Medical Terminology - Chapters 1 & 2

How many healthcare terms CANNOT be decoded?

10%

What is the difference between a diagnosis and a prognosis?

A diagnosis represents the present condition, while a prognosis represents a future condition.

What is the difference between acute and chronic?

Acute refers to a short term and sudden condition. Chronic refers to a long term and persistent condition.

TRUE or FALSE: You can see a symptom.

FALSE. A symptom is based on a patient’s explanation.

What does qid mean?

4 times a day

What does the prefixes “hyper-” and “hypo-” mean?

hyper- = high

hypo- = low

What does CARD stand for in terms of decoding healthcare words?

C = Check the word parts in a term

A = Assign meanings to the word parts

R = Reverse the suffix to the front of the term

D = Define the term

What does the suffix “-tomy” mean?

To remove

What does the suffix “-plasty” mean?

To repair

What should you do if a combining form ends with the same vowel that begins a suffix?

Drop one of the vowels. Both vowels are not needed.

What does “esophagogastroduodenoscopy” mean?

To view the esophagus, stomach, and small intestine

What are the suffixes that mean “pertaining to”?

-ac

-al

-ar

-ary

-eal

-ic

-ous

What does “litho-” mean?

kidney

What does “sub-” mean?

below

SINGULAR: vertebra

PLURAL: vertebrae

SINGULAR: arthrosis

PLURAL: arthroses

SINGULAR: appendix

PLURAL: appendices

SINGULAR: arthritis

PLURAL: arthritides

SINGULAR: phalanx

PLURAL: phalanges

SINGULAR: endocardium

PLURAL: endocardia

SINGULAR: digitus

PLURAL: digiti

SINGULAR: therapy

PLURAL: therapies

List the levels of organization in a human body, from smallest to largest.

1.cell

2.tissues

3.organs

4.body systems

5.organism

Are humans electrical? Explain why or why not.

Humans are electrical because cells in our bodies are made up of molecules. Those molecules contain charges.

Define metabolism.

Metabolism is the process in which energy is built up and broken down.

Why is homeostasis important?

Homeostasis is important because it keeps the human body stable.

TRUE or FALSE: Lysosomes break down substances, and ribosomes are the sites of protein formation.

TRUE. Lysosomes engage in a process called phagocytosis (engulfing) and remove waste. Ribosomes create proteins for the body.

Does stromal refer to weak or strong?

strong

What does “histology” mean?

the study of the tissues

Define “ventral” and “dorsal.”

ventral = front

dorsal = back

buccal

cheek

cephalic

head

cervical

neck

cranial

skull

facial

face

frontal

forehead

mental

chin

nasal

nose

ocular

eye

oral

mouth

otic

ear

axillary

armpit

deitoid

shoulder

inguinal

groin

sternal

breastbone

thoracic

chest

brachial

arm

carpal

wrist

digital

finger & toe

femoral

thigh

patellar

knee

plantar

sole of the foot

tarsal

ankle

lumbar

lower back

sacral

sacrum

scapular

shoulder blade

popliteal

back of knee

sural

calf

What is another word for posterior?

dorsal

Define cephalad.

cephalad = towards the head

TRUE or FALSE: The prefix “ipsi-” means opposite.

FALSE. “ipsi-” means “same.”

What is the difference between “proximal” and “distal”?

Proximal means near the point of attachment. Distal means far from the point of attachment.

TRUE or FALSE: “Supine” means “lying on one’s belly.”

FALSE. “Supine” means “lying on one’s back.” “Prone” means “lying on one’s belly.”

What does “dextrad” and “sinistrad” mean?

dextrad = right

sinistrad = left

What does “afferent” and “efferent” mean?

afferent = towards a structure

efferent = away from a structure

What does the ventral cavity contain?

T = thoraccic

A = abdominal

P = pelvic

What region is medial to the hypochondriac region?

epigastic region

What region is inferior to the epigastic region?

umbilical region

What region is inferior to the right lumbar region?

right iliac region

TRUE or FALSE: The midsagittal plane separates the body into equal parts.

TRUE

What direction does the transverse plane divide the body in?

The transverse plane divides the body horizontally.

Define the prefix “meta-.”

meta- = beyond, change