MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY 1 Using medical terminology Medical terminology is used in: conversation with other professionals medical charting and documentation professional texts, journal articles 2 Using medical terminology Understanding and using medical terminology correctly is essential to a successful midwifery career Why is this essential? 80 slides total3 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 80 slides total4 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 80 slides total5 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 80 slides total6 Building blocks of medical language 3 principle elements make up medical terms: 1.roots and combining forms 2.prefixes 3.suffixes 80 slides total7 Each element is essential to understanding the meaning of the medical term 80 slides total8 PrefixRoot Combining VowelSuffix 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 80 slides total9 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 80 slides total10 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 80 slides total11 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 80 slides total12 Basic root words Adip/o fat Arteri/o artery Arthr/o joint Axill armpit Blephar eyelid Bucca cheek Cardi/a heart Cephal head Cerebr/o brain 80 slides total13 Basic root words Cervic neck Cholecyst gallbladder Col/o large intestine Cost/o rib Crani/o skull Cyst/o urinary bladder Cyt/o cell Derm skin Enter small intestine 80 slides total14 Basic root words Esophag esophagus Gastr/o stomach Hem/o blood Hepat/o liver Ren/o, nephr/o kidneys Lapar abdominal wall Laryng/o larynx Lumbus loin, lower part of the back 80 slides total15 Basic root words Myel/o spinal cord My/o, muculo muscle Nas/o, rhino nose Neur/o nerve Ophthalm/o, ocul/o eye Or/o, stomat/o mouth Oste/o bone Ot/o ear Pancreat/o pancreas Pharyng/o throat 80 slides total16 Basic root words Pneum/o, pneumon/o lung Splen/o spleen Thorac/o chest Thyroid thyroid gland Trache/o windpipe, trachea Ven/o, phleb/o vein Vertebr/o vertebra Viv/o life 80 slides total17 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. 80 slides total18 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 80 slides total19 Suffixes Each suffix can be added to many roots itis = inflammation appendicitis = inflamed appendix arthritis = inflamed joint 80 slides total20 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 80 slides total21 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 80 slides total22 Suffixes Some common meanings of suffixes: Pathological (disease) conditions Diagnostic procedures Surgical procedures Pertaining to Produced by Resembling 80 slides total23 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 80 slides total24 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) 80 slides total25 Common suffixes -algia pain -centesis surgical puncture to remove fluid -cide to kill, destroy -cyte cell -ectomy removal of -emia blood -gram record 80 slides total26 Common suffixes -graph instrument used to record -graphy process of recording -ia, - a condition, esp. an abnormal state -ism condition -itis inflammation of -lithiasis presence of or formation of stones 80 slides total27 Common suffixes -logy study of -logistperson who studies it -megaly enlargement -oid resembling -oma tumor -otomy surgical incision -pathy disease -plasty surgical repair 80 slides total28 Common suffixes -plegia paralysis -pnea breathing, respiration -rrhea drainage, flow -scope examination, instrument -scopy examination using a scope -stasis stoppage -stomy surgically create an artificial mouth or stoma 80 slides total29 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 80 slides total30 Prefixes Common meanings of prefixes:Location Position Direction Time Number Negation, absence of Color 80 slides total31 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 80 slides total32 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 80 slides total33 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 80 slides total34 Common prefixes A-/an- without, not Anti- against Auto- self Bi- two, double Brady- slow Dys- bad, difficult, painful Epi- over 80 slides total35 Common prefixes Eu- good, normal Hemi- half Hyper- above, excessive Hypo- less than, under Inter- between Intra- within Multi- many Non- not Peri- around 80 slides total36 Common prefixes Poly- many, much Post- after, behind Pre- before, in front Pseudo- false Quadri- four Semi- half Sub- under, below Supra- above, over Tachy- fast, rapid Tri- three 80 slides total37 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 80 slides total38 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 80 slides total39 Putting it all together linking the components to define the term 80 slides total40 PrefixRoot Combining VowelSuffix 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 80 slides total41 Start at the end of the word and work to the left 80 slides total42 PrefixRoot Combining VowelSuffix Example: Echocardiogram 80 slides total43 echocardiogram Define Echocardiogram reading from left to right 80 slides total44 Echo = reflections of sounds Cardi = heart O = connecting vowel Gram = Written, record Define Echocardiogram reading from left to right 80 slides total45 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 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 80 slides total46 Example: Cytology 80 slides total47 No Prefix Cytology 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 80 slides total48 Example: Bradycardia 80 slides total49 Brady cardi No Connec- ting vowel ia 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 80 slides total50 Example: Splenectomy 80 slides total51 No prefix splen No Connec- ting vowel ectomy 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 80 slides total52 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 80 slides total53 Putting it all together Prefix + root + (connecting vowel) + suffix Hemocyte hem = blood o = connecting vowel cyte = cell Hemocyte is a blood cell 80 slides total54 Changing the meaning of the term Changing one element modifies the meaning of the term 80 slides total55 tachy 80 slides total56 brady cardi No Connec- ting vowel a Bradycardia: a condition of abnormally slow heart Tachycardia: a condition of abnormally fast heart cardi tachy 80 slides total57 pne No Connec- ting vowel a Tachycardia: a condition of abnormally fast heart Tachypnea: a condition of abnormally fast breathing 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 80 slides total58 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 80 slides total59 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 80 slides total60 If the word ends in Change it to Examples: singular, plural -a-aevertebra, vertebrae -ex or -ix-icesindex, indices -is-esdiagnosis, diagnoses -itis-idesarthritis, arthritides -nx-gesphalanx, phalanges -on-aganglion, ganglia -um-aovum, ova -us-ialveolus, alveoli 80 slides total61 Changing singular to plural Pronunciation guidelines The soft pronunciation of the consonant is used when followed by e, i or y c sounds like s cell, circulation, cyst g sounds like j when followed by e, i or y genetic, gingivitis, gestation ch sounds like k chronic, chromium, cholecystitis, psychologist 80 slides total62 Pronunciation guidelines When a word ends in i it is pronounced like eye as in bacilli x is pronounced z as in xylocaine xenophobic 80 slides total63 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 ps is pronounced s (silent p) as in psychotic, psychosocial psychologist 80 slides total64 Abbreviations & symbols Medical abbreviations and symbols are a short hand for medical professionals Most have been standardized and are universally accepted 80 slides total65 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 80 slides total66 The context indicates the meaning Client S.J., 24 yo, 8 weeks gestation, c/o 1 st bleeding Client S.J., 24 yo, 8 weeks gestation, c/o constipation. Recommend her PNV her next PNV. 80 slides total67 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. 80 slides total68 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 80 slides total69 Common abbreviations & symbols before ad libfreely; at will a.c. before a meal b.i.d.twice a day BMbowel movement BPblood pressure cwith CDCCenters for Disease Control 80 slides total70 Medical abbreviations & symbols c/o complains of d/cdiscontinue h. hour H 2 Owater h.s.At night, at bedtime I&Ointake and output lab.Laboratory n.p.o.Nothing by mouth n&vnausea and vomiting 80 slides total71 Medical abbreviations & symbols O 2 oxygen O.D.Right eye O.S.Left eye O.U.Each eye pafter Ppulse p.c.After meals P.O.By mouth 80 slides total72 Medical abbreviations & symbols p.r.n.As needed q.d.Daily, once a day q.h.Every hour q.i.d.Four times a day Rrespiration RRrespiration rate swithout stat.immediately 80 slides total73 Medical abbreviations & symbols Ttemperature t.i.d.Three times a day TPRtemperature, pulse and respiration TxTreatment; traction VSvital signs Wt.Weight xmultiplied by 80 slides total74 Medical symbols >greater than