1. Medical Terminology

2. Where did medical terminology come from?
Most come from Greek or Latin
As medicine advanced, more modern terms have come from German, French and English
Generally medical terms for determining illness or describing surgery have Greek origins.
Terms for parts of the body generally have Latin roots.

3. Sample Medical Record
Mrs Gravelle is an 80 year old female with deteriorating general health. She suffers with the following chronic conditions: blepharitis, which occludes her vision at time; angiocele of coronary vessels causing a tachycardia between frequent episodes of epistaxis. Current complaints include SOB and congestion of the sinus and chest area. Bilateral rales are present, nares are inflamed with profuse rhinorrhea. Rx is BR, antibiotics QiD, 240 cc of cl liq Q1hr. Decongestant Q4h and PRN. s

4. Pronounciation of medical terms
ch is sometimes pronounced like a k Examples: chemoreceptor, chronic
ps is pronounced like s Examples: psychiatry, psychology
pn is pronounced with only the n sound Examples: pneumonia, pneumogastric
c and g are given the soft sound of s and j respectively Examples: cell, cilia, genetics, Giardia
ae and oe are pronounced ee Examples: fasciae, coelom
i at the end of a word is pronounced eye (to form a plural) Examples: alveoli, glomeruli
es when forming the final letters of a word, is often pronounced as a separate syllable Example: nares (nah’reez)

5. Medical Word Parts
Prefix: Beginning part of a word preceding the word root.
Example: peri-
Root: Central part and determines the meaning of a word.
Example: cardi-
Suffix: Last part of the word that changes its meaning.
Example: -itis
Combining A root with an added vowel for easier pronunciation.
Form Example: rhin/o

6. Common Abbreviations Cath. NPO am, AM B/P bid fx hs IV lab
Spec. Hyper ROM
CPR po w/c
Pc qhs qid, QID
q Pt, pt amt.
Q2h I & O dc
qod, QOD post CA

7. Abbreviations (continued)
ss c OPD
pm, PM postop bm, BM
BR, br O2 CBC
ax stat s
c/o wt dx
ht cc amb
liq. BRP H2O
OOB, oob noct, noc.

8. Examples
Please write the following situation out in whole words/no abbreviations:
58 y/o male c/o SOB and fever. Upon arrival to ED his VS are as follows: T P 115 R 30 BP 102/60 and and O2 at 85%. Pt. w/hx of COPD, URI, Lung CA, CHF and DM. Orders are as follows: stat CXR, stat CBC, adm O2 at 2l/min and start IV of 125ml/h. Admit to med unit, DM diet, VS Q4h, BR w/BRP

9. Examples Write the following sentences in abbreviated format:
20 milliequivalent of potassium chloride by mouth four times a day before meals.
Temperature, pulse and respirations every 6hours
Eight ounces of magnesium citrate every four hours until BM
Complete bedrest until blood pressure less than 145 three times
Admit to Coronary Care Unit, electrocardiogram immedately, blood work to be done: complete blood count, blood/urea/nitrogen; vital signs every four hours

10. Prefixes
Syllable or word placed at the beginning tells the how, why, where, when, how much, how many, direction, time.
Examples:
Pre means before
Tachy means fast

11. Prefixes Continued Brady means slow Hemi means half
These are just a few examples. These prefixes combined with root words and suffixes make up terms that describe human anatomy, organ systems, clinical and diagnostic imaging, lab testing, together with clinical procedures, surgeries and diagnoses.

12. Word Roots
Definition: Main words or parts to which prefixes and suffixes can be added.
By learning basic prefixes, suffixes, and word roots, you will frequently be able to interpret the meaning of a word even when you have never before seen the word
In the example appendicitis, the word root is appendix. By adding the prefix pseudo, which means “false,” and the suffix itis, which means “inflammation,” the word becomes pseudoappendicitis. This is interpreted as a “false inflammation of the appendix.”

13. Word Roots Continued
When prefixes, suffixes, and/or word roots are joined together, vowels are frequently added. Common examples include a, e, i, ia, io, o and u. The vowels are not used if the word root or suffix begins with a vowel.
Example: encephal (o) means brain. When it is combined with itis, meaning inflammation of, the vowel is not used for encephalitis. When it is combined with gram, meaning tracing or record, the vowel “o” is added for encephalogram.

14. Word Roots Continued
Example: hepat (o) means liver. When it is combined with itis, the vowel is not used for hepatitis. When it is combined with megaly, meaning enlarged, the vowel “o” is added for hepatomegaly.
Other examples:
Peri Cardi/o Ectomy = Pericardiectomy which is the surgical removal of a portion of the membrane surrounding the heart.

15. Word Roots Continued
Crani otomy = craniotomy crani means pertaining to the skull, otomy means cutting into. Craniotomy is surgical opening into the skull
Leuko cyte = leukocyte leuko means whit, cyte means cell. Leukocyte is a white cell
Para plegia = paraplegia para means lower half of body, plegia means paralysis. Paraplegia is paralysis of the legs and lower body.

16. Suffixes
Defined as a syllable or word placed at the end of a word. The ending part of a word that modifies the meaning of the word.
Examples:
ology-study of, science of; Biology
lysis-destruction, dissolving of; Autolysis
osis-condition, state, process; Osteoporosis

17. Pulling it All Together
It is impossible to memorize all of the words of a medical dictionary that are used in health occupations.
By breaking these words into parts, however, it is sometimes possible to figure out their meanings.
In order to communicate effectively, health care workers must be familiar with common abbreviations and terminology.

18. Bringing Root Words and Suffixes Together
Examples:
neuralgia cardiomalacia
hysterectomy hepatomegaly
mammogram biologist
anemia carcinoma
carditis rhinorrhea
thrombolysis necrosis
colostomy cardiomyopathy

19. Bringing Root Words and Suffixes together
Examples continued:
osteopenia myospasm
thrombolysis

20. BellWork for Monday 1/27
When you see the statement “What word elements are used to form common health care terms and abbreviations?” What do you think the term elements means? How would you explain it in terms of medical use?

21. Bell Ringer for Thursday
A patient has just had a thoracotomy. Where would you find a surgical wound on this patient?
Back
Lower leg
Neck
Chest

22. Bell Ringer for Thursday
Which of the following would be a normal complaint of a marathon runner?
Nephrosis
Myalgia
Hematuria
Hydrocephalus

23. Bell Ringer for Friday
What is the most likely reason to perform a mastectomy?
Breast Cancer
Fracture
Hepatitis
Ligament Strain

24. Bell Ringer for Tuesday-Root Word
If a patient has had a cerebrovascular accident, what part of their body has been affected?

25. Bell Ringer for Friday-Prefixes
What do you think a patient with hypoglycemia is suffering from?

26. Bell Ringer for Tuesday-Root Word
If a patient has had a cerebrovascular accident, what part of their body has been affected?

27. Bell Ringer for Thursday-Abbrev.
Write following orders as abbreviations:
Immediate electrocardiogram, vital signs every 2 hours, 30 cubic centimeters of cough syrup by mouth as needed or whenever necessary

28. Questions
Joe has kidney stones, he should see a: gastroenterologist, pathologist, nephrologist or neurologist
What prefix means before: pre, semi, sub, tachy
If a patient is turned q2h, how many times will the patient be turned during an 8hour shift? 2,4,8,16
What instrument would a doctor use to examine the urinary bladder? Gastroscope, proctoscope, otoscope or cystoscope
What prefix means slow: brady, anti, bi, dys

29. Questions Continued:
What health professional would use an opthalmascope? Dentist, xray technician, a foot doctor, an eye doctor
What prefix means half? Hemi, contra, tachy, contra
Maria has osteoporosis. She needs to see a doctor who specializes in the study of the : skin, bones, eyes or lungs.
Kate complained of upper abdominal pain immediately after eating spicy food. She most likely has: arteriosclerosis, spelnomegaly, gastritis or nephrosis

30. Questions Continued
Physicians believe that Fatima may have septicemia. What would be tested to confirm the diagnosis: sputum, blood, urine, spinal fluid
Chris was hit by a baseball and needs a rhinoplasty. He was hit in the: stomach, chest, face, pelvis
What root word means ear: chem, erythro, neuro, oto
What suffix means removal of: algia, ectomy, ology, stasis
Which of the following is symptom of pericarditis: bloody urine, chest pain, difficulty swallowing or headache