The suffix -pnea refers to which bodily function?

Prepare for the NHM 195 Dietetics Nutrition Practice Test with flashcards and multiple choice questions. Each question includes hints and explanations to boost your readiness for the exam!

Multiple Choice

The suffix -pnea refers to which bodily function?

Explanation:
Breathing is what the suffix -pnea points to in medical terms. The ending comes from a root meaning breath, so terms like apnea (no breathing), dyspnea (difficult breathing), tachypnea (rapid breathing), and hyperpnea (increased breathing) all describe aspects of respiration. This suffix doesn’t relate to vision, hearing, or the heart, which have different endings (for example, vision often uses -opia, hearing can use -acusia, and heart-related terms use -cardia). So the correct idea conveyed by -pnea is breathing.

Breathing is what the suffix -pnea points to in medical terms. The ending comes from a root meaning breath, so terms like apnea (no breathing), dyspnea (difficult breathing), tachypnea (rapid breathing), and hyperpnea (increased breathing) all describe aspects of respiration. This suffix doesn’t relate to vision, hearing, or the heart, which have different endings (for example, vision often uses -opia, hearing can use -acusia, and heart-related terms use -cardia). So the correct idea conveyed by -pnea is breathing.

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