MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

Why is medical terminology so important?

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY Universal language for all health care workers Better understanding when reading charts/care plans Makes reporting/recording easier & faster Ex. Patient complains of lower left quadrant pain and has nausea and vomiting = Pt. c/o LLQ pain & N/V To understand medical terminology we have to: Analyze words by dividing them into parts Prefix Root word Suffix Relate the terms to the structure and function of the body

PREFIX A prefix is a word element placed at the beginning of a word. Prefixes are always combined with other word elements, never alone. It usually indicates time, direction or number/amount. HYPER = above normal HYPO = below normal THEREFORE: HYPERTENSION = above normal blood pressure HYPOTENSION = below normal blood pressure

ROOT A root word contains the basic meaning of the word. It can be combined with prefixes, suffixes or other root words to form a medical term. A root word usually indicates a body part, and is the foundation of the term. The combining vowel, usually “o” links the root to the suffix or to another root word. It is then called a “combining form”. This combining vowel is only used when the suffix or root word that it’s being linked to begins with a consonant. ARTHR = joint (root word) SCOPY = examination using a scope (suffix) THEREFORE: Arthr/o/scopy = examination of a joint using a scope

ROOT TRY THIS Gastr – stomach It is – inflammation = ?? End – within (root) Scope – examination with a scope (suffix) = End/o/scope – to examine within the body using a scope Electr – electricity (root) Cardi – heart (root) Gram – record (suffix) = Electr/o/cardi/o/gram TRY THIS Gastr – stomach It is – inflammation = ??

SUFFIX A suffix is placed at the end of a word and is combined with a prefix or root word. They are never used alone. Suffixes usually indicate a procedure, condition or disease. RHIN (O) = nose (root word) PLASTY = surgical repair or reshaping (suffix) THEREFORE: RHIN/O/PLASTY = surgical repair or reshaping of the nose

LET’S TRY SOME PREFIXES ROOT SUFFIX Hypo = Peri = Pre = Hyper = Post = Tachy = Brady = ROOT Cardio = Laryngo = Oto = Endo = Gastro = Myo = Arthro = SUFFIX Ectomy = Otomy = Algia = Rrhea = Ologist = Rrhage = Necrosis =

DIRECTIONAL TERMS 4 REGIONS OF THE ABDOMEN Left upper quadrant Right upper quadrant Left lower quadrant Right lower quadrant

DIRECTIONAL TERMS DIVISIONS OF THE BACK Cervical – Neck region (C1-C7) Thoracic – Chest region (T1-T12) Lumbar – Waist region (L1-L5) Sacral – Region of the sacrum (S1-S5) Coccygeal – Region of the coccyx The numbers indicate the number of vertebrae in each division

DIRECTIONAL TERMS Distal – far from the beginning of a structure or point of attachment Proximal – near the beginning of a structure or point of attachment Anterior (ventral) – located at or toward the front of the body or body part Medial – relating to or located at or near the middle or midline of the body or body part Posterior (dorsal) – located at or toward the back of the body or body part Lateral – relating to or located at the side of the body or body part Superior – above another structure Inferior- below another structure