Medical Terminology

HSCI-111 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

EXAM ONE STUDY GUIDE

MEDICAL TERM WORD PARTS

• Identify the four parts of medical terms.

Word Root – foundation of the term and provides general meaning of the term (ex. cardi- =? )

Prefix – found at the beginning of the word and provides information about location, number, or time/frequency (ex. peri- = ?)

Suffix – found at the end of the word and adds meaning to word around a condition, disease, or procedure. (ex –itis = ?)

Combining Vowel – links the word root to another word root or a suffix (ex. Cardi-o-my-o-pathy =?)

• Recognize writing word roots in their combining forms. Know when the combining vowel is

used or not.

Word root: "derm" (skin)

Combining form: "derm/o"

• Be able to state the purpose and locations of prefix, suffix, and word roots in medical terms

and what information they add or provide to medical terms.

BODY ORGANIZATION

• Define Anatomical Position, Prone Position, and Supine Position

Prone = Lying horizontally facing downward

Supine = Lying horizontally facing upward

• Be able to Label and Define Terms for Body Regions – know word parts of these terms

Body Regions: Anterior

Abdominal (abdomin/o = abdomen) Abdomen; on anterior side of trunk

Brachial (brachi/o = arm) Upper extremities (UE) or arms

Cephalic (cephal/o = head) Head

Cervical (cervic/o = neck) Neck; connects head to trunk

Crural (crur/o = leg) Lower extremities (LE) or legs

Pelvic (pelv/o = pelvis) Pelvis; on anterior side of trunk

Pubic (pub/o = genital region) Region containing external genitals; on anterior side of trunk

Thoracic (thorac/o = chest) Chest; on anterior side of trunk; also called thorax

Suffix: -al = pertaining to; -ic = pertaining to

Body Regions: Posterior

Brachial (brachi/o = arm) Upper extremities (UE) or arms

Crural (crur/o = leg) Lower extremities (LE) or legs

Dorsum (dors/o = back of body) Back; on posterior side of trunk

Gluteal (glute/o = buttock) Buttocks; on posterior side of trunk

Vertebral (vertebr/o = vertebra) Overlies spinal column or vertebrae; on posterior side of trunk

Trunk Contains all body regions other than head, neck, and extremities; also called torso

• Be able to Label and Define Terms for Body Planes

Sagittal Plane

• The sagittal plane is also called the median plane or midsaggital plane

• It is a vertical plane that runs lengthwise from front to back

• It divides the body into left and right portions

• A cut along the sagittal plane yields a sagittal section

Coronal Plane

• The frontal plane is also called the coronal plane

• It is a vertical plane that runs lengthwise from side to side

• It divides the body into front and back portions

• A cut along the frontal plane yields a frontal or coronal section

Transverse Plane

• The transverse plane is also called the horizontal plane

• It is a horizontal or crosswise plane that runs parallel to the  ground

• It divides the body into upper and lower portions

• A cut along the transverse plane yields a transverse section

• Define Directional terms and know how to use them in relation to body parts

Superior or cephalic

• super/o = above ; cephal/o = head

• More toward the head or above another structure

  • Adrenal glands are superior to the kidneys

  • The eyes are superior to the lips

Inferior or caudal

• infer/o = below ; caud/o = tail

• More toward the feet or below another structure

  • Intestines are inferior to the heart

  • The feet are inferior to the knees

Anterior or ventral

• anter/o = front ; ventr/o = belly

• More toward the front or belly-side of the body

  • Navel is located on anterior surface of body

  • The nose is on the anterior side

Posterior or dorsal

• Poster/o = back ; dors/o = back

• More toward the back or spinal cord side of the body

  • Posterior wall of right kidney was excised

  • The buttocks are on the posterior side

Medial

• medi/o = middle

• More toward the middle or midline of the body

  • Heart is medially located in chest cavity

  • The sternum is medial to the arm

Lateral

• later/o = side

• More toward the side of the body

  • Ovaries are located lateral to uterus

  • The arm is lateral to the heart

Proximal

• proxim/o = near to

• Nearer to the point of attachment to the body

  • In anatomical position, elbow is proximal to hand

  • The knee is proximal to the foot

Distal

• dist/o = away from

• Farther away from the point of attachment to the body

  • The hand is distal to the elbow

• Know the word parts used in medical terms related to drug administration methods and

routes.

INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM

• Define the Integumentar

The integumentary system is the body's largest organ, covering and protecting the underlying tissues and organsy System.

• Describe the main functions of the Integumentary System.

• forms a two-way protective barrier, aids in temperature regulation, houses sensory receptors, secrete important fluids

• Identify the organs/structures comprise the Integumentary System.

• Structures in System: skin, nails, hair, sweat glands, sebaceous/oil glands 

• Identify the different layers of skin and the function of each layer.

The Skin Layers: Epidermis

• The epidermis is composed of stratified squamous epithelium

  • These are flat, scale-like cells

  • They are arranged in overlapping layers called strata

• The epidermis has no blood supply or connective tissue

• The basal layer is the deepest layer of the epidermis

  • In this layer, cells continuously grow and push old cells toward the surface

  • During this process, cells that are being pushed up shrink, die, and fill with keratin

• Keratinized cells overlap and allow the skin to act as a waterproof barrier

• The basal layer also contains melanocytes

  • Melanocytes produce the black pigment melanin that gives skin its color

  • Melanin protects skin against ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun

Epidermis Terms

• Basal Layer

  • bas/o = base -al = pertaining to

• Keratin 

  • kerat/o = hard -in = indicates protein or substance

• Melanin 

  • melan/o = black -in = indicates protein or substance

• Melanocytes 

  • melan/o = black -cyte = cell

• Epidermis

  • Epi- = above derm/o = skin

The Skin Layers: Dermis

• Dermis (also called Corium)

  • Means “true skin”

  • The dermis, or corium, is the deeper layer of skin

  • It is located between the epidermis and the subcutaneous layer

  • It is living tissue with a good blood supply

  • Composed of connective tissue and collagen fibers (strong proteins) gives strength and flexibility

  • Structure housed in the dermis: hair follicles, sweat glands, sebaceous glands, blood vessels, lymph vessels, sensory receptors, nerve fibers, muscle fibers

  • Ridges formed in the dermis give each person a unique set of fingerprints (do not change in lifetime)

Dermis Terms – What Layer Are They Located?

• Dermis / Corium

• Collagen Fibers

• Sweat Glands

• Sebaceous Glands

• Sensory Receptors

• Hair

The Skin Layers: Subcutaneous Layer

• Subcutaneous Layer / Hypodermis

  • The subcutaneous layer, or hypodermis, lies beneath the skin

  • It is composed of fat cells called lipocytes

  • Protects deeper tissues from trauma

  • Acts as insulation from heat/cold

  • Source of energy in starvation situation

Subcutaneous Terms

• Subcutaneous

  • sub-=under cutane/o= skin -ous = pertaining to

• Hypodermis

  • hypo-= below derm/o = skin

• Lipocytes

  • lip/o = fat -cyte = cell

• Identify structures found in each skin layer.

• Know the common word parts pertaining to the Integumentary System. (prefix; suffix; word

root in combining form)

Integumentary System: Word Parts

Integumentary Combining Forms

Integumentary Prefix and Suffix

Terminology: Suffixes

Terminology: Prefixes

• Be able to define and breakdown medical terms of the Integumentary System, defining the

word parts of the term and providing a definition. These terms may be anatomical terms,

health condition terms, medical specialty terms.

SKELETAL SYSTEM

• Identify the anatomy of the skeletal system.

The Skeletal System

• 206 bones that make up the internal framework of the body – the skeleton

• Main Structures: Bones and Joints

• The skeleton, joint, and muscles together produce movement

• Forms the framework of the body.

• Composed of bones, cartilage and ligaments.

• Each bone is a body organ with a blood supply, nerves, and lymphatic vessels

  • Bones are connected to each other to form the skeleton

  • The skeleton protects organs and stores minerals

• Bone marrow in the bones produces blood cells

• Joints give the skeleton flexibility

• Describe the main functions of the skeletal system.

• Functions: supports the body, protects internal organs, point of attachment for muscles for movement, produces blood cells, stores minerals

• What organs/structures comprise the Skeletal System?

• What is the difference between the axial and appendicular skeleton? Correctly place bones

in either the axial or appendicular skeleton.

Skeleton: Axial Skeleton

• The head, or skull, is divided into two parts

  • Cranium and Facial Bones

  • crani/o = skull

• The skull protects the brain, eyes, ears, nasal cavity, and oral cavity

• The cranium provides attachment for chewing and head muscles

  • Encases the brain

Axial Skeleton – Vertebral Column

• The trunk of the body consist of:

  • Vertebral column (vertebr/o = vertebra)

  • Sternum (stern/o = sternum)

  • Rib cage

• The vertebral column has five sections

  • Cervical vertebrae (cervic/o = neck)

  • Thoracic vertebrae (thorac/o = chest)

  • Lumbar vertebrae (lumb/o = loin, low back)

  • Sacrum (sacr/o = sacrum)

  • Coccyx

• Intervertebral Disk – fibrocartilage disk between vertebrae to provide cushion (inter- = between; vertebr/o = vertebra; -al =pertaining to)

Axial Skeleton – Rib cage

• 12 pairs of ribs attached to the back of vertebral column

• 10 pairs of ribs attached to sternum in the front

• Floating ribs – the lowest two pairs of ribs

Appendicular Skeleton

Skeleton

• The appendicular skeleton -

• Includes pectoral girdle, upper extremities, pelvic girdle, lower extremities

• Bones for the appendages and limbs

• Responsible for body movement with the attached muscles

• The appendicular skeleton includes all bones of the upper and lower limbs, plus the bones that attach each limb to the axial skeleton. There are 126 bones in the appendicular skeleton of an adult.

Appendicular Skeleton – Pectoral Girdle

• Pectoral Girdle consist of:

  • Clavicle bones

  • Scapula bones

• Functions:

  • Attach the upper extremity to the axial skeleton

  • Upper extremities – humerus, ulna, radius, carpus, metacarpus, phalanges

• Pectoral Girdle consist of:

  • Clavicle bones

  • Scapula bones

• Functions:

  • Attach the upper extremity to the axial skeleton

  • Upper extremities – humerus, ulna, radius, carpus, metacarpus, phalanges

• Pectoral

  • pector/o = chest -al =pertaining to

• Clavicle

  • clavicul/o = clavicle

• Scapula

  • scapul/o = scapula

• Pelvic Girdle consist of:

  • Lower Extremities – femur, patella, tibia, fibula, tarsus, metatarsus phalanges

• Functions:

  • Attach the lower extremity to the axial skeleton

• Pelvic

  • pelv/o = pelvis -ic =pertaining to

• Anterior

  • anter/o = front -ior = pertaining to

• Posterior

  • poster/o = back -ior = pertaining to

• Identify types and locations of different joints.

Joints

• A joint, or articulation, is the place where bones come together. (articul/o = joint)

• A joint with no movement is called a fibrous joint or synarthrosis. Example: suture joints in the cranium

• A joint with little movement is called a cartilaginous joint or amphiarthrosis. Example: vertebral bodies within the vertebral column

• A joint that is freely movable is called synovial joint. Example: shoulder, knee, and ankle

Synovial Joint

• Freely moving joints

• Most common type of joint 9 found in shoulder or hip, etc)

• Contain a capsule lined with lubricant secreting synovial membrane

• Bones are health together by ligaments or strong bands of connective tissue

• Some synovial joints contain a bursa (sac- like structure to reduce friction in elbow, knee, shoulder joints)

• (synov/o = synovial membrane)

Structures Associated With Joints

• Cartilage – the elastic connective tissue that is found at the ends of bones, nose tip, etc.

• Synovial membrane – the lining or covering of synovial joints

• Synovial fluid – the lubricating fluid found between synovial joints

• Ligaments – the tough, elastic connective tissue that connects bone to bone

• Tendons – the fibrous connective tissue that attaches muscle to bone

• Bursa – the closed, fluid-filled sacs that works as a cushion

• Meniscus – C_shaped cartilage that act as shock absorbers between bones

• Identify components of a long bone.

Long Bones

• The majority of bones are long bones

• Long bone does not mean large bone

• Long bones have two parts:

  • The diaphysis is the central shaft and contains the medullary cavity

  • The epiphysis is the wide portion at either end of the bone

    • Articular cartilage covers the epiphysis

    • Periosteum covers the rest of the bone

• The hard exterior of the bone is called compact or cortical bone

  • It is found in the epiphysis and diaphysis

• Cancellous or spongy bone is found inside the bone

  • It has spaces containing red bone marrow

  • It is found in some parts of all bones

• Diaphysis

  • Greek for grow between

• medullary cavity

  • medull/o = inner region –ary= pertaining to

• Epiphysis

  • epi - = above

• Articular cartilage

  • articul/o = joint –ar= pertaining to

• Periosteum

  • peri- = around oste/o = bone

• Know the common word parts pertaining to the Skeletal System. (prefix; suffix; word root)

• Be able to define and breakdown medical terms of the Skeletal System, defining the word

parts of the term and providing a definition. These terms may be anatomical terms, health

condition terms, medical specialty terms.

Skeletal System Word Parts

Skeletal System Combing Forms

Skeletal System Prefixes

Additional Suffixes