1. Pharos university Faculty of Allied Medical SCIENCE Medical Terminology MLMT-201
Dr. Tarek El Sewedy
Department of Medical Laboratory Technology
Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences

2. Abbreviations and symbols
Lecture 5
WORDS WITH TWO ROOTS
&
Abbreviations and symbols

3. Intended Learning Outcomes
By the end of this lecture, students will learn:
Words with two roots , Spelling, abbreviations and symbols

4. Lecture content Words with two roots Spelling importance
Abbreviations and symbols

5. Words with two roots
In words with 2 roots, Each word root uses a combining vowel
Remember combining vowels connect roots to suffixes and roots to other roots.
The combining vowel plus the root is called a combining form.
How many combining forms are there in the word:
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM ?

6. ELECTR/O/CARDI/O/GRAM
Root (electricity)
Combining vowels
root (heart)
Suffix Record
Combing form
Combining form

7. “record of the heart electricity”
ELECTROCARDIOGRAM
Thus the entire term means:
“record of the heart electricity”

8. GASTR / O / ENTER / O / LOGY
Root (“stomach”)
Combining vowel
Root (“intestines”)
Suffix (“study of”)
Combing form
Combing form

9. “study of the stomach and the intestines”
GASTROENTEROLOGY
The two combining forms are GASTR/O and ENTER/O.
The entire word (reading from the suffix, back to the beginning of the term, and across) means:
“study of the stomach and the intestines”

10. “Instrument to visually examine the stomach”
GASTROSCOPE
GASTR / O / SCOPE
Root
“stomach”
Combining vowel
Combining form
Suffix
“Instrument to visually examine
“Instrument to visually examine the stomach”

11. Gastroscope

12. GASTRIC
GASTR / IC Root (“stomach”) Suffix (“pertaining to”) “Pertaining to the stomach”
Pertaining to = belong to as a part

13. GASTR / IC
Notice that the combining vowel is not used when the suffix (-IC) begins with a vowel.
Words ending in –IC mean “pertaining to.”
Gastric banding

14. Gastric ulcer

15. CARDIAC
CARDI/AC
CARDI
ROOT(HEART) AC
SUFFIX (PERTAINING TO)

16. CARDI / AC
Again, the combining vowel is dropped when the suffix (-AC) begins with a vowel.
Words ending in –AC mean “pertaining to.”

17. ENTERITIS
ENTER / ITIS Root (“intestines”) Suffix (“inflammation”) “Inflammation of the intestines”

18. ENTER / ITIS
Again, the combining vowel is dropped when the suffix (-ITIS) begins with a vowel.

19. “Inflammation of the stomach and intestines
GASTROENTERITIS
GASTR / O / ENTER / ITIS
Root (“stomach”)
Combining vowel
Root (“intestines”)
Suffix (“inflammation”)
“Inflammation of the stomach and intestines
Combining form

20. GASTR / O / ENTER / ITIS
Notice that the combining vowel (O) remains between the two roots even though the second root (ENTER) begins with a vowel.

21. Prefix importance
Many medical terms also have a word part attached to the beginning of the term. This is called a Prefix.
It can change the meaning of a term in important ways
For example, watch what happens to the meaning of the following medical terms when the prefix changes…

22. PREFIX
_____GASTRIC SUB / gastr / ic = “pertaining to below the stomach” Prefix (“below”)

23. PREFIX
_____GASTRIC Trans/ gastr / ic = “pertaining to across the stomach” Prefix (“Across”)

24. PREFIX
_____GASTRIC Retro/ gastr / ic = “pertaining to behind the stomach” Prefix (“behind”)

25. Spelling
Correct spelling is critical in medical terminology and healthcare.
Misspelled words can lead to diagnostic, medication and treatment errors.
Some words look or sound similar and can be confusing.

26. Spelling
Pay attention to the context to help you figure out the correct meaning of a term.
Example: “The client has a fractured ilium”
ilium = part of the hip bone
ileum = part of the intestine

27. Abbreviations & symbols
Medical abbreviations and symbols are a “short hand” for medical professionals
Most have been standardized and are universally accepted.

28. Abbreviations & symbols
Individual facilities and specialties may use their own specific abbreviations and symbols or use a symbol differently depending on the context.
Example: Means “change”
But In maternity care it is also used to mean “trimester”

29. Abbreviations & symbols
Don’t assume you know what an abbreviation or symbol means.
Learn the abbreviations and symbols used on your clinical site during orientation to the practice, through chart review, and by asking.

30. Abbreviations & symbols
Don’t use your own personal abbreviations in health care documents.
Use only standard medically accepted abbreviations and those used by the facility on your clinical site
Use capital and small letters appropriately
Non-standard abbreviations can result in medical errors and fines for the agency when discovered during chart audits.

31. Common abbreviations & symbols
a.c. = before meals (from "ante cibum", before meals)
b.i.d. = twice a day (from "bis in die", twice a day)
gtt. = drops (from "guttae", drops)
p.o. = by mouth, orally (from "per os", by mouth)
p.r.n. = when necessary (from "pro re nata", for an occasion that has arisen, as circumstances require, as needed)
q.d. = once a day (from "quaque die", once a day)
q.i.d. = four times a day (from "quater in die", 4 times a day)

32. Common abbreviations & symbols
q._h.: If a medicine is to be taken every so-many hours (from "quaque", every and the "h" indicating the number of hours)
q.h. = every hour
q.2h. = every 2 hours
q.3h. = every 3 hours
q.4h. = every 4 hours
t.i.d. = three times a day ("ter in die", 3 times a day)
ut dict. = as directed (from "ut dictum", as directed)

33. Common abbreviations & symbols
ā before a.c. before a meal BP blood pressure PNV Potential Natural Vegetation

34. Medical abbreviations & symbols
c/o complains of d/c discontinue h. hour n.p.o. Nothing by mouth n&v nausea and vomiting
n.p.o nothing by mouth (nil per os) latin word

35. Medical abbreviations & symbols
O.D. Right eye O.S. Left eye O.U. Each eye p after p.c. After meals
Oculus destra ,sinistra

36. Medical abbreviations & symbols
q.d. Daily, once a day R respiration RR respiration rate s without

37. Medical abbreviations & symbols
T temperature t.i.d. Three times a day TPR temperature, pulse and respiration Tx Treatment; VS vital signs Rx Prescription Wt. Weight x multiplied by

38. Medical symbols
> greater than < less than ↓ decreased, down, lower ↑ increased, higher, up, elevate ↘ decreasing ↗ increasing # number

39. Medical symbols ′ foot or minute ″ inch or second o degree ♂ male
♀ female
∆ change, trimester
@ at

40. Study question: give the meaning of the following shorthand
Client S.J., 24 yo, 8 weeks gestation, c/o 1st bleeding
Client S.J., 24 yo, 8 weeks gestation, c/o constipation. Recommend her PNV her next PNV.
Gestation The period of development in the uterus from conception until birth; pregnancy
PNV Potential Natural Vegetation

41. Students selected for assignments
سهى هشام بدر

42. Assignments
Students on next slide are requested to prepare a presentation (minimum of 5 slides) on the following topic:
Abbreviations used in medical fields
Assignments should be delivered by next week

43. Study questions 1. egotism (exaggerated self-importance)
- Write the suffix and the meaning for the following words hat means “condition of” in each of the following words:
1. egotism (exaggerated self-importance)
2. dysentery (intestinal disorder)
3. insomnia (inability to sleep)
4. parasitism (infection with parasites or behaving as a parasite)
5. thrombosis (having a blood clot in a vessel)
6. psoriasis (skin disease)
7. analgesia (absence of pain)
8. sclerosis (hardening)

44. Reference books
1 – Medical Terminology an illustrated Guide by Barbara Jonson Cohen 2003
 2 – “Medical Terminology Simplified” F. A David 2009
3 – “Medical Terminology system : Approach Fifth Edition” Barbara A Gylys 2004