Block 2

• Medical term


  A word used in the medical field to describe a body part, condition, procedure, etc.
• Anatomy of a medical term

  • Made of distinct parts that perform specific functions
  • Changing or deleting any part can change the meaning
• Components of a medical term

  • Word root
  • Prefix
  • Suffix
  • Combining vowels
• Word root


  The main part or stem of a word that conveys the essential meaning, frequently indicating a body part
• Prefix


  Part of a term that appears at the beginning and usually describes location or intensity
• Suffix


  Placed at the end of words and usually indicates a procedure, condition, disease, or part of speech
• Combining vowel


  The part of a term that connects a word root to a suffix or other word root, usually an 'o' but may also be an 'i' or 'e'
• Word building rules


  1. Prefix is always at the beginning

  2. Suffix is at the end

  3. Use a combining vowel when a suffix begins with a consonant or when joining two word roots
• Plural endings


  • Add 's'
  • Change to 'ae'
  • Change to 'es'
  • Change 'ex' or 'ix' to 'ices'
  • Change 'on' or 'um' to 'a'
  • Change 'us' to 'i'
• Prefixes indicating


  • Numbers
  • Colors
  • Positions and directions
• Superior and inferior


  • Superior = nearer to the head, inferior = nearer to the feet
  • Used to describe the relationship of one structure to another
• Lateral and medial


  • Lateral = farther from the midline, medial = closer to the midline
  • Lateral also means 'side' in general terms
• Proximal and distal


  • Proximal = closer to the trunk, distal = farther from the trunk/nearer to the free end of the extremity
• Superficial and deep


  • Superficial = closer to or on the skin, deep = farther inside the body or tissue, away from the skin
• Ventral and dorsal


  • Ventral = belly side/anterior, dorsal = spinal side/posterior
• Palmar and plantar


  • Palmar = front of hand, plantar = bottom of foot
• Apex


  • The tip of a structure
• Movement terms


  • Flexion = bending of a joint
  • Extension = straightening of a joint
  • Adduction = motion toward the midline
  • Abduction = motion away from the midline
• Other directional terms


  • Bilateral = both sides
  • Unilateral = only one side
• Anatomic positions


  • Prone = lying face down
  • Supine = lying face up
  • Fowler = semi-reclining with head elevated
  • Semi-Fowler = 45-degree angle
  • High-Fowler = 90-degree angle
  • Recovery position
• Breaking terms apart


  1. Define suffix first, then prefix, then word root

  2. Example: Nephropathy = nephr/o/pathy = disease of the kidney
• Fowler position


  Patient sitting upright
• Semi-Fowler


  Patient sits at a 45-degree angle
• High-Fowler


  Patient sits at a 90-degree angle
• Breaking terms apart


  1. When trying to define a term, begin with the suffix and work backward

  2. If the term also contains a prefix, define the suffix, then the prefix, and then the word root
• Nephropathy


  • nephr/o/pathy
  • -pathy (means "disease")
  • o (combining form)
  • nephr (meaning "kidney")
  • nephropathy = disease of the kidney
• Dysuria


  • dys/ur/ia
  • -ia (means "condition of")
  • dys- (means "difficult, painful, or abnormal")
  • ur (means "urine")
  • dysuria = painful urination
• Hyperemesis


  • hyper/emesis
  • hyper- (prefix meaning "excessive")
  • emesis (word root meaning "vomiting")
  • hyperemesis = excessive vomiting
• Analgesic


  • an/alges/ic
  • -ic (suffix meaning "pertaining to")
  • an- (prefix meaning "without" or "absence of")
  • alges (word root meaning "pain")
  • analgesic = pertaining to no pain
• Abbreviations


  • Shorthand used for communication
  • Pronounce each letter of the abbreviation separately and distinctly
  • Do not trade speed for accuracy
  • Use only commonly understood acronyms and abbreviations to minimize errors
• Acronyms


  Shortening several words, usually using the first letter of each word
• Abbreviations


  • Use only accepted abbreviations to avoid confusion/errors
  • Be familiar with abbreviations in your service area
• Symbols


  • Use only accepted symbols to avoid confusion/errors
• Common Symbols are on pg. 163 Table 5-8
• Common Word Roots and Combining Forms are on pg. 164 -165 table 5-9
• Common Prefixes are on pg. 166 table 5-10
• Common Suffixes are on pg. 167 Pg. 5-11
• Common Abbreviations are on pg. 167 – 171 table 5-12
• Upper airway


  Main function is to warm, filter, and humidify air as it enters the body
• Upper airway


  Consists of all anatomic airway structures above the vocal cords: nose, mouth, pharynx, larynx