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RMA · 17% of the exam

Body Systems and Medical Terminology practice questions

10 free Body Systems and Medical Terminology questions for the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) Exam exam, each with the correct answer and an explanation for every option.

Start the questionsFree 10-question RMA quiz

What this domain covers

One of the two largest domains in our estimate: the structure and function of the body systems, common diseases, and the medical terms used to describe them.

Exam weight
17%
On a real exam
≈ 36 questions
In our bank
100 questions

Topics that come up most

  • Word roots, prefixes and suffixes
  • Anatomy and physiology of the major body systems
  • Common disorders and their signs
  • Directional terms, planes and body cavities
  • Standard medical abbreviations

How to study it

Study one body system at a time, pairing its anatomy with the terms and conditions that belong to it; break unfamiliar words into root, prefix and suffix.

Sample Body Systems and Medical Terminology questions

Try each one before opening the answer. Original questions written to the official exam objectives.

  1. Question 1

    Which part of the eye controls how much light enters?

    • AThe lens, which focuses light
    • BThe iris
    • CThe retina
    • DThe cornea
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) The iris

    • AIncorrect. It focuses light.
    • BCorrect. It changes pupil size.
    • CIncorrect. It senses light.
    • DIncorrect. It's the clear front layer.

  2. Question 2

    What are the ossicles?

    • AAir sacs in the lungs
    • BHair cells in the cochlea that sense sound
    • CBones of the wrist
    • DThree tiny bones in the middle ear
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Three tiny bones in the middle ear

    • AIncorrect. Those are alveoli.
    • BIncorrect. Those are in the inner ear.
    • CIncorrect. Those are carpals.
    • DCorrect. They pass sound to the inner ear.

  3. Question 3

    What is the pharynx commonly called?

    • AThe throat
    • BThe voice box
    • CThe windpipe
    • DThe food pipe
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) The throat

    • ACorrect. It carries air and food.
    • BIncorrect. That's the larynx.
    • CIncorrect. That's the trachea.
    • DIncorrect. That's the esophagus.

  4. Question 4

    A patient is scheduled for a rhinoplasty. Based on its suffix, what type of procedure is this?

    • ASurgical repair or reconstruction of the nose
    • BSurgical removal of part of the nose
    • CCreation of a surgical opening in the nose
    • DVisual examination of the nasal passages
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: A) Surgical repair or reconstruction of the nose

    The suffix -plasty means surgical repair or reconstruction, so a rhinoplasty reshapes or repairs the nose. Compare -ectomy (removal), -stomy (opening), -otomy (incision) and -scopy (examination).

    • ACorrect. The suffix -plasty means surgical reconstruction or repair, and 'rhin/o' refers to the nose.
    • BIncorrect. Surgical removal is shown by the suffix -ectomy ('cut out, removal').
    • CIncorrect. A surgical opening is shown by -stomy. It should not be confused with -otomy, which means an incision.
    • DIncorrect. A visual examination with an instrument is shown by the suffix -scopy ('examine').

  5. Question 5

    Which type of arthritis is an autoimmune disease?

    • ABursitis
    • BOsteoarthritis, caused by wear and tear
    • CGout, caused by uric acid crystals
    • DRheumatoid arthritis
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: D) Rheumatoid arthritis

    • AIncorrect. That's inflammation of a bursa.
    • BIncorrect. It isn't autoimmune.
    • CIncorrect. It isn't autoimmune.
    • DCorrect. The immune system attacks joint linings.

  6. Question 6

    A patient has a mild sunburn with redness and pain but no blisters, which is a first-degree burn. Which skin layer is damaged?

    • ASubcutaneous layer (hypodermis)
    • BDermis
    • CEpidermis
    • DPeriosteum
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Epidermis

    The skin has three layers: the epidermis (outer), the dermis (middle) and the subcutaneous layer (inner). First-degree burns, such as most sunburns, damage only the epidermis.

    • AIncorrect. This is the deepest layer, under the dermis, and contains fat. A first-degree burn does not reach it.
    • BIncorrect. The dermis is the middle layer, with blood vessels, nerves and hair follicles. It is involved in deeper (second-degree) burns.
    • CCorrect. A first-degree burn damages only the epidermis, which is the outermost layer of the skin.
    • DIncorrect. The periosteum is the membrane covering bone. It is not a layer of the skin.

  7. Question 7

    In eye disease, what is a cataract?

    • AIncreased pressure inside the eye that damages the optic nerve
    • BClouding of the eye's lens
    • CInflammation of the middle ear
    • DA detached retina
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: B) Clouding of the eye's lens

    • AIncorrect. That's glaucoma.
    • BCorrect. Surgery can replace the lens.
    • CIncorrect. That's otitis media.
    • DIncorrect. That's retinal detachment.

  8. Question 8

    Which hormone lowers blood glucose?

    • ACortisol
    • BGlucagon
    • CInsulin
    • DAdrenaline
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Insulin

    • AIncorrect. It tends to raise glucose.
    • BIncorrect. It raises glucose.
    • CCorrect. Insulin moves glucose into cells.
    • DIncorrect. It raises glucose.

  9. Question 9

    What does the combining form "my/o" mean?

    • ANerve
    • BMarrow
    • CMuscle
    • DBone
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Muscle

    • AIncorrect. That's "neur/o."
    • BIncorrect. That's "myel/o."
    • CCorrect. Myalgia is muscle pain.
    • DIncorrect. That's "oste/o."

  10. Question 10

    Where are most blood cells produced in adults?

    • AThe liver, after birth
    • BThe spleen, which filters old blood cells
    • CRed bone marrow
    • DThe kidneys
    Show answer and explanation

    Answer: C) Red bone marrow

    • AIncorrect. It makes blood cells before birth.
    • BIncorrect. It filters but doesn't make most cells.
    • CCorrect. It's found in flat bones and the ends of long bones.
    • DIncorrect. They make a hormone that signals the marrow.

Body Systems and Medical Terminology: FAQs

How much of the RMA exam is Body Systems and Medical Terminology?

Body Systems and Medical Terminology is 17% of the RMA exam by the official exam guide's weighting, which on a 210-question form works out to roughly 36 questions. The real exam's exact split varies by form.

What does the Body Systems and Medical Terminology domain cover?

One of the two largest domains in our estimate: the structure and function of the body systems, common diseases, and the medical terms used to describe them.

How should I study Body Systems and Medical Terminology for RMA?

Study one body system at a time, pairing its anatomy with the terms and conditions that belong to it; break unfamiliar words into root, prefix and suffix.

Where can I practise more Body Systems and Medical Terminology questions?

This page has 10 free Body Systems and Medical Terminology questions with answers. The ExamWize RMA question bank has 100 questions in this domain. Every practice exam result breaks your score down by domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

Other RMA topics

Also: 15 free questions across all topics, the RMA cheat sheet and the study guide.

Get Body Systems and Medical Terminology exam-ready

The full RMA bank has 100 Body Systems and Medical Terminology questions. Timed practice exams match the real exam's length and domain weights, every result shows your score per domain, and Review Mode re-drills the questions you missed.

See the full RMA practice examsTake the free diagnostic

Not affiliated with AMT; questions are original, written from the official exam outline, and never copied from the real exam.