Chapter 10 NOTES - Medical Terminology Basics

INTRODUCTION

  • Greek influence –source for diagnosis and surgery related terms
  • Latin influences – source for most anatomical terms
  • Why use medical terminology? Understanding medical terminology adds precision, helps prevent medical mistakes

10.1 - WORD PARTS

I. Overview

  • Medical terms are made up of 2 or more parts each having unique meaning
  • Root: is 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
  • Health care professionals need only to familiarize themselves with the most commonly used word parts rather than attempt to memorize every possible medical term

II. Root and Combining Form

  • Root = basis for term’s meaning
  • Most derived from Greek or Latin
  • Compound word: word that contains more than one root
  • ie.) cardiovascular
  • Vowel (usually o) is inserted between root & suffix that begins with a consonant to help with pronounciation
  • ie.) cardi + o + -logy = cardiology (“study of the heart”)
  • Root + combining vowel = combining form
  • Many describe substances, organs, or colors (see table 10-1)

III. Suffix

  • Letter or combination of letters added to end of a root and modifies root’s meaning
  • Can indicate that a word is a noun, adjective, singular or plural
  • Typically adds meaning to the beginning of a word’s definition
  • Example: psych + o + -logy = psychology (“the study of the mind”)
  • Often used to describe a symptom, a disease, or a surgical treatment (table 10-2)

IV. Prefix

  • Attached to beginning of a root word or combining form and modifies the root’s meaning
  • Indicates position or direction
  • ie.) anti- = opposed to
  • Indicates size or quantity of measurement
  • ie.) micro- = small
  • Denotes time or rate of change
  • ie.) tachy- = fast or rapid

10.2 - DECODING MEDICAL TERMS

  1. Break term into its building blocks
  2. PREFIX + ROOT + SUFFIX

echo- + cardio + -gram

  1. Determine meaning of each part
  2. echo- = “a returned or reflective sound”

cardio = “heart”

-gram = “record”

  1. Join definitions of each part to create overall meaning of term (*remember the meaning of the suffix is ually moved to the front of the definiton)
  2. “a record of the heart made by using returned or reflective sounds”

Try it yourself! Decode hypodermal

Break it apart= hypo + derm + al

Indidivual meaning= below or deficient + skin + relating to

Overall meaning= “relating to below the skin”

10.3 - SPELLING AND PRONUNCIATION

  • Some words sound the same, but are spelled differently & have different meanings:
  • ileum (part of intestine) vs. ilium (part of hip bone)
  • Some words sound similar, but are spelled differently & have different meanings:
  • abduction (to draw away from) vs. adduction (to draw towards)
  • When letters are silent in a term, there is a risk of omitting them from a spelled word
  • (silent p in pterygium)
  • Some combining forms have the same meaning but different origins that compete for usage
  • (hystero- vs. metro- vs. utero- all meaning “uterus”)
  • Many words look the same & are easily confused
  • Pay attention to context – use surrounding word to help determine meaning
  • Pronunciation of word parts often changes when combined in different ways and based on region (see table 10-4)

10.4 - ABBREVIATIONS AND SYMBOLS

  • Abbreviation: Shortened forms of a word or group of words
  • Save time and space
  • Can cause confusion when not universally understood
  • Usage varies in different institutions; follow policies of your institution
  • Ex.) Preop= Preoperative or IV=intravaneous
  • Acronym: an abbreviation formed from the first letter of each word in a phrase
  • Ex.) ASAP= As Soon As Possible or BP= blood Pressure
  • Symbols: a form of efficient shorthand communication used in medical records or laboratory reports

10.5 - USING A MEDICAL DICTIONARY

  • Specialized reference books used by health care professionals
  • Meaning and pronunciation of terms
  • Synonyms: words with the same meanings
  • Origins of words (etymology)
  • Useful appendices: measurements, clinical tests, drugs, diagnoses, body structures, information resources, & other topics
  • Specialized, portable, CD, & online versions
  • Medical acronyms & abbreviations book