Medical Terminology

Aden-

Gland

eg, Adenoma, adenitis

Pancreat-

Pancreas

Thyr

Thyroid gland

Hem-, Hemat-

Blood

eg. Hematoma (clotted blood)

Hemostasis (stopping of blood)

Phleb

Vein

eg. Phlebotomy

Thromb-

Clot

eg. Thrombosis (blood clot in the arteries/ veins)

Brachi-

Arm

eg. Brachial artery

Cervic-

Neck

eg. Cervical spinal cord

Chondr-

Cartilage

eg. chondromalacia (breakdown of cartilage at the knee)

Cost-

Rib

Crani-

Skull

Dactyl

Finger or toe

Fibr

Connective tissue

eg. Fibrosis (excessive build up of connective tissue from inflammation)

Pod

Foot

Ten, tendin

Tendon

An

Anus

Bil, chol

Bile, gall

Enter

Intestines

Gingiv

Gums

Gloss, Lingu

Tongue

Hepat

Liver

Proct

Rectum

Cyst

Bladder

Gynec

Female

Hyster

Uterus

Mamm, mast

Breast

eg. mammogram

Metr

Uterus

Pneumon

Lungs

Rhin

Nose

Steth

Chest

Cardi

Heart

eg. Cardiac arrest

Tachycardia

Blephar

Eyelid

eg. Blepharitis

Cephal

Head

Cerebr

Cerebrum

Mening-, meningi

Membranes, meninges

Myel

Spinal cord

Ot

Ear

Adip

Fat

eg. adipose tissue

Dorsal

Back portion of the body

Ventral

Front portion of the body

Transverse

Separation of body into LOWER and UPPER halves

Saggital

Separation of body into RIGHT and LEFT halves

Lateral

Side

Anterior

Front

Prosterior

back

-algia

pain

lith

stones

-ectomy

surgical removal

-otomy

surgical inspection (no removal)

-ostomy

surgical opening in the abdomen to let urine out

Presby-

Old age

eg. presbyopia

-opia

vision

-phylaxis

proection, prevention

-lepsy

seizure, convulsion

-stomy

a new opening

-tomy

incision

-asthenia

weakness

-oma

tumor

-ptosis

dropping, falling

eg. ptosis: dropping of the upper eyelid

-sclerosis

hardening condition

Vertigo

Dizziness, room spinning, dizzy, lightheaded

Syncope

fainting, temporary loss of consciousness

Deep vein thrombitis (DVT)

blood clot

Dextrad

Toward tor right

Sinistrad

Toward the left

Topical

Applied/ cream

Buccal

Against the cheek

Sublngual

Under the tongue

Supine

Lying on the back, legs straight out

For:

• EKG

• Abdominal exam

• CPR

Prone

Lying

For:

• Examining bottom of feet

• DO NOT USE in late term prgnancy

Fowlers

Sitting 90 degrees or 45 degrees (semi fowlers) against back of table

• EKG (semi fowler’s—patient is lightheaded/ fainting, SOB)

Dorsal Recumbent

Lying flat on back with knees bent

• Catheterization

Knee-Chest

Opposite of prone, knees to chest, hands beside head

• Gynecological & rectal exams

• Spinal adjustment treatments

Lithotomy

Lying flat on back, feet up using stirrups

• Female pelvic exams

• Gynecological exam

Sims

Lying on left side, left leg slightly fixed, right leg bent at 90 degrees

• Rectal exams, inspection

Proctological/ Jack-Knife

Lying belly flat on exam table, table is lifted/ bent at the middle

• Male rectal exams

• sigmoidscopy

Trendelenburg

Legs elevated above head, brings blood to vital organs

“po”

by mouth (per mouth)

“pr”

by rectum (per rectum)

“sl”

sublingual (under the tongue)

“IV”

intravenous

“IM”

intrmuscular, in the muscle

“SQ”

Subcutaneous, in the skin

“qd”

every day

“bid”

twice a day, bi a day

“tid”

three times a day

“qid”

four times a day

“pc”

after meals, POST CHOW

“qhs”

at bedtime

“prn”

as needed

Visceral

Deep

An average adult has around _to _ liters of blood

5 to 8 liters

Antitussive

supresses cough reflex

Antipyretics

Reduces fever

Analgesics

Relieve pain

Pallatative Care

provide comfort and quality of life for patients

Primary care

first point of contact for a pt with unknown diagnosis

Check up or general health concerns

Intensive care

high quality acute care for critically ill patients

BP values