Introduction to Medical Terminology

1. Introduction to Medical Terminology

2. Word Parts • WORD PARTS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

3. Three types of word parts • Word Roots or combining forms • Basic meaning of term • Suffixes- end of word • Procedure, condition, disorder, or disease • Prefixes—beginning of word • Indicate location, time, number, or status

4. Word Part Guidelines • A single word root part cannot stand alone. A suffix must be added. • The rules for the use of combining vowels apply when adding a suffix. • When a prefix is necessary, it is always placed at the begininning of the word.

5. Root WordsCombining Forms • Usually used to make word easier to pronounce. • “O” is the most common. • Root word and “\” + vowel=combining form. Cardi\o = combining form for heart.

6. Word Roots for Color • Cyan/o = blue cyanosis blue color to skin • Erythr/o = red erythrocyte red blood cell • Leuk/o = white Leukocyte white blood cell • Melan/o = black melanosis unusual deposits of black pigment • Poli/o = grey –poliomyelitis viral infection of the grey matter of the spinal cord

7. Rule for Using Common Vowels • A combining vowel is not used when suffix begins with a vowel. • A combining vowel is used when suffix begins with a consonant. • A combining vowel is always used when two or more root words are joined. • A prefix does not require a combining vowel.

8. Suffixes • Added to the end of a word to complete the meaning. • Usually : • Procedure -gram • Condition -itis • Disorder -malacia • Disease -osis

9. Suffixes“Pertaining to” • Changes word to an adjective. Appendix A • -ac -eal -ine -tic • -al -ical -ior • -ar -ial -ory • -ary -ic -ous

10. Suffixes

11. SuffixesNoun endings • Some change root to a noun App. A • -a • -e • -um • -us • -y

12. Suffixes “abnormal condition “ • In general suffixes have a meaning of -abnormal condition of --- • -ago • -esis • -ia • -iasis • -ion • -ism • -osis

13. Suffixes Pathology • Study of diseases • -algia • -dynia • -it is • -malacia • -megally • -necrosis

14. Suffixes • -sclerosis • -stenosis

15. Suffixes • Some identify diseases • -centesis • -ectomy • -graphy • -gram • -plasty • -scopy

16. SuffixesDouble RRs • Very confusing- just memorize • -rrhage & -rrhagia = bursting forth • -rrhaphy = to suture or stich • -rrhea = abnormal flow of • -rrhexis = rupture

17. PREFIXES • Usually indicate time, location, or number. • -natal= birth, pertaining to • Prenatal time & events before birth • Perinatal time & events surrounding birth • Postnatal time & events after birth

18. Ab- away from Dys- bad, difficult, painful Hyper- excessive or increased Inter- beween or amoung Sub- under, less, below Ad- toward Eu good, normal, well, easy Hypo- deficient, decreased Intra- within, inside Supra-above or excessive PREFIXESCONTRASTING &CONFUSING

19. Determining Meaningsotorhinolaryngology • Start at either end • Ot/o = pertaining to the ear • Vowel “O” used because joining another root • Rhin/o = nose • Laryng/o larynx and throat • No vowel as suffix begins with a vowel • -ology = study of • Study of the ears , nose, and throat • ENT

20. Medical Dictionary • Guess at meaning but double check for accuracy • If you know spelling • If you do not know spelling • Table 1.5

21. Medical Dictionary Sounds like May be As in F F flatus PH phlegm J G gingivitis J jaundice K C crepitus CH cholera K kyphosis Qu quadriplegia

22. Medical Dictionary Sounds like May be As in S C CYTOLOGY PS PSYCHOLOGIST S SEROLOGY Z X XERODERMA Z ZYGOTE

23. Medical Dictionary • Look under categories • Venereal disease => • diseases, venereal • Fetal alcohol syndrome => • syndrome, fetal alcohol

24. Medical DictionaryPronunciation quadriplegia (kwad-rih-PLEE-jee-ah) • Text bold followed by (sounds like pronunciation) • Emphasis capital letters and bold • Secondary emphasis lower case and bold

25. Medical DictionaryPronunciation There may be more than one way to pronounce a term. • Trend toward English even though most terms are derived from Latin, Greek, or other foreign language. • EITHER or either is correct.

26. SPELLING IS IMPORTANT

27. SPELLING • Changing one or two letters make a big difference. Renin vs Rennin • Look-alike sound-alike

28. ABBREVIATIONS • Many are confusing and have multiple meanings…you must look at context

29. Singular vs Plural Term ends in add Singular Plural a e bursa bursae ex or ix Δ ices index indices -is Δ es diagnosis diagnoses -ites Δ ides arthritis atthritides -nx Δ nges meninx meninges -on Δ a criterion criteria -um Δ a ovum ova -us Δ i aveolus aveoli

30. Basics Sign objective Symptom subjective Syndrome set of signs & symptoms Diagnosis Differential diagnosis Prognosis Diagnose

31. Basics Acute rapid onset Chronic long duration Remission disappearance of symptoms but without cure Condition described =>chronic fatigue syndrome Eponym from person’s name Alzeimer’s Acronym from initial letters Laser =>light amplification by stimulated emmission of radiation

32. Look-alike, Sound-alike • Arteri/o -pertaining to the artery • Ather/o -plaque or fatty substance • Arthr/o -joint • Ileum -part of sm. Intestine • Ilium -hip bone

33. Look-alike, Sound-alike • Infection - invasion by pathogenic organism • Inflammation –localized response to an injury or destruction of tissue. • -itis means infection but has come to mean inflammation also.

34. Look-alike, Sound-alike • Laceration torn ragged wound • Lesion - pathogenic change due to disease or injury • Mucous (adj.) Describes membrane lining body cavities • Mucus Name of substance created by mucous membranes

35. Look-alike, Sound-alike • Myc/o fungus • Myel/o bone marrow or spinal cord • My/o muscle • -ologist specialist • -ology study of

36. Look-alike, Sound-alike -ostomy surgically create an artificial opening -otomy cutting into or surgical incision Palpation -to feel with hands Palpitation –pounding or racing heart

37. Look-alike, Sound-alike Prostate -male gonad Prostrate -to collapse or be lying flat Pyel/o -renal pelvis Py/o -pus Pyr/o fever or fire

38. Look-alike, Sound-alike Supination -act of rotating arm Suppuration - formation or discharge of pus Suturing -closing wound by stitching Ligation -binding or tying of vessels

39. Look-alike, Sound-alike • Triage -medical screening of patients • Trauma -wound or injury • Viral -pertaining to a virus • Virile -possessing masculine traits