Chapter 5: Medical Terminology, Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured, 12th Edition

bilateral

both sides

Palmar

Front region of the hand; palm.

Medical Terminology

The use of prefixes, suffixes, word roots, and combining forms to construct anatomical, physiological, or medical terms.

Word Root

The primary meaning of a term. Frequently indicates a body parts.

Prefix

A syllable or word that comes before a root that usually describes location/intensity. Gives the word root its specific meaning.

Suffix

A word or letter placed after the root. Usually indicates a procedure, condition, disease or part of speech.

Combining Vowel

Connects the word root to a suffix or another word root. In most cases, an "o"; may also be an "i" or "e". Used when joining a suffix that begins with a consonant, or another word root.

Plural Endings

- a change to ae (vertebra to vertebrae)

- is changes to es (diagnosis to diagnoses)

- ex or ix changes to ices (apex tp apices)

- on or um changes to a (ganglion to ganglia, ovum to ova)

- us changes to i (bronchus to bronchi)

- Sometimes just add an s (lung to lungs)

Number Prefixes

Indicates a term involves a number or two (or more) parts or sides. uni-, dipl-, null-, primi- multi-, bi-.

Color Word Parts

Word roots that describe color. cyan/o, leuk/o, erythr/o, cirrh/o, melan/o.

Prefix Position and Directions

Prefixes can also describe a position, direction or location. ab-, ad-, de-, circum-, peri-, trans-, epi-, supra-.

Directional Terms

Terms used to explain where one body structure is in relation to another. Usually to discuss where an injury is located or how pain radiates in the body.

Anterior

Front surface of the body.

Ventral

Toward the belly side of the body.

Posterior

Toward the back surface of the body.

Dorsal

Toward the spinal side of the body.

Plantar

Bottom of the foot; sole.

Superior

Above; neared to the head.

Inferior

Below; nearer to the feet.

Lateral

Outer; body parts that lie farther from the midline.

Medial

Inner; body parts that lie closer to the midline.

Proximal

Describes structures on an extremity closer to the origin of the body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Distal

Describes structures on an extremity farther from the origin of a body part or the point of attachment of a limb to the body trunk.

Superficial

Closer to or on the skin.

Deep

Farther inside the body/tissue, and away from the skin.

Apex (Apices)

Tip(s) of any structure.

Flexion

Bending of a join.

Extension

Straightening of a joint.

Adduction

Motion toward the midline of the body.

Abduction

Motion away from the midline of the body.

Bilateral

Both sides of the midline.

Unilateral

Only one side of the body.

Prone

Means lying face down.

Supine

Means lying face up.

Fowler Position

Semi-reclining position with the head elevated to help them breathe easier and to control the airway; sitting upright.

Semi-Fowler Position

Patient sits at a 45-degree angle.

High-Fowler Position

Patient sits at a 90-degree angle.

Which of the following components of a medical term conveys its essential meaning?

Word Root

3 multiple choice options

Prefixes can indiciate:

Color

3 multiple choice options

The plural form of the word bronchus is:

Bronchi

3 multiple choice options

The statement, "the lungs are superior to the bladder" indicates that the lunges are closer to the:

Head

3 multiple choice options

Movement of the arm toward the midline is referred to as:

Adduction

3 multiple choice options

A body part that lies closer to the midline when compared to another is considered to be:

Medial

3 multiple choice options

This is used to identify a body part that is on the "belly side" or anterior surface of the body:

Ventral

3 multiple choice options

You place a patient in the semi-Fowler position for transport. This means the patient is:

Sitting at a 45-degree angle.

3 multiple choice options

A laceration located on the plantar surface is on the:

Sole of the foot.

3 multiple choice options

When using abbreviations, acronyms, or symbols, an EMT should:

All of the answers are correct.

3 multiple choice options

Costal Arch

A bridge of cartilage that connects the ends of the sixth through tenth ribs with the lower portion of the sternum.

Dys-

Painful, difficult.

-phasia

Speech

-phagia

eating, swallowing

Dysphasia

Difficulty speaking.

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing.

Words ending in a; plural:

ae

Words ending in is; plural

es

Words ending in ex, or ix; plural

ices

Words ending in on, or um; plural

a

Words ending in us; plural

i

Tetra-

prefix for 4

Uni-

one, single

Dipli-

two, double

null-

none

primi-

first

cirrh/o

yellow

ab-

away from

ad-

to, toward, near

de-

down, away from

circum-

around, about

peri-

around, surrounding

trans-

across, through

epi-

above, upon

supra-

above, upper

Nephr/o

Kidney

-pathy

Disease, condition.

dys-

Bad, painful, difficult.

-ia

Condition of.

an-

without, not, absence of

-ic

pertaining to

Alges

pain

Hemoptysis

coughing up blood

Asthenia

Weakness, lack of strength