chills with fever. Therefore, the term that directly matches the definition is the one describing shivering chills accompanying fever.
Orchitis means?
- Inflammation of Glans Penis
- Inflammation of Testis
- Inflammation of Gums
- Inflammation of Foreskin
Explanation: Answer reason: Therefore the term describes an inflammatory condition of the testes, commonly seen with infections such as mumps or bacterial epididymo-orchitis. The other choices correspond to different anatomical roots (e.g., balan- for glans, gingiv- for gums, posth- for foreskin), making them incorrect. Recognizing these roots prevents confusion between orchitis and other genital inflammatory conditions like balanitis or posthitis.
The surgical procedure for the removal of a kidney is called?
- Nephrostomy
- Nephrectomy
- Cystectomy
- Ureterectomy
Explanation: Answer reason: Therefore, the term for surgical removal of a kidney is nephrectomy. Nephrostomy is creation of an opening into the kidney for drainage rather than removal. Cystectomy refers to removal of the urinary bladder, and ureterectomy refers to removal of the ureter.
Tachypnea means –?
- Slow breathing
- Fast breathing
- No breathing
- Painful breathing
Explanation: Answer reason: The prefix “tachy-” means fast and “-pnea” refers to breathing, so the term directly indicates rapid breathing. “Slow breathing” describes bradypnea, while “no breathing” is apnea. “Painful breathing” is termed dyspnea/pleuritic pain rather than tachypnea.
What is the technical term for a headache?
- Migraine
- Eosinophil
- Diaphysis
- Cephalgia
Explanation: Answer reason: The root “cephal-” refers to the head, and “-algia” means pain, so the combined term denotes head pain. The other options are not general terms for headache: one is a specific headache disorder subtype, one is a white blood cell type, and one is a long bone shaft region. Therefore this term best matches the technical meaning of headache.
What is the meaning of the medical prefix "dys?"?
- Difficult
- Within
- Beyond
- Distance
Explanation: Answer reason: This aligns with terms like dyspnea (difficulty breathing) and dysuria (painful/difficult urination). Among the options, only this choice captures the clinical meaning used across medical terminology. The other options correspond to different prefixes (e.g., intra- for within; meta-/ultra- for beyond).
Hematuria means?
- Pus in urine
- Blood in urine
- Protein in urine
- Sugar in urine
Explanation: Answer reason: Hematuria is a medical term formed from “hema-” (blood) and “-uria” (urine), so it denotes the presence of red blood cells in the urine, either visible (gross) or detected microscopically. This finding commonly reflects bleeding anywhere along the urinary tract, including kidneys, ureters, bladder, or urethra. A frequent distractor is pus in urine, which is termed pyuria and is more consistent with infection or inflammation. Protein in urine is proteinuria and sugar in urine is glycosuria, each indicating different underlying physiology and disease processes.
Polyuria means –?
- Excess urine
- Less urine
- Burning urine
- Blood in urine
Explanation: Answer reason: This occurs when water excretion is increased (e.g., diabetes insipidus) or when osmotic diuresis pulls water into the urine (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes mellitus with glucosuria). In contrast, reduced urine output is termed oliguria/anuria, and painful urination is dysuria. Blood in the urine refers to hematuria, which is a different symptom category from urine volume.
Scleral icterus means?
- Yellowing of skin
- Yellowing of eyes
- Pale skin
- Dark urine
Explanation: Answer reason: It is an early and clinically visible sign of jaundice that may appear before generalized skin discoloration becomes obvious. Dark urine can also occur with conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, but it describes a urinary finding rather than the ocular sign itself. Pale skin is unrelated and reflects anemia or poor perfusion rather than bilirubin deposition.
Ear infection is called?
- Nephritis
- Gastritis
- Dermatitis
- Otitis
Explanation: Answer reason: “Ot-” refers to the ear, so the term denotes inflammation/infection of the ear (e.g., otitis media or otitis externa). The other options refer to inflammation of different organs: nephritis (kidney), gastritis (stomach), and dermatitis (skin). Therefore, the ear infection term aligns specifically with the ot- root.
Nose bleeding is medically called —?
- Epistaxis
- Rhinorrhea
- Sinusitis
- Otorrhea
Explanation: Answer reason: Rhinorrhea refers to nasal discharge (runny nose) rather than bleeding. Sinusitis is inflammation/infection of the paranasal sinuses and does not specifically mean nosebleed. Otorrhea is discharge from the ear canal, making it anatomically incorrect for a nasal condition.
Loss of appetite is called —?
- Anorexia
- Bulimia
- Dyspepsia
- Anxiety
Explanation: Answer reason: Bulimia refers to an eating disorder characterized by binge eating with compensatory behaviors such as vomiting or laxative use, not simply reduced appetite. Dyspepsia means indigestion or upper abdominal discomfort related to meals. Anxiety is a psychological state that may secondarily reduce appetite but is not the term that directly means appetite loss.
Abnormal hair loss is known at –?
- Alopecia
- Dermatitis
- Erythema
- Psoriasis
Explanation: Answer reason: Alopecia is the medical term for abnormal hair loss, whether localized (patchy) or diffuse, and can be scarring or non-scarring. Dermatitis refers to inflammation of the skin and typically presents with itching, erythema, or scaling rather than being defined by hair loss. Erythema describes skin redness from increased blood flow, not loss of hair. Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition with plaques and scale; while it may involve the scalp, it is not synonymous with hair loss.
Inability to sleep is known as —?
- Hypnosis
- Insomnia
- Somnolence
- Anxiety
Explanation: Answer reason: This term directly names the symptom described in the stem rather than a related state or cause. A common distractor is somnolence, which means excessive sleepiness or drowsiness (the opposite problem). Hypnosis refers to a trance-like state, and anxiety can contribute to sleep difficulty but is not the term that means inability to sleep.
Loss of memory is called –?
- Apnea
- Amnesia
- Anxiety
- Autism
Explanation: Answer reason: This term is used broadly for transient or persistent memory loss from causes such as head injury, stroke, seizures, intoxication, or neurodegenerative disease. Apnea refers to cessation of breathing, not cognition. Anxiety and autism are neuropsychiatric conditions but do not specifically mean memory loss.
Dyspnea means difficulty in —?
- Eating
- Breathing
- Walking
- Hearing
Explanation: Answer reason: The stem asks for the meaning of the term, which directly maps to impaired breathing rather than problems with other activities. Eating difficulty would be termed dysphagia, and walking difficulty relates to gait or exercise intolerance rather than the definition of dyspnea. Therefore the best match is difficulty in breathing.
Hematuria means blood in —?
- Stool
- Urine
- Sweat
- Saliva
Explanation: Answer reason: The suffix “-uria” refers to urine, indicating the urinary tract as the source/medium. This finding can occur with conditions such as urinary tract infection, kidney stones, glomerulonephritis, or malignancy, and is assessed via urinalysis (microscopic or gross). In contrast, blood in stool would be described as hematochezia or melena, not hematuria.
Blood in urine is called –?
- Hemoptysis
- Hematemesis
- Hematuria
- Epistaxis
Explanation: Answer reason: Clinically, this can be gross (visible) or microscopic and indicates urinary tract bleeding from causes such as stones, infection, or glomerular disease. Hemoptysis refers to coughing up blood from the respiratory tract, and hematemesis is vomiting blood from the gastrointestinal tract, making them location-specific distractors. Epistaxis is bleeding from the nose, unrelated to urine.
Lack of urine output is -?
- Anuria
- Polyuria
- Dysuria
- Hematuria
Explanation: Answer reason: Absence or near-absence of urine output is termed anuria, classically suggesting severe renal failure, urinary tract obstruction, or profound hypoperfusion. Polyuria refers to increased urine volume, dysuria to painful or difficult urination, and hematuria to blood in the urine. Therefore the term that matches lack of urine output is the one denoting absent urine production/excretion.
Inflammation of joints is called –?
- Arthritis
- Myositis
- Tendinitis
- Dermatitis
Explanation: Answer reason: This aligns with common clinical usage where joint pain, swelling, warmth, and decreased range of motion are described as inflammatory arthritis. In contrast, myositis is inflammation of muscle, tendinitis is inflammation of a tendon, and dermatitis is inflammation of the skin. Therefore the joint-specific inflammatory term is the best match.
Inflammation of nerves is called –?
- Neuritis
- Myositis
- Phlebitis
- Meningitis
Explanation: Answer reason: “Neur-” refers to nerves, so the term for inflammation of a nerve is neuritis, often presenting clinically with neuropathic pain, tingling, or weakness. In contrast, “myo-” refers to muscle (myositis) and “phleb-” to veins (phlebitis). “Meningitis” is inflammation of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord, not the peripheral nerves.
Inflammation of the liver is called —?
- Hepatitis
- Nephritis
- Gastritis
- Dermatitis
Explanation: Answer reason: Therefore, the term for inflammation of the liver is formed as hepat- + -itis. The other options use different roots: nephr- (kidney), gastr- (stomach), and dermat- (skin), so they describe inflammation in other organs. This is a direct terminology question testing correct organ-root pairing.
Inflammation of the brain is called –?
- Neuritis
- Encephalitis
- Meningitis
- Myelitis
Explanation: Answer reason: Neuritis is inflammation of a peripheral nerve, not the brain. Meningitis involves inflammation of the meninges (the protective membranes around the brain and spinal cord), which is anatomically distinct from brain parenchyma. Myelitis refers to inflammation of the spinal cord (or bone marrow in other contexts), not the brain.
Inflammation of the Urinary Bladder is called —?
- Cystitis
- Nephritis
- Urethritis
- Pyelitis
Explanation: Answer reason: The prefix “cyst-” refers to the urinary bladder, so the term denotes bladder inflammation. In contrast, nephritis involves the kidneys and urethritis involves the urethra, which are different anatomic sites. Pyelitis refers to inflammation of the renal pelvis rather than the bladder.
Excessive sweating is medically termed as –?
- Hyperhidrosis
- Hypohidrosis
- Dehydration
- Infection
Explanation: Answer reason: This term specifically describes sweating that is greater than what is needed for thermoregulation, either focal (e.g., palms/axillae) or generalized. In contrast, “hypohidrosis” means decreased sweating, and dehydration or infection may be causes or associated conditions but are not the medical term for the symptom itself. Therefore the most accurate term for excessive sweating is the one that directly names the condition.
Nose bleeding is called –?
- Hematuria
- Epistaxis
- Hemoptysis
- Hematemesis
Explanation: Answer reason: Bleeding from the nasal mucosa is termed epistaxis, most often from the anterior septum (Kiesselbach plexus). In contrast, hematuria is blood in urine, hemoptysis is coughing up blood from the respiratory tract, and hematemesis is vomiting blood from the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore the term that correctly matches nose bleeding is the one indicating nasal-origin hemorrhage.
A medical procedure that involves the cutting of umbilical cord after childbirth is known as?
- Splenectomy
- Appendectomy
- Circumcision
- Omphalectomy
Explanation: Answer reason: “Omphal-” refers to the umbilicus (navel/umbilical area), so this term most directly maps to a procedure involving cutting/removal related to the umbilical cord/umbilicus after birth. The other options name procedures on different structures: splenectomy removes the spleen, appendectomy removes the appendix, and circumcision removes the foreskin of the penis. Therefore the only option aligned with the umbilical structure described in the stem is the one built from the umbilical root.
What does the medical term splenomegaly refer to?
- Inflamed spleen
- Ruptured spleen
- Removal of the spleen
- Enlarged spleen
Explanation: Answer reason: Therefore the term denotes increased size of the spleen, regardless of cause. In contrast, inflammation would typically use “-itis” (splenitis), and removal would use “-ectomy” (splenectomy). A rupture describes traumatic disruption rather than an anatomic size change and is not captured by “-megaly.”.
Inflammation of the tongue?
- Gastritis
- Hepatitis
- Glossitis
- Enteritis
Explanation: Answer reason: “Glosso-” refers to the tongue, so the term for inflammation of the tongue is formed as glossitis. By contrast, gastritis is inflammation of the stomach, hepatitis is inflammation of the liver, and enteritis is inflammation of the intestines. Therefore, the option that correctly matches tongue inflammation is the one with the tongue root.
Removal of Kidney is?
- Kidnotomy
- Kidnectomy
- Nephrotomy
- Nephrectomy
Explanation: Answer reason: In medical terminology, the suffix “-ectomy” means surgical removal of an organ or tissue. “Nephr-” refers to the kidney, so combining the root with “-ectomy” indicates removal of a kidney. By contrast, “-tomy” means incision into an organ (e.g., nephrotomy is an incision into the kidney), not removal. The other distractors use nonstandard or incorrect word parts for kidney procedures.
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