Hesi A2 Vocabulary Practice Test

HESI A2 Vocabulary Practice Test: Boosting Your Medical Terminology Mastery

Are you preparing for the HESI A2 exam? A strong vocabulary is crucial for success. This comprehensive guide provides a practice test focusing on HESI A2 level vocabulary, complete with explanations and strategies to help you master medical terminology and achieve a high score. Understanding medical vocabulary is not just about memorization; it's about building a solid foundation for your future healthcare career. This article will equip you with the tools and practice you need to confidently tackle the vocabulary section of the HESI A2 exam.

Understanding the HESI A2 Vocabulary Section

The HESI A2 exam assesses your readiness for entry-level healthcare programs. The vocabulary section tests your understanding of common medical terms and prefixes, suffixes, and root words. This section isn't just about rote memorization; it requires you to understand the context of words and how they relate to medical concepts. The questions may present you with definitions, synonyms, or antonyms, and require you to select the correct medical term. The difficulty level is designed to gauge your preparedness for the demands of healthcare education.

HESI A2 Vocabulary Practice Test: Part 1

This practice test consists of 50 multiple-choice questions, mirroring the style and difficulty of the actual HESI A2 exam. Remember to time yourself (aim for approximately 30 minutes) for a realistic test simulation. After completing the test, check your answers against the answer key and explanations provided later in this article.

Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question.

1. Abdominal: a) relating to the chest b) relating to the back c) relating to the abdomen d) relating to the legs

2. Acute: a) chronic b) severe and sudden c) gradual onset d) mild

3. Analgesic: a) pain reliever b) fever reducer c) anti-inflammatory d) antibiotic

4. Anterior: a) posterior b) lateral c) medial d) front

5. Benign: a) cancerous b) harmless c) malignant d) infectious

6. Bilateral: a) one-sided b) two-sided c) three-sided d) many-sided

7. Bradycardia: a) fast heart rate b) slow heart rate c) irregular heart rate d) normal heart rate

8. Chronic: a) short-term b) long-lasting c) acute d) sudden

9. Coma: a) state of unconsciousness b) light sleep c) deep sleep d) semi-consciousness

10. Contralateral: a) on the same side b) on the opposite side c) in the middle d) on the periphery

11. Diagnosis: a) treatment b) symptom c) identification of a disease d) prognosis

12. Distal: a) near b) far c) medial d) lateral

13. Dorsal: a) ventral b) posterior c) anterior d) inferior

14. Dyspnea: a) difficult breathing b) easy breathing c) rapid breathing d) shallow breathing

15. Edema: a) swelling b) redness c) inflammation d) infection

16. Etiology: a) treatment b) symptom c) cause of a disease d) prognosis

17. Febrile: a) without fever b) with fever c) low blood pressure d) high blood pressure

18. Hemorrhage: a) minor bleeding b) excessive bleeding c) internal bleeding d) external bleeding

19. Hepatic: a) relating to the liver b) relating to the heart c) relating to the lungs d) relating to the kidneys

20. Hypertension: a) low blood pressure b) high blood pressure c) normal blood pressure d) fluctuating blood pressure

21. Hypoxia: a) low oxygen levels b) high oxygen levels c) normal oxygen levels d) absence of oxygen

22. Inferior: a) above b) below c) lateral d) medial

23. Insomnia: a) excessive sleep b) inability to sleep c) sound sleep d) restless sleep

24. Lateral: a) medial b) towards the side c) towards the front d) towards the back

25. Lesion: a) healthy tissue b) abnormal tissue c) scar tissue d) inflamed tissue

26. Malnutrition: a) poor nutrition b) good nutrition c) balanced diet d) healthy eating habits

27. Medial: a) towards the middle b) towards the side c) towards the front d) towards the back

28. Nausea: a) vomiting b) feeling of sickness c) diarrhea d) constipation

29. Occipital: a) relating to the forehead b) relating to the back of the head c) relating to the cheek d) relating to the jaw

30. Palliative: a) curative b) relieving symptoms c) preventative d) diagnostic

31. Paralysis: a) loss of movement b) increased movement c) involuntary movement d) jerky movement

32. Pathogen: a) disease-causing organism b) beneficial organism c) harmless organism d) non-living organism

33. Peripheral: a) central b) outer c) inner d) middle

34. Posterior: a) anterior b) back c) front d) medial

35. Prognosis: a) diagnosis b) treatment c) prediction of outcome d) cause of disease

36. Proximal: a) far b) near c) lateral d) medial

37. Pulse: a) blood pressure b) heart rate c) respiratory rate d) body temperature

38. Renal: a) relating to the liver b) relating to the kidneys c) relating to the heart d) relating to the lungs

39. Supine: a) lying on the stomach b) lying on the back c) lying on the side d) sitting upright

40. Symptom: a) disease b) sign c) indication of disease d) treatment

41. Systolic: a) the lower number in blood pressure b) the higher number in blood pressure c) heart rate d) respiratory rate

42. Tachycardia: a) slow heart rate b) fast heart rate c) irregular heart rate d) normal heart rate

43. Trauma: a) injury b) infection c) disease d) illness

44. Unilateral: a) two-sided b) one-sided c) many-sided d) bilateral

45. Ventral: a) dorsal b) anterior c) posterior d) inferior

46. Vertebral: a) relating to the ribs b) relating to the spine c) relating to the skull d) relating to the pelvis

47. Visceral: a) relating to the skin b) relating to the internal organs c) relating to the muscles d) relating to the bones

48. Vulnerable: a) strong b) protected c) susceptible d) resistant

49. Wound: a) scar b) injury c) infection d) inflammation

50. Xerostomia: a) excessive sweating b) dry mouth c) excessive salivation d) tooth decay

HESI A2 Vocabulary Practice Test: Part 2 - Prefixes, Suffixes, and Root Words

This section tests your understanding of common medical prefixes, suffixes, and root words.

1. The prefix "brady-" means: a) fast b) slow c) irregular d) rapid

2. The suffix "-itis" means: a) inflammation b) removal c) pain d) swelling

3. The suffix "-ectomy" means: a) surgical removal b) incision c) suture d) examination

4. The root word "cardi" refers to: a) liver b) kidney c) heart d) lung

5. The prefix "hyper-" means: a) below b) above c) within d) around

6. The prefix "hypo-" means: a) excessive b) deficient c) normal d) increased

7. The suffix "-algia" means: a) inflammation b) pain c) swelling d) disease

8. The root word "hepat" refers to: a) kidney b) liver c) lung d) heart

9. The prefix "a-" or "an-" means: a) with b) without c) excessive d) deficient

10. The suffix "-osis" means: a) abnormal condition b) surgical repair c) inflammation d) pain

Answer Key and Explanations: Part 1

1. c) relating to the abdomen
2. b) severe and sudden
3. a) pain reliever
4. d) front
5. b) harmless
6. b) two-sided
7. b) slow heart rate
8. b) long-lasting
9. a) state of unconsciousness
10. b) on the opposite side
11. c) identification of a disease
12. b) far
13. b) posterior
14. a) difficult breathing
15. a) swelling
16. c) cause of a disease
17. b) with fever
18. b) excessive bleeding
19. a) relating to the liver
20. b) high blood pressure
21. a) low oxygen levels
22. b) below
23. b) inability to sleep
24. b) towards the side
25. b) abnormal tissue
26. a) poor nutrition
27. a) towards the middle
28. b) feeling of sickness
29. b) relating to the back of the head
30. b) relieving symptoms
31. a) loss of movement
32. a) disease-causing organism
33. b) outer
34. b) back
35. c) prediction of outcome
36. b) near
37. b) heart rate
38. b) relating to the kidneys
39. b) lying on the back
40. c) indication of disease
41. b) the higher number in blood pressure
42. b) fast heart rate
43. a) injury
44. b) one-sided
45. b) anterior
46. b) relating to the spine
47. b) relating to the internal organs
48. c) susceptible
49. b) injury
50. b) dry mouth

Answer Key and Explanations: Part 2

1. b) slow
2. a) inflammation
3. a) surgical removal
4. c) heart
5. b) above
6. b) deficient
7. b) pain
8. b) liver
9. b) without
10. a) abnormal condition

Strategies for HESI A2 Vocabulary Success

• Flashcards: Create flashcards with medical terms, definitions, and example sentences. Regularly review them using spaced repetition techniques.

• Mnemonics: Develop memory aids (mnemonics) to remember difficult terms. Use acronyms, rhymes, or imagery to associate the word with its meaning.

• Root Words, Prefixes, and Suffixes: Focus on learning common medical root words, prefixes, and suffixes. Understanding these building blocks will help you decipher unfamiliar terms.

• Contextual Learning: Don't just memorize definitions. Try to understand the context in which medical terms are used. Read medical texts, articles, or case studies to improve your comprehension.

• Practice Tests: Take multiple practice tests to simulate the exam environment and identify areas where you need improvement.

• Focus on Weak Areas: After completing practice tests, analyze your results and identify the areas where you struggled. Devote extra time to mastering those specific terms and concepts.

• Utilize Resources: Explore available resources such as medical dictionaries, online vocabulary builders, and textbooks to expand your knowledge.

• Consistent Study: Regular, consistent studying is key to vocabulary mastery. Schedule dedicated study time and stick to your plan. Short, frequent study sessions are often more effective than long, infrequent ones.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What type of vocabulary is tested on the HESI A2 exam?

A: The HESI A2 vocabulary section focuses on medical terminology relevant to entry-level healthcare professions. This includes common prefixes, suffixes, root words, and medical terms related to anatomy, physiology, and common medical procedures.

Q: How can I improve my understanding of medical prefixes, suffixes, and root words?

A: Focus on learning the most common ones. Use flashcards, mnemonics, and online resources to memorize and understand their meanings. Try to break down unfamiliar medical terms into their component parts to understand their meaning.

Q: Are there any specific resources I can use to prepare for the HESI A2 vocabulary section?

A: Utilize medical dictionaries, online vocabulary builders, and review books specifically designed for the HESI A2 exam. Many online resources offer practice questions and quizzes to help you prepare.

Q: How much time should I dedicate to studying vocabulary for the HESI A2 exam?

A: The amount of time required depends on your current knowledge and learning style. However, dedicating consistent study time, even for short periods, will be more effective than cramming.

Q: What is the best way to memorize medical terms effectively?

A: Combine various techniques like flashcards, mnemonics, and contextual learning. Regular review and spaced repetition are essential for long-term retention. Focus on understanding the meaning, not just rote memorization.

Conclusion

Mastering HESI A2 vocabulary is an achievable goal with dedicated effort and the right strategies. This practice test and accompanying explanations should provide a solid foundation. Remember to utilize the suggested study techniques, focus on your weaker areas, and practice consistently. By implementing these strategies, you can significantly improve your performance on the vocabulary section of the HESI A2 exam and increase your chances of succeeding in your chosen healthcare profession. Good luck!