L1: Medical Terms and Abbreviations

Cards (33)

  • Word Root – the word part that is the core of the word
    Suffix – a word part attached to the end of the word root to modify its meaning
    Prefix – a word part attached to the beginning of a word root to modify its meaning
    Combining Vowel – a word part, usually an “O”
  • ○ “dent” means tooth
    ○ “dermat” means skin
    ○ “cardi” means heart
    ○ “gastr” means stomach
    ○ “pancreat” means pancreas
  • SUFFIXES DENOTING INCISIONS

    ○ -centesis = puncture (e.g. arthrocentesis = joint aspiration or using a needle to take fluid out of a joint)
    ○ -ectomy = excision, removal (e.g. appendectomy = surgery to remove the appendix)
    ○ -stomy = forming an opening (mouth) (e.g. colostomy = creates an opening for the colon, large intestine, through the abdomen)
    ○ -tome = instrument to cut (e.g. osteotome = instrument used for cutting or preparing the bone)
    ○ -tomy = incision, cut into (e.g. phlebotomy = uses a needle to take blood from a vein usually in your arm)
  • SUFFIXES DENOTING RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERIES

    ○ -desis = binding, fixation (of a bone, joint) (e.g. arthrodesis = uniting 2 bones at a joint)
    ○ -pexy = suspension, fixation (of an organ) (e.g. mastopexy = breast lift)
    ○ -rrhaphy = suture (e.g. myorrhaphy = suture of a muscle)
    ○ -plasty = surgical repair (e.g. rhinoplasty = reshape the nose)
  • SUFFIXES DENOTING REFRACTURURING, LOOSENING, OR CRUSHING
    ○ -clasis = break, fracture (e.g. osteoclasis = destruction of bone tissue)
    ○ -lysis = separation, destruction, loosening (e.g. enterolysis = removal of adhesions to the bowel)
    ○ -tripsy = crushing (e.g. lithotripsy = procedure that uses shock waves to break up stones in the kidney and parts of the ureter)
  • DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES
    ○ -algia = pain (e.g. cephalalgia = headache)
    ○ -dynia = pain (e.g. gastrodynia = swelling in the stomach)
    ○ -cele = hernia, swelling (e.g. hepatocele = swelling in the liver)
    ○ -ectasis = dilation, expansion (e.g. bronchiectasis = airways are damaged and widen)
  • DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES
    ○ -emesis = vomiting (e.g. hyperemesis = excessive vomiting during preganancy)
    ○ -emia = blood condition (e.g. leukemia = cancer of the body's blood-forming tissues)
    ○ -gen or -genesis = forming, producing, origin (e.g. carcinogen = a substance capable of causing cancer or osteogenesis = production of bone)
    ○ -gram = record, a writing (e.g. cardiogram = of the heart)
    ○ -graph = instrument (e.g. cardiograph = of the heart)
  • DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES
    ○ -iasis = abnormal condition (e.g. cholelithiasis = hardened deposits of digestive fluid that forms in the gallblader)
    ○ -itis = inflammation (e.g. gastritis = when the stomach lining is inflamed)
    ○ -lith = stone, calculus (e.g. cholelith = hardened deposits of digestive fluid that forms in the gallblader)
    ○ -logist = specialist in the study of (e.g. dermatologist = doctor of the skin)
    ○ -logy = study of (e.g. psychology = study of the mind)
  • DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES
    ○ -malacia = softening (e.g. osteomalacia = softening of bones)
    ○ -megaly = enlargement (e.g. hepatomegaly = enlargement of the liver)
    ○ -meter = instrument for recording (e.g. thermometer = measure temperature)
    ○ -metry = act of measuring (e.g. pelvimetry = measurement of the female pelvis)
    ○ -oid = resembling (e.g. lipoid = oily organic compound insoluble in water but soluble in organic solvents)
  • DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES
    ○ -oma = tumor (e.g. adenoma = benign tumor which starts in the epithelial tissue)
    ○ -osis = abnormal condition, increase (e.g. dermatosis = skin defect or lesion on the skin)
    ○ -para = to bear (also a prefix) (e.g. multipara = had 2 or more pregnancies resulting in potentially viable offspringhemiparesis)
    ○ -paresis = partial paralysis (e.g. hemaparesis = weakness to move on one side of the body)
    ○ -pathy = disease (e.g. neuropathy = nerve damage)
  • DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES
    ○ -penia = decrease, deficiency (e.g. leukopenia = the body doesn't have enough disease-fighting leukocytes in the blood)
    ○ -phagia = eating, swallowing (e.g. dysphagia = swallowing difficulties)
    ○ -phasia = speech (e.g. aphasia = language disorder caused by damage in a specific area in the brain)
    ○ -philia = attraction to (e.g. hemophilia = the blood doesn't clot the way they normally do)
    ○ -phobia = fear (e.g. claustrophobia = fear of closed spaces)
  • DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES
    ○ -rrhea = discharge, flow (e.g. diarrhea = loose watery stools 3 or more times a day)
    ○ -rrhexis = rupture (e.g. angiorrhexis = rupture of a vessel)
    ○ -scope = instrument to view (e.g. gastroscope = an endoscope for inspecting the interior of a stomach)
    ○ -scopy = visual examination (e.g. gastroscopy = to view the stomach and intestines)
    ○ -spasm = involuntary contraction (e.g. blepharospasm = blinking or other eyelid movements)
  • DIAGNOSTIC, SYMPTOMATIC, AND RELATED SUFFIXES
    ○ -stasis = standing still (e.g. hemostasis = the stopping of a flow of blood)
    ○ -stenosis = narrowing, structure (e.g. arteriostenosis = constriction of an artery)
    ○ -toxic = poison (e.g. thyrotoxic = high levels of circulating thyroid hormones)
    ○ -trophy = development, nourishment (e.g. atrophy = decrease of a body party, cell, organ)
  • Pronunciation
    • Hints:
    – ch sounds like k.
    •Chyme, Cholecystectomy, Chronic
    – ps sounds like s.
    •Psychiatric, Psychology, Psoriasis
    – pn sounds like n.
    •Pneumonia, Pneumatic
    – c sounds like a soft s when it comes before e, i, and y.
    •Cycle, Cytoplasm, Centrifuge
  • Pronunciation
    – g sounds like j when it comes before e, i, and y.
    •Giant, Gestation, Generic, Gyration
    – i sounds like “eye” when added to the end of a word to form a plural.
    •Glomeruli, Villi, Alveoli, Bacilli
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ A - Assistance
    ○ AA - Atlantoaxial
    ○ AAO X3 - Alert, Awake, and Oriented to date, person, place
    ○ ADD - Attention Deficit Disorder
    ○ ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
    ○ ADL - Activities of Daily Living
    ○ APGAR - Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration
    ○ AV - Arteriovenous; Atrioventricular; Aortic Valve
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ Bilat - Bilateral
    ○ Bl - Blood; Bleeding
    ○ BMI - Body Mass Index
    ○ BSA - Body Surface Area
    ○ bw - Body weight; Birth weight
    ○ bid - Twice daily
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ Cath - Catheter
    ○ CDC - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
    ○ CHD - Congenital Heart Disease
    ○ CI - Clinical Instructor
    ○ CICU - Coronary Intensive Care Unit; Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
    ○ CLD - Chronic Liver Disease; Chronic Lung Disease
    ○ CN - Cranial Nerve
    ○ CVA - Cerebrovascular Accident
    ○ c/o - Complains of
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ DF - Dorsiflexion
    ○ DIP - Distal Interphalangeal (joint)
    ○ DO - Disorder
    ○ DOA - Dead on Arrival; Date of Admission
    ○ DPT - Diphteria-Pertusis-Tetanus vaccine; Doctor of Physical Therapy
    ○ Dx - Diagnosis
    ○ D/C - Discharge
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ EBP - Evidence Based on Practice
    ○ EIA - Exercise Induced Asthma
    ○ EIP - Early Intervention Program
    ○ EOB - Edge of Bed
    ○ EX - Exercise
    ○ EXT - Extension; Extensive
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ F - Fair
    ○ f/u - Follow-up
    ○ FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
    ○ FBG - Fasting Blood Glucose
    ○ Func - Functional
    ○ G - Good
    ○ GCS - Glasgow Coma Scale
    ○ Hams, hs - Hamstring
    ○ HDL - High Density Lipoprotein
    ○ HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy
    ○ HPI - History of Present Illness
    ○ HP - Hot Pack
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ I - Independent
    ○ I&D - Incision and drainage
    ○ ICA - Internal Carotid Artery
    ○ ICP - Intracranial Pressure
    ○ Ig - Immunoglobulin
    ○ Instr - Instruction
    ○ IR - Internal Rotation
    ○ IVC - Inferior Vena Cava
    ○ jt - Joint
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ L - Left; Lower
    ○ LBW - Low birth weight
    ○ LD - Learning disability
    ○ LDL - Low density lipoprotein
    ○ LLE - Left lower extremity
    ○ LLL - Left lower lobe
    ○ LLQ - Left lower quadrant
    ○ LTD - limited
    ○ LTG - Long Term goal
    ○ LUE - Left upper extremity
    ○ LUL - Left upper lobe
    ○ LUQ - Left upper quadrant
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ M - Male
    ○ MCA - Middle Cerebral Artery
    ○ MCP - Metacarpophalangeal Joint
    ○ mets - Metastasis
    ○ MI - Myocardial infarction
    ○ MICU - Medical Intensive Care Unit
    ○ mmHg - millimeters of mercury
    ○ MMR - Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine
    ○ mob. - Mobilization, Mobility
    ○ MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging
    ○ MTP - Metatarsophalangeal joint
    ○ MV - Mitral Valve
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ N - Normal; Nausea
    ○ N & V - Nausea and Vomiting
    ○ N/A - Not Applicable
    ○ neb - Nebulizer
    ○ NGT - Nasogastric tube
    ○ NICU - Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Neurological Intensive Care Unit
    ○ NSAID - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
    ○ Obj - Objective
    ○ OPV - Oral Polio Vaccine
    ○ OTC - Over-the-counter
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ P - poor; plan
    ○ Path - Pathology
    ○ pc - After meals
    ○ per - by/through
    ○ per os, p.o. - by mouth
    ○ PERRLA - pupils equal round, reactive to light and accommodations
    ○ PF - plantarflexion
    ○ PICU - Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
    ○ PIP - Proximal interphalangeal joint
    ○ PMS - Premenstrual syndrome
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ post-op - after surgery/operation
    ○ pre-op - before surgery/operation
    ○ POC - plan of care
    ○ pm - whenever necessary
    ○ PSIS - posterior superior iliac spine
    ○ PTA - prior to admission
    ○ q - every
    ○ qh - every hour
    ○ qid - four times a day
    ○ qn - every night
    ○ quad - quadriplegic
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ R - right
    ○ R/O - rule out
    ○ REM - rapid eye movement
    ○ RLE - right lower extremity
    ○ RLL - right lower lobe
    ○ RLQ - right lower quadrant
    ○ RML - right middle lobe
    ○ ROM - range of motion
    ○ RV - right ventricle
    ○ Rx - drug; treatment; therapy; prescription
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ S&S - signs and symptoms
    ○ S/P - status post
    ○ SA - sinoatrial
    ○ SBA - stand-by assistance
    ○ SCM - sternocleidomastoid
    ○ sed - sedimentation
    ○ SGA - small for gestational age
    ○ SICU - Surgical Intensive Care Unit
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    SNF - Skilled Nursing Facility
    ○ SOB - shortness of breath
    ○ STD - sexually transmitted disease
    ○ STG - short term goal
    ○ SVC - superior vena cava
    ○ Sx - symptoms
    ○ Sz - seizure
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ T - trace
    ○ TBA - to be announced
    ○ TBSA - total-body surface area
    ○ Trng - training
    ○ Tx - treatment; traction; therapy; transplant
    ○ U - upper
    ○ US - ultrasound
    ○ UQ - upper quadrant
    ○ vent - ventilator
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ W - walker
    ○ WB - weight bearing
    ○ WBAT - weight bearing as tolerated
    ○ WFL - with functional limit
    ○ W/O - without
    ○ w/c - wheelchair
    ○ y/o - years old
    ○ yd. - yard
    ○ yr. - year
    ○ // - parallel; parallel bars
  • SOME UNIVERSALLY ACCEPTABLE ABBREVIATIONS
    ○ p - after
    ○ a - before
    ○ s - without
    ○ c - with