Medical Language HST Class

Medical Language – Rationale: Medical language is used by all members of the health care team. It is essential to develop the knowledge of medical language to clearly communicate ideas and accurately interpret, transcribe and communicate using medical terms.

It is nearly impossible for even the most experienced health professional to be familiar with every medical term. However, knowledge of prefixes, suffixes and word roots is essential. It is vital that every health professional be familiar with the commonly used medical terminology.

A medical dictionary is an excellent reference for unfamiliar terms. Taber’s medical dictionary is the most commonly used. A PDR (Physician’s Desk Reference) is a reliable dictionary for medications. We will learn about the PDR in the next lesson.

Word Parts / Building Blocks Most medical terms are formed by a combination of basic word parts. An understanding of how these parts work together makes interpreting medical language easier.

Prefixes – usually indicate location, time, or number. They come at the beginning of the word. Suffixes – usually indicate the procedure, disease, or condition. They come after the word root, at the end of the word. Word roots – usually indicate the part of the body involved.

Combining Vowel – usually “o”. Is attached to the word root Is used to make medical terms easier to pronounce by connecting it or combining it with another word part Is NOT used when the suffix begins with a vowel. IS used when the suffix begins with a consonant.

Example: Poly + neur/o + itis = polyneuritis Many + nerves + inflammation = inflammation of many nerves. Peri + cardi/o + itis = pericarditis Around + heart + inflammation = inflammation of the sac around the heart.

Common Medical Prefixes: a-away from, without ab- away from ad-toward, in the direction of ante-before anti-against bi-two; both

brachy-short brady-slow dys-difficult, painful dors-back endo-inside epi-above, upon hemi-half

inter-between, among intra-within, inside peri-surrounding, around poly-many sub-under, less, below super-above, excessive, beyond supra-above, excessive, beyond

hyper-excessive, above, more than hypo-decrease, below, less inter-between, among intra-within, inside macro-large, big mal-bad micro-small

neo-new para-beside or below peri-around poly-many post-after sub-below super-above tachy-fast

Common Medical Suffixes -algiapain -astheniaweakness -celehernia -centesissurgical puncture -ectomysurgical removal -itisinflammation

-grampicture -malaciaabnormal softening -megalyenlargement -necrosisdeath of tissue -ologystudy of -osisabnormal condition

-ostomysurgical opening -otomysurgical incision -pathydisease -plastysurgical repair -pneabreathing -rrhageexcessive flow; bleeding -rrheaabnormal discharge -rrhexisrupture

-sclerosisabnormal hardening -scopeinstrument to view -scopyprocedure of using a scope -stenosisabnormal narrowing

Common Medical Word Roots acr/oextremities aden/ogland angi/ovessel arteri/oartery arthr/ojoint brachi/oarm

cardi/oheart carp/owrist cerebr/obrain cervic/oneck; or cervix chondr/ocartilage col/ocolon cost/oribs cyst/obladder

cyt/ocell enter/osmall intestine gastr/ostomach hem/o; hemat/oblood hepat/oliver hyster/outerus lapar/oabdomen laryng/olarynx; voice box

later/oside lip/ofat mamm/obreast mast/obreast medi/omiddle myel/ospinal cord/bone marrow my/omuscle nas/onose

nephr/okidney neur/onerve oophor/oovary opthalm/oeye oste/obone ot/oear pneum/olung proct/orectum

pulmon/olungs ren/o; nephr/okidney rhin/onose salping/ofallopian tube tendon/otendon thorac/othorax; chest trache/otrachea; windpipe

Abbreviations Just as in the English language, occasionally we use abbreviations to expedite writing orders and notes. Many of the abbreviations come from diagnostic testing, such as laboratory tests and different types of x-rays. Many of the therapy units have also adopted common abbreviations.

Abbreviations ABGarterial blood gas BSblood sugar; bowel sounds CBCcomplete blood count CXRchest x-ray FBSfasting blood sugar GIgastrointestinal ICUintensive care unit PTPhysical Therapy

Abbreviations CATcomputerized axial tomography ROMrange of motion PACUpost-anesthesia care unit ORoperating room Med-SurgMedical / Surgical OTOccupational Therapy