National Center for Competency Testing (NCCT) Medical Assistant Practice Test

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Prepare for the NCCT Medical Assistant Test. Study with multiple choice questions, each accompanied by explanations. Ensure your readiness for the exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What does the term "hypodermic" refer to in medical terminology?

Under the skin
Above the skin
Inside the mouth
In the bloodstream

The correct answer is: Under the skin

The term "hypodermic" in medical terminology specifically refers to something that is "under the skin." It is derived from the Greek words "hypo," meaning "under," and "derma," meaning "skin." This term is commonly used in relation to injections or syringes that deliver substances into the tissue beneath the outer layer of the skin, which is often necessary for administering medications or vaccines effectively. Understanding this term is crucial for medical assistants as they may frequently deal with hypodermic needles and injections in various medical procedures. The other options refer to different contexts—"above the skin" pertains to topical treatments, "inside the mouth" is related to oral medications, and "in the bloodstream" generally describes intravenous methods—all of which do not capture the specific meaning of "hypodermic."