Medical Terminology Learning Terminology

Objectives Objectives Explain how medical terms are developed. After studying this chapter, you will be able to : 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.

Objectives Objectives After studying this chapter, you will be able to: 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.

The 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

Hippocratic Oath Hippocratic Oath Forms the basic ethical standards of modern medicine with regards to: Abstaining from voluntary acts of mischief & corruption Keeping confidences Doing no harm

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

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.

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

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

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.

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  

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.

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.

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.

Medical Word Classifications Symbols – Graphic representations called symbols used in health care terminology Examples: Increase: ↑ Decrease: ↓

Building Medical Terms Word Root Prefix Suffix Combining forms

Forming Medical Terms Forming Medical Terms Medical Term Word root Suffix Prefix Combining forms

Forming Medical Terms Part 2 Medical terms are formed from two or more word parts. Suffix Word parts attached to the end of a word that modifies the meaning. Prefix Word parts attached to the beginning of a word that modifies the meaning. The main part of a word which contains the basic meaning. Root

Forming Medical Terms Combining Vowel Combining Form Vowel (usually O) that links the root to the suffix or the root to another root The word root and a combining vowel that enable two parts to be connected. Ex: hematology- hemat is the root meaning blood; O is the combining vowel; logy is the suffix meaning the study of

Word Roots and Combining Forms [ACANTH(O)] Meaning acanth (o) actin (o) aer (o) athero bacill (i) bar (o) spiny, thorny light air; gas plaque; fatty substance bacilli; bacteria weight; pressure

Word Roots and Combining Forms [BLAST(O)] Meaning blasto carcin(o) chrondro cry(o) crypt(o) cyan(o) immature cells cancer cartilage cold hidden blue

Word Roots and Combining Forms [CYT(O)] Meaning cyt(o) dextr(o) dips(o) dors(o) erythr(o) esthesio cell right thirst back red sensation, perception

Word Roots and Combining Forms [GALACT(O)] Meaning galact(o) gluco gero glyco gyn(o) home(o) kin(o) milk glucose old age sugars women same movement

Word Roots and Combining Forms [KINESI(O) Meaning kinesi(o) lact(o) leuk(o) lith(o) mio narco necro motion milk white stone smaller; less sleep; numbness death; dying

Word Roots and Combining Forms [NOCT(O)] Meaning noct(i) oncho path(o) phago phon(o) pseud(o) pyo night tumor disease eating sound; voice false pus

Word Roots and Combining Forms [PYRO] Meaning pyro salping(o) schiz(o) scler(o) scolio somato spiro fever tube split; division hardening crooked; bent body breath; breathe

Word Roots and Combining Forms [TEL(O)] Meaning tel(o) tono tropho xanth(o) xeno Xer(o) distant; end; complete tension; pressure food; nutrition yellow stranger dry

Prefixes Prefixes Prefix Suffix Word Root 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 (a–aut) Prefixes Prefix Meaning a ab ambi ana ante anti without away from both, around up, toward before against self

Prefixes (brachy–hypo) Meaning brachy brady contra dys hemi hyper hypo short slow against abnormal; difficult half above normal below normal

Prefixes (inter–peri) Meaning Prefix inter iso mal meta micr(o) olig(o) peri between equal; same bad; inadequate after small few; little; scanty around; about; near

Prefixes (pro–un) Prefixes Prefix Meaning pro before; forward re retro semi supra tachy un before; forward again; backward behind; backward half above; over fast not

Suffixes Suffixes Prefix Suffix Word Root Attaches to the end of the word and carries the underlying meaning of the word. Suffixes can also be combining forms.

Suffixes (ad–crine) Suffixes Suffix Meaning -ad -algia -asthenia -blast -cidal -clast -crine toward pain weakness immature; forming destroying; killing breaking secreting

Suffixes (crit–ectomy) Meaning -crit -cyte -cytosis -derma -dynia -ectasis -ectomy separate cell condition of cells skin pain expanding; dilating removal of

Suffixes (emesis–graphy) Meaning -emesis -emia -esthesia -globin -gram -graph -graphy vomiting blood sensation protein a recording recording instrument process of recording

Suffixes (ic–malacia) Meaning -ic -ism -itis -kinesia -logist -lysis -malacia pertaining to condition; disease inflammation movement one who practices destruction of softening

Suffixes (mania-pathy) Meaning -mania -megaly -oid -opia -ostomy -para -pathy obsession enlargement like; resembling vision opening bearing disease

Suffixes (penia-phrenia) Meaning -penia -pepsia -pexy -phage -phobia -phonia -phrenia deficiency digestion fixation eating; devouring fear sound of the mind

Suffixes (phylaxis-rrhaphy) Meaning -phylaxis -plasty -plegia -pnea -ptosis -rrhagia -rrhaphy protection surgical repair paralysis breath falling down; drooping heavy discharge surgical suturing

Suffixes (rrhexis-tropia) Meaning -rrhexis -spasm -stasis -stenosis -tomy -trophy -tropia rupture contraction stopping; constant narrowing cutting operation nutrition turning

Apply Your Knowledge Apply Your Knowledge Using 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

Apply Your Knowledge Part 2 Using 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

Pluralizing Terms Pluralizing Terms Rules 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)

Pluralizing Terms Part 2 Rules 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)

Pluralizing Terms Part 3 Rules 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)

Pluralizing Terms Part 4 Rules 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)

Pluralizing Terms Part 5 Rules 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)

Pluralizing Rules Pluralizing Rules Latin Greek Singular Plural fossa fossae datum data radix radices neurosis neuroses ganglion ganglia calyx calyces

Spelling & Pronunciation of Medical Terms Spelling and Pronunciation of Medical Terms 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 NOT a colectomy!!”

Spelling & Pronunciation of Medical Terms Part 2 Spelling and Pronunciation of Medical Terms Spelling & Pronunciation of Medical Terms Part 2 Pronouncing a word out loud each time you see the pronounciation will help familiarize you with the sound of the word. anemia a-NE-me-a typhoid TI-foyd reflex RE-fleks Long and short vowels are a guide to help you pronounce words.

Legal and Ethical Issues The 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 considerate and respectful care. Right to be informed

Using Medical Terminology Medical Terminology is instrumental in both verbal and written communication. Documentation of health care services must be complete for both ethical and legal reasons.

Using Medical Terminology Medical Records Medical Records Formats for medical records depend on: Coding and billing practices State law Institution’s responsibilities Configuration of its computer systems

Medical Records SOAP format Using Medical Terminology Medical Records SOAP format Medical Records SOAP Format S- subjective O- objective A- assessment P- plan

Using Medical Terminology Chronological Format Medical Records Chronological Format Interactions are listed in chronological order. Earliest date is at the top of the patient record

Apply Your Knowledge Apply Your Knowledge Which 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.

Apply Your Knowledge Part 2 Make each of the following terms plural. staphylococcus vasectomy paraplegic appendix staphylococci vasectomies paraplegics appendices

Case Study Apply Your Knowledge Case Study After 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.