MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY Why is medical terminology so important?

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

• • Universal language for all health care workers Better understanding when reading charts/care plans • • Makes reporting/recording easier & faster Ex. Patient complains of lower left quadrant pain and has nausea and vomiting = Pt. c/o LLQ pain & N/V To understand medical terminology we have to: – Analyze words by dividing them into parts • Prefix • • Root word Suffix – Relate the terms to the structure and function of the body

PREFIX

• • A prefix is a word element placed at the beginning of a word. Prefixes are always combined with other word elements, never alone. • It usually indicates time, direction or number/amount.

HYPER = above normal HYPO = below normal

THEREFORE:

HYPERTENSION = above normal blood pressure HYPOTENSION = below normal blood pressure

ROOT

A root word contains the basic meaning of the word. • • • • It can be combined with prefixes, suffixes or other root words to form a medical term. A root word usually indicates a body part, and is the foundation of the term. The combining vowel, usually “o” links the root to the suffix or to another root word. It is then called a “combining form”.

This combining vowel is only used when the suffix or root word that it’s being linked to begins with a consonant.

ARTHR = joint (root word) SCOPY = examination using a scope (suffix)

THEREFORE:

Arthr/o/scopy = examination of a joint using a scope

ROOT

1.

End – within (root) Scope – examination with a scope (suffix) = End/o/scope – to examine within the body using a scope

2.

Electr – electricity (root) Cardi – heart (root) Gram – record (suffix) = Electr/o/cardi/o/gram

TRY THIS

Gastr – stomach It is – inflammation = ??

SUFFIX

• • • A suffix is placed at the end of a word and is combined with a prefix or root word. They are never used alone. Suffixes usually indicate a procedure, condition or disease.

RHIN (O) = nose (root word) PLASTY = surgical repair or reshaping (suffix) THEREFORE: RHIN/O/PLASTY = surgical repair or reshaping of the nose

LET’S TRY SOME PREFIXES

Hypo = Peri = Pre = Hyper = Post = Tachy = Brady =

ROOT

Cardio = Laryngo = Oto = Endo = Gastro = Myo = Arthro =

SUFFIX

Ectomy = Otomy = Algia = Rrhea = Ologist = Rrhage = Necrosis =

DIRECTIONAL TERMS

• • • •

4 REGIONS OF THE ABDOMEN

Left upper quadrant Right upper quadrant Left lower quadrant Right lower quadrant

DIRECTIONAL TERMS

• • • • •

DIVISIONS OF THE BACK

Cervical – Neck region (C1-C7) Thoracic – Chest region (T1-T12) Lumbar – Waist region (L1-L5) Sacral – Region of the sacrum (S1-S5) Coccygeal – Region of the coccyx • The numbers indicate the number of vertebrae in each division

DIRECTIONAL TERMS

• • • • • • • • Distal – far from the beginning of a structure or point of attachment Proximal – near the beginning of a structure or point of attachment Anterior (ventral) – located at or toward the front of the body or body part Medial – relating to or located at or near the middle or midline of the body or body part Posterior (dorsal) – located at or toward the back of the body or body part Lateral – relating to or located at the side of the body or body part Superior – above another structure Inferior- below another structure