PMLS Lesson 4: Medical Terminologies and Abbrevations

Medical Terminology

Is a language used to denote anatomical structures and medical conditions, procedures, processes, and treatments. The primary purpose of this is to create a standardized language for medical professionals worldwide.

Latin

The use of this in medical terminology became a tradition and continues today.

Galen

• Some medical terms, especially those related to medical conditions, were retained from his teachings.

• A Greek physician

• His teachings account for a majority of root words in Latin and Greek languages.

Root word, Prefix, and Suffix

Parts of Medical Term

Root Word

Gives a term its essential meaning. Almost all medical terminologies contain at least one root. When prefix is absent, the medical terminology begins with this.

Prefix

Not all medical terminology has this. When include this appears at the beginning of all medical terminology and usually indicated direction, location, quality, quantity, and/or type.

Mostly adapted from the Latin language. In medical terminology, this are attached to root words instead of being separate form those they modify.

Suffix

Appears at the end of a term and may indicate specialty, test, procedure, functions disorder, or status. Otherwise, this may simply define whether the word is a noun, verb, or adjective. The Latin Language add this to a nouns to denote different syntax constructions. Since this were commonly used by Italians scientist, their use in medical settings were also retained.

Combining vowel

May be added between word parts to aid in pronunciation. It is a rule that if the suffix starts with a consonant, a combining vowel need to be used (usually the letter O). This does not change the meaning of the root word an dis added in order to make the pronunciation of the word easier. This is added between the root word and the suffix.

Acute lymphocytic leukemia

ALL in Hematology Section

Complete Blood Count

CBC in Hematology Section

Activated partial thromboplastin time

APTT in Hematology Section

Hematocrit

HCT in Hematology Section

Hemoglobin

HGB in Hematology Section

Mean corpuscular hemoglobin

MCH in Hematology Section

Peripheral blood smear

PBS in Hematology Section

White blood cell

WBC in Hematology Section

Acid citrate

ACD in Phlebotomy Section

Do not Resuscitate

DR in Phlebotomy Section

Fever of Unknown Origin

FUO in Phlebotomy Section

Laboratory Information System

LIS in Phlebotomy Section

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

NICU in Phlebotomy Section

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

OGTT in Phlebotomy Section

Point of care testing

POCT in Phlebotomy Section

Serum separator/separator tube

SST in Phlebotomy Section

Blood Agar Plate

BAP in Microbiology Section

Biosafety Level

BSL in Microbiology Section

Center of Disease Control and prevention

CDC in Microbiology Section

Colony Forming Unit

CFU in Microbiology Section

High Efficiency particulate air

HEPA in Microbiology Section

Minimum inhibitory concentration

MIC in Microbiology Section

Methicillin - resistant Staphylococcus Aureus

MRSA in Microbiology Section

Salmonella/Shigella Agar

SSA in Microbiology Section

Triple sugar iron agar

TSI in Microbiology Section

BKA in Histopathology Section