MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Using medical terminology • Medical terminology is used in: • conversation with other professionals • medical charting and documentation • professional texts, journal articles

Using medical terminology • Understanding and using medical terminology correctly is essential to a successful midwifery career • Why is this essential? 80 slides total

Medical terminology • Each health care specialty has its own terminology and abbreviations • Health care professionals become so used to the language of their specialty they forget others don’t understand these terms 80 slides total

When not to use medical terminology • Medical conditions, diagnoses, treatments and terms should always be explained in lay person’s language when talking to patients, family and community members • Be aware of the client’s literacy level and language of origin 80 slides total

Building blocks of medical language • Medical terms are made up of several parts – elements - that can be combined to make many different words • Learning the meaning of these elements helps understand many medical terms 80 slides total

Building blocks of medical language 3 principle elements make up medical terms: 1. roots and combining forms 2. prefixes 3. suffixes 80 slides total

Each element is essential to understanding the meaning of the medical term Prefix Root Combining Vowel Suffix 80 slides total

The Root • The root is the part of the medical term that gives the main meaning • It usually refers to a structure and/or function of the body • Roots are usually Latin or Greek in origin • All medical terms have at least one root 80 slides total

Combining forms • Combining forms consist of roots plus a vowel, usually the letter “o” • In the dictionary, the vowel is separated from the root with a slash mark, example: • Gastr/o - stomach • Enter/o – small intestine • Cardi/o - heart 80 slides total

Combining vowel • The letter “o” is called the combining vowel • It links the root to the “suffix,” the next element in the medical term • Used if the suffix begins with a consonant. • Not needed if the suffix begins with a vowel 80 slides total

Roots and combining forms • There are thousands of roots and combining forms that make up medical language • You need to learn the roots and combining forms used in general medical terminology and what is specific to maternity care 80 slides total

Basic root words Adip/o fat Arteri/o artery Arthr/o joint Axill armpit Blephar eyelid Bucca cheek Cardi/a heart Cephal head Cerebr/o brain 80 slides total

Basic root words Cervic neck Cholecyst gallbladder Col/o large intestine Cost/o rib Crani/o skull Cyst/o urinary bladder Cyt/o cell Derm skin Enter small intestine 80 slides total

Basic root words Esophag esophagus Gastr/o stomach Hem/o blood Hepat/o liver Ren/o, nephr/o kidneys Lapar abdominal wall Laryng/o larynx Lumbus loin, lower part of the back 80 slides total

Basic root words Myel/o spinal cord My/o, muculo muscle Nas/o, rhino nose Neur/o nerve Ophthalm/o, ocul/o eye Or/o, stomat/o mouth Oste/o bone Ot/o ear Pancreat/o pancreas Pharyng/o throat 80 slides total

Basic root words Pneum/o, pneumon/o lung Splen/o spleen Thorac/o chest Thyroid thyroid gland Trache/o windpipe, trachea Ven/o, phleb/o vein Vertebr/o vertebra Viv/o life 80 slides total

Combining forms • The letter “o” is called the combining vowel • It links the root to the “suffix,” the next element in the medical term, if the suffix begins with a consonant. • The combining form is always used when linking two roots, even if the second one starts with a vowel. 80 slides total

Suffixes • Suffixes are word elements that are attached to the end of roots and combining forms to add to or change their meaning • All medical terms have a suffix 80 slides total

Suffixes • Each suffix can be added to many roots itis = inflammation appendicitis = inflamed appendix arthritis = inflamed joint 80 slides total

Suffixes • The combining vowel is used between the root and the suffix when the suffix begins with a consonant: Example: cardi + o + megaly = cardiomegaly cardiomegaly = enlarged heart cardi = heart, megaly = enlarged 80 slides total

Suffixes • When the suffix begins with a vowel, there is no need for a combining vowel between the root and the suffix • The suffix is attached to the root word Example: gastr + itis = gastritis gastritis = inflammation of the stomach gastr = stomach, itis = inflammation 80 slides total

Suffixes Some common meanings of suffixes: • Pathological (disease) conditions • Diagnostic procedures • Surgical procedures • Pertaining to • Produced by • Resembling 80 slides total

Suffixes • When suffixes are listed in medical dictionaries or word lists, they are listed alphabetically • The word is preceded by a dash and identified as a word element • The dash indicates something precedes it • Dictionary entries will give the language of origin, usually Latin or Greek 80 slides total

Common suffixes Pertaining to: -ac, -al, -ar, -ary, -eal, -iac, -ic, -ical, -ose, -ous, -tic Examples: Cardiac (pertaining to the heart) Cellular (pertaining to the cell) Psychotic (pertaining to psychosis) Corporeal (pertaining to the body) 80 slides total

Common suffixes -algia pain -centesis surgical puncture to remove fluid -cide to kill, destroy -cyte cell -ectomy removal of -emia blood -gram record 80 slides total

Common suffixes -graph instrument used to record -graphy process of recording -ia, - a condition, esp. an abnormal state -ism condition -itis inflammation of -lithiasis presence of or formation of stones 80 slides total

Common suffixes -logy study of -logist person who studies it -megaly enlargement -oid resembling -oma tumor -otomy surgical incision -pathy disease -plasty surgical repair 80 slides total

Common suffixes -plegia paralysis -pnea breathing, respiration -rrhea drainage, flow -scope examination, instrument -scopy examination using a scope -stasis stoppage -stomy surgically create an artificial mouth or stoma 80 slides total

Prefixes • Prefixes are word elements that are attached to the beginning of roots and combining forms to add to or change their meaning • Many (but not all) medical terms have a prefix 80 slides total

Prefixes Common meanings of prefixes: Location Position Direction Time Number Negation, absence of Color 80 slides total

Prefixes • The same prefixes can be attached to many root words, resulting in thousands of variations • The prefix “hyper” means “abnormally increased or excessive” Hyperacid = excessively acidic Hyperactive = abnormally active Hypertension = persistently high blood pressure 80 slides total

Prefixes • Prefixes can dramatically change the meaning of a word • Example: “systole” means “contraction of the heart” • The one letter prefix “a” means “without” • “Asystole” means “no contractions of the heart” -- Just one letter makes the difference between life and death! • Correct spelling is critical in health care 80 slides total

Prefixes • When prefixes are listed in medical dictionaries and word lists, they are located alphabetically followed by a dash and identified as a word element • Their origin (Latin, Greek) is usually given • Example: epi- word element (Gr) meaning over poly- word element (Gr) meaning many, much 80 slides total

Common prefixes A-/an- without, not Anti- against Auto- self Bi- two, double Brady- slow Dys- bad, difficult, painful Epi- over 80 slides total

Common prefixes Eu- good, normal Hemi- half Hyper- above, excessive Hypo- less than, under Inter- between Intra- within Multi- many Non- not Peri- around 80 slides total

Common prefixes Poly- many, much Post- after, behind Pre- before, in front Pseudo- false Quadri- four Semi- half Sub- under, below Supra- above, over Tachy- fast, rapid Tri- three 80 slides total

Putting it all together • Learn the meanings of commonly used word elements and understanding how they combine to make a medical term • Then you can figure out the meaning of thousands of medical terms • Think of each word as a combination of building blocks or railroad cars, fitted together to create a precise meaning 80 slides total

Putting it all together The medical term is put together like a series of building blocks or train cars Prefix + Root + Combining vowel (if needed) + Suffix 80 slides total

Putting it all together – linking the components to define the term Prefix Root Combining Vowel Suffix 80 slides total

Putting it all together • When you see a new term, break it down into the elements • Start at the end of the word and work to the left • Identify and define each element • As you define each element you will define the medical term 80 slides total

Start at the end of the word and work to the left Prefix Root Combining Vowel Suffix 80 slides total

Example: “Echocardiogram” echo cardi o gram 80 slides total

Define Echocardiogram reading from left to right Echo = reflections of sounds Cardi = heart O = connecting vowel Gram = Written, record 80 slides total

Define Echocardiogram reading from left to right Echo = reflections of sounds Cardi = heart O = connecting vowel Gram = Written, record Echocardiogram is defined as a written recording of the heart using reflections of sounds 80 slides total

Putting it all together Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix Echocardiogram • echo = reflections of sounds • cardi = heart • o = connecting vowel • gram = written, record Echocardiogram is a written recording of the heart using reflections of sounds 80 slides total

Example: “Cytology” No Prefix Cyt o logy 80 slides total

Putting it all together Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix Cytology • Cyt (root) = cell • o = the connecting vowel • logy = (suffix) study of Cytology means study of the cell A cytologist is someone who studies cells 80 slides total

Example: “Bradycardia” Brady cardi No Connec- ting vowel ia 80 slides total

Putting it all together Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix Bradycardia • Brady = abnormally slow • no connecting vowel is needed because the prefix ends with a vowel • cardi = heart • ia, a = condition, esp. an abnormal state Bradycardia means a condition of abnormally slow heart 80 slides total

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY