Medical Terminology - Chapter 5

Lecture Overview

• Objective: Master foundational and anatomical medical terms and abbreviations.
• Skills Acquired:
  • Use terms and abbreviations in communication.
  • Identify components of medical terminology.
  • Define terms by dissecting components.
  • Recognize error-prone abbreviations and acronyms.
  • Understand direction, movement, and positional terms.

Importance of Medical Terminology

• Essential for effective communication and documentation in healthcare.
• Helps understand key terms and abbreviations.
• Aids in communication with EMS, healthcare, and public safety teams.

Anatomy of Medical Terms

• Components:
  • Word Root: Foundation of the word.
  • Prefix: Appears before the word root.
  • Suffix: Appears after the word root.
  • Combining Vowels: Connect word roots to suffixes/other roots, often 'o', 'i', or 'e'.
• Spelling:
  • Crucial for accuracy.
  • Example: "-phasea" (speaking) vs. "-phagia" (eating/swallowing).

Word Parts

• Word Roots:

  • Main part/stem indicating essential meaning, often a body part.
  • Adding prefixes/suffixes alters meaning.

• Prefixes:

  • Describe location/intensity.
  • Commonly used medical prefixes help deduce unfamiliar terms.

• Suffixes:

  • Indicate procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech.

• Combining Vowels:

  • Ease pronunciation.
  • Connect root words or root to suffix.

Word Building Rules

• Prefixes/Suffixes:
  • Prefix is at the beginning; suffix at the end.
  • Use combining vowels for easier pronunciation.

Plural Endings

• Rules for changing singular to plural:
  • "-a" to "-ae"
  • "-is" to "-es"
  • "-ex/-ix" to "-ices"
  • "-ium/-um" to "-a"
  • "-us" to "-i"

Special Word Parts

• Numbers:
  • Prefixes indicate numbers like uni-, bi-, tri-.
• Colors:
  • Roots describe colors (cyano-, leuko-).
• Positions/Directions:
  • Prefixes: ab-, ad-, de-, circum-, trans-, etc.

Directional Terms

• Right/Left: Refers to patient’s sides.
• Superior/Inferior:
  • Superior: Towards the head.
  • Inferior: Towards the feet.
• Lateral/Medial:
  • Lateral: Away from the midline.
  • Medial: Towards the midline.
• Proximal/Distal:
  • Proximal: Closer to the trunk.
  • Distal: Away from the trunk.
• Superficial/Deep:
  • Superficial: Closer to skin.
  • Deep: Further inside.
• Ventral/Dorsal:
  • Ventral: Front/belly side.
  • Dorsal: Back/spine side.

Movement Terms

• Flexion/Extension:
  • Flexion: Bending a joint.
  • Extension: Straightening a joint.
• Adduction/Abduction:
  • Adduction: Toward midline.
  • Abduction: Away from midline.

Positional Terms

• Prone: Lying face down.
• Supine: Lying face up.
• Fowler Position:
  • Semi-reclining, head elevated.
  • Variants: Semi-Fowler (45 degrees), High-Fowler (90 degrees).

Term Breakdown Examples

• Nephropathy: Disease of the kidney.
• Dysuria: Painful urination.
• Hyperemesis: Excessive vomiting.
• Analgesic: Pertaining to no pain.

Use of Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols

• Purpose: Shorthand for faster communication.
• Guidelines:
  • Use commonly understood abbreviations.
  • Be aware of do-not-use lists.

Review Questions

• Word Root: Conveys essential meaning.
• Prefixes: Indicate colors, numbers, positions, directions.
• Plural of Bronchus: Bronchi.
• Directional Terms:
  • Superior: Closer to the head.
  • Adduction: Movement towards midline.
• Patient Position:
  • Semi-Fowler: 45-degree angle.
  • Plantar Surface: Sole of the foot.