Introduction to Health CareLevels of Organization

Building Blocks of Medical Terminology

Introduction to Health CareLevels of Organization

Building Blocks of Medical Terminology

How are these images connected?

How are these images connected?

Simple Complex

Simple Complex

atom molecule cell tissue organ system organism population community Eco-system planet

Simple Complex

atom molecule cell tissue organ system organism population community Eco-system planet

Chemistry

Biology

Ecology/Environmental Science

Space

OxygenCarbonGoldSilverNitrogenLeadMercuryCesium

humaneaglecrabsnail

wormfruit flyplant

“bacteria”

ponddesserthot ventrainforestrivermountainvolcano“mouth”

Earthsupernovagalaxysolar systemblack holestarlightmeteor

DNA/RNAenzymehormoneglucoseglycerolammoniaCO2alcohol

digestivenervousintegumentarycirculatoryendocrineexcretoryreproductiveauditory

RBCLeukocyte

skinliver

muscleprokaryoteplant: vascular … flower, root, leaves, etc.

Levels of Organization

Allied Health Professions• Medicine: cardiovascular technologists/technicians nuclear medicine technologists, medical assistants surgical technologists• Dentistry: dental hygienists, dental assistants• Nursing: registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, licensed vocational nurses, dieticians• Pharmacy: pharmacy technicians, pharmacy aides• Optometry: dispensing opticians• Emergency Medical Services: emergency medical technicians, paramedics• Imaging modalities: radiologic technologists, radiation therapists• Respiratory Care: respiratory therapists• Physical Therapy: physical therapists, physical therapists assistants• Veterinary Medicine: veterinary technologists, animal care workers

• Medical terms derive from: English, French, German, Spanish, Greek, Italian, Latin etc…

• Medical terms have a general form of:

• Medical terms can also come from different combinations of those three components

Building blocks of Medical Terms

Root ++ SuffixesPrefixes

eg. Root+PrefixesRoot + Suffixes

Root Root+Prefixes Suffixes+

(infront) (behind)(fundamental)

Building blocks of Medical Terms

For example #1: epithelial tissue

epi- is a prefix; it means outside, on, topthelium is a root; it means holes, apertures, openings-al is a suffix; it means belong/pertaining to

When putting the meanings together, you get …

the skin or lining surfaces (covering tissue)

Building blocks of Medical Terms

For example #2: endocrine system

endo- is a prefix; it means internal, inside-crine is a suffix; it means secrete

When putting the meanings together, you get …

internal secretion system

(endocrine system refers to the glands that make hormones and release into the circulatory system – communication messengers)