Western Medical Terminology lecture 1

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in medical terminology based on the lecture notes provided.

Medical Terminology

The language used to describe the human body, its components, processes, conditions affecting it, and procedures performed upon it.

Greek and Latin Origins

A large majority of medical terms are derived from Greek and Latin languages, with Greek primarily in clinical terminology and Latin in anatomical descriptions.

Eponym

A term derived from the name of the physician or scientist who first identified a condition or technology, such as Alzheimer or Parkinson.

Acronym

A term formed from the first letters of words in a phrase, which can be spoken as a whole word, for example, LASER.

Combining Form

A word root combined with a vowel that allows for the connection of two word elements in medical terminology.

Suffix

A word element added to the end of a word to change its meaning, often indicating a pathology, symptom, or procedure.

Prefix

A word element attached to the beginning of a word that modifies its meaning, indicating aspects such as position, number, or negation.

Cytology

The study of the body at the cellular level, focusing on the structure and function of cells.

Histology

The study of tissues, which involves groups of cells performing specialized activities.

Anatomical Position

A standardized posture used as a reference point in anatomy, where the body stands upright with arms at the sides and palms facing forward.