Medical Terminology and Administration Unit 1

This flashcard set covers the fundamentals of medical terminology, including the construction of terms from prefixes, roots, and suffixes, common abbreviations, specialist departments, and specific clinical definitions from the lecture notes.

Myocardial infarction

A specific medical term used to ensure precise communication and prevent confusion among healthcare professionals.

Ileum

Part of the small intestine, which sounds identical to the ilium (part of the pelvis).

Prefix

A word part added to the beginning of a medical term to provide information on the location of an organ, the number of parts, or time.

Root word

The foundation or base of a medical term that indicates the part of the body being addressed.

Suffix

A word part added to the end of a word to provide information on a condition, disease, or procedure taking place.

Combining vowel

A vowel, usually an 'o', added to a root word when it is combined with another root or a suffix to make pronunciation easier.

Tachycardia

Fast or rapid heart rate.

Bradycardia

A medical term denoting an abnormally slow heart rate.

Hypertension

High blood pressure.

Hypothyroidism

Underactivity of the thyroid gland.

Gastritis

Inflammation of the stomach lining.

Osteoarthritis

An inflammation of the bone and joint.

TIA

Transient ischemic attack

URI

Upper respiratory infection.

UTI

Urinary tract infection.

NPO

Nil Per Os, meaning nothing by mouth.

Endocrinology

The healthcare discipline concerned with disorders and treatment of the endocrine system, including diabetes and thyroid dysfunction.

Otorhinolaryngology

The healthcare discipline, often known as ENT, concerned with surgery of the ear, nose, and throat.

Oncology

The healthcare discipline concerned with the cause, development, characteristics, and treatment of malignant and benign tumours.

Nurse Practitioner

A nurse with advanced training and experience allowing them to take on roles traditionally performed by doctors.

Prescription

An instruction written by a medical professional to a pharmacist indicating the type and amount of medication for a patient.

Chiropractic

A treatment for musculoskeletal disorders through spinal manipulation and soft tissue techniques.

Hydrotherapy

Physiotherapy exercises conducted in a shallow pool heated to $35\,\text{degrees Celsius}$.

Reflexology

A method using compression and massage on the hands and feet to stimulate nerves and blood supply to relieve tension.

Lithotripsy

The use of shock waves to break up a kidney stone.

Ischemia

An insufficient supply of blood to an organ, usually due to a blocked artery.

Melaena

Dark, tarry faeces caused by digested blood, usually indicating upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

Salbutamol

A bronchodilator drug used to treat asthma, known as albuterol in the United States.

Oximetry

The measurement of the oxygen saturation of the blood.

Parenchyma

The key elements of an organ essential to its functioning, distinct from its supporting structures.

Pes planus

The technical term for flat foot.

Splenomegaly

The medical term for the enlargement of the spleen.