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Medical History Trivia Quiz

Questions relating to the history of medicine.

A multiple-choice quiz by sardine. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
sardine

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
133,829

Updated
Jun 11 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
9185

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

Last 3 plays: takujohnny (5/10), Guest 104 (5/10), Waldkaeuzchen (5/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. William Harvey's experimental work was revolutionary. He is mostly known for work on: Hint

the volume of the bladder

the functions of the skin

the waves of the brain

the circulation of the blood

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Question 2 of 10

2. Edward Jenner observed that people who had suffered from which disease seemed to have immunity from smallpox? Hint

chickenpox

cowpox

dogpox

sheep pox

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Question 3 of 10

3. The first stethoscope was made of: Hint

wood

steel

gold

rubber

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Question 4 of 10

4. Louis Pasteur was first trained as a _________ . Hint

surgeon

chemist

microbiologist

carpenter

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which disease is thought to have caused the most harm to the most people ? Hint

malaria

AIDS

bubonic plague

chickenpox

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which of these is NOT one of the four humours described in ancient medicine? Hint

phlegm

black bile

blood

urine

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Question 7 of 10

7. The first psychotropic drug was: Hint

imipramine

Prozac

lithium

temazepam

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Question 8 of 10

8. The first heart transplant was performed by: Hint

Linus Pauling

Albert Sabin

Christiaan Barnard

Casimir Funk

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Question 9 of 10

9. Mendel made his genetic discoveries using a: Hint

dog

garden pea

pumpkin

red radish

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Question 10 of 10

10. The first woman professor at the Sorbonne was: Hint

Florence Nightingale

Marie Curie

Hildegard von Bingen

Lydia Pinkham

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 20 2024 : takujohnny: 5/10
Nov 13 2024 : Guest 104: 5/10
Oct 26 2024 : Waldkaeuzchen: 5/10
Oct 23 2024 : Guest 172: 5/10
Oct 23 2024 : Crowphale: 4/10
Oct 22 2024 : pehinhota: 6/10
Oct 18 2024 : Guest 172: 5/10
Oct 13 2024 : Guest 174: 5/10
Oct 13 2024 : Guest 104: 5/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. William Harvey's experimental work was revolutionary. He is mostly known for work on:

Answer: the circulation of the blood

Before Harvey, it was not even believed that the heart pumped blood. The working model before Harvey was Galen's who thought that nutrition was brought from the liver's blood to the body and air from blood in the heart. This "air-filled' blood was thought to be used up and therefore did not return to the heart.

2. Edward Jenner observed that people who had suffered from which disease seemed to have immunity from smallpox?

Answer: cowpox

Many of the diseases that have caused the greatest harm to humans were created by living close to animals.

3. The first stethoscope was made of:

Answer: wood

It was described by Laennec in 1819 and was designed for use by one ear. By 1852 it had been modified to a two-ear instrument with rubber tubing similar to those used today.

4. Louis Pasteur was first trained as a _________ .

Answer: chemist

Pasteur became interested in the chemical properties of living things which led him to study micro-organisms. Through experimentation he proved that organisms causing food to spoil came from the air, and later developed a process to eliminate these organisms using heat. This became known as 'pasteurisation'.

5. Which disease is thought to have caused the most harm to the most people ?

Answer: malaria

The clearing of forests for farmland creates a perfect environment for the mosquitoes that carry malaria. Malaria kills approximately a million children in Africa each year and the number of cases are increasing as malaria becomes stronger and more resistant to treatments.

6. Which of these is NOT one of the four humours described in ancient medicine?

Answer: urine

The humours were used to explain illness - when they were in balance you were well, when upset- ill. The fourth was yellow bile.

7. The first psychotropic drug was:

Answer: lithium

It was used to treat bipolar disease (then called manic depression) and is still used today.

8. The first heart transplant was performed by:

Answer: Christiaan Barnard

The heart was transplanted in South Africa, 1967. Albert Sabin developed the live polio vaccine. Casimir Funk coined the term 'vitamines'. Linus Pauling showed that haemoglobin molecules are different in those with sickle cell anaemia.

9. Mendel made his genetic discoveries using a:

Answer: garden pea

Gregor Mendel was a monk who grew hybrid peas to study genetics.

10. The first woman professor at the Sorbonne was:

Answer: Marie Curie

Curie's work on radium led to X-rays and radiotherapy. Nightingale was a nurse in the Crimean War. Hildegard von Bingen was a 12th century nun who practiced medicine when she was an abbess. Lydia Pinkham 'Lily the Pink' sold 'miracle cures' and made a fortune.

Source: Author sardine

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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