Medical Terminology
• Define the word parts used to construct medical terminology:
•
•
•
•
Root
Prefix
Suffix
Combining form
• Identify common medical terms used for body systems & associated
diseases, disorders & procedures
• Identify medical terms related to colour, number & measurement
• Build & deconstruct medical terms from the word parts
• Differentiate digital and analog time
• Convert current time to the 24-hour-clock or military time
Converting from 12 hour times to 24 hour clock
• If the hour is exactly 12pm, then simply remove the 'pm' label.
• If the hour is 12am, then change it to 00.
• If the hour is a pm time, then simply add 12 to the hour.
• Otherwise, the hour does not change. If it is less than 10, then add a
zero before the digit.
• The minutes and seconds never change when changing between 24
hour and 12 hour times.
Medical Terminology
• It is critical that you have a strong working knowledge of medical
terminology.
• The language of medicine is primarily derived from Greek and Latin.
• Medical terminology is used in international language, and it is also
necessary for communicating with other medical personnel.
• The wider your vocabulary base, the more competent you seem to the rest
of the medical community and the better the patient care you will be able
to provide.
• Understanding terminology involves breaking words down into their
separate components of prefix, suffix, and root word and having a good
working knowledge of those parts.
Building Blocks of Medical Terminology
hemi
gastr
ectomy
hemigastrectomy
Word Parts: Suffixes and Prefixes
• Must be familiar with common suffixes and prefixes used in the health
care setting.
• Learn how to use suffixes and prefixes in conjunction with word roots to
form and help decode medical terms.
• Combining forms (roots) are the essential components of a word. They
may signify a disease, procedure, or body part. They may appear at the
front of the word or after a prefix
Prefixes
• A prefix appears at the beginning of a word and generally describes
location and intensity.
• Prefixes consist of one or more letters attached to the beginning of a
combining form (root)
• When a medical word (ventilation) contains a prefix (hyper), the
meaning of the word is altered (hyperventilation).
• Not all medical terms have prefixes.
Suffixes
• Suffixes are placed at the end of words to change the original meaning.
• Suffixes consist of one or more letters attached to the end of a combining
form (root).
• In medical terminology, a suffix usually indicates a procedure, condition,
disease, or part of speech.
• A commonly used suffix is “-itis”, which means “inflammation.”
• "When this suffix is paired with the prefix “arthro”-, meaning joint, the
resulting word is arthritis, an inflammation of the joints.
• Sometimes it is necessary to change the last letter or letters of the root
word or prefix when a suffix is added to make pronunciation easier.
Word Parts: Roots
• Explore common word roots grouped by body system and learn how
to pronounce them.
• The main part or stem of a word is called a root word.
• A root word conveys the essential meaning of the word and
frequently indicates a body part.
• With a combining form, the root word and a combining vowel such as
i, e, o, or a may be combined with another root word, a prefix, or a
suffix to describe a particular structure or condition.
• Some root words may also be used as prefixes or suffixes
Abbreviations
• Must know common abbreviations specific to the health care field.
• Learn general medical abbreviations and abbreviations specific to each
body system.
• Explore how to correctly use abbreviations and take precautions to avoid
misunderstandings.
• Abbreviations take the place of words to shorten notes or documentation.
• When you are using abbreviations in patient care reports, remember to use
only standard, accepted abbreviations to avoid confusion and errors.
• Before using any abbreviations in your own reports, you should be familiar
with accepted use of abbreviations in your local jurisdiction or service area.
Abbreviations
SOB
Short of breath
NPO
Nil per os (nothing by
mouth)
ADL
Activities of daily living
RULES:
Must use only accepted abbreviations.
Do Not Use list from Institute for Safe Medication
Practices Canada (ISMP):
 U = unit
mistaken for o
 IU = international unit
mistaken for IV
 OD = every day, in some cases it was known as
OD= Rt. Eye
 D/C = discharge
mistaken for discontinue
Anatomic References
• Must know the correct medical terminology used to reference areas
of the body.
• Identify body planes and directional terms.
• Identify each body cavity and its contents as well as abdominal
regions.
Translate the following:
22 yr. old female admitted ċ RLQ pain, N & V. CBC
and urine for R & M ordered. NPO at 2300.
Monitor I & O q 24h. Call MD for temp. > 38C.
…admitted with right lower quadrant pain, nausea
and vomiting. Complete blood count and urine for
routine and microbiology ordered. Nothing by
mouth at 11:00pm. Monitor intake and output every
24 hours. Call doctor for temperature greater than
38 degrees Celsius.