1. Unit 2: Medical Terminology, the History of Health Care, Health Organizations, Technology, and Health Care Careers

2. Why do we need to learn this?

3. Using Medical Abbreviations
Shortened forms for ease and convenience
Usually just letters
Health care workers are expected to recognize most common abbreviations
Agencies have their approved lists of abbreviations – if not on list, do not use

4. Interpreting Word Parts
Impossible to memorize all the medical words individually, so determine meaning of words by breaking it into parts
These word parts are used over and over in different combinations
If the word parts are known, then the word can be broken down and interpreted

5. Interpreting Word Parts (continued)
Prefix: syllable or word placed at the beginning of a word; usually serves to further define the word root
Suffix: syllable or word placed at the end of the word; usually describes what is happening to the word root
Word Roots: main words or parts to which prefixes and suffixes can be added

6. Interpreting Word Parts (continued)
Prefixes and suffixes have set meanings
When prefixes, suffixes, and/or word roots are joined together, vowels are frequently added
Common vowels used: a, e, i, ia, io, o, u
Vowels are not used if the word root or suffix begins with a vowel
Examples

7. Hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy

8. hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy?
So, what is a
hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy?
Hystero / salpingo / -oophor / ectomy
uterus
ovaries
fallopian tubes
removal of
a complete hysterectomy

9. an inflammation of the appendix
Example:
appendicitis
Word root
append
appendix
inflammation , inflammation of
Suffix
itis
an inflammation of the appendix

10. If you add the prefix “pseudo”
to appendicitis …
pseudo
false
You get the word pseudoappendicitis …
a false inflammation of the appendix

11. Things to remember:
The prefix usually serves to further define the word root.
When prefixes, suffixes, and/or word roots are joined together, vowels are frequently added.
Vowels are not used if the word root or suffix begins with a vowel.

12. Example: encephalitis
encephal(o)
brain
inflammation, inflammation of
itis
The vowel “o” is not used because the suffix “itis” begins with a vowel.

13. Example: encephalogram
brain
gram
tracing, picture, record
The vowel “o” is used because the suffix “gram” does not begin with a vowel.

14. Example: hepat(o) liver megaly large, enlarged
Combine the word root and the suffix and you get …
hepatomegaly

15. By learning basic prefixes, suffixes, and word roots, you will frequently be able to interpret the meaning of a word even if you have never seen the word before.

16. Summary
Health care workers have a unique set of abbreviations and words to communicate medical information
By learning basic word parts, they may be able to interpret the meaning of a word even if they have never seen it before
It is also important to learn correct spellings for word parts so medical terms will be interpreted properly by others