Medical Conditions and Discoveries Quiz Quiz Questions

1. Beriberi, meaning “extreme weakness,” is the name of a disorder caused by a lack of which vitamin?

A vitamin B₁ B vitamin C C vitamin A D vitamin D

2. On what part of the body is a sphygmomanometer used?

A chest B neck C ankle D arm

3. What is the generic term for inflammation of the mucous tissue of the nose?

A nosebleed B pneumonia C rhinitis D asthma

4. What is the disease pertussis commonly known as?

A hepatitis B polio C cholera D whooping cough

5. Citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, and limes protected the crews of sailing ships from scurvy, a disorder caused by a deficiency of which vitamin?

A vitamin K B vitamin E C vitamin A D vitamin C

6. Which vitamin is also called niacin and prevents the skin lesions that are a symptom of pellagra?

A vitamin A B vitamin B₃ C vitamin D D vitamin B₆

7. Which of these is not a single vitamin but part of a group, or complex, of substances?

A vitamin B B vitamin C C vitamin A D vitamin D

8. What is the term for a localized collection of pus in a cavity formed from tissues that have been broken down by infectious bacteria?

A tumour B scab C blister D abscess

9. Whose principle—that bacteria must never gain entry to an operation wound—remains the basis of surgery to this day?

A Rosalyn S. Yalow B Louis Pasteur C Joseph Lister D Elizabeth Blackwell

10. Who developed the first safe and effective vaccine for polio?

A Tu Youyou B Jonas Edward Salk C Elizabeth Stern D Joseph Lister

11. What does thrombosis refer to?

A blood clots B dehydration C a respiratory disease D high fever

12. Which disease is characterized by the thinning of bones, with a consequent tendency to sustain fractures?

A osteoporosis B Paget disease C fibrous dysplasia D pernicious anemia

13. Hypothermia can make a person appear dead. What is hypothermia?

A abnormally low body temperature B an abnormal lack of sugar in the blood C abnormally high body temperature D a state of excessive emotion

14. In 1851 the German physiologist Hermann von Helmholtz invented the ophthalmoscope. What is this instrument used for?

A determining colour blindness B measuring the duration of a blink C examining the interior of the eye D counting eyelashes

15. Hippocrates of Cos, who may or may not have lived during the 5th or 4th century BCE and probably did not write all the works commonly ascribed to him, is traditionally considered to be the father of which branch of science?

A mathematics B chemistry C astronomy D medicine

16. Who was a pioneer in the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumours?

A Barbara McClintock B Harvey Williams Cushing C Carol W. Greider D Mae Jemison

17. What X-ray technique produces images of internal body structures as visual “slices” of the body?

A topography B X-ray photography C computerized tomography D ultrasonography

18. Which of these diseases is an example of zoonosis?

A tetanus B rabies C diphtheria D malaria

19. Who performed the first successful human heart transplant?

A Emily Blackwell B Christiaan Barnard C Rosalind Franklin D Charles Richard Drew

20. What is the disease tetanus also called?

A athlete’s foot B lockjaw C ringworm D tinnitus

21. What condition is tachycardia, usually brought on by exercise or stress?

A sweating B elevated body temperature C rapid heartbeat D rapid breathing

22. If you see dark wavy lines on your skin and you are itchy at night, what sort of parasite might you have?

A worms B mosquitoes C fleas D mites

23. People get sick from eating Salmonella. What is it?

A a virus B bacteria C an industrial chemical D a fish