1. Basic Medical Terminology
BSBMED201A

2. Use basic medical terminology
Objectives
Respond appropriately to instructions that contain medical terminology
Carry out routine tasks
Use appropriate medical terminology
Understand written and oral instructions

3. Spelling Origins are in Latin, Greek, French and English
Break into sections
Australian and American english
Eponym
Words named after someone
Fallopian tubes
Down’s syndrome
Hodgkin’s disease

4. Spelling Onomatopoeia sounds like the word it describes
Acronym are created from the first letters of other words- AIDS,BCC
Most blood tests are written as acronyms, such as CBP,LFT,TFT
Break words into sections
Stem word-usually relates to a part of the body and provides meaning. Some health terms have more than one stem word.

5. Stem Words Word stem meaning Word meaning gastritis gastr stomach
Inflammation of stomach
gastroenteritis
Gastr and enter
Stomach and intestines
Inflammation of stomach and intestines
dermatitis
derm
skin
Inflammation of skin
arthritis
arth
joint
Inflammation of a joint
bronchitis
bronch
airway
Inflammation of the airway
appendicitis
append
appendage
Inflammation of the appendix

6. Breaking words down
Prefixes come before a stem word and modifies the meaning.
word
prefix
meaning
Word meaning
prenatal
pre
before
Before birth
postnatal
post
after
After birth
cyanosis
cyan
blue
Condition of blue colouring
erythrocyte
erythr
red
Red blood cell
leucocyte
leuc
white
White blood cell

7. Breaking Words Down Combining vowel assist with pronunciation word
Combing vowel
Word meaning
cytology o
Study of cells
electrocardiography
O (twice)
Recording of electrical activity in the heart
cardiomegaly
Enlarged heart

8. Breaking words down
Suffixes follow a stem word and indicate a procedure, condition, disorder or disease.
word
suffix
meaning
Word meaning
myalgia
algia
pain
Muscle pain
hysterectomy
ectomy
Surgical removal
Surgical removal of uterus
arthroscope
scope
viewing
Viewing of interior of joint

9. Breaking words down Basic principles are
Look at word and split into sections
Look up meaning in dictionary
Read meaning starting at suffix and read backwards
word
prefix
stem
suffix
vowel
cardiomyopathy
cardi
Cardi and path
pathy o
nephritis
nephr
itis
none
splenomegaly
splen
megaly

10. Pronunciation Medical dictionaries contain pronunciation guide.
Practice saying the word
Concentrate on small groups of words.
Page 12 onwards for tables.

11. communication
As a specimen collector you will be receiving, sending and interpreting information in written and oral form
Can you think of some examples?

12. Rules to follow Ask for help or clarification
Only use words that you know the meaning of
Use terms that the other person understands
Avoid terms with more than one meaning
Learn the terminology specific to specimen collection
This language is meant to help not confuse!
Keep to the facts
Be clear
Maintain confidentiality

13. Body Orientation Anatomical position
Health professionals refer to the body in this position so that everyone is understanding.
The body is standing, facing forward with arms at sides and feet and palms facing forward

14. Body planes Body is divided into planes by imaginary lines
Frontal divides into back and front
Transverse divides into upper and lower
Median divides into left and right

15. Cavities Body organs are located in spaces called cavities.
Anterior is Thoracic, abdominal and pelvic
Posterior is Cranial and Spinal
Activity 3.1 page 25
Organ
cavity
Lungs
Stomach
brain

16. Regions Abdomen is divided into regions Right upper quadrant
Left upper quadrant
Right lower quadrant
Left lower quadrant

17. Regions Further divisions are Right hypochondriac Epigastric
Left hypocondriac
Right lumbar
Umbilical
Left lumbar
Right iliac
Hypogastric
Left iliac

18. Activities Page 27 Activity 3.2 and 3.3 term meaning inferior superior
medial
lateral
anterior
posterior
distal
proximal
superficial

19. Activities The eyes are ........to the mouth
The ears are to the nose
The knees are......to the thighs
The elbow is to the wrist

20. Body Systems
Cells are basic units of life. Different types have specific functions and when combined together form the structures of the body.
Cytology is the study of cells.
Tissues are groups of cells that are similar and have a specialised function.
Epithelial
Connective
Muscle
Nervous

21. Body Systems Epithelial tissue Columnar- gastrointestinal tract
Cuboidal- kidneys, eyes
Squamous- blood vessels, skin, mouth
Transitional- bladder, uterus

22. Body Systems Connective tissue Most abundant in body
Supports and connects
Loose
Adipose
Dense
Cartilage
Bone
Blood

23. Body Systems Muscle tissue Nervous tissue
Skeletal, attached to bones, voluntary
Smooth, walls of hollow organs
Cardiac
Nervous tissue
Nerve cells
Receive and conduct impulses

24. Body Systems Organs Consist of more than 2 different tissue types
Examples are, heart, liver lungs

25. Body Systems Integumentary Musculoskeletal Cardiovascular Lymphatic
Respiratory
Digestive
Endocrine
Urinary
Nervous
Reproductive