Overview
This lecture reviews foundational medical terminology, with a focus on common abbreviations, acronyms, symbols, word structure (roots, prefixes, suffixes), and key medical terms for clear and safe communication in healthcare.
Abbreviations and Acronyms
- Some abbreviations are on "Do Not Use" lists to prevent errors (e.g., use "mL" instead of "cc").
- Facility-specific abbreviations vary; always clarify unfamiliar terms.
- Common universal abbreviations include: BP (blood pressure), CBC (complete blood count), DNR (do not resuscitate), and SOB (shortness of breath).
- Outdated or error-prone symbols/abbreviations should be avoided and full terms used instead.
Medical Word Building
- Medical terms are often built from roots (core meaning), prefixes (beginning, modifies meaning), and suffixes (end, specifies condition/procedure).
- Combining vowels (usually "o") help link roots and suffixes, especially if the suffix starts with a consonant.
- Use connecting vowels between two roots, even if the next root starts with a vowel.
Common Word Roots, Prefixes, and Suffixes
- Word roots relate to body parts/systems (e.g., "cardi" = heart, "neur" = nerve).
- Prefixes alter meaning (e.g., "brady-" = slow, "tachy-" = fast, "hyper-" = excessive).
- Suffixes indicate procedures ("-ectomy" = removal), conditions ("-itis" = inflammation), or symptoms ("-algia" = pain).
Lay Terms and Patient Communication
- Use lay language when explaining medical terms to patients (e.g., hypertension = high blood pressure, angina = chest pain).
- Knowing lay equivalents improves patient understanding.
Positional and Directional Terminology
- Anatomical terms describe positions and directions (e.g., "supine" = lying face up, "anterior" = front).
- Directional terms include superior (above), inferior (below), medial (towards midline), lateral (away from midline), proximal (near the trunk), and distal (away from trunk).
Key Terms & Definitions
- Root — The core part of a word that holds its basic meaning.
- Prefix — A component at the beginning of a word that modifies its meaning.
- Suffix — Ending of a word that changes or qualifies its meaning.
- Abbreviation — Shortened form of a word or phrase used for efficiency.
- Anatomical position — Standard reference position for the body in medical communication.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review and memorize "Do Not Use" abbreviations and their accepted alternatives.
- Practice breaking down unfamiliar medical terms into root, prefix, and suffix.
- Learn and use lay language for common medical conditions when communicating with patients.
- Study positional and directional terminology for accurate documentation.