Free MACE Medical Terminology Question And Answers — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What does the abbreviation "ac" mean when it appears on a prescription?

After meals
Three times a day
Before Meals (Correct answer)
Bedtime

Correct answer: Before Meals

The abbreviation 'ac' on a prescription comes from the Latin phrase 'ante cibum,' which means 'before food' or 'before meals.' This instruction indicates that the medication should be taken prior to eating. Understanding such abbreviations is crucial for correct and safe medication administration.

Question 2: The meaning of the letter "M" or "Mitte" on prescription labels is

Quantity of Drug (Correct answer)
Label Directions
Drug Concentration
Refill

Correct answer: Quantity of Drug

On prescription labels, 'M' or 'Mitte' is a Latin abbreviation that stands for 'Mitte,' meaning 'send' or 'dispense.' It indicates the quantity of the drug to be dispensed to the patient. For example, 'Mitte #30' instructs the pharmacist to dispense 30 units of the medication.

Question 3: Which of the following acronyms is no longer advised due to the possibility of pharmaceutical errors?

PO
tid
IU (Correct answer)
iv

Correct answer: IU

The abbreviation 'IU' for International Unit is on the 'Do Not Use' list by organizations like the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) and The Joint Commission. It is frequently mistaken for 'IV' (intravenous) or '10' (ten), leading to potentially fatal medication errors due to misinterpretation. Eliminating its use reduces the risk of such errors.

Question 4: How would you describe "hemorrhage"?

Blood in the urine
Blood in the stool
Vomiting blood due to a stomach ulcer
The loss of blood from damaged blood vessels (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The loss of blood from damaged blood vessels

Hemorrhage is the medical term for the escape of blood from a ruptured or damaged blood vessel. It refers specifically to significant blood loss, which can occur internally within the body or externally. This definition accurately describes the physiological event of bleeding, distinguishing it from specific locations or causes of blood in bodily fluids.

Question 5: What does hepatitis mean?

Chronic liver disease
Inflammation of the liver (Correct answer)
Kidney stones
Scarring of the liver

Correct answer: Inflammation of the liver

Hepatitis is a medical term derived from Greek, where 'hepar' means liver and '-itis' means inflammation. Therefore, hepatitis literally means inflammation of the liver. This inflammation can be caused by various factors, including viral infections, alcohol, or autoimmune diseases, leading to potential liver damage and dysfunction.

Question 6: What does pathology mean?

The study of blood
The study of disease (Correct answer)
The study of bones
The study of the human brain

Correct answer: The study of disease

Pathology is derived from the Greek words 'pathos' meaning disease or suffering, and '-logia' meaning the study of. Therefore, it literally translates to the study of disease. This medical field focuses on understanding the causes, development, and effects of diseases on the body, often through laboratory analysis of tissues and fluids.

Question 7: What does hemiplegia refer to?

Left-sided weakness
Paralysis of the arms
Paralysis of the legs
Paralysis of one side of the body (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Paralysis of one side of the body

Hemiplegia is a medical term composed of 'hemi-', meaning half, and '-plegia', meaning paralysis. It specifically refers to the paralysis affecting one side of the body, which can impact the arm, leg, and sometimes the face on that side. This condition is often caused by damage to the brain or spinal cord, such as from a stroke.

Question 8: What does tachycardia mean?

Heart murmur
Irregular heart rate
Slow heart rate
Rapid heart rate (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Rapid heart rate

Tachycardia is a medical term formed from 'tachy-', meaning rapid or fast, and '-cardia', referring to the heart. Thus, it describes a condition where the heart beats at an abnormally rapid rate, typically over 100 beats per minute in adults. This can be a normal response to exercise or stress, but can also indicate an underlying medical issue.

Question 9: What does "osteogenic" entail?

Originating in the bone (Correct answer)
Fracture of a bone
Bone spur
Originating in the muscle

Correct answer: Originating in the bone

The term 'osteogenic' is derived from 'osteo-', meaning bone, and '-genic', meaning originating or producing. Therefore, it specifically refers to something that originates in the bone or is involved in the formation of bone tissue. An example is osteogenic cells, which are responsible for bone development.

Question 10: What is meant by "dysphagia"?

Difficulty in breathing
Impaired speech
Difficulty swallowing (Correct answer)
Swelling of the vocal cords

Correct answer: Difficulty swallowing

Dysphagia is a medical term combining 'dys-', meaning difficulty or impairment, and '-phagia', referring to eating or swallowing. Consequently, it describes the symptom of difficulty swallowing food or liquids. This condition can range from mild discomfort to complete inability to swallow, often indicating an underlying medical issue in the throat or esophagus.

Question 11: How would you define "aphasia"?

Inability to speak or understand speech (Correct answer)
Swallowing problem
Ability to speak another language
The inability to produce saliva

Correct answer: Inability to speak or understand speech

Aphasia is a language disorder resulting from damage to parts of the brain responsible for language. The term combines 'a-', meaning without, and '-phasia', meaning speech. It impairs a person's ability to communicate, affecting their capacity to speak, understand speech, read, or write.

Free MACE Medical Terminology Question And Answers

What does the abbreviation "ac" mean when it appears on a prescription?