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Learning Terminology

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Objectives•Explain how medical terms are developed.•Describe the process of pluralizing terms.•Describe how to interpret pronunciation marks.•List basic legal and ethical issues for health-related professionals.•Describe how medical documentation is compiled.

After studying this chapter, you will be able to :

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Objectives

•Define the four word parts used to build medical terms.•Define common medical combining forms.•Define common medical prefixes.•Define common medical suffixes.•Describe how word parts are put together to form words.

After studying this chapter, you will be able to:

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Language of Medicine

•Dates to the time when people had only spoken language and no written language

•Medical terminology began to gain uniformity as a result of the works of Hippocrates

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Hippocratic OathForms the basic ethical standards of modern medicine with regards to:

•Abstaining from voluntary acts of mischief & corruption

•Keeping confidences

•Doing no harm

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Hippocratic Oath Part 2•Some aspects are still debated today such as:

Euthanasia Abortion

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Derivation of Medical Terminology

•The study of the origin of words is called etymology.•Many medical terms used today are based on Ancient Greek and Latin.•Word building became and remains the primary way to describe new medical discoveries.

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Derivation of Medical Terminology Part 2

Word knowledge was primarily passed on through only verbal communication which resulted in words being pronounced very differently.

The word heart is derived from Old English heorte which comes from a word related to Greek kardia which means heart.

Medical Terms• Medical terms are like

jigsaw puzzles.• They are constructed of

small pieces that make each word unique; Pieces can be used in different combinations in other words

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Word Analysis

Words are divided into the following components:

•Root: foundation of the term•Ex: subgastric – gastr is the root meaning stomach

•Suffix: word ending•Ex: subgastric – ic means pertaining to

•Prefix: word beginning•Ex: subgastric – sub means under

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Reading Medical Terms• To define medical terms based on word

parts, read the meaning of medical terms from the suffix back to the beginning of the term and then across

– Ex: hematology: logy means the study of; hemat/o means blood so this word means the study of blood.

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Medical Word Classifications

• You will “decode” words by dividing terms into component parts; You will need to memorize the component parts.

• Decodable – Have Greek or Latin components parts that can be analyzed; therefore the word can be deciphered to reveal the meaning

– Examples:• Term: Gastr/itis

– Analysis: Gastr/ is a word root meaning stomach; -itis is a suffix meaning inflammation

– Definition: Inflammation of the stomach 

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Medical Word Classifications• Nondecodable – Can not be divided into

component parts; definition of terms must be memorized.– Examples:– 1. Cataract: Progressive

opacification of the – lens; Term is derived from the

Greek term – meaning waterfall– 2. Asthma: Respiratory disorder

characterized by recurring episodes of paroxysmal dyspnea; Term is derived from Greek panting.

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Medical Word Classifications

• Eponyms – Terms named after the person who first identified the condition, described the procedure or devised the object. 

– Examples:•Alzheimer Disease: A progressive

mental deterioration, named after a German neurologist, Alois Alzheimer

•Cesarean Section: The removal of the infant from the uterus by incising the uterine wall, named after the manner in which Julius Caesar was supposedly born.

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Medical Word Classifications

• Abbreviations – Terms that have been shortened to a number of letters

 – Examples:– 1. CAD: Coronary

Artery Disease– 2. CABG: Acronym

for coronary artery bypass graft.

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Medical Word Classifications

• Symbols – Graphic representations called symbols used in health care terminology– Examples:

• Increase: ↑•Decrease: ↓

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Building Medical TermsWord Root

Prefix

Suffix

Combining forms

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Forming Medical TermsMedical Term

PrefixWord root

Suffix

Combining forms

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Forming Medical Terms Part 2Medical terms are formed from two or more word parts.

•The main part of a word which contains the basic meaning.

RootPrefix

•Word parts attached to the beginning of a word that modifies the meaning.

Suffix

•Word parts attached to the end of a word that modifies the meaning.

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Combining Vowel

The word root and a combining vowel that enable two parts to be connected.

Combining Form

Vowel (usually O) that links the root to the suffix or the root to another root

Ex: hematology- hemat is the root meaning blood; O is the combining vowel; logy is the suffix meaning the study of

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Word Roots and Combining Forms [ACANTH(O)]

Combining Forms Meaning

acanth (o) actin (o)

aer (o)

athero

bacill (i)

bar (o)

spiny, thorny

weight; pressure

bacilli; bacteria

plaque; fatty substance

air; gas

light

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Word Roots and Combining Forms [BLAST(O)]Combining Forms Meaning

blasto

carcin(o)

chrondro

cry(o)

crypt(o)

cyan(o)

immature cells

cancer

cartilage

cold

hidden

blue

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Word Roots and Combining Forms [CYT(O)]

Combining Forms Meaning

cyt(o)

dextr(o)

dips(o)

dors(o)

erythr(o)

esthesio

cell

right

thirst

back

red

sensation, perception

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Word Roots and Combining Forms [GALACT(O)]Combining Forms Meaning

galact(o)

gluco

gero

glyco

gyn(o)

home(o)

kin(o)

milk

glucose

old age

sugars

women

same

movement

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Word Roots and Combining Forms [KINESI(O)Combining Forms Meaning

kinesi(o)

lact(o)

leuk(o)

lith(o)

mio

narco

necro

motion

milk

white

stone

smaller; less

sleep; numbness

death; dying

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Word Roots and Combining Forms [NOCT(O)]Combining Forms Meaning

noct(i)

oncho

path(o)

phago

phon(o)

pseud(o)

pyo

night

tumor

disease

eating

sound; voice

false

pus

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Word Roots and Combining Forms [PYRO]Combining Forms Meaning

pyro

salping(o)

schiz(o)

scler(o)

scolio

somato

spiro

fever

tube

split; division

hardening

crooked; bent

body

breath; breathe

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Word Roots and Combining Forms [TEL(O)]Combining Forms Meaning

tel(o)

tono

tropho

xanth(o)

xeno

Xer(o)

distant; end; complete

tension; pressure

food; nutrition

yellow

stranger

dry

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•Prefixes are attached to the beginning of words.

•Modifies the meaning of the word or word root.

•Indicates size, quantity, position of, and location.

Prefixes

PrefixWord Root

Suffix

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Prefixes (a–aut)Prefix Meaning

a

ab

ambi

ana

ante

anti

aut(0)

without

away from

both, around

up, toward

before

against

self

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Prefixes (brachy–hypo)Prefix Meaning

brachy

brady

contra

dys

hemi

hyper

hypo

short

slow

against

abnormal; difficult

half

above normal

below normal

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Prefixes (inter–peri)Prefix Meaning

inter

iso

mal

meta

micr(o)

olig(o)

peri

between

equal; same

bad; inadequate

after

small

few; little; scanty

around; about; near

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Prefixes (pro–un)Prefix Meaning

pro

re

retro

semi

supra

tachy

un

before; forward

again; backward

behind; backward

half

above; over

fast

not

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Suffixes

•Attaches to the end of the word and carries the underlying meaning of the word.

•Suffixes can also be combining forms.

PrefixWord Root

Suffix

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Suffixes (ad–crine)Suffix Meaning-ad

-algia

-asthenia

-blast

-cidal

-clast

-crine

toward

pain

breaking

weakness

immature; forming

destroying; killing

secreting

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Suffixes (crit–ectomy)Suffix Meaning

-crit

-cyte

-cytosis

-derma

-dynia

-ectasis

-ectomy

separate

cell

condition of cells

skin

pain

expanding; dilating

removal of

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Suffixes (emesis–graphy)Suffix Meaning-emesis

-emia

-esthesia

-globin

-gram

-graph

-graphy

vomiting

blood

sensation

protein

a recording

recording instrument

process of recording

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Suffixes (ic–malacia)Suffix Meaning-ic

-ism

-itis

-kinesia

-logist

-lysis

-malacia

pertaining to

condition; disease

inflammation

movement

one who practices

destruction of

softening

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Suffixes (mania-pathy)Suffix Meaning-mania

-megaly

-oid

-opia

-ostomy

-para

-pathy

obsession

enlargement

like; resembling

vision

opening

bearing

disease

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Suffixes (penia-phrenia)Suffix Meaning

-penia

-pepsia

-pexy

-phage

-phobia

-phonia

-phrenia

deficiency

digestion

fixation

eating; devouring

fear

sound

of the mind

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Suffixes (phylaxis-rrhaphy)Suffix Meaning

-phylaxis

-plasty

-plegia

-pnea

-ptosis

-rrhagia

-rrhaphy

protection

surgical repair

paralysis

breath

falling down; drooping

heavy discharge

surgical suturing

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Suffixes (rrhexis-tropia)Suffix Meaning

-rrhexis

-spasm

-stasis

-stenosis

-tomy

-trophy

-tropia

rupture

contraction

stopping; constant

narrowing

cutting operation

nutrition

turning

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Apply Your KnowledgeUsing various word parts, build terms for the following meanings.

Meaning Term

•Absence of blood

•Bluish color of hands and feet

•Equal vision in both eyes.

•Fast heart.

•Breakdown of sugar.

anemia

cyanosis

isopia

tachycardia

glycolysis

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Apply Your Knowledge Part 2Using various word parts, build terms for the following meanings.

Meaning Term

•Lack of white blood cells.

•Softening of bone.

•Inflammation of a vein.

•Nerve pain.

•Science of skin and its diseases.

leukopenia

osteomalacia

phlebitis

neuralgia

dermatology

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Pluralizing TermsRules

•Add s to words ending in any vowel or consonant except s,x,z, or y (ex. joint- joints)

•Add es to words ending in s,x, or z (ex. reflex - reflexes)

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Pluralizing Terms Part 2Rules Cont’d

•Remove x and add `ces to Latin words ending in x (ex. appendix - appendices)

•Remove the `y and add `ies to words ending in `y preceded by a consonant (ex. mastectomy- mastectomies)

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Pluralizing Terms Part 3Rules Cont’d

•When an ending `y is preceded by a vowel, the usual plural suffix is `s (ex. boy - boys)

•Add `e to Latin terms ending in a (ex. lamina - laminae)

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Pluralizing Terms Part 4Rules Cont’d

•Remove `us and add `i to Latin words ending in us (ex. bacillus- bacilli)

•Change `sis to `ses in Greek words ending in sis (ex. psychosis - psychoses)

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Pluralizing Terms Part 5Rules Cont’d

•Remove `on from and add `a to Greek words ending in `on (ex. criterion - criteria)

•Remove `um from and add `a to Latin words ending in um (ex. diverticulum - diverticula)

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Pluralizing Rules

•fossa fossae

•datum data

•radix radices

Latin Greek

Singular Plural Singular Plural

•neurosis neuroses

•ganglion ganglia

•calyx calyces

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Spelling & Pronunciation of Medical Terms

Misspellings and mispronunciations in a medical setting can result in life threatening situations

“The patient was to have a cholectomy NOTa colectomy!!”

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Spelling & Pronunciation of Medical Terms Part 2Pronouncing a word out loud each time

you see the pronounciation will help familiarize you with the sound of the word.

Long and short vowels are a guide to help you pronounce words.

anemiaa-NE-me-a

reflexRE-fleks

typhoidTI-foyd

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Legal and Ethical IssuesThe American Hospital Association’s Patient’s Bill of Rights gives guidelines which provide a clear, ethical standard for patient’s rights.

•Right to refuse care

•Right to privacy

•Right to be informed

•Right to considerate and respectful

care.

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Using Medical TerminologyMedical Terminology is instrumental in both verbal and written communication.

Documentation of health care services must be complete for both ethical and legal reasons.

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Medical RecordsMedical Records

Formats for medical records depend on:

•State law

•Institution’s responsibilities

•Configuration of its computer systems

•Coding and billing practices

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Medical Records SOAP formatMedical Records

SOAP Format •S- subjective•O- objective•A- assessment•P- plan

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Chronological FormatMedical Records

Chronological Format

• Interactions are listed in chronological order.

•Earliest date is at the top of the patient record

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Apply Your KnowledgeWhich of the following statements is correct regarding the derivation of medical terms?

A. The change in medical terms has been drastic over the years.

B. The change in medical terms has not been drastic over the years.

Answer B.

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Apply Your Knowledge Part 2Make each of the following terms plural.

staphylococcus

vasectomy

paraplegic

appendix

staphylococci

vasectomies

paraplegics

appendices

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Case StudyCase StudyAfter obtaining the ordered laboratory specimens from a patient, Jamie(a laboratory technician) prepares to leave the patient’s room when a visitor asks “Does she really need to take all those medications the nurse left in here?”How should Jamie handle this question and why?

Answer: Remembering patient’s rights to confidentiality and the scope of his training as a laboratory technician, Jamie should request that the visitor speak with the nurse and or physician.