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Mastering Medical Terminology: Building Blocks and Word Puzzles

Learn the essential components of medical terms to decipher their meanings easily. Practice forming words and definitions with word roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

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Mastering Medical Terminology: Building Blocks and Word Puzzles

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  1. Chapter 4 Medical Terminology

  2. Medical Terminology • Language used by health care professionals • Includes specialized terms, abbreviations, and symbols • Precise terms prevent confusion and error • Often do not use when communicating with patients

  3. Building Blocks • Word root • Gives word its main meaning • All medical terms have at least one root • Refers to structure and function of body • Combining form • Word root plus vowel • Links word root to next word part • Usually “o,” but can be “a,”“e,”“i,” or “u”

  4. Question • What word part is “cardi”? • Word root • Combining form • Combining vowel

  5. Answer • A. Word root • Cardi • Word root meaning heart • Combining form • Cardi/o • Combining vowel • “o”

  6. Building Blocks • Suffix • Attaches to end of word roots and combining forms to add to or change meaning • All medical terms have suffix

  7. Question • Which of the following suffixes means pain? • -cide • -ical • -algia

  8. Answer • C. -algia • -cide • To kill or destroy • -ical • Pertaining to

  9. Building Blocks • Prefix • Attaches to beginning of word roots and combining forms to add to or change meaning • Not all, but many medical terms have prefix

  10. Question • In the word hypothyroidism, what word part is hypo? • Word root • Suffix • Prefix

  11. Answer • C. prefix • Prefix hypo = less than or under • Word root thyroid = thyroid gland • Suffix -ism = condition • Hypothyroidism meaning • Condition created by less than normal levels of thyroid hormones

  12. Building Blocks

  13. Deciphering Medical Terms • Start from right and work left • Identify meaning of suffix • Identify meaning of word root • Identify meaning of prefix • If one exists

  14. Medical Terminology Word Puzzles • You need: • Piece of paper & Pencil • Medical Dictionary • Your book • We’re going to practice putting together medical terms and maybe earn some extra credit!

  15. How you play • Open your book and locate the terminology building blocks (roots, prefixes, and suffixes) • Fit terms together like a puzzle to make words you know and new ones! • Check your term in the medical dictionary to be sure it actually exists • On your paper write the word, identify the building blocks used to make the word, and write the definition. • Example 1) hypothyroidism-condition created by less than normal levels of thyroid hormones • Do this for 20 terms. • More than 20 is extra credit! • Draw a small picture of the terms for extra credit!

  16. Do you know the meaning of the following words? • Rhinoplasty • Rhin = nose • -plasty = surgical repair • Cardiac • Cardi = heart • -ac = pertaining to • Anoxia • A = without • Ox = oxygen • -ia = pertaining to

  17. Example • Cardiology • Suffix -ology = study of • Word root cardi = heart • Prefix = (none in this word) • Meaning • Study of the heart

  18. What does this mean? • Polyarthritis • Suffix -itis = inflammation • Word root arthr = joint • Prefix poly = many or much • Meaning • Inflammation of many joints

  19. urethra vs. ureter

  20. ilium vs. ileum

  21. Medical Abbreviations and Symbols • Shorthand • Many common • Others vary • Use only those listed on facility’s approved list • If not on facility’s approved list, cannot be used

  22. Question • True or False: • If the provider writes the order “up ad lib,” it means the patient is to always walk with the assistance of a health care professional.

  23. Answer • False • Ad lib = freely or at will • Up ad lib = patient can get up and move about freely and at own will

  24. Question • A patient is having intercostal pain. Decipher the medical term to determine where this pain would be located. • Between the ribs • In the abdomen • In the head or neck

  25. Answer • A. Between the ribs • Suffix -al = pertaining to • Word root cost = rib • Prefix inter = between • Combine word parts to learn that patient is having pain between ribs

  26. Spelling and Pronunciation • Accuracy critical • Some words sound the same • But spelled differently • One letter can completely change meaning • Memorize pronunciation and plural form guides

  27. Question • True or False: • The symbol ♂ means male.

  28. Answer • True • Symbol for male • ♂ • Symbol for female • ♀

  29. Aids to Learning • Purchase medical dictionary • Choose one most helpful to individual needs • Use study habits to build on own learning style • Visual, auditory, or kinesthetic

  30. Question • Which of the following would be a visual study technique to learning? • Practice by writing the words down • Read medical terms aloud • Draw and color images of terms

  31. Answer • A. Practice by writing the words down • Writing terms • Visual • Speaking words aloud • Auditory • Drawing and coloring images • Kinesthetic

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