Study Notes for Chapter 1 of "Exploring Medical Language"

Chapter 1: Introduction to Medical Language and Evolve Student Resources

• Authors: Myrna LaFleur Brooks | Danielle LaFleur Brooks
• Edition: Exploring Medical Language - A Student-Directed Approach
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Copyright Year: 2018

The Longest Word in the Dictionary

• Medical Term: PNEUMONOULTRAMICROSCOPICSILICOVOLCANOCONIOSIS
  • Longest word in the dictionary, it's a medical term.
  • Famous Example: ESOPHAGOGASTRODUODENOSCOPY

Importance of Understanding Chapter 1

• Chapter 1 is critical as it introduces:
  • Word Parts:
  • Word Roots
  • Prefixes
  • Suffixes
  • Combining Vowels
  • Rules to Combine: Understanding how to build medical terms from these parts will be utilized throughout the subsequent chapters.

Chapter Objectives

• Objective 1: Create an account and register on the Evolve website (optional).
• Objective 2: Describe the origins of medical language.
• Objective 3: Define the two categories of medical terms.
• Objective 4: Identify and define the four word parts and the combining form.
• Objective 5: Analyze and define medical terms.
• Objective 6: Build medical terms for given definitions.

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Origins of Medical Language

• Acronyms:
  • Defined as terms formed from the first letters of words in a phrase. Usually contain a vowel and are pronounced as a single word.
  • Example: laser (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation).
• Eponyms:
  • Terms derived from the names of people or places.
  • Examples: Apgar score (named after its developer), West Nile virus (named for its geographical origin).
• Modern Language:
  • Terms derived from the English language (e.g., nuclear medicine scanner).
• Greek and Latin Influence:
  • Medical terminology largely formed through Greek and Latin influences dating back to the written documents of Hippocrates.

Categories of Medical Terms

Classification of Medical Terms

• Two main categories of medical terms:
  • Terms Built from Word Parts:
  • Can be translated literally to ascertain their meaning.
  • Example: arthr/itis (inflammation of the joint)
  • Terms NOT Built from Word Parts:
  • Cannot be easily translated literally to find meanings.
  • Examples:
    • Alzheimer disease
    • MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
    • Complete blood count and differential
    • Orthopedics
• Learning Methods by Category:
  1. For Terms Built from Word Parts:
  • Analyzing terms
  • Defining terms
  • Building terms
  1. For Terms NOT Built from Word Parts:
  • Recall terms
  • Matching terms
  • Define terms

Definitions of Word Parts

• Objective 4: Identify and define the four word parts and the combining form.
• Four Word Parts:
  1. Word Root:
  • Fundamental meaning of a medical term; the core of the word.
  • Most medical terms have one or more word roots.
  1. Prefix:
  • Attached to the beginning of a medical term to modify its meaning.
  • Not all medical terms have a prefix.
  1. Suffix:
  • Attached to the end of a medical term to alter its meaning.
  • Not all medical terms have a suffix.
  1. Combining Vowel:
  • Usually an