CPB Certified Professional Biller Certification Practice Exam

The prefix 'hyper-' is best described as?

1. In, into, not

2. Condition

3. Uterus, womb

4. Above, excessive

The correct answer is: Above, excessive

The prefix 'hyper-' signifies something that is above normal or excessive. It derives from Greek, where "hyper" means "over" or "beyond." In medical terms, it is commonly used to denote conditions that involve an increase or excess of a certain element. For example, "hypertension" refers to high blood pressure, indicating that the pressure in the blood vessels is above normal levels. This prefix is essential in various medical terminology to clearly denote conditions where there is an excess that may require attention or treatment. The other options do not accurately capture the meaning of 'hyper-.' The first option suggests meanings related to direction or negation, which is not relevant to the context of 'hyper-.' The second option refers to a general term for 'condition' without specifying the nature of excess that 'hyper-' implies. The last option concerning 'uterus, womb' is unrelated to the prefix and represents a completely different set of medical terminology. Thus, 'above, excessive' is the most accurate description of 'hyper-.'