 What is Medical Terminology?  What is M.T. used for?  Who Developed Medical Terminology? Introduction Medical Terminology = ½ credit

Medical Terminology is composed of the following  Word Parts or Elements  Roots  Suffixes  Prefixes  Connecting vowel (s)

How is M.T. learned?  By learning the meaning of each element or word part.  Two points to Remember  Pronunciation is not as important than……..  SPELLING – M.T. must be spelled correctly.

 How does anyone decipher the meaning of a medical term?  By learning the meaning of each of the elements/word parts involved in the Term.  root  suffix  prefix Example: Pre + nat + al  al = pertaining to  nat = birth  pre = before

 The medical term is deciphered from “ Right to Left” What does this Mean??? You break the term down starting with the…  Suffix  Then the Root word  Then the Prefix

 EXAMPLE:  OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY  Starting from Right to Left  o/logy is the suffix = study of  laryng is a word root =larynx (voicebox)  rhin/o is a word root = nose  ot/o is a word root = ear  What does this term mean?  EVERY ONE PRONOUNCE IT

 A few Pronunciation rules see page 10 in book  ph –pronounced together as “F”. example: phlegm  ch –pronounced together as “K”. example: cholera  qu - pronounced together as “K” example: quadriplegia example: quadriplegia

more on Pronunciation  pn = pronunced together as “N” no P sound. example: pnuemonia  ps – pronounced together as “S” example: psychology  X – is pronounced as a “Z” example: xeroderma

 VERY IMPORTANT TO KNOW WHEN TRYING TO GUESS AT MEANINGS OF MEDICAL TERMS or to find them in the Dictionary 1. You Need to LEARN HOW TO USE A MEDICAL DICTIONARY. 2. KNOW THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THE TERM IS BEING USE. Some Terms have more than one meaning example: lithotomy can mean surgical incision of a stone or an examination position 3. BE CREATIVE: sound the word out turn the terms around turn the terms around

Contrasting and Confusing Prefixes  Handout: learn – memorize the meanings for….  abad  dyseu  hyperhypo  interintra  subsupra

Make Flash Cards for : Keep them in separate stacks  “Pertaining To” - chart on page 293  “Abnormal Conditions” –chart on pg. 293  Word roots indicating color-chart on pg 5  Suffixes related to Pathology – pg 6  Suffixes related to Procedures – pg 7  The Double RR’s – pg 7