Chapter 1: Intro to Chapter 1: Intro to Medical TerminologyMedical Terminology

Lindy BavolekLindy Bavolek

Building Medical Terms Building Medical Terms from Word Partsfrom Word Parts

Root WordRoot Word: Foundation of the word : Foundation of the word

(ex: (ex: cardicardiogram= record of the heart)ogram= record of the heart)

PrefixPrefix: At the beginning of the word : At the beginning of the word

(ex: (ex: peripericardium= around the heart)cardium= around the heart)

SuffixSuffix: At the end of the word: At the end of the word

(ex: card(ex: carditisitis= inflammation of the heart)= inflammation of the heart)

Combining vowelCombining vowel: a vowel that links the word : a vowel that links the word root to another word root or a suffixroot to another word root or a suffix

(ex: cardi(ex: cardioomymyoopathy= disease of the heart muscle)pathy= disease of the heart muscle)

Combining formsCombining forms

Consists of the word root and its Consists of the word root and its combining vowel written in a word combining vowel written in a word root/vowel formroot/vowel form

Examples:Examples: Aden/o: GlandAden/o: Gland Carcin/o: CancerCarcin/o: Cancer Cardi/o: HeartCardi/o: Heart -Chem/o: Chemical-Chem/o: Chemical

Common prefixesCommon prefixes

A- without, away fromA- without, away from

An- withoutAn- without

Ante- Before, in front ofAnte- Before, in front of

Anti- AgainstAnti- Against

Auto- SelfAuto- Self

Brady- SlowBrady- Slow

Dys- Painful, difficultDys- Painful, difficult

Common SuffixesCommon Suffixes

-Algia: Pain-Algia: Pain-Cele: Hernia, -Cele: Hernia, protrusionprotrusion-Cise: Cut-Cise: CutCyte: CellCyte: Cell-Dynia: Pain-Dynia: Pain-Ectasis: Dilation-Ectasis: Dilation-Gen: That which -Gen: That which producesproduces

There are There are adjective adjective suffixessuffixes to change to change the root word into an the root word into an adjectiveadjective Ex: -ac (pertaining to)Ex: -ac (pertaining to)

There are also There are also surgical surgical suffixessuffixes to indicate to indicate surgical proceduressurgical procedures Ex: -centesis Ex: -centesis

(puncture to withdraw (puncture to withdraw fluid)fluid)

Interpreting Medical TermsInterpreting Medical Terms

PronunciationPronunciation: People may pronounce : People may pronounce words differently depending on where they words differently depending on where they are from; if there is any question about a are from; if there is any question about a term, ask the person to spell it or clarifyterm, ask the person to spell it or clarify

SpellingSpelling: although there may be different : although there may be different pronunciations, there is only one correct pronunciations, there is only one correct spelling. Be careful because one letter can spelling. Be careful because one letter can make a huge difference!make a huge difference!

AbbreviationsAbbreviations

Commonly used, but can be confusingCommonly used, but can be confusing

An incorrect abbreviation could make the An incorrect abbreviation could make the different between life and death!different between life and death!

It affects insurance records, processing, It affects insurance records, processing, and patient diagnosis and treatmentand patient diagnosis and treatment

Medical RecordMedical Record

Documents the details of a patient’s hospital Documents the details of a patient’s hospital staystay

Includes a history and physical, physician’s Includes a history and physical, physician’s orders, nurse’s notes, physician’s progress orders, nurse’s notes, physician’s progress notes, consultation reports, ancillary reports, notes, consultation reports, ancillary reports, diagnostic reports, informed consent, the diagnostic reports, informed consent, the operative report, anesthesiologist’s report, operative report, anesthesiologist’s report, pathologist’s report, and discharge summarypathologist’s report, and discharge summary

Healthcare SettingsHealthcare Settings

There are various settings where medical There are various settings where medical terminology is used:terminology is used: General hospitals, specialty care hospitals, General hospitals, specialty care hospitals,

nursing homes, ambulatory care, physician’s nursing homes, ambulatory care, physician’s offices, health maintenance organization, offices, health maintenance organization, home health care, rehabilitation centers, and home health care, rehabilitation centers, and hospicehospice

ConfidentialityConfidentiality

Any information or record relating to a Any information or record relating to a patient must be considered privileged, patient must be considered privileged, meaning you have a moral and legal meaning you have a moral and legal responsibility to keep all information about responsibility to keep all information about the patient confidentialthe patient confidential