Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) Practice Exam

What does "pneum" refer to in medical terminology?

1. Liver

2. Kidney

3. Abdomen

4. Lung

The correct answer is: Lung

In medical terminology, "pneum" is derived from the Greek word "pneuma," which means "air" or "breath." This root is commonly used in words that pertain to the lungs and respiratory system. Therefore, when encountering terms that include "pneum," such as pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs) or pneumothorax (collapse of the lung due to air in the pleural space), it is clear that they relate to lung pathology or functions. The other options represent different organs or body parts, but they do not share this linguistic root with the respiratory context. For instance, the term for the liver is "hepat" (from hepatic), and kidney-related terms use the root "nephr" (as in nephrology). The term for abdomen is "abdomin" or "lapar." Thus, the connection of "pneum" specifically to the lungs is what makes the chosen answer valid.