Chapter 5 - Medical Terminology

Compound word

Words formed from two or more whole words

Root

foundation of a word that is not a word that can stand on its own

Combining form

Word root with an added vowel that can be joined with other words, roots, or suffixes to form a new word

Prefix

word part added to the beginning of a root or word to modify or qualify its meaning

Suffix

Word part added to the end of a root or word to complete its meaning

Bronch/o, Pulm/o

Root word relating to the lungs

Cardi/o

Root referring to the heart

Gastr/o

root word relating to the stomach

Hepat/o

root word referring to the liver

Neur/o

Root word referring to nerves or nervous system

Nas/o

Root word referring to then nose or nasal area

Or/o

Root word referring to mouth or oral area

Pneum/o

Root referring to air or lungs

Ab-

Prefix meaning away from

ad-

prefix meaning toward or near

Ante-

Prefix meaning before

Brady-

Prefix meaning slow or below normal

Contra-

Prefix meaning against

Dys-

Prefix meaning difficult or painful

Hyper-

Prefix meaning above normal or high

Hypo-

Prefix meaning below normal or low

Inter-

Prefix meaning between

Intra-

Prefix meaning within or inside

Peri-

Prefix meaning around

Poly-

Prefix meaning many

Post-

Prefix meaning after

Pre-

Prefix meaning before

Sub-

Prefix meaning below or under

Super-/Supra-

Prefix meaning above or in excess

Tachy-

Prefix meaning above normal or rapid

Uni-

Prefix meaning one

-ac

Suffix meaning pertaining to

-Algia

Suffix meaning pain

-Emesis

Suffix meaning vomiting

-Itis

Suffix meaning inflammation

-Ology

Suffix meaning study of

-Plegia

Suffix meaning paralysis

-Pnea

Suffix meaning Breathing

-Rrhea

Suffix meaning discharge

-Spasm

Suffix meaning contraction

-Al

Suffix meaning pertaining to

-Ist

Suffix meaning one who speacializes in

what part of communication is a common cause of medical errors

use of acronyms and abbreviations

A way to decrease errors in patient handoff and in patient care documentation

use plain language and to spell out terms.

Situations in which using complex medical terminology may not be best practice are…

when speaking to patients and families, children, or in situations that have a potential for ambiguity or may not understand the medical terminology

Anatomy

Study of body structure

Physiology

Study of body function

anatomic position

standard reference position for the body in which the person is standing, facing forward, with palms forward

Plane

A flat surface formed when slicing through a solid object

sagittal / median plane

cuts the body into two side-by-side halves

frontal / coronal plane

cuts the body into front and back halves

Transverse / Horizontal plane

Cuts body, near the waist, into top and bottom

midline

imaginary line drawn down the center of the body, dividing it into left and right halves

Medial

toward the midline of the body

lateral

to the side, away from the midline of the body

bilateral

on both sides

unilateral

limited to one side

midaxillary line

line drawn vertically from the middle of the armpit to the ankle

Anterior

front of the body or body part

Posterior

the back of the body or body part

ventral

referring to the front of the body; synonym for anterior

Dorsal

Referring to the back of the body or back of hand or foot; synonym for posterior

Superior

toward the head

Inferior

Away from the head, usually compared with another structure that is closer to the head

Proximal

closer to the torso

Distal

Farther away from the torso

Torso

Trunk of the body, or the body without head or the extermities

Palmar

Referring to palm of the hand

Plantar

Referring to the sole of the foot

Midclavicular

Line that goes through the center of each clavical

Abdominal quadrants

four divisions of the abdominal cavity used to pinpoint the location of pain or injury

RUQ (Right Upper Quadrant) Organs

Liver, Right Kidney, Colon, Pancreas, Gallbladder

LUQ (Left Upper Quadrant) Organs

Liver, spleen, Left Kidney, Stomach, Colon, Pancreas

RLQ (Right Lower Quadrant) Organs

Right kidney, Colon, small intestines, major artery + vein to the right leg, Ureter, Appendix, and bladder

LLQ (Left Lower Quadrant) Organs

Left Kidney, colon, Small intestines, major artery + vein to left leg, Ureter, Bladder

Supine

Lying on back

Prone

Lying facedown

Recovery / Lateral recumbent position

Lying on the side

Fowler position

sitting position