Chapter 7: Medical Terminology for Paramedics

Importance of Medical Terminology

• Essential for effective communication in healthcare.
• Universal language in medicine globally.
• Describes patient care aspects: history, assessment, treatment, outcomes.
• Incorrect use can lead to ineffective treatment and loss of patient trust.
• Simplify terms for patient understanding when necessary.
• Utilize key terms, acronyms, symbols, and abbreviations accurately.

Key Concepts

• Origins of Medical Terms: Mostly Greek (diseases) or Latin (anatomic structures).
• Eponyms: Terms named after persons (e.g., Alzheimer's disease).
• Medical Term Components:
  • Word Root: Basic meaning of the term.
  • Prefix: Beginning of a word, alters meaning (e.g., sub- in subcutaneous).
  • Suffix: Ending of a word, specifies procedure, condition, or disease.
  • Combining Vowel/Form: Connects word parts (e.g., cardiology).

Guidelines for Medical Terms

• Break down unfamiliar terms into components.
• Use combining vowels effectively (e.g., gastr/o in gastroenterology).
• Understand plural forms and transformations (e.g., vertebra to vertebrae).
• Recognize compound words (e.g., electrocardiogram).

Anatomical Terminology

• Topographic Anatomy: Uses landmarks for structure location.
• Anatomic Position: Upright, palms out, standard reference.
• Anatomic Planes and Axes:
  • Coronal (frontal) plane: Divides body into front (ventral) and back (dorsal).
  • Transverse (axial) plane: Divides body into upper and lower parts.
  • Sagittal (lateral) plane: Divides body into left and right.

Directional and Positional Terms

• Directional Terms:

  • Superior: Toward the head.
  • Inferior: Toward the feet.
  • Lateral: Away from midline.
  • Medial: Toward midline.
  • Proximal: Closer to body.
  • Distal: Farther from body.
  • Superficial: Near the surface.
  • Deep: Further from the surface.

• Positional Terms:

  • Prone: Face down.
  • Supine: Face up.
  • Fowler's: Sitting position.
  • Recovery: Left lateral recumbent.

Movement Terms

• Flexion/Extension: Bending and straightening limbs.
• Abduction/Adduction: Moving away/toward midline.
• Dorsiflexion/Plantarflexion: Bending foot upward/downward.

Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols

• Used for efficiency in documentation.
• Must be standardized and widely understood.
• Avoid errors with decimal points (e.g., 0.5 mg, not .5 mg).
• Confirm accuracy in using abbreviations and symbols.

Tools and Resources

• Use medical terminology apps and field guides.
• Stay updated with accepted terms and abbreviations in your EMS system.

Conclusion

• Mastery of medical terminology is critical for effective communication and patient care in paramedics.
• Continuous learning and use of resources like apps are recommended.