Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Chapter 10: Medical Terminology Basics

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Introduction Greek & Latin influences Understanding medical terminology: –Adds precision –Helps prevent medical mistakes

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Word Parts Root –Fundamental element of every medical term –Establishes basic meaning Suffix –Short element added to end of root to modify its meaning Prefix –Short element added before root to modify its meaning

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Word Parts (cont’d) Most medical terms are composed of roots, suffixes, & prefixes

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Word Parts (cont’d) Root and Combining Form –Basis for term’s meaning –Most derived from Greek or Latin –Compound word: contains more than one root –Vowel (usually o) inserted between root & suffix –Example: cardi + o + logy = cardiology (“study of the heart”) –Root + combining vowel = combining form

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Word Parts (cont’d) Some terms include a root, a combining vowel, and a suffix

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Word Parts (cont’d) Suffix –Letter or combination of letters added to end of a root –Modifies root’s meaning –Can indicate part of speech or number –Typically adds meaning to beginning of a word’s definition –Often used to describe a symptom, disease, or surgical treatment –Example: psych + o + -logy = psychology (“study of the mind”)

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Word Parts (cont’d) Prefix –Changes meaning of word to which it is added –Attached to beginning of root word or combing form –Indicates position or direction (anti-) –Indicates size or quantity of measurement (micro-) –Denotes time or rate of change (tachy-)

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Decoding Medical Terms 1. Break term into its parts –echocardiogram: echo- + cardio + -gram 2. Determine meaning of each part –echo- = “a returned or reflective sound” –cardio = “heart” –-gram = “record” 3. Join definitions of each part to create overall meaning –“a record of the heart made by using returned or reflective sounds”

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Spelling Watch Out for the Following –Same sound, different spelling & meaning Example: ileum (part of intestine) vs. ilium (part of hip bone) –Similar sound, different spelling & meaning Example: abduction (to draw away from) vs. adduction (to draw towards –Silent letters in a term: p in pterygium –Pay attention to context

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Pronunciation Pronunciation of word parts often changes when combined in different ways Pronunciations vary by region

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Abbreviations and Symbols Shortened forms of a word or group of words Time savers Can cause confusion when not universally used Usage varies in different institutions Follow policies of your institution Acronym: an abbreviation formed from first letter of each word in a phrase (ASAP = as soon as possible)

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Using a Medical Dictionary Specialized reference books used by health care professionals Includes –Meaning & pronunciation of terms –Synonyms –Origins of words (etymology)

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Using a Medical Dictionary (cont’d) Common Information Found in Appendices –Measurements –Clinical tests –Drugs –Diagnoses –Body structures –Information resources

Copyright © 2012 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Using a Medical Dictionary (cont’d) Special Dictionary Formats –Specialized for a certain field (Nursing) –Portable size –CD format –Online format –Medical acronyms & abbreviations books