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Medical Terminology

Digestive.

Digestive questions from the Medical Terminology track.

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Post-NGN questions with verified answers and rationales. This is the core drill.

Which term describes the intake of food?

  • aDigestion
  • bAbsorption
  • cIngestionCorrect
  • dDefecation
Rationale

Ingestion is the intake of food. Digestion is the breakdown of food into absorbable particles. Absorption is the passage of food particles from the gut into the bloodstream. Defecation is elimination of waste as feces.

Source recency: 2025

Which combining form refers to the cheek?

  • aLabio
  • bGlosso
  • cLinguo
  • dBuccoCorrect
Rationale

Bucco comes from the Latin word "bucca" meaning cheek. The buccal cavity refers to the inside of the mouth. Labio refers to the lips. Glosso and linguo both refer to the tongue.

Source recency: 2025

Which combining form refers to the stomach?

  • aOro
  • bEsophago
  • cGastroCorrect
  • dEntero
Rationale

Gastro- refers to the stomach. For example, gastritis means inflammation of the stomach. Oro- or stomato- refers to the mouth. Esophago- refers to the esophagus. Entero- refers to the intestine.

Source recency: 2025

Which of the following is a part of the small intestine?

  • aCecum
  • bSigmoid
  • cAscending colon
  • dJejunumCorrect
Rationale

The small intestine has villi for nutrient absorption and consists of three parts: duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The cecum, sigmoid, and ascending colon are parts of the large intestine.

Source recency: 2025

The combining form cholecysto- refers to which organ?

  • aLiver
  • bGallbladderCorrect
  • cPancreas
  • dColon
Rationale

Cholecysto- refers to the gallbladder. Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder. Hepato- refers to the liver (hepatitis = liver inflammation). Pancrea- refers to the pancreas (pancreatitis = pancreatic inflammation). Colo- refers to the colon (colitis = colon inflammation).

Source recency: 2025

Which term means difficulty swallowing?

  • aDysphagiaCorrect
  • bAnorexia
  • cConstipation
  • dMelena
Rationale

Dys- means difficulty and -phagia refers to eating or swallowing. Dysphagia means difficulty with swallowing. Anorexia is lack of appetite. Constipation is difficulty with defecation, usually with hard feces. Melena is black stool containing digested blood.

Source recency: 2025

Which condition involves stomach acid backing into the esophagus?

  • aGastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)Correct
  • bIleus
  • cPeptic ulcer disease
  • dInflammatory bowel disease
Rationale

GERD is a condition in which acid from the stomach backs into the esophagus, causing pain. Ileus is reduced or absent intestinal movement. Peptic ulcer disease is erosion of the stomach lining causing pain. Inflammatory bowel disease is inflammation of the gut causing pain and diarrhea.

Source recency: 2025

Which condition presents as yellow discoloration of the eyes and skin?

  • aFlatulence
  • bDyspepsia
  • cJaundiceCorrect
  • dEmesis
Rationale

Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the eyes and skin, caused by elevated bilirubin levels. Flatulence is excessive gas in the stomach and intestines. Dyspepsia is upper abdominal pain. Emesis means vomiting.

Source recency: 2025

Which enzyme digests starch?

  • aAmylaseCorrect
  • bLipase
  • cProtease
  • dNuclease
Rationale

Amylo means starch, and -ase means enzyme. Amylase is the enzyme that digests starch. Lip- means fat, so lipase digests fat. Protea- means protein, so proteases digest protein. Nuclease digests nucleotides.

Source recency: 2025

The combining form entero- refers to which structure?

  • aStomach
  • bIntestineCorrect
  • cRectum
  • dAnus
Rationale

Entero- refers to the small intestine. Enteritis, for example, means inflammation of the small intestines. Gastro- refers to the stomach. Recto- refers to the rectum. Ano- refers to the anus. Procto- refers to the anus and rectum combined (e.g., proctoscope is a device to visualize the anus and lower rectum).

Source recency: 2025

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