C H A P T E R 5 5 Medical Terminology

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Introduction to Medical Terminology 1 1 U N I T

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Basic Principles behind Medical Terminology Most medical terminology stems from Greek or Latin origin. Some medical terms are associated with the physician or scientist who discovered the organ or created the procedure. (continued)

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Basic Principles behind Medical Terminology Most medical terms have three parts: 1. Prefix  Modifier  Appears at the beginning of the term 2. Combining form or word root  Main meaning 3. Suffix  Modifier  Appears at the end of the term

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Properly Breaking Up Medical Terms to Help Define the Meaning First, identify the suffix to determine the meaning of the term. Then look for any prefix at the beginning of the term. Finally, look for the meaning of the word root.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Remember the Rules A prefix always goes to the left (in front of the word) and is denoted with a hyphen to the right. A suffix always goes to the right (after the word) and is denoted with a hyphen to the left. The word root or combining form is the part of the word that applies to anatomy; there can be more than one of these in a medical term.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Unit Summary Does the prefix go on the left or on the right? Does the suffix go on the left or on the right? Where is the combining form placed?

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Prefixes, Suffixes, Word Roots, and Combining Forms 2 2 U N I T

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved How Prefixes Alter Word Meaning Prefixes indicate:  A location  Presence or absence of something  Quantity or lack of quantity  Size  Frequency  Position (continued)

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved How Prefixes Alter Word Meaning PrefixMeaningExample a-, an-withoutArrhythmia is without a rhythm. bi-twoBilateral means pertaining to two sides. dys-abnormal, painful Dysuria is the condition of painful urination. (continued)

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved How Prefixes Alter Word Meaning Exceptions  Choose the prefix based on the word root.  If the word root begins in a vowel, choose a prefix that ends in a consonant.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved How Suffixes Change Medical Terms Suffixes always appear at the end of the word. Suffixes identify the disorder or procedure. (continued)

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved How Suffixes Change Medical Terms SuffixMeaningExample -cytecellA leukocyte is a white blood cell. -itisinflammationGastritis is inflammation of the stomach. -logythe study ofCardiology is the study of the heart.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved The Difference between Combining Forms and Word Roots Combining forms are word roots that already have a vowel added to the end of the root to make it easy to combine the word root with the suffix.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Common Combining Forms and Word Roots Combining Form Word RootMeaning muscul/omusculmuscle cardi/ocardiheart neur/oneurnerve lip/olipfat

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Using the Combining Vowel Use the combining vowel whenever the suffix begins with a consonant. Do not use the combining vowel when the suffix begins with a vowel.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Unit Summary True or false: Prefixes indicate location, presence or absence, quantity, lack of quantity, position, and frequency. True or false: Suffixes serve to pluralize a medical term.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Forming Plurals from Singulars 3 3 U N I T

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Determine Whether a Term is Singular or Plural In the English language, most terms that end in “s” or “es” are plural. To take a singular term that has an English origin and make it plural, you would simply add “s” or “es.”  Runner becomes runners.  Business becomes businesses.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Changing Greek and Latin Terms It is important that you learn to recognize the proper conversion rules for Greek and Latin terms. Once you have worked with the conversion rules, you should practice them and, if possible, memorize them.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Changing Singular to Plural SingularPluralExample -a-ae Vertebra becomes vertebrae. -is-es Diagnosis becomes diagnoses. -um-a Atrium changes to atria. -us-i Bacillus becomes bacilli. -ex-ices Apex changes to apices. -nx-nges Phalanx changes to phalanges.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Unit Summary Are the following words singular or plural?  Appendix  Bacteria  Indices

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Understanding and Building Medical Terms of Body Systems 4 4 U N I T

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Anatomical Position The universal point of reference used to identify directional terms The body is imagined as being upright, with arms at the sides and facing forward.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Important Directional Terms Anterior or ventral  Front Posterior or dorsal  Back (continued)

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Important Directional Terms Inferior: below Superior: above Lateral: to the side Medial: middle Internal: inside Superficial: on the surface

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Select and Define Combining Forms for Each Body System Integumentary system (Table 5-7)  Made up of the skin Musculoskeletal system (Table 5-8)  Made up of the bones and muscles that form our frame and provide support and protection, as well as permit movement (continued)

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Select and Define Combining Forms for Each Body System Cardiovascular system (Table 5-9)  Made up of the heart, blood vessels, and lymphatics Respiratory system (Table 5-10)  Made up of the nose, mouth, trachea, esophagus, bronchi, and lungs (continued)

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Select and Define Combining Forms for Each Body System Gastrointestinal system (Table 5-11)  Consists of the organs that allows us to break down food, use nutrients, and eliminate waste Urinary system (Table 5-12)  Made up of the organs that filter the blood and eliminate liquid waste (continued)

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Select and Define Combining Forms for Each Body System Nervous system (Table 5-13)  Contains the brain and spinal cord Endocrine system (Table 5-14)  Made up of the glands that control mental, emotional, and physical development (continued)

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Select and Define Combining Forms for Each Body System The special senses (Table 5-15)  Organs that help us to see, hear, maintain our balance and upright stature, smell, and taste Reproductive system (Table 5-16)  Made up of all the specific male and female organs that allow us to reproduce

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Common Medical Abbreviations Abbreviations are frequently used to save time when charting. The medical community has developed many common abbreviations. These abbreviations must be universally recognized and never just made up. (continued)

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Common Medical Abbreviations UTI CA, ca EGD GERD GI UGI UA GYN GU IV CVA ECG/EKG EEG MS ASHD MI COPD URI

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Unit Summary Using the knowledge learned in this chapter, build the following medical terms:  Surgical removal of the appendix  Abnormal enlargement of the extremities  Inflammation of the voice box

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Keys to Career Success Medical terminology is the language of health care when working with patients and other health care professionals. Incorrect use or spelling of medical terminology can adversely affect patient care.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Delmar Learning, a division of Thomson Learning Inc. All rights reserved Hot Links to Career Success  MedTerms medical dictionary  Medical dictionary, medical terminology