Medical Terminology Overview

Learning Medical Terminology

• Learning medical terminology is comparable to learning another language.
• Familiarity increases with usage, understanding roots and affixes speeds mastery.

Common Abbreviations and Acronyms

• Some abbreviations are on "Do Not Use" lists due to misunderstanding risks.
• Examples:
• "MS" (Morphine) should be replaced with "MgSO4" (Magnesium sulfate).
• "NI" (units) should be written as "units".

Medical Acronyms

• Many acronyms have specific meanings in different institutions.
• Example: "OR" (Operating Room) or "ED" (Emergency Department).

Word Roots and Construction

• Medical terms consist of prefixes, roots, and suffixes.
• Word roots convey core meanings. Examples:
• "hem" (blood), "arthr" (joint).
• Commonly used prefixes: "anti-" (against), "hyper-" (above).
• Common suffixes: "-ectomy" (removal), "-itis" (inflammation).

Lay Language Equivalents

• Shift from medical terms to lay language for patient understanding.
• Example terms:
• "Hypertension" = High blood pressure
• "Angina" = Chest pain
• "CVA" = Stroke
• "DVT" = Blood clot.

Positional Terminology

• Understanding directions is crucial in healthcare.
• Key terms:
• Anterior (front), Posterior (back), Superior (above), Inferior (below).
• Supine (face up), Prone (face down).