EMT student workbook (chapter 5) Medical Terminology

suffix

A word or letter placed after the root.

prefix

a syllable or word that comes before a root word to change its meaning

Superior

Higher on the body, nearer to the head

Distal

Farther from the trunk of the body

Ventral

belly side

plantar

bottom of foot

Abduction

Movement away from the midline of the body

supine

lying face up

Flexion

bending a joint

Posterior

toward the back

tachy-

fast, rapid

Post-

after, behind

Quad-

four

Bi-

two

brady-

abnormally slow

Pre-

before

Hyper-

excessive, over, high

-megaly

enlargement

-oma

tumor, mass

-ectomy

surgical removal

-algia

pain, painful condition

-logist

specialist in the study of

-pathy

disease

-itis

inflammation

A patient was involved in a car wreck. He has abrasions on both arms. What word is best used to describe this?

Bilateral (160)

While assessing a patient you note a slow pulse, how would you describe this?

Bradycardia (154 164 167)

You are receiving a patient care report and notice a abbreviation DOE. what does that mean?

Dyspnea on exertion

dyspnea on exertion?

difficulty breathing upon movement/ambulation

What is ambulation?

the act of walking

What does pleurocentesis mean

Draining fluid from the chest

You find a patient lying prone on the ground, what this mean?

The patient is lying face down

what is carcinoma of the liver?

Cancerous tumor of the liver

If a patient has a history of AMI, what does this mean?

Acute myocardial infarction

acute myocardial infarction

heart attack

If the medical control physician informs you that the patient is to remain NPO, what does this mean?

Nothing by mouth

A patient has experienced a TIA, what does this mean?

Transient ischemic attack

transient ischemic attack is?

temporary interruption in the blood supply to the brain

What is pharyngitis?

inflammation of the throat

the CRNA is?

Certified registered nurse anesthetist

DVT stands for?

deep vein thrombosis

-plegia refers to?

paralysis, stroke

"BLANK" means closer to or on the skin?

Superficial

The "BLANK" part of the body is the portion nearer the head?

Superior

The bottom of the foot is referred to as the?

plantar surface

The way to describe the sections of the abdominal cavity is by?

quadrants

"BLANK" motion is toward the midline?

Adduction

the parts that lie closer to the midline are called "BLANK" (inner) structures?

Medial

A patient who is sitting upright is in the?

Fowler position

when trying to define a term, begin with the "BLANK" and work backward

suffix

The body is in the "BLANK" position when lying face down

Prone

What is hyperemesis?

excessive vomiting

What does ipsilateral mean?

belonging to or occurring on the same side of the body

what does photophobia?

Fear of light

List the four movement terms and their definitions

1. Flexion- Bending of a joint

2. Extension. Straightening of a joint

3. adduction- motion toward the midline

4. abduction- motion away from the midline

What are the 5 rules to use when converting terms from singular to plural?

1. Singular words that end in "a" change to "ae"

2. words that end in "ex" or ix" change to "ices"

3. words that end in "is" change to "es" when plural

4. words that end in "on" or um" change to "a"

5. words that end in "us" change to "i" (156)

What are the 4 components that comprise a medical term

1. word root

2. prefix

3. suffix

4. combining vowels (153)

A combining vowel shown with the word root is called a combining form. List five of the most common combining forms found in EMS

1. cardi/o

2. gastr/o

3. hepat/o

4. atthr/o

5. oste/o

6. pulmon/o

Based on your knowledge of medical terminology, what kind of doctor is a pulmonologist, and what does the history of pulmonary hypertension tell you?

*A pulmonologist is a physician who specializes in the respiratory system. From the windpipe to the lungs, if your complaint involves the lungs or any part of the respiratory system, a pulmonologist is the doc you want to solve the problem.

*A type of high blood pressure that affects arteries in the lungs and in the heart.

Pulmonary hypertension affects arteries in the lungs and the right side of the heart

What are cardiomegaly and arteriosclerosis?

*An enlarged heart, which is usually a sign of another condition.

Cardiomegaly is usually a sign of another condition such as a heart valve problem or heart disease. It may also signal a prior heart attack

*Arteriosclerosis occurs when the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients from your heart to the rest of your body (arteries) become thick and stiff — sometimes restricting blood flow to your organs and tissues

What does ECG stand for?

Electrocardiography is the process of producing an electrocardiogram. It is a graph of voltage versus time of the electrical activity of the heart using electrodes placed on the skin.

What does it mean to say a patient has supraventricular tachycardia?

A faster than normal heart rate beginning above the heart's two lower chambers.

Supraventricular tachycardia is a rapid heartbeat that develops when the normal electrical impulses of the heart are disrupted

What do the terms oximeter and SpO2 mean?

*Pulse oximetry is a noninvasive method for monitoring a person's oxygen saturation.

*SpO2, also known as oxygen saturation, is a measure of the amount of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin in the blood relative to the amount of hemoglobin not carrying oxygen. The body needs there to be a certain level of oxygen in the blood or it will not function as efficiently

What does the doctor mean by a low erythrocyte count and hemoptysis?

*A low RBC count. It could also indicate a vitamin B6, B12 or folate deficiency. It may also signify internal bleeding, kidney disease or malnutrition (where a person's diet doesn't contain enough nutrients to meet their body's needs)

*Hemoptysis is the coughing up of blood or blood-stained mucus from the bronchi, larynx, trachea, or lungs. In other words, it is the airway bleeding. This can occur with lung cancer, infections such as tuberculosis, bronchitis, or pneumonia, and certain cardiovascular conditions

What is an IV?

Intravenous therapy is a medical technique that delivers a liquid directly into a person's vein. The intravenous route of administration is commonly used for rehydration solutions or to provide nutrition in those who cannot consume food or water by mouth

What type of doctors are cardiologists and nephrologists?

*A cardiologist is a doctor with special training and skill in finding, treating and preventing diseases of the heart and blood vessels

*A nephrologist is a type of doctor that specializes in treating diseases of the kidney

What do these ,PMH, HTN, SVT, and ASHD

*past medical history

*hypertension

*Supraventricular tachycardia

*Arteriosclerotic heart disease