West Coast EMT Block One Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the West Coast EMT Block One Exam. Study with our comprehensive resources including flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question offers hints and explanations to aid your preparation. Ace your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What does the prefix "dys-" typically indicate?

normal
difficult or painful
excessive
without

The correct answer is: difficult or painful

The prefix "dys-" is derived from Greek and is commonly used in medical terminology to denote something that is difficult, painful, abnormal, or impaired. It indicates a negative alteration in function or condition. For instance, the term "dysfunction" refers to the impaired or abnormal functioning of a particular organ or system, while "dyspnea" describes difficulty in breathing. Understanding this prefix is essential as it helps healthcare professionals accurately describe a patient's condition and enables effective communication regarding their health issues. The other choices do not accurately represent the meaning of "dys-": "normal" suggests a standard or typical state, "excessive" implies an overabundance, and "without" denotes absence—none of which align with the distress or difficulty conveyed by "dys-."