Medical Terminology Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Medical terminology is a language used in healthcare settings.
• Terms often derive from Greek and Latin roots, including:
  • Acronyms: e.g., LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation)
  • Eponyms: e.g., Alzheimer’s disease
  • Modern-day terms: e.g., nuclear medicine

Word Parts

Medical terms are composed of four main parts:

• Prefix: Alters the meaning of the word and is located at the beginning.
• Word Root: Core meaning of the word.
• Suffix: Found at the end of words, can change the term’s meaning.
• Combining Vowel: Helps in pronunciation, often 'o'.

Word Root

• Fundamental meaning of the term.
• Example: Arthr/itis - 'Arthr' is the word root meaning joint.

Prefix

• Located at the start, changes term meaning.
• Example: Intra/ven/ous - 'Intra' is the prefix meaning within.

Common Prefix Indications:

• Number: e.g., bi- (two)
• Position: e.g., sub- (under)
• Direction: e.g., intra- (within)
• Time: e.g., brady- (slow)
• Negation: e.g., a- (without)

Suffix

• Alters the word meaning, located at the end.
• Example: Hepat/itis - 'itis' is the suffix meaning inflammation.

Common Suffix Indications:

• Procedures: e.g., -scopy (examination)
• Conditions: e.g., -itis (inflammation)
• Diseases: e.g., -oma (tumor)

Combining Vowel

• Primarily 'o', assists in pronunciation.
• Used to connect word roots and suffixes.
• Not used between prefix and word root.

Guidelines for Combining Vowels:

1. Use if the suffix starts with a consonant.
2. Do not use if the suffix starts with a vowel.
3. Use between two word roots.
4. Do not use between prefix and word root.

Categories of Medical Terms

1. Terms built from word parts: Literal translations possible.
   • Example: Cytogenic
2. Terms NOT built from word parts: Eponyms, acronyms, modern language.
   • Example: Parkinson’s Disease

Types of Medical Terms

1. Disease and Disorder: Deviations in organismal state (e.g., bronchopneumonia).
2. Diagnostic/Procedural: Process of identifying conditions (e.g., transrectal ultrasound).
3. Therapeutic: Treatment-related terms (e.g., nebulizer).
4. Anatomical: Descriptions of body parts or movements (e.g., medial).

Language Rules

• Terms often derive from word parts, can be translated literally initially.
• Over time, proficiency reduces translation need.
• Exceptions in language rules exist, referred to as "rebels".

Examples

• Osteoarthritis: Inflammation of bone and joint.
• Intravenous: Pertaining to within a vein.

Pronunciation

• Special markings indicate vowels' proper pronunciation.
• Macron indicates long vowel sound, u-shaped mark indicates a short sound.

Review

• Guidelines for using combining vowels are reiterated.
• Explanation of word parts and combining forms.

Learning Techniques

• Analyze: Break down terms into parts.
• Define: Start defining with the suffix.
• Build: Combine word parts to form terms.

Definitions

• Acronyms: Terms from first letters of phrases.
• Eponyms: Terms named after people/places.
• Prefix/Root/Suffix: Fundamental parts altering term meanings.
• Combining Form: Word root + combining vowel.

This document provides a summary of the medical terminology basics, capturing the essence of word parts, their functions, and examples of medical terms.