Which -ist Is It? Trivia Quiz

Answer: dentist

Dentists are involved in the prevention and treatment of diseases of the mouth and teeth. Regular visits to a dentist's office to have your teeth cleaned and inspected can lead to early detection of any problems, and getting them treated before they become a painful one. As well as treating cavities, dentists can repair or replace lost or broken teeth, as well as treating gum diseases.

The dentist's name comes from the French (and earlier, Latin) word for tooth, "dens".

Answer: optometrist

Optometrists primarily diagnose vision problems caused by issues with the way light passes through the eye's lens, and correct them with spectacles of contact lenses. An optical check up (especially for adults) will also look for signs of cataracts (clouding of the cornea that leads to dim vision) and measure the pressure inside the eyeball (looking out for glaucoma, a disorder that can lead to blindness). The optometrist will arrange for an optician to make lenses for your glasses, if necessary. If the check up detects a more serious problem, you may be referred to an ophthalmologist.

The optometrist's name comes from the Greek words for view ("opsis") and measure ("metron").

Answer: orthodontist

An orthodontist is a specialised type of dentist, who works to make sure your teeth are arranged properly in your mouth. If they are not, you can have difficulty biting (when the front teeth do not meet properly) or chewing (when the molars are misaligned) your food. Many people also see an orthodontist to make their tooth arrangement look better - for example, to remove a gap between the two front teeth.

The orthodontist's name comes from the Greek word for right or straight, "ortho", combined with the form of the word dentist which is used when a specialised field of dentistry is being described.

Answer: otorhinolaryngologist

Also known as an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) specialist, the otorhinolaryngologist deals with disorders of various parts of the head and neck. The mouth, throat, nasal passages and inner ears are all part of a single large opening in the skull, and problems in one area often affect others, so these specialists have to be multi-skilled. You might see the ENT for chronic sinus problems, repeated ear infections, severe snoring, or dizziness, among other symptoms.

The otorhinolaryngologist's name is put together using the Latin terms formed from earlier Greek words: "oto-" for ear, "rhino-" for nose, "laryngo-" for throat, "-logist" for one who studies something.

Answer: endocrinologist

Endocrinologists are specialists in the body systems that produce hormones, which includes the thyroid gland. A goitre is a swollen thyroid gland, often caused because the gland is not working efficiently. Endocrinologists also help in the treatment of diabetes, which is related to the pancreas not producing insulin properly.

The endocrinologist's name comes from the fact that the glands under consideration produce chemicals that are released directly into ("endo-") the circulatory system, as opposed to exocrine glands that send their chemicals to the outside ("exo-") surface of some kind of body tissue.

Answer: dermatologist

A dermatologist can help if you have problems with your skin, hair or nails. A dermatologist would treat a wart that is located in a problematic area, remove a birthmark, treat some forms of skin cancer, help control acne, and more. A persistent rash that is not the symptom of a disease such as measles may be caused by an allergy of some sort - your dermatologist will be able to help you find the reason and the treatment.

The dermatologist's name comes from the Greek "dermatos", meaning skin.

Answer: cardiologist

A cardiologist specialises in problems related to the heart, including arrhythmia (beating too fast or too slowly, without an obvious reason), hypertension (high blood pressure) and structural defects. They also treat diseases of the coronary arteries, which can lead to failure of the heart to function properly. If you need surgery, you will be referred to a cardiothoracic (heart and lung) surgeon.

The cardiologist's name comes from the Greek word "kardia", meaning heart.

Answer: radiologist

Treatment of a suspected fracture (broken bone) depends on knowing as much as possible about the location and nature of the break. An X-ray will provide an image of the bones, and allow the doctor to take the right actions. Often, a broken arm will only involve immobilisation (such as covering it with a plaster cast) after the broken pieces have been put into place so they can grow together again; sometimes it is necessary to insert screws or plates to keep them in place.

While the use of X-rays was the original source of the radiologist's name, modern radiologists use a range of techniques to produce images of the body's interior, including ultrasound, computed tomography (CAT scans) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Answer: podiatrist

A podiatrist takes care of problems associated with the feet, ankles and (mostly lower) legs. As well as trivial (albeit painful) problems such as an ingrown nail, you might see a podiatrist if you have flat feet or are pigeon-toed, or have some other structural issue with your feet.

The podiatrist's name comes from the Greek words "pod-" (foot) and "iatros" (healer or physician).

Answer: oncologist

The term cancer actually describes a large range of diseases, all characterised by the fact that they involve an abnormal development in cells which spreads to invade other parts of the body. There are over 100 types of cancer that affect humans. If you have, or are suspected to have, one of them, you will be referred to an oncologist who will help you plan the most appropriate treatment for your case.

The oncologist's name comes from the Greek word "óngko", which means a burden or a mass. This refers to the common development of a mass called a tumor, made up of the cells which are growing unusually.