Medical Vocabulary
1 / 15Test your knowledge of common medical terms!
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What does the medical term 'diagnosis' mean?
About Medical Vocabulary
Test your knowledge of common medical terms! Medical Vocabulary packs 15 multiple-choice questions with a mix of 5 easy, 5 medium, 5 hard questions into a relaxed session of roughly 7 minutes — no sign-up, no timer pressure. An explanation appears after every answer, and finishing once a day keeps your streak alive.
A few sample questions
1. What does the medical term 'diagnosis' mean?
Answer: The identification of a disease or condition
A diagnosis is the identification of a disease, illness, or condition based on symptoms, medical history, and test results. The word comes from the Greek 'diagignoskein,' meaning 'to distinguish' or 'to discern.'
2. What does the term 'chronic' mean when describing an illness?
Answer: Lasting a long time or recurring frequently
A chronic illness is one that persists over a long period of time, often for months or years. It contrasts with 'acute,' which describes conditions that are sudden and short-lived. Examples include diabetes and arthritis.
3. What is an 'antibiotic'?
Answer: A medicine that fights bacterial infections
An antibiotic is a medication used to treat infections caused by bacteria. The word literally means 'against life' (anti + bios), referring to its ability to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics do not work against viral infections.
4. What does the prefix 'cardio-' refer to?
Answer: The heart
The prefix 'cardio-' relates to the heart. It comes from the Greek word 'kardia,' meaning 'heart.' A cardiologist is a heart specialist, and cardiovascular refers to the heart and blood vessel system.
5. What does 'symptom' mean in medicine?
Answer: A physical or mental sign of a disease experienced by the patient
A symptom is a physical or mental feature experienced by a patient that indicates the presence of a disease or condition. Common examples include pain, fever, and fatigue. Symptoms are subjective experiences reported by the patient.
Things you'll learn along the way
- 'Benign' means not harmful or not cancerous. A benign tumor, for example, does not invade surrounding tissues or spread to other parts of the body. It is the opposite of 'malignant,' which indicates a cancerous growth.
- The suffix '-itis' indicates inflammation. For example, arthritis means inflammation of the joints, bronchitis means inflammation of the bronchial tubes, and tonsillitis means inflammation of the tonsils.
- A prognosis is a medical prediction about the likely course, duration, and outcome of a disease or condition. It comes from the Greek 'prognosis,' meaning 'foreknowledge.' A good prognosis means recovery is expected.
Frequently asked questions
Can I print Medical Vocabulary?
Yes — use the Print button at the top of the page for a clean question sheet, or "Print with Answers" to make an answer key. Printed sheets work well for group play at home, in a classroom, or at a senior center.
Will I lose my progress if I close the page?
Your overall progress — XP, streaks, and badges — is saved in your browser automatically. A quiz that's underway restarts if you leave mid-game, but at about 7 minutes, Medical Vocabulary fits comfortably in one sitting.
How many questions are in Medical Vocabulary?
Medical Vocabulary has 15 multiple-choice questions. Each one has four answer options and an explanation that appears after you answer, so you learn something even when you miss.
Is Medical Vocabulary free to play?
Yes. The entire SeniorBrainGames catalog — including Medical Vocabulary — is free, with no sign-up required, no time limits, and no ads on top of the game. It also works offline once the page has loaded once.
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