Preparing for the CPC (Certified Professional Coder) exam? Terminology is one of the areas our deck drills hardest: 20 of its 1041 flashcards focus on terminology. Try the sample questions below — every card is a real question-and-answer pair from the full deck.
20
Cards on this topic
1041
Total CPC cards
$7
Full access
A patient undergoes a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Based on the combining forms, which anatomical structures were removed?
Show answer →Salping/o refers to the fallopian tubes, and oophor/o refers to the ovaries. Bilateral indicates both sides. In CPT coding (e.g., 58720), understanding these roots is vital to ensure the correct organ system is identified. AAPC Exam Tip: Don't confuse salping/o (fallopian tube) with salping/o (eustachian tube) in ENT contexts; however, in the context of oophorectomy, it always refers to fallopian tubes.
A medical record documents dacryocystitis. Which structure is inflamed, and how does the combining form dacry/o differ from blephar/o?
Show answer →Dacry/o (or lacrim/o) refers to tears or the lacrimal apparatus; dacryocyst/o specifically refers to the tear sac (lacrimal sac). Blephar/o refers to the eyelid. Therefore, dacryocystitis is inflammation of the tear sac. AAPC Strategy: The Eye and Ocular Adnexa section of CPT (65091-68899) requires precise knowledge of these roots. Distinguishing between the eyelid (blepharoplasty) and the tear duct system (dacryocystorhinostomy) is a frequent exam focus.
A patient undergoes an orchidopexy for cryptorchidism. What is the surgical objective, and what do these terms mean?
Show answer →Orchid/o (or orchi/o / orch/o) refers to the testes. -pexy means surgical fixation. Crypt- means hidden. Cryptorchidism is a condition of hidden testes (undescended). Orchidopexy is the surgical fixation of an undescended testicle into the scrotum. AAPC Strategy: Male anatomy questions often use orchid/o. Do not confuse with orchi- (testis) and ortho- (straight/correct).
A surgeon performs a nephropexy to treat nephroptosis. Based on the suffix -pexy, what action was performed on the kidney?
Show answer →-pexy means surgical fixation or suspension. Nephropexy is the surgical fixation of a floating or dropped kidney (nephroptosis). CPC Tip: Do not confuse -pexy with -plasty (surgical repair/molding). While both are corrective, -pexy specifically involves anchoring a structure back into its normal anatomical position.
A radiology report identifies bronchiectasis and bronchostenosis. How do the suffixes -ectasia and -stenosis describe the diametric state of the bronchi?
Show answer →-ectasia (or -ectasis) means dilation or expansion. -stenosis means narrowing or stricture. CPC Tip: These suffixes are critical in the Respiratory and Cardiovascular sections. Coding for a dilation procedure (like angioplasty) addresses a stenosis (the condition). Understanding the pathological state vs. the corrective action is key.
Keep going
You just saw a few. The full deck covers every CPC topic.
One-time payment · less than 1¢ per card · 30-day money-back guarantee
Try 30 free CPC cards firstThe full CPC deck contains 1041 flashcards, and 20 of them focus on terminology. This page shows 5 free samples.
Our CPC deck dedicates 20 of 1041 cards (2%) to terminology — always cross-check the official AAPC exam outline for the current blueprint weighting.
Yes — the samples on this page are free, and the CPC preview page has 30 more free cards. Full access to all 1041 cards is a one-time $7.
Anatomy
80 cards
Coding Guidelines
170 cards
Diagnostics
50 cards
Equipment
20 cards
Management
80 cards
Pathology
90 cards
Pharmacology
20 cards
Procedures
430 cards
Regulations
50 cards
CPC practice test
20 mixed questions across every topic, with answers — see where you stand →
CPC study guide
Topic weights, difficulty breakdown and a 5-step study plan →
Eligibility rules, fees, question counts and passing standards are set by the certifying body and change over time. Always confirm them at the source before you apply or schedule your exam — our flashcards are practice material, not the official handbook.