Medical Terminology and Abbreviations Flashcards
6 cards from real NCMA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Medical Terminology and Abbreviations flashcards as text
What does 'HEENT' stand for in a physical examination documentation?
Answer: Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat
HEENT is a standard physical examination abbreviation for Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat. It represents the systems reviewed in the head and neck portion of a physical examination.
The medical term 'hematuria' means:
Answer: Blood in the urine
Hematuria is derived from 'hemat/o' (blood) + 'uria' (urine condition). It describes the presence of red blood cells in the urine, which can be visible (gross hematuria) or detectable only on urinalysis (microscopic hematuria).
Which of the following abbreviations should be avoided in medical documentation because of potential for misinterpretation?
Answer: U (units)
The abbreviation 'U' for 'units' is on the ISMP (Institute for Safe Medication Practices) dangerous abbreviations list because 'U' can be misread as '0' (zero) or '4,' leading to 10-fold medication dosing errors. 'Units' should always be written out in full.
The suffix '-plasty' refers to what type of medical procedure?
Answer: Surgical repair or reconstruction of a body part
The suffix '-plasty' means surgical repair or reconstruction. Examples: rhinoplasty (nose reconstruction), arthroplasty (joint repair/replacement), abdominoplasty (tummy tuck/abdominal repair), angioplasty (repair of a blood vessel).
What does the medical abbreviation 'NPO' mean, and when is it used?
Answer: Nothing by Mouth (nulla per os) — used when the patient must have no oral intake, such as before surgery or a procedure requiring sedation
NPO stands for 'nulla per os' (Latin for 'nothing by mouth'). It is used when patients must fast, typically for 4–8+ hours before surgery or procedures requiring anesthesia, to reduce the risk of aspiration.
What does the term 'benign' mean in the context of a tumor or growth?
Answer: Non-cancerous; does not invade surrounding tissue or metastasize
Benign describes a growth or tumor that is non-cancerous — it does not invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. While benign tumors may grow large and cause problems by compression, they are not malignant.