1. MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY A LANGUAGE OF ITS OWN

2. Like a foreign language to most people. Made of terms that describe the Human body in detail. Used to convey the greatest quantity of information, with the least confusion and most precision, to any medical professional in the world. Like a foreign language to most people. Made of terms that describe the Human body in detail. Used to convey the greatest quantity of information, with the least confusion and most precision, to any medical professional in the world.

3. A single medical term can describe a disease, condition, or procedure that might otherwise take several words. Example: appendectomy = surgical removal of the appendix coxitis = inflammation of the hip joint A single medical term can describe a disease, condition, or procedure that might otherwise take several words. Example: appendectomy = surgical removal of the appendix coxitis = inflammation of the hip joint

4. The foundation of medical terms are Greek and Latin. 75% of all medical terms are based on Latin or Greek terms. The Greeks were the founders of modern medicine. Latin is the language of choice for medicine and science. The foundation of medical terms are Greek and Latin. 75% of all medical terms are based on Latin or Greek terms. The Greeks were the founders of modern medicine. Latin is the language of choice for medicine and science.

5. The first medical dictionary appeared in the 1830s. Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary was first published in 1890. The first medical dictionary appeared in the 1830s. Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary was first published in 1890.

7. The rapid increase in medical and scientific knowledge necessitates a new medical vocabulary to describe it. It is impossible to learn ALL medical terms, but it is possible to figure out their meanings by analyzing the word parts. By learning the meaning of the basic word parts, you will frequently be able to interpret the meaning of a word. The rapid increase in medical and scientific knowledge necessitates a new medical vocabulary to describe it. It is impossible to learn ALL medical terms, but it is possible to figure out their meanings by analyzing the word parts. By learning the meaning of the basic word parts, you will frequently be able to interpret the meaning of a word.

8. ETYMOLOGYETYMOLOGY The science of the origin and development of words. Indicates the origin and historical development of a term. Helps you to find its origin and historical development. Helps you decipher words with Latin and Greek origins. The science of the origin and development of words. Indicates the origin and historical development of a term. Helps you to find its origin and historical development. Helps you decipher words with Latin and Greek origins.

9. EPONYMS Eponyms are words named after people. For example: Parkinson’s disease - named after the English physician Dr. James Parkinson. Eponyms are words named after people. For example: Parkinson’s disease - named after the English physician Dr. James Parkinson.

10. ACRONYMS Modern language terms that stand for longer phrases.

11. ABBREVIATIONS Shortened forms of words Used in many health care fields. Each medical facility has an approved abbreviations list. It is the responsibility of the healthcare workers to learn the meanings of the abbreviations used in the facility in which they work. “When in doubt, spell it out!” Shortened forms of words Used in many health care fields. Each medical facility has an approved abbreviations list. It is the responsibility of the healthcare workers to learn the meanings of the abbreviations used in the facility in which they work. “When in doubt, spell it out!”

12. BASIC WORD PARTS : ROOTS The glue that holds all medical terms together. The glue that holds all medical terms together. The basic form around which the final word is formed. The basic form around which the final word is formed. The main part of the word. The main part of the word. The foundation of the word. The foundation of the word. Gives you a clue as to what you are dealing with. Gives you a clue as to what you are dealing with. Specifies the body part. Specifies the body part. Combining vowel, usually “o” or “i”, joins the root with a prefix, suffix, or another root. Combining vowel, usually “o” or “i”, joins the root with a prefix, suffix, or another root. The glue that holds all medical terms together. The glue that holds all medical terms together. The basic form around which the final word is formed. The basic form around which the final word is formed. The main part of the word. The main part of the word. The foundation of the word. The foundation of the word. Gives you a clue as to what you are dealing with. Gives you a clue as to what you are dealing with. Specifies the body part. Specifies the body part. Combining vowel, usually “o” or “i”, joins the root with a prefix, suffix, or another root. Combining vowel, usually “o” or “i”, joins the root with a prefix, suffix, or another root.

13. BASIC WORD PARTS: COMBINING VOWELS Vowels are not used if the word root or suffix begins with a vowel. For example: Encephal (o) : root meaning brain Encephalitis : means inflammation of the brain “itis” is a suffix meaning inflammation “itis” begins with an “i” so a combining vowel is not needed. Vowels are not used if the word root or suffix begins with a vowel. For example: Encephal (o) : root meaning brain Encephalitis : means inflammation of the brain “itis” is a suffix meaning inflammation “itis” begins with an “i” so a combining vowel is not needed.

14. Another Example: Encephalogram “gram” is a suffix meaning “tracing” or “record” “gram” does not start with a vowel Therefore, the combining vowel o is used Another Example: Encephalogram “gram” is a suffix meaning “tracing” or “record” “gram” does not start with a vowel Therefore, the combining vowel o is used

15. YOU TRY IT…. Leuk/o : white cytes : cells Combine them to form the word meaning white blood cells Leuk/o : white cytes : cells Combine them to form the word meaning white blood cells

16. MORE PRACTICE Cyan/o : blue -osis : condition Combine them to form the word meaning a blue discoloration of skin caused by a lack of adequate oxygen. Cyan/o : blue -osis : condition Combine them to form the word meaning a blue discoloration of skin caused by a lack of adequate oxygen.

17. BASIC WORD PARTS: PREFIXES Appear at the beginning of words Appear at the beginning of words Tells “how, why, where, when, how much, how many, position, direction, time or status” Tells “how, why, where, when, how much, how many, position, direction, time or status” Gives us what to expect in a word’s meaning Gives us what to expect in a word’s meaning serve to further define the word root serve to further define the word root Refer to the prefix list Refer to the prefix list Appear at the beginning of words Appear at the beginning of words Tells “how, why, where, when, how much, how many, position, direction, time or status” Tells “how, why, where, when, how much, how many, position, direction, time or status” Gives us what to expect in a word’s meaning Gives us what to expect in a word’s meaning serve to further define the word root serve to further define the word root Refer to the prefix list Refer to the prefix list

18. BASIC WORD PARTS: SUFFIXES Appear at the ends of words Appear at the ends of words tell us what is happening with a specific body part or system tell us what is happening with a specific body part or system Entail what is wrong with you or the procedure used to diagnose or fix it Entail what is wrong with you or the procedure used to diagnose or fix it Refer to the list of suffixes Refer to the list of suffixes Appear at the ends of words Appear at the ends of words tell us what is happening with a specific body part or system tell us what is happening with a specific body part or system Entail what is wrong with you or the procedure used to diagnose or fix it Entail what is wrong with you or the procedure used to diagnose or fix it Refer to the list of suffixes Refer to the list of suffixes

19. COMBINING FORM The combination of a word root with the combining vowel. The combination of a word root with the combining vowel. Example: cardi/o/gram Example: cardi/o/gram The combination of a word root with the combining vowel. The combination of a word root with the combining vowel. Example: cardi/o/gram Example: cardi/o/gram

20. ANALYSIS Your goal is to learn the tools of word analysis Your goal is to learn the tools of word analysis This will make the understanding of complex terminology easier This will make the understanding of complex terminology easier Learning to divide words into basic elements will help you to interpret them. Learning to divide words into basic elements will help you to interpret them. basic elements: roots, prefixes, suffixes, combining vowels basic elements: roots, prefixes, suffixes, combining vowels Example: Example: Gastroenterology Gastroenterology Electrocardiogram Electrocardiogram Your goal is to learn the tools of word analysis Your goal is to learn the tools of word analysis This will make the understanding of complex terminology easier This will make the understanding of complex terminology easier Learning to divide words into basic elements will help you to interpret them. Learning to divide words into basic elements will help you to interpret them. basic elements: roots, prefixes, suffixes, combining vowels basic elements: roots, prefixes, suffixes, combining vowels Example: Example: Gastroenterology Gastroenterology Electrocardiogram Electrocardiogram

21. RULES TO REMEMBER Read the meaning of medical terms from the suffix back to the first part of the word Read the meaning of medical terms from the suffix back to the first part of the word Drop the combining vowel (usually o) before a suffix beginning with a vowel - gastric not gastroic Drop the combining vowel (usually o) before a suffix beginning with a vowel - gastric not gastroic Retain the combining vowel between two roots in a word Retain the combining vowel between two roots in a word Read the meaning of medical terms from the suffix back to the first part of the word Read the meaning of medical terms from the suffix back to the first part of the word Drop the combining vowel (usually o) before a suffix beginning with a vowel - gastric not gastroic Drop the combining vowel (usually o) before a suffix beginning with a vowel - gastric not gastroic Retain the combining vowel between two roots in a word Retain the combining vowel between two roots in a word

22. SPELLING IS ESSENTIAL Many words are pronounced alike but spelled differently and have entirely different meanings Many words are pronounced alike but spelled differently and have entirely different meanings For example: For example: Ileum is a part of the small intestine Ileum is a part of the small intestine Ilium is a part of the pelvic or hip bone Ilium is a part of the pelvic or hip bone Many words are pronounced alike but spelled differently and have entirely different meanings Many words are pronounced alike but spelled differently and have entirely different meanings For example: For example: Ileum is a part of the small intestine Ileum is a part of the small intestine Ilium is a part of the pelvic or hip bone Ilium is a part of the pelvic or hip bone

23. PRONUNCIATION IS ALSO IMPORTANT Words spelled correctly but pronounced incorrectly may be misunderstood. Words spelled correctly but pronounced incorrectly may be misunderstood. Example: Example: Urethra (yoo-ree-thruh) is the urinary tract tube leading from the urinary bladder to the external surface Urethra (yoo-ree-thruh) is the urinary tract tube leading from the urinary bladder to the external surface Ureter (yoo-ree-ter) is one of two tubes leading from the kidney to the urinary bladder Ureter (yoo-ree-ter) is one of two tubes leading from the kidney to the urinary bladder Words spelled correctly but pronounced incorrectly may be misunderstood. Words spelled correctly but pronounced incorrectly may be misunderstood. Example: Example: Urethra (yoo-ree-thruh) is the urinary tract tube leading from the urinary bladder to the external surface Urethra (yoo-ree-thruh) is the urinary tract tube leading from the urinary bladder to the external surface Ureter (yoo-ree-ter) is one of two tubes leading from the kidney to the urinary bladder Ureter (yoo-ree-ter) is one of two tubes leading from the kidney to the urinary bladder

24. LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE Learning medical words is similar to learning a new language Learning medical words is similar to learning a new language The words sound strange and complicated at first. The words sound strange and complicated at first. The medical language is logical in that each term, complex or simple, can be broken down into its basic component parts. The medical language is logical in that each term, complex or simple, can be broken down into its basic component parts. Learning medical words is similar to learning a new language Learning medical words is similar to learning a new language The words sound strange and complicated at first. The words sound strange and complicated at first. The medical language is logical in that each term, complex or simple, can be broken down into its basic component parts. The medical language is logical in that each term, complex or simple, can be broken down into its basic component parts.