Certified Paraoptometric (CPO) Practice Exam 2025

Which term refers to disease or illness in medical terminology?

1. Orth

2. Sclera

3. Path

4. Phot

The correct answer is: Path

The correct term that refers to disease or illness in medical terminology is "Path." This term is derived from the Greek word "pathos," which means suffering or disease. In the context of medical terms, you often find it used as a prefix in words such as "pathology," which is the study of disease, and "pathogen," which refers to an organism that causes disease. The other terms listed do not pertain to disease or illness. For instance, "Orth" is often related to correct or straight, as seen in terms like "orthopedic." "Sclera" refers to the white outer layer of the eyeball, which is a specific anatomical structure, and "Phot" pertains to light, often seen in terms related to vision or photography, such as "photoreceptor."