term chapter 1 part 1

Vocabulary Origins

• Medical language has developed unique terminology for diagnosing and treating illnesses.

• Key historical figures in medicine:

  • Hippocrates: Known as the father of modern medicine, wrote in Greek.

  • Many medical terms have components of Greek or Latin origin.

  • Influence of Germanic and Spanish language:

    • Many medical terms may sound similar to Spanish due to Latin roots.

Categories of Medical Terms

• Medical terminology can be categorized into:

  • Translatable Terms

  • Nontranslatable Terms

  • Eponyms

  • Abbreviations

  • Symbols

Translatable Terms

• Comprised of specific word roots, prefixes, and suffixes:

  • These parts combine to create specific meanings, reducing the need for rote memorization.

  • Understanding these components aids in deciphering meanings.

  • Example: Cardiology

    • "Cardio-" refers to the heart, and "-logy" refers to the study of, thus, cardiology is the study of the heart.

Building Translatable Terms

• Example: Bronchospasm

  • Composition: "Bronch-" refers to bronchial tubes; "-spasm" means involuntary muscle contraction.

  • A bronchospasm results in airway obstruction, often seen in asthma patients.

  • A combining vowel (typically 'o') is added for easier pronunciation.

Nontranslatable Terms

• Cannot be broken down into simpler components:

  • Examples:

    • Cataract: Derived from Greek meaning "waterfall" but describes clouding of the lens.

    • Angina pectoris: Comes from Latin meaning "strangling"; refers to cardiac pain due to oxygen deficiency.

Eponyms

• Terms named after individuals:

  • Examples:

    • Cesarean section: Named after Julius Caesar, who was born this way.

    • Heimlich maneuver: Named after Dr. Henry Heimlich; used to dislodge food from choking victims.

    • Note: In current medical practice, it is referred to as "abdominal thrusts" rather than the Heimlich maneuver.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

• Shortened forms of terms:

  • Abbreviation: A general shortening of a term (e.g., Rx for therapy).

  • Acronym: Formed from the initial letters of words, pronounced as one word (e.g., CABG for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft; AIDS for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome).

• These are common in medical settings to streamline communication.

Common Abbreviations

• Rx: therapy

• Tx: treatment

• Sx: symptom

• Dx: diagnosis

• Px: prognosis

• Understanding these will aid in interpreting medical documentation.

Symbols in Medical Terminology

• Use of symbols to convey specific meanings:

  • "+" indicates presence.

  • "-" indicates absence.

  • Arrows (↑) indicate increases; (↓) indicate decreases in lab reports.

  • Gender symbols are also commonly used.

Activity Examples

• Classification tasks:

  • Alzheimer's disease: Eponym

  • MRI: Abbreviation

  • CABG: Acronym

  • Cataract: Nontranslatable

  • Bronchospasm: Translatable

Additional Nontranslatable Terms

• Asthma and syphilis are also considered nontranslatable since their origins do not lend themselves to simplified meanings.