MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY

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Using medical terminology

Medical terminology is used in: conversation with other professionals medical charting and documentation professional texts, journal articles

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Using medical terminology

Understanding and using medical
terminology correctly is essential to a successful midwifery career Why is this essential?

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Medical terminology
Each health care specialty has its own
terminology and abbreviations Health care professionals become so used to the language of their specialty they forget others dont understand these terms

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When not to use medical terminology

Medical conditions, diagnoses, treatments and terms should always be explained in lay persons language when talking to patients, family and community members Be aware of the clients literacy level and language of origin

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Building blocks of medical language

Medical terms are made up of several parts elements - that can be combined

to make many different words

Learning the meaning of these elements

helps understand many medical terms

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Building blocks of medical language

3 principle elements make up medical terms: 1. roots and combining forms 2. prefixes 3. suffixes

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Each element is essential to understanding the meaning of the medical term

Prefix Root

Combining Vowel

Suffix

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The Root
The root is the part of the medical term that gives the main meaning It usually refers to a structure and/or function of the body Roots are usually Latin or Greek in origin All medical terms have at least one root
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Combining forms
Combining forms consist of roots plus a vowel, usually the letter o In the dictionary, the vowel is separated from the root with a slash mark, example: Gastr/o - stomach Enter/o small intestine Cardi/o - heart

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Combining vowel
The letter o is called the combining vowel It links the root to the suffix, the next element in the medical term Used if the suffix begins with a consonant. Not needed if the suffix begins with a vowel

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Roots and combining forms

There are thousands of roots and combining forms that make up medical language You need to learn the roots and combining forms used in general medical terminology and what is specific to maternity care

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Basic root words

Adip/o Arteri/o Arthr/o Axill Blephar Bucca Cardi/a Cephal Cerebr/o fat artery joint armpit eyelid cheek heart head brain
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Basic root words

Cervic Cholecyst Col/o Cost/o Crani/o Cyst/o Cyt/o Derm Enter neck gallbladder large intestine rib skull urinary bladder cell skin small intestine
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Basic root words

Esophag Gastr/o Hem/o Hepat/o Ren/o, nephr/o Lapar Laryng/o Lumbus esophagus stomach blood liver kidneys abdominal wall larynx loin, lower part of the back
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Basic root words

Myel/o My/o, muculo Nas/o, rhino Neur/o Ophthalm/o, ocul/o Or/o, stomat/o Oste/o Ot/o Pancreat/o Pharyng/o spinal cord muscle nose nerve eye mouth bone ear pancreas throat

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Basic root words

Pneum/o, pneumon/o Splen/o Thorac/o Thyroid Trache/o Ven/o, phleb/o Vertebr/o Viv/o lung spleen chest thyroid gland windpipe, trachea vein vertebra life

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Combining forms
The letter o is called the combining vowel It links the root to the suffix, the next element in the medical term, if the suffix begins with a consonant. The combining form is always used when linking two roots, even if the second one starts with a vowel.

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Suffixes
Suffixes are word elements that are attached to the end of roots and combining forms to add to or change

their meaning
All medical terms have a suffix

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Suffixes
Each suffix can be added to many roots itis = inflammation appendicitis = inflamed appendix arthritis = inflamed joint

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Suffixes
The combining vowel is used between the root and the suffix when the suffix begins with a consonant: Example: cardi + o + megaly = cardiomegaly cardiomegaly = enlarged heart

cardi = heart, megaly = enlarged

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Suffixes
When the suffix begins with a vowel, there is no need for a combining vowel between the root and the suffix The suffix is attached to the root word Example: gastr + itis = gastritis gastritis = inflammation of the stomach

gastr = stomach, itis = inflammation

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Suffixes
Some common meanings of suffixes: Pathological (disease) conditions Diagnostic procedures Surgical procedures Pertaining to Produced by Resembling

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Suffixes
When suffixes are listed in medical dictionaries or word lists, they are listed alphabetically The word is preceded by a dash and identified as a word element The dash indicates something precedes it Dictionary entries will give the language of origin, usually Latin or Greek

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Common suffixes
Pertaining to: -ac, -al, -ar, -ary, -eal, -iac, -ic, -ical, -ose, -ous, -tic Examples: Cardiac (pertaining to the heart) Cellular (pertaining to the cell) Psychotic (pertaining to psychosis) Corporeal (pertaining to the body)

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Common suffixes
-algia pain -centesis surgical puncture to remove fluid -cide to kill, destroy -cyte cell -ectomy removal of -emia blood -gram record

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Common suffixes
-graph -graphy -ia, - a instrument used to record process of recording condition, esp. an abnormal state -ism condition -itis inflammation of -lithiasis presence of or formation of stones

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Common suffixes
-logy -logist -megaly -oid -oma -otomy -pathy -plasty study of person who studies it enlargement resembling tumor surgical incision disease surgical repair

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Common suffixes
-plegia -pnea -rrhea -scope -scopy -stasis -stomy paralysis breathing, respiration drainage, flow examination, instrument examination using a scope stoppage surgically create an artificial mouth or stoma

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Prefixes
Prefixes are word elements that are attached to the beginning of roots and combining forms to add to or change their meaning Many (but not all) medical terms have a prefix

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Prefixes
Common meanings of prefixes: Location Position Direction Time Number Negation, absence of Color

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Prefixes
The same prefixes can be attached to many root words, resulting in thousands of variations The prefix hyper means abnormally increased or excessive Hyperacid = excessively acidic Hyperactive = abnormally active Hypertension = persistently high blood pressure

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Prefixes
Prefixes can dramatically change the meaning of a word Example: systole means contraction of the heart The one letter prefix a means without Asystole means no contractions of the heart -- Just one letter makes the difference between life and death! Correct spelling is critical in health care

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Prefixes
When prefixes are listed in medical dictionaries and word lists, they are located alphabetically followed by a dash and identified as a word element Their origin (Latin, Greek) is usually given Example: epi- word element (Gr) meaning over poly- word element (Gr) meaning many, much

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Common prefixes
A-/anAntiAutoBiBradyDysEpiwithout, not against self two, double slow bad, difficult, painful over

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Common prefixes
EuHemiHyperHypoInterIntraMultiNonPerigood, normal half above, excessive less than, under between within many not around

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Common prefixes
PolyPostPrePseudoQuadriSemiSubSupraTachyTrimany, much after, behind before, in front false four half under, below above, over fast, rapid three
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Putting it all together

Learn the meanings of commonly used word elements and understanding how they combine to make a medical term Then you can figure out the meaning of thousands of medical terms Think of each word as a combination of building blocks or railroad cars, fitted together to create a precise meaning

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Putting it all together

The medical term is put together like a series of building blocks or train cars Prefix + Root + Combining vowel (if needed) + Suffix

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Putting it all together linking the components to define the term

Prefix

Root

Combining Vowel

Suffix

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Putting it all together

When you see a new term, break it down into the elements Start at the end of the word and work to the left Identify and define each element As you define each element you will define the medical term

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Start at the end of the word and work to the left

Combining Vowel

Prefix

Root

Suffix

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Example: Echocardiogram

echo

cardi

gram

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Define Echocardiogram reading from left to right

Echo = reflections of sounds

Cardi = heart

O= connecting vowel

Gram = Written, record

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Define Echocardiogram reading from left to right

Echo = reflections of sounds

Cardi = heart

O= connecting vowel

Gram = Written, record

Echocardiogram is defined as a written recording of the heart using reflections of sounds

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Putting it all together

Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix
Echocardiogram echo = reflections of sounds cardi = heart o = connecting vowel gram = written, record Echocardiogram is a written recording of the heart using reflections of sounds

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Example: Cytology

No Prefix

Cyt

logy

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Putting it all together

Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix
Cytology Cyt (root) = cell o = the connecting vowel logy = (suffix) study of Cytology means study of the cell A cytologist is someone who studies cells

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Example: Bradycardia

Brady

cardi

No Connecting vowel

ia

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Putting it all together

Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix
Bradycardia Brady = abnormally slow no connecting vowel is needed because the prefix ends with a vowel cardi = heart ia, a = condition, esp. an abnormal state Bradycardia means a condition of abnormally slow heart

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Example: Splenectomy

No prefix

splen

No Connecting vowel

ectomy

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Putting it all together

Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix
Splenectomy splen = (root) spleen no connecting vowel is needed because the suffix begins with a vowel ectomy = (suffix) removal of Splenectomy means removal of a spleen

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Putting it all together

Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix
Dyspnea Dys = bad, difficult, painful pnea = breathing, respiration ia, a = condition, esp. an abnormal state Dyspnea means an abnormal condition of difficult breathing

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Putting it all together

Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix
Hemocyte hem = blood o = connecting vowel cyte = cell Hemocyte is a blood cell

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Changing the meaning of the term Changing one element

modifies the meaning of

the term

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brady

Bradycardia: a condition of abnormally slow heart Tachycardia: a condition of abnormally fast heart cardi

tachy

No Connecting vowel

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Tachycardia: a condition of abnormally fast heart Tachypnea: a condition of abnormally fast breathing cardi tachy

pne

No Connecting vowel

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Spelling
Correct spelling is critical in health care. Misspelled words can lead to diagnostic, medication and treatment errors Some words look or sound similar and can be confused

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Spelling
Pay attention to the context to help you figure out the correct meaning of a term Example: The client has a fractured ilium ilium = part of the hip bone ileum = part of the intestine

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Singular and plural

Because many medical terms come from Greek and Latin words, the plural forms of the words are not made by adding an s as in English Memorize the guidelines When in doubt, memorize the specific words

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Changing singular to plural

If the word Change it Examples: ends in to singular, plural

-a
-ex or -ix

-ae
-ices

vertebra, vertebrae
index, indices

-is -itis -nx -on -um -us

-es -ides -ges -a -a -i

diagnosis, diagnoses arthritis, arthritides phalanx, phalanges ganglion, ganglia ovum, ova alveolus, alveoli
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Pronunciation guidelines
The soft pronunciation of the consonant is used when followed by e, i or y c sounds like s g sounds like j when followed by e, i or y ch sounds like k

cell, circulation, cyst

genetic, gingivitis, gestation

chronic, chromium, cholecystitis, psychologist

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Pronunciation guidelines
When a word ends in i it is pronounced like eye as in

bacilli

x is pronounced z as in

xylocaine xenophobic

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Pronunciation guidelines
When P is at the beginning of words followed by a consonant: ph is pronounced f as in

pharmacy

pn is pronounced n (silent p) as in

pneumonia, pneumococcus
psychotic, psychosocial psychologist

ps is pronounced s (silent p) as in

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Abbreviations & symbols

Medical abbreviations and symbols are a short hand for medical professionals Most have been standardized and are universally accepted

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Abbreviations & symbols

Individual facilities and specialties may use their own specific abbreviations and symbols or use a symbol differently Example: Means change In maternity care it is also used to mean trimester

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The context indicates the meaning

Client S.J., 24 yo, 8 weeks gestation, c/o 1st bleeding Client S.J., 24 yo, 8 weeks gestation, c/o constipation. Recommend her PNV Rx @ her next PNV.

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Abbreviations & symbols

Dont assume you know what an abbreviation or symbol means. Learn the abbreviations and symbols used on your clinical site during orientation to the practice, through chart review, and by asking.

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Abbreviations & symbols

Dont use your own personal abbreviations in health care documents. Use only standard medically accepted abbreviations and those used by the facility on your clinical site Use capital and small letters appropriately Non-standard abbreviations can result in medical errors and fines for the agency when discovered during chart audits

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Common abbreviations & symbols

ad lib a.c. b.i.d. BM BP c CDC before freely; at will before a meal twice a day bowel movement blood pressure with Centers for Disease Control

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Medical abbreviations & symbols

c/o d/c h. H2O h.s. I&O lab. n.p.o. n&v complains of discontinue hour water At night, at bedtime intake and output Laboratory Nothing by mouth nausea and vomiting

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Medical abbreviations & symbols

O2 O.D. O.S. O.U. p P p.c. P.O. oxygen Right eye Left eye Each eye after pulse After meals By mouth

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Medical abbreviations & symbols

p.r.n. q.d. q.h. q.i.d. R RR s stat. As needed Daily, once a day Every hour Four times a day respiration respiration rate without immediately

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Medical abbreviations & symbols

T t.i.d. TPR temperature Three times a day temperature, pulse and respiration Treatment; traction vital signs Weight multiplied by

Tx VS Wt. x

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Medical symbols
> < # greater than less than decreased, down, lower increased, higher, up, elevate decreasing increasing pound or number

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Medical symbols
o @ foot or minute inch or second degree male female change, trimester at

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Medical Dictionary
Tabers or Mosbys available in bookstores, come with textbooks and CDs Medical dictionaries are available online Add medical terms to your computers spell check program

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Choosing a medical dictionary

Explanations of medical procedures, conditions, disorders and diseases Clear, easy to understand definitions Pronunciation guidelines Abbreviations and symbols Useful diagrams, charts, reference tables containing information like lab values, conversion tables (metric to standard), etc Vocabulary useful to your chosen field
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Learn medical terminology

Study and learn a few words every day Make flash cards Practice using terms verbally Use symbols and abbreviations when you write notes Use a medical dictionary for reference Ask for a definition when you hear a term or see an abbreviation that you dont know

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1120 LEGAL AND ETHICAL ASPECTS OF MIDWIFERY

MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY THE END

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