The prefix meaning very small—used to describe IV tubing that outputs very small drops of IV fluids is which term?

Prepare for the EMT Medical Terminology Test. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and detailed explanations, to get ready for your certification exam!

Multiple Choice

The prefix meaning very small—used to describe IV tubing that outputs very small drops of IV fluids is which term?

Explanation:
Micro- means very small. In IV therapy, tubing described as microdrip delivers small drops, giving precise control of fluid administration (about 60 drops per milliliter). This precision is especially important for small or fragile patients. Macrodrip tubing, by contrast, delivers larger drops (roughly 10–20 drops per milliliter) and is used when speed is more critical than precision. Nano- and pico- denote even smaller scales but aren’t the standard terms for IV drop sizes. So the prefix here is micro.

Micro- means very small. In IV therapy, tubing described as microdrip delivers small drops, giving precise control of fluid administration (about 60 drops per milliliter). This precision is especially important for small or fragile patients. Macrodrip tubing, by contrast, delivers larger drops (roughly 10–20 drops per milliliter) and is used when speed is more critical than precision. Nano- and pico- denote even smaller scales but aren’t the standard terms for IV drop sizes. So the prefix here is micro.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Passetra

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy