MLPAO Anatomy and Medical Terminology Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The combining form 'hepato-' refers to which organ?
- Kidney
- Liver (Correct answer)
- Spleen
- Pancreas
Correct answer: Liver
'Hepato-' is derived from the Greek 'hepar' meaning liver. It is used in medical terms such as hepatitis (liver inflammation) and hepatocyte (liver cell).
The combining form 'hepato-' refers to the liver and appears in many medical laboratory terms. Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver, hepatocellular carcinoma is a cancer originating in liver cells, and liver function tests (LFTs) assess hepatic function. In laboratory medicine, hepatic panels measure ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, bilirubin, and albumin. Understanding anatomical prefixes and combining forms is essential for medical laboratory technologists in Ontario when interpreting requisitions, communicating results, and understanding clinical contexts.
Question 2: What anatomical term describes the position of the heart relative to the lungs?
- Lateral
- Medial (Correct answer)
- Superior
- Posterior
Correct answer: Medial
The heart is medial to the lungs — it is positioned in the midline of the thorax between the two lungs in the mediastinum.
In anatomical directional terminology, 'medial' means toward the midline of the body. The heart is positioned medially relative to the lungs, lying in the mediastinum (the central compartment of the thoracic cavity). The lungs are lateral to the heart. Understanding anatomical directional terms is fundamental for medical laboratory technologists when reading pathology reports, understanding specimen collection sites, and communicating with other healthcare professionals about anatomical locations relevant to specimen sources.
Question 3: Which suffix in medical terminology means 'condition of the blood'?
- -uria
- -emia (Correct answer)
- -itis
- -osis
Correct answer: -emia
The suffix '-emia' means 'condition of the blood.' Examples include hyperglycemia (high blood glucose), anemia (low blood hemoglobin), and leukemia (malignant blood cells).
The suffix '-emia' is derived from Greek 'haima' meaning blood and refers to conditions involving the blood. Common laboratory-related examples include: hyperglycemia (elevated blood glucose), hypercalcemia (elevated blood calcium), anemia (reduced hemoglobin/RBC), leukemia (neoplastic WBC condition), bacteremia (bacteria in blood), and uremia (nitrogenous waste products in blood from renal failure). '-uria' refers to urine conditions, '-itis' indicates inflammation, and '-osis' denotes a process or condition. Medical terminology knowledge is essential for MLTs interpreting clinical information on requisitions.
Question 4: The term 'phlebotomy' combines which word roots?
- Phlebo (blood) + tomy (incision)
- Phlebo (vein) + tomy (incision) (Correct answer)
- Hemo (blood) + tomy (removal)
- Phlebo (artery) + tomy (puncture)
Correct answer: Phlebo (vein) + tomy (incision)
'Phlebotomy' combines 'phlebo-' (from Greek 'phleps' meaning vein) and '-tomy' (from Greek 'tome' meaning cutting or incision), literally meaning 'incision of a vein.'
Phlebotomy is derived from the Greek roots 'phleps/phlebos' (vein) and 'tome' (cutting/incision), literally translating as 'incision of a vein.' The term reflects the historical practice of bloodletting (therapeutic phlebotomy) and now refers to the clinical practice of blood collection. MLTs performing phlebotomy are collecting blood from veins. Understanding this etymology helps in recognizing related terms: phlebitis (vein inflammation), phlebography (venous imaging), and thrombophlebitis (vein inflammation with clotting).
Question 5: What does the prefix 'hypo-' mean in medical terminology?
- Above normal
- Below normal or deficient (Correct answer)
- Excessive
- Between
Correct answer: Below normal or deficient
'Hypo-' means below normal, under, or deficient. Examples in laboratory medicine include hypoglycemia (low blood glucose), hypothyroidism (deficient thyroid function), and hyponatremia (low sodium).
The prefix 'hypo-' (from Greek 'hypo' meaning under) indicates below normal, beneath, or deficient. In laboratory medicine and clinical context: hypokalemia (low blood potassium), hypoalbuminemia (low albumin), hypothyroidism (under-functioning thyroid with low T3/T4), hypoglycemia (blood glucose below normal range), hypocalcemia (low calcium). Its opposite, 'hyper-,' means above normal or excessive. These prefixes appear on laboratory requisitions and result reports, making their understanding essential for MLTs working in Ontario clinical laboratories.
Question 6: Which anatomical plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions?
- Sagittal plane
- Transverse plane
- Coronal (frontal) plane (Correct answer)
- Oblique plane
Correct answer: Coronal (frontal) plane
The coronal (frontal) plane divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections. It runs vertically from side to side, perpendicular to the sagittal plane.
The three primary anatomical planes are: 1) Sagittal plane — divides the body into left and right portions (midsagittal = equal left and right halves); 2) Coronal/Frontal plane — divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) portions; 3) Transverse/Horizontal plane — divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions. Understanding anatomical planes is important for medical laboratory technologists when interpreting imaging reports, understanding specimen sources from surgical pathology, and communicating about anatomical locations in reports.
MLPAO Anatomy and Medical Terminology Questions and Answers 2
The combining form 'hepato-' refers to which organ?