20 Anatomy & Medical Terminology Practice Questions & Answers
Every Anatomy & Medical Terminology practice question from the Medical Assistant Practice Test, with the correct answer and a short explanation.
Start practice test →1. In medical terminology, the suffix '-itis' means what?
- A.Enlargement
- B.Abnormal fear
- C.Surgical removal
- D.Inflammation✓ Answer
The suffix '-itis' denotes inflammation; for example, 'hepatitis' means inflammation of the liver and 'dermatitis' means inflammation of the skin.
Source: Standard medical terminology (Chabner, The Language of Medicine): suffix -itis = inflammationReport a problem with this question
2. The suffix '-ectomy', as in 'appendectomy', means what?
- A.Inflammation
- B.Visual examination
- C.Incision into
- D.Surgical removal (excision)✓ Answer
'-ectomy' means surgical removal or excision of a body part; an appendectomy is removal of the appendix. (Incision into = '-otomy'; visual examination = '-scopy'.)
Source: Medical terminology suffixes: -ectomy = excision/surgical removalReport a problem with this question
3. In the word 'anemia', the suffix '-emia' refers to a condition of the what?
- A.Urine
- B.Bone
- C.Skin
- D.Blood✓ Answer
The suffix '-emia' means 'blood condition'; anemia refers to a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood.
Source: Medical terminology suffixes: -emia = blood conditionReport a problem with this question
4. The prefix 'hyper-' means what?
- A.Above or excessive✓ Answer
- B.Within
- C.Below or deficient
- D.Around
'hyper-' means above normal or excessive, as in 'hypertension' (high blood pressure); its opposite is 'hypo-' (below normal or deficient).
Source: Medical terminology prefixes: hyper- = above/excessive; hypo- = below/deficientReport a problem with this question
5. The combining form 'cardi/o' refers to which organ?
- A.Heart✓ Answer
- B.Lung
- C.Kidney
- D.Liver
'cardi/o' means heart; for example, 'cardiology' is the study of the heart and 'cardiomegaly' is enlargement of the heart.
Source: Medical terminology combining forms: cardi/o = heartReport a problem with this question
6. The combining form 'hepat/o' refers to which organ?
- A.Stomach
- B.Kidney
- C.Liver✓ Answer
- D.Heart
'hepat/o' means liver; 'hepatomegaly' means enlargement of the liver and 'hepatitis' is inflammation of the liver.
Source: Medical terminology combining forms: hepat/o = liverReport a problem with this question
7. The combining form 'gastr/o' refers to which organ?
- A.Kidney
- B.Colon
- C.Gallbladder
- D.Stomach✓ Answer
'gastr/o' means stomach; 'gastritis' is inflammation of the stomach lining and 'gastroenterology' is the study of the stomach and intestines.
Source: Medical terminology combining forms: gastr/o = stomachReport a problem with this question
8. The combining forms 'pneum/o' and 'pulmon/o' refer to which organ?
- A.Stomach
- B.Kidney
- C.Lung✓ Answer
- D.Heart
'pneum/o' (also 'pneumon/o') and 'pulmon/o' refer to the lung or air; 'pneumonia' is an infection of the lungs and 'pulmonary' means relating to the lungs.
Source: Medical terminology combining forms: pneum/o, pulmon/o = lungReport a problem with this question
9. The combining form 'oste/o' refers to which tissue?
- A.Joint
- B.Cartilage
- C.Muscle
- D.Bone✓ Answer
'oste/o' means bone; 'osteoporosis' is a condition of porous, weakened bone. (Muscle = 'my/o', cartilage = 'chondr/o', joint = 'arthr/o'.)
Source: Medical terminology combining forms: oste/o = boneReport a problem with this question
10. In standard anatomical position, 'anterior' (ventral) refers to which surface of the body?
- A.The front✓ Answer
- B.The side
- C.The top
- D.The back
'Anterior' (also called ventral) means toward the front of the body; its opposite is 'posterior' (dorsal), toward the back.
Source: Anatomical directional terms: anterior/ventral = front; posterior/dorsal = backReport a problem with this question
11. When describing the limbs, the term 'proximal' means the structure is located how?
- A.Toward the midline
- B.Closer to the point of attachment to the trunk✓ Answer
- C.Farther from the trunk
- D.Away from the midline
'Proximal' means nearer to the trunk or point of origin; for example, the elbow is proximal to the wrist. Its opposite is 'distal', farther from the trunk.
Source: Anatomical directional terms: proximal = nearer the trunk; distal = farther from the trunkReport a problem with this question
12. The directional term 'medial' describes a structure that is located how?
- A.Toward the back
- B.Away from the midline
- C.Toward the head
- D.Toward the midline of the body✓ Answer
'Medial' means toward the midline (the imaginary center line) of the body; its opposite is 'lateral', away from the midline toward the side.
Source: Anatomical directional terms: medial = toward midline; lateral = away from midlineReport a problem with this question
13. The sagittal plane divides the body into which two parts?
- A.Inner and outer
- B.Right and left✓ Answer
- C.Upper and lower
- D.Front and back
A sagittal (median) plane runs vertically from front to back and divides the body into right and left portions; the frontal plane divides front from back and the transverse plane divides upper from lower.
Source: Body planes: sagittal plane divides the body into right and leftReport a problem with this question
14. What is the primary function of the cardiovascular system?
- A.To transport blood, oxygen, nutrients, and wastes✓ Answer
- B.To filter blood and form urine
- C.To exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide in air sacs
- D.To digest food and absorb nutrients
The cardiovascular system (heart and blood vessels) pumps and circulates blood, transporting oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and wastes throughout the body.
Source: AAMA/AMT anatomy & physiology: cardiovascular system function = transport/circulationReport a problem with this question
15. The main function of the respiratory system is what?
- A.Gas exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide✓ Answer
- B.Production of hormones
- C.Mechanical digestion of food
- D.Filtration of blood into urine
The respiratory system's primary role is gas exchange—delivering oxygen to the blood and removing carbon dioxide, which occurs mainly at the alveoli of the lungs.
Source: AAMA/AMT anatomy & physiology: respiratory system function = gas exchangeReport a problem with this question
16. The primary function of the digestive system is to do what?
- A.Remove carbon dioxide from the blood
- B.Produce and release hormones
- C.Break down food and absorb nutrients✓ Answer
- D.Circulate blood to the tissues
The digestive (gastrointestinal) system breaks food down mechanically and chemically so that nutrients can be absorbed into the blood and undigested waste can be eliminated.
Source: AAMA/AMT anatomy & physiology: digestive system function = breakdown and absorption of foodReport a problem with this question
17. The endocrine system regulates body functions primarily by secreting what?
- A.Enzymes into the intestine
- B.Antibodies into the lymph
- C.Bile into the duodenum
- D.Hormones into the bloodstream✓ Answer
Endocrine glands such as the thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream to regulate metabolism, growth, reproduction, and other processes.
Source: AAMA/AMT anatomy & physiology: endocrine system function = hormone secretionReport a problem with this question
18. The central nervous system (CNS) is made up of what?
- A.The sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves
- B.The brain and cranial nerves
- C.The brain and spinal cord✓ Answer
- D.The spinal cord and spinal nerves
The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord; nerves that branch outside these two structures make up the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
Source: AAMA/AMT anatomy & physiology: CNS = brain + spinal cordReport a problem with this question
19. How many chambers does the human heart have, and what are the two upper ones called?
- A.Three chambers; the upper two are ventricles
- B.Two chambers; the upper one is the atrium
- C.Four chambers; the upper two are the atria✓ Answer
- D.Four chambers; the upper two are the ventricles
The heart has four chambers: two upper atria that receive blood returning to the heart and two lower ventricles that pump blood out of the heart.
Source: AAMA/AMT anatomy & physiology: heart has 4 chambers (2 atria, 2 ventricles)Report a problem with this question
20. The nephron is the microscopic functional (filtering) unit of which organ?
- A.Pancreas
- B.Liver
- C.Spleen
- D.Kidney✓ Answer
Each kidney contains about a million nephrons; within each nephron the glomerulus filters the blood and the tubule reabsorbs needed substances, forming urine.
Source: AAMA/AMT anatomy & physiology: nephron = functional unit of the kidneyReport a problem with this question
Practice questions based on the AAMA (CMA) and AMT (RMA) certification content outlines and standard medical-assisting curriculum. Not affiliated with or endorsed by AAMA, AMT, or any certifying body. Study the official candidate handbook and confirm current exam content before testing. About the CMA exam →