Medical Terminology Crossword Puzzle Answer Key

Medical Terminology Crossword Puzzle Answer Key: A Comprehensive Guide

This comprehensive guide provides answers and explanations for a challenging medical terminology crossword puzzle. Designed to test your knowledge of prefixes, suffixes, root words, and common medical terms, this puzzle will solidify your understanding of medical vocabulary. We'll break down each clue and answer, providing additional context and related terms to deepen your understanding. This resource is perfect for medical students, healthcare professionals, or anyone interested in expanding their medical vocabulary.

Remember: Medical terminology is crucial for clear and effective communication in the healthcare field. Mastering these terms is essential for both comprehension and professional practice.

Across

1. Inflammation of the liver: HEPATITIS

• Hepat-: refers to the liver.
• -itis: signifies inflammation.
• Related terms: hepatoma (liver tumor), hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), hepatic (pertaining to the liver).

5. Surgical removal of the appendix: APPENDECTOMY

• Append-: refers to the appendix.
• -ectomy: signifies surgical removal.
• Related terms: appendectomy, appendicitis (inflammation of the appendix), appendicular (pertaining to the appendix).

9. Difficulty in swallowing: DYSPHAGIA

• Dys-: means difficult or painful.
• -phagia: refers to swallowing.
• Related terms: aphagia (inability to swallow), polyphagia (excessive eating).

11. Pertaining to the heart: CARDIAC

• Card-: refers to the heart.
• -iac: means pertaining to.
• Related terms: cardiovascular (pertaining to the heart and blood vessels), cardiomegaly (enlarged heart), cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle).

13. Study of the heart: CARDIOLOGY

• Card-: refers to the heart.
• -ology: means the study of.
• Related terms: cardiologist (specialist in cardiology), echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart).

15. Abnormal hardening of the arteries: ARTERIOSCLEROSIS

• Arteri-: refers to the arteries.
• -sclero-: means hardening.
• -osis: signifies a condition or disease.
• Related terms: atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries due to plaque buildup), arteriosclerosis obliterans (a severe form of arteriosclerosis).

17. Pertaining to the skin: CUTANEOUS

• Cutane-: refers to the skin.
• -ous: means pertaining to.
• Related terms: subcutaneous (beneath the skin), cutaneous membrane (the outer layer of the skin).

19. Inflammation of the lungs: PNEUMONIA

• Pneumon-: refers to the lungs.
• -ia: signifies a condition.
• Related terms: pneumonitis (inflammation of the lung tissue), pneumothorax (air in the pleural space).

21. Slow heart rate: BRADYCARDIA

• Brady-: means slow.
• -cardia: refers to the heart.
• Related terms: tachycardia (fast heart rate), arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm).

23. Surgical puncture to remove fluid: PARACENTESIS

• Para-: means beside or near.
• -centesis: means surgical puncture to remove fluid.
• Related terms: amniocentesis (surgical puncture of the amniotic sac), thoracentesis (surgical puncture of the chest).

25. Pain in the chest: THORACALGIA

• Thorac-: refers to the chest.
• -algia: signifies pain.
• Related terms: thoracotomy (surgical incision into the chest), thoracoplasty (surgical repair of the chest wall).

27. Fear of heights: ACROPHOBIA

• Acro-: means height or extremity.
• -phobia: signifies fear.
• Related terms: claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces), agoraphobia (fear of open spaces).

29. Condition of excessive thirst: POLYDIPSIa

• Poly-: means excessive.
• -dipsia: refers to thirst.
• Related terms: polyuria (excessive urination), polyphagia (excessive eating).

31. Instrument for examining the ear: OTOSOPE

• Oto-: refers to the ear.
• -scope: means instrument for examining.
• Related terms: otosclerosis (hardening of the ear bones), otology (study of the ear).

33. Removal of a kidney: NEPHRECTOMY

• Nephr-: refers to the kidney.
• -ectomy: signifies surgical removal.
• Related terms: nephritis (inflammation of the kidney), nephrology (study of the kidney).

35. Pertaining to the nervous system: NEUROLOGIC or NEUROLOGICAL

• Neuro-: refers to the nervous system.
• -logic/logical: means pertaining to.
• Related terms: neurology (study of the nervous system), neurologist (specialist in neurology).

37. Abnormal condition of the nail: ONYCHOPATHY

• Onych-: refers to the nail.
• -pathy: signifies disease or condition.
• Related terms: onychomycosis (fungal infection of the nail), onycholysis (separation of the nail from the nail bed).

39. Inflammation of the vein: PHLEBITIS

• Phelb-: refers to the vein.
• -itis: signifies inflammation.
• Related terms: thrombophlebitis (inflammation of a vein with clot formation), phlebotomy (incision of a vein).

41. Difficult or labored breathing: DYSPNEA

• Dys-: means difficult or painful.
• -pnea: refers to breathing.
• Related terms: apnea (absence of breathing), hyperpnea (increased breathing rate).

43. Surgical repair of a nerve: NEURORRHAPHY

• Neuro-: refers to the nerve.
• -rrhaphy: signifies surgical repair.
• Related terms: neurorrhagia (bleeding from a nerve), neurotomy (surgical incision of a nerve).

45. Study of the cause of disease: ETIOLOGY

• This term doesn't have easily separable prefixes and suffixes, but it is a core medical term.
• Related terms: pathology (study of disease), epidemiology (study of disease distribution and determinants).

47. Pertaining to the stomach: GASTRIC

• Gastr-: refers to the stomach.
• -ic: means pertaining to.
• Related terms: gastritis (inflammation of the stomach), gastrectomy (surgical removal of part or all of the stomach).

49. Inflammation of the gums: GINGIVITIS

• Gingiv-: refers to the gums.
• -itis: signifies inflammation.
• Related terms: gingivectomy (surgical removal of gum tissue), periodontitis (inflammation of the tissues around the teeth).

Down

2. Enlargement of the spleen: SPLENOMEGALY

• Spleno-: refers to the spleen.
• -megaly: signifies enlargement.
• Related terms: splenectomy (surgical removal of the spleen), splenitis (inflammation of the spleen).

3. Pertaining to the muscle: MYAL or MYOCARDIAL (depending on context – myocardium is heart muscle)

• My- or Myo-: refers to muscle.
• -al: pertaining to.
• -cardial: pertaining to the heart muscle.
• Related terms: myopathy (disease of muscle), myositis (inflammation of muscle).

4. Inflammation of the brain: ENCEPHALITIS

• Encephal-: refers to the brain.
• -itis: signifies inflammation.
• Related terms: encephalitis, encephalopathy (disease of the brain), encephalomalacia (softening of brain tissue).

6. Condition of profuse sweating: HYPERHIDROSIS

• Hyper-: means excessive.
• -hidr-: refers to sweat.
• -osis: signifies a condition.
• Related terms: anhidrosis (absence of sweating), hypohidrosis (decreased sweating).

7. Pertaining to the kidney: RENAL

• Ren-: refers to the kidney.
• -al: means pertaining to.
• Related terms: renal failure (kidney failure), renal artery (artery supplying the kidney).

8. Disease of the mind: PSYCHOSIS

• Psycho-: refers to the mind.
• -osis: signifies a condition.
• Related terms: psychology (study of the mind), psychiatrist (specialist in mental health).

10. Condition of stones in the gallbladder: CHOLELITHIASIS

• Chole-: refers to bile or gallbladder.
• -lith-: means stone.
• -iasis: signifies a condition.
• Related terms: cholecystitis (inflammation of the gallbladder), cholecystectomy (surgical removal of the gallbladder).

12. Pertaining to the lungs: PULMONARY

• Pulmon-: refers to the lungs.
• -ary: means pertaining to.
• Related terms: pulmonary artery (artery carrying deoxygenated blood to the lungs), pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs).

14. Instrument for measuring blood pressure: SPHYGMOMANOMETER

• This term is a complex medical term; understanding its components is key.
• Related terms: blood pressure, hypertension (high blood pressure), hypotension (low blood pressure).

16. Study of tumors: ONCOLOGY

• Onco-: refers to tumors.
• -ology: means the study of.
• Related terms: oncologist (specialist in oncology), carcinogen (cancer-causing agent).

18. Pertaining to the nerves: NEURAL

• Neur-: refers to nerves.
• -al: means pertaining to.
• Related terms: neuralgia (nerve pain), neuritis (inflammation of a nerve).

20. Surgical incision into the abdomen: LAPAROTOMY

• Lapar-: refers to the abdomen.
• -otomy: signifies surgical incision.
• Related terms: laparoscopy (surgical procedure using a laparoscope), laparoscope (instrument used for laparoscopy).

22. Instrument for viewing inside the body: ENDOSCOPE

• Endo-: means within or inside.
• -scope: means instrument for viewing.
• Related terms: colonoscopy (examination of the colon), endoscopy (examination of the interior of a body cavity).

24. Inflammation of the joint: ARTHRITIS

• Arthr-: refers to the joint.
• -itis: signifies inflammation.
• Related terms: osteoarthritis (degenerative joint disease), rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune joint disease).

26. Excessive urination: POLYURIA

• Poly-: means excessive.
• -uria: refers to urination.
• Related terms: oliguria (scant urination), anuria (absence of urination).

28. Pertaining to the liver and gallbladder: HEPATOBILIARY

• Hepato-: refers to the liver.
• -biliary: refers to bile or gallbladder.
• Related terms: hepatobiliary system (liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts).

30. Inflammation of the brain and meninges: MENINGOENCEPHALITIS

• Meningo-: refers to the meninges.
• Encephal-: refers to the brain.
• -itis: signifies inflammation.
• Related terms: meningitis (inflammation of the meninges), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).

32. Pertaining to the muscle and fascia: MYOFASCIAL

• Myo-: refers to muscle.
• Fasci-: refers to fascia (connective tissue).
• -al: means pertaining to.
• Related terms: myofascial pain syndrome (chronic pain affecting muscles and fascia).

34. Abnormal fear of disease: NOSOPHOBIA

• Noso-: refers to disease.
• -phobia: signifies fear.
• Related terms: iatrophobia (fear of doctors), hypochondria (excessive worry about health).

36. Surgical repair of a bone: OSTEOTOMY (Note: While technically an incision, it's often used to refer to repair as well)

• Osteo-: refers to bone.
• -tomy: signifies surgical incision.
• Related terms: osteogenesis (bone formation), osteoporosis (bone loss).

38. Difficult childbirth: DYSTOCIA

• Dys-: means difficult or painful.
• -tocia: refers to childbirth.
• Related terms: eutocia (normal childbirth), tocolysis (inhibition of uterine contractions).

40. Pertaining to the eye: OCULAR

• Ocul-: refers to the eye.
• -ar: means pertaining to.
• Related terms: oculist (eye doctor), ophthalmology (study of the eye).

42. Inflammation of the peritoneum: PERITONITIS

• Periton-: refers to the peritoneum.
• -itis: signifies inflammation.
• Related terms: peritoneum (membrane lining the abdominal cavity), peritoneal dialysis (dialysis using the peritoneal membrane).

44. Absence of breathing: APNEA

• A-: means without or absence of.
• -pnea: refers to breathing.
• Related terms: dyspnea (difficult breathing), hyperpnea (increased breathing rate).

46. Stone in the kidney: NEPHROLITH

• Nephr-: refers to the kidney.
• -lith: means stone.
• Related terms: nephrolithiasis (condition of kidney stones), ureterolithiasis (condition of ureteral stones).

48. Pertaining to the mind: PSYCHIC

• Psych-: refers to the mind.
• -ic: means pertaining to.
• Related terms: psychosomatic (relating to both mind and body), psychopathology (study of mental illness).

50. Study of poisons: TOXICOLOGY

• Toxico-: refers to poisons.
• -ology: means the study of.
• Related terms: toxic (poisonous), toxicology report (report on the presence of poisons).

This detailed answer key provides not only the solutions but also valuable insights into the structure and meaning of common medical terms. By understanding the root words, prefixes, and suffixes, you can unlock the meaning of many more complex medical terms. Continue practicing with more medical terminology puzzles and quizzes to further enhance your vocabulary and comprehension in the medical field. Remember to always consult reliable medical resources for in-depth information and never use this puzzle as a sole source of medical knowledge.