EMT Training Medical Terminology

What is a combining form

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

Example Thermo joins root "Therm" with vowel "o"

Pulmo

Root

Lungs

Broncho

Root

Lungs (specifically bronchi, tubes inside the lungs)

Cardi

Root

Heart

Gastro

Root

Stomach

Hepat

Root

Liver

Neur

Root

Nerve

Nas

Root

Nose/nasal

Or

Root

Mouth/oral

Pneumo

Root

Air or lungs

Ab

Prefix

Away from

Ad

Prefix

Toward or near

Ante

Prefix

Before

Brady

Prefix

Slow/below normal

Contra

Prefix

Against

Dys

Prefix

Difficult or painful

Hyper

Prefix

Above normal, high

Hypo

Prefix

Below normal, low

Inter

Prefix

Between

Intra

Prefix

Within, inside

Peri

Prefix

Around

Poly

Prefix

Many

Post

Prefix

After

Pre

Prefix

Before

Sub

Prefix

Below, under

Super/Supra

Prefix

Positionally above, or in excess

Tachy

Prefix

Above normal speed, rapid

Uni

Prefix

One

ac

Suffix

Pertaining to

algia

Suffix

Pain

emesis

Suffix

Vomiting

itis

Suffix

Inflammation

ology

Suffix

Study of

plegia

Suffix

Paralysis

pnea

Suffix

Breathing

rrhea

Suffix

Discharge

spasm

Suffix

Contraction

al

Suffix

Pertaining to

ist

Suffix

One who specializes in

What is this plane called?

Median plane or Sagittal Plane

What is this plane called?

Frontal plane or Coronal Plane

What is this plane called?

Transverse Plane or Horizontal Plane

Midline

Line which divides the body into left or right halves vertically.

Medial

Refers to positions closer to the midline

Lateral

Refers to positions farther from the midline

Unilateral

A single side

Bilateral

Both sides

Midaxillary line

Line which divides the body into forward and back vertically. Drawn vertically from armpit.

Anterior (also provide another name)

Front of the body; also known as ventral

Posterior (also provide another name)

Back of the body; also known as dorsal

Superior

Above

Inferior

Below

Proximal

Closer to the torso (or torso’s point of attachment); often used relatively

Distal

Farther from the torso (or torso’s point of attachment); often used relatively

Cranium

The top, or bony, part of the head that incases the brain.

Mandible

Lower Jawbone

Midclavicular

In the middle of both clavicles, runs down vertically dividing body into uneven left and right halves.

Palmar

Refers to the palm of the hand

Plantar

Refers to the sole of the foot

Describe the four abdominal quadrants

Four lines come out from the Navel (belly button), dividing the abdomen into 4 quadrants:

The RUQ (Right upper quadrant)

The RLQ (Right lower quadrant)

The LUQ (Left upper quadrant)

The LLQ (Left lower quadrant)

Supine position

Lying on one’s back

Prone position

Lying on one’s belly

What is the recovery position? What is the other name?

The recovery position is lying on one’s side (like if you were spooning), and is good for unconscious nontrauma patients.

If the patient’s right side is in contact, we can call this the right lateral recumbent position. Left would be called left lateral recumbent position.

The position in general can also be called lateral recumbent position.

Fowler position (and semi-fowler)

Leaning back in a semi-sitting position. Legs can be extended or bent. Head angled 45-60 degrees.

Semi Fowler has head angled 30-45 degrees. All else same.