Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) Practice Exam 2025

Which medical term indicates a structure or condition that is different?

1. Ab-

2. Aniso-

3. A-

4. Ad-

The correct answer is: Aniso-

The medical term that indicates a structure or condition that is different is "Aniso-." This prefix is derived from the Greek word "anisos," which means unequal or dissimilar. It is commonly used in medical terminology to describe conditions where there is a lack of uniformity or a difference in size, shape, or other attributes. For instance, in describing anisocoria, it refers to unequal sizes of the pupils. The other prefixes provide different meanings, which are relevant but do not convey the notion of difference in the same way. "Ab-" typically indicates movement away from something, "A-" can denote absence or lack (as seen in terms like "asymptomatic," meaning without symptoms), and "Ad-" means toward or in the direction of something. Thus, in the context of indicating a structure or condition that is different, "Aniso-" is the most accurate choice.