Medical Terminology Study Notes: Therapeutic Interventions (Strand 3)

What is a word root in medical terminology?

It is the core meaning of a medical term, often related to an organ, tissue, or system.

What does a combining vowel do in medical terms?

It typically makes pronunciation smoother and is usually 'o'.

What is a suffix in medical terminology?

It indicates what is done, such as a procedure, condition, or specialty.

Define a prefix in medical terminology.

It provides information about location, number, time, direction, or negation.

What does the suffix '-ectomy' signify?

It indicates surgical removal of a body part.

What does the suffix '-otomy' mean?

It refers to cutting into an organ or tissue.

Define '-ostomy'.

It means creating an opening from an organ to the outside of the body or to another organ.

What is the meaning of the suffix '-plasty'?

It indicates surgical repair or reconstruction of a body part.

Explain the meaning of '-pexy'.

It signifies surgical fixation to hold a structure in place.

What does '-desis' denote in medical terminology?

It indicates surgical binding or fusion of two parts.

Define the term '-lysis'.

It means loosening, freeing, or breaking down, context-dependent.

What does the suffix '-centesis' refer to?

It indicates surgical puncture to remove fluid from a body space.

What is indicated by the suffix '-tripsy'?

It means crushing, often of a stone.

What does the suffix '-scopy' mean?

It denotes viewing with a scope, such as in endoscopy.

What does '-graphy' signify in medical terms?

It refers to the process of recording or imaging.

Define '-gram'.

It is the record or image produced from a procedure.

What does '-metry' refer to in a medical context?

It indicates measurement.

Explain what '-analysis' means.

It signifies breakdown or assessment of material.

Differentiate between '-otomy' and '-ostomy'.

'-otomy' means incision into an organ while '-ostomy' means creating an opening.

What is the meaning of 'laparotomy'?

It is an incision into the abdomen.

Define 'colostomy'.

It is the creation of an opening of the colon to the abdominal wall.

What is the term 'appendectomy' used for?

It means surgical removal of the appendix.

What is meant by 'hysteropexy'?

It is surgical fixation of the uterus.

Explain 'pericardiocentesis'.

It is a surgical puncture to remove fluid from around the heart.

What does 'cholecystectomy' mean?

It refers to the surgical removal of the gallbladder.

Define the term 'arthroplasty'.

It indicates surgical repair or reconstruction of a joint.

What is 'tracheostomy'?

It is the creation of an opening into the trachea.

What does 'analgesic' mean?

It refers to pain-relieving medications.

Define 'antipyretic'.

It means reducing fever.

What does 'antibiotic' refer to in pharmacology?

It is a medication that acts against bacteria.

Explain what 'subcutaneous (SubQ)' means.

It refers to an injection administered under the skin.

What does 'titrate' mean in medication practice?

It refers to adjusting a dose based on response.

Define 'IV'.

It stands for intravenous, meaning into a vein.

What does 'enteral nutrition' mean?

It is feeding through the gastrointestinal tract.

Define 'debridement'.

It is the removal of dead or damaged tissue to promote healing.

What is meant by 'neoadjuvant chemotherapy'?

It is chemotherapy given before the main treatment to improve outcomes.

What does 'palliative care' focus on?

It aims to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life without necessarily curing.

What does 'intubation' refer to?

It is the placement of a tube into the airway for ventilation.

Explain 'mechanical ventilation'.

It is a method of providing respiratory support to patients.

What is the purpose of a stent?

It is a device used to keep a passage open.

Define 'bypass' in medical procedures.

It means rerouting flow around an obstruction.

What does 'dialysis' do?

It removes wastes and excess fluid from the blood when kidneys fail.

What is the distinction between 'antineoplastic' and 'adjuvant therapy'?

Antineoplastic refers to drugs against tumor growth, while adjuvant therapy supports the main treatment.

What does 'transfusion' mean?

It is the transfer of blood or blood components into the bloodstream.

Define 'dysphagia'.

It refers to difficulty swallowing.

What is 'suturing'?

It is the process of stitching tissues together.

What does 'thoracentesis' treat?

It treats pleural effusion by removing fluid from the chest cavity.

Explain 'gait training'.

It is therapy aimed at improving walking ability.

What is the focus of occupational therapy?

It enables individuals to perform daily living activities.

What does 'IV analgesia PRN' mean?

It refers to administering pain relief medication through IV as needed.

What is implied by the term 'conscious sedation'?

It indicates a mild level of sedation that allows the patient to remain awake but relaxed.

What does 'percutaneous' mean?

It refers to a procedure performed through the skin.