Medical Terminology for Sterile Processing Technicians

A comprehensive vocabulary review of medical terminology, word elements (roots, prefixes, suffixes), and surgical procedure acronyms for Sterile Processing technicians.

Medical terminology

The language of medical professionals that allows healthcare workers to communicate more effectively by describing parts of the body, diseases, instruments, and surgical procedures.

STAT

Abbreviation for the Latin term statim, meaning immediately or at once.

Word elements

Parts of a word.

Root word element

The word element that tells the primary meaning of a word; also referred to as the base word element.

Prefix word element

The word element that comes before the root word element to alter or modify its meaning.

Suffix word element

The word element that comes after the root word element to alter or modify its meaning.

Combining vowel

A letter (typically an "o") that is sometimes added to or removed from a root to ease the pronunciation of a medical word.

Pericardium

The membranous sac that surrounds the heart as well as the roots of the great vessels of the heart.

Pericardial window

A cardiac procedure involving cutting into the pericardium in order to drain fluid from the pericardial space into the pleural (chest) cavity.

Perioperative

The entire process surrounding a surgical procedure: before (preoperative), during (intraoperative), and after (postoperative).

Periosteal elevator

A surgical instrument used to remove tissue from around a bone (the periosteum).

Hemiarthroplasty

Surgical restoration of half of a joint, specifically the femoral portion of the hip joint and the proximal femur; a form of hip replacement surgery.

Anastomosis

The connection or reconnection of two separate tubular structures, such as blood vessels or portions of intestines.

-ectomy

Suffix meaning surgical removal.

-ostomy

Suffix meaning creation of an opening.

-otomy

Suffix meaning incision into.

-plasty

Suffix meaning surgical restoration or repair.

-oscopy

Suffix meaning visual examination.

-pexy

Suffix meaning surgical fixation.

-rrhaphy

Suffix meaning to suture.

-tome

Suffix meaning a cutting instrument.

AAA

Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair; surgical repair of a weakening or ballooning area of the abdominal portion of the aorta.

CABG

Coronary artery bypass graft; creation of a new blood supply to an area of the heart with a clogged or blocked artery using the patient's own blood vessel to function as the graft.

BMT

Bilateral myringotomy with tubes; incision into both sides of the eardrum (tympanic membrane) for drainage via tube placement.

BSO

Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy; surgical removal of both fallopian tubes and ovaries.

CR

Closed reduction; treatment of a fractured bone without a surgical incision.

ORIF

Open reduction internal fixation; treatment of a fractured bone with an incision and the use of plates and screws or pins to hold the fragments together.

PEG

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy; insertion of a feeding tube into the stomach through the abdominal wall.

TAH

Total abdominal hysterectomy; surgical removal of the uterus through an incision in the abdomen.

THA

Total hip arthroplasty; hip joint reconstruction by removing bone and placing implants in the hip socket and femoral head (proximal femur), resulting in a completely rebuilt joint.

TKA

Total knee arthroplasty; knee joint reconstruction by placing implants, resulting in a completely rebuilt joint.

TURP

Transurethral resection of the prostate; surgical removal of part of the prostate gland by inserting instruments across the urethra.

VATS

Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery; use of endoscopic instruments to access the chest cavity, lungs, or thorax.

VP Shunt

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt; surgical placement of a drain to transfer excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from the brain ventricle to the abdominal lining (peritoneum).

TF

Abbreviation on a surgical schedule denoting "To Follow."