medical language hst class. medical language – rationale: medical language is used by all members...
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Medical Language – Rationale:
Medical language is used by all members of the health care team. It is essential to develop the knowledge of medical language to clearly communicate ideas and accurately interpret, transcribe and communicate using medical terms.
It is nearly impossible for even the most experienced health professional to be familiar with every medical term.
However, knowledge of prefixes, suffixes and word roots is essential.
It is vital that every health professional be familiar with the commonly used medical terminology.
A medical dictionary is an excellent reference for unfamiliar terms.
Taber’s medical dictionary is the most commonly used.
A PDR (Physician’s Desk Reference) is a reliable dictionary for medications.
We will learn about the PDR in the next lesson.
Word Parts / Building Blocks
Most medical terms are formed by a combination of basic word parts.
An understanding of how these parts work together makes interpreting medical language easier.
Prefixes – usually indicate location, time, or number. They come at the beginning of the word.
Suffixes – usually indicate the procedure, disease, or condition. They come after the word root, at the end of the word.
Word roots – usually indicate the part of the body involved.
Combining Vowel – usually “o”.Is attached to the word rootIs used to make medical terms easier
to pronounce by connecting it or combining it with another word part
Is NOT used when the suffix begins with a vowel.
IS used when the suffix begins with a consonant.
Example:
Poly + neur/o + itis = polyneuritisMany + nerves + inflammation =
inflammation of many nerves.
Peri + cardi/o + itis = pericarditisAround + heart + inflammation =
inflammation of the sac around the heart.
Common Medical Prefixes:
a- away from, without
ab- away from
ad- toward, in the direction of
ante- before
anti- against
bi- two; both
brachy- short
brady- slow
dys- difficult, painful
dors- back
endo- inside
epi- above, upon
hemi- half
inter- between, among
intra- within, inside
peri- surrounding, around
poly- many
sub- under, less, below
super- above, excessive, beyond
supra- above, excessive, beyond
hyper- excessive, above, more than
hypo- decrease, below, less
inter- between, among
intra- within, inside
macro- large, big
mal- bad
micro- small
neo- new
para- beside or below
peri- around
poly- many
post- after
sub- below
super- above
tachy- fast
Common Medical Suffixes
-algia pain
-asthenia weakness
-cele hernia
-centesis surgical puncture
-ectomy surgical removal
-itis inflammation
-gram picture
-malacia abnormal softening
-megaly enlargement
-necrosis death of tissue
-ology study of
-osis abnormal condition
-ostomy surgical opening-otomy surgical incision-pathy disease-plasty surgical repair-pnea breathing-rrhage excessive flow; bleeding-rrhea abnormal discharge-rrhexis rupture
-sclerosis abnormal hardening
-scope instrument to view
-scopy procedure of using a scope
-stenosis abnormal narrowing
Common Medical Word Roots
acr/o extremities
aden/o gland
angi/o vessel
arteri/o artery
arthr/o joint
brachi/o arm
cardi/o heart
carp/o wrist
cerebr/o brain
cervic/o neck; or cervix
chondr/o cartilage
col/o colon
cost/o ribs
cyst/o bladder
cyt/o cell
enter/o small intestine
gastr/o stomach
hem/o; hemat/o blood
hepat/o liver
hyster/o uterus
lapar/o abdomen
laryng/o larynx; voice box
later/o side
lip/o fat
mamm/o breast
mast/o breast
medi/o middle
myel/o spinal cord/bone marrow
my/o muscle
nas/o nose
nephr/o kidney
neur/o nerve
oophor/o ovary
opthalm/o eye
oste/o bone
ot/o ear
pneum/o lung
proct/o rectum
pulmon/o lungs
ren/o; nephr/o kidney
rhin/o nose
salping/o fallopian tube
tendon/o tendon
thorac/o thorax; chest
trache/o trachea; windpipe
Abbreviations
Just as in the English language, occasionally we use abbreviations to expedite writing orders and notes. Many of the abbreviations come from diagnostic testing, such as laboratory tests and different types of x-rays. Many of the therapy units have also adopted common abbreviations.
Abbreviations
ABG arterial blood gasBS blood sugar; bowel sounds
CBC complete blood count
CXR chest x-ray
FBS fasting blood sugar
GI gastrointestinal
ICU intensive care unit
PT Physical Therapy
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