CPB Certified Professional Biller Certification Practice Exam

What does the suffix '-ad' denote in medical terminology?

1. Away from

2. Under

3. Toward

4. Between

The correct answer is: Toward

The suffix '-ad' in medical terminology signifies the direction 'toward.' This is often used to indicate movement in relation to a certain anatomical structure or part of the body. For instance, in terms such as 'cephalad,' which means toward the head, the use of the suffix clarifies that the direction is directed towards the head region. In understanding the other options, 'away from' would typically involve prefixes like 'ab-' or 'ecto-', which denote movement away from a point. 'Under' generally utilizes prefixes such as 'sub-' to describe a location beneath or lower than something else. Finally, 'between' commonly uses the prefix 'inter-,' which is specifically for describing something that is in the middle of two distinct entities. Therefore, '-ad' distinctly indicates a directional movement toward instead of away, underneath, or between, clearly making it the appropriate choice in this context.