CHAPTER 12 & 13
It is very helpful to use the new words you are learning in the context they will be used. It helps you relate the terms to their meaning. The technique allows you to build upon what you already know. Each week you will practice using the new words. Add as much as you can to your discussion posts so you can obtain feedback from faculty and peers on whether you have it correctly. You will create a scenario with medical terminology that has been covered this week (see example). You will pull out the medical terms you used and provide a definition for each term (see example)
Exemplar: 6 y.o. male presented with likely gastroenteritis. C/o nausea without emesis, diarrhea, flatulence, and eructating. Denies rebound tenderness, r/o appendicitis. No pyrexia, but anorexia for two days.
Medical terms from the example
Gastroenteritis:
Nausea:
Emesis:
Diarrhea:
Flatulence:
Eructating:
Appendicitis:
Pyrexia:
Use 8-10 medical terms from this week’s readings in a short paragraph of your creation.
Include the following aspects in the discussion:
Each paragraph should be long enough to ensure the term is used with as many other medical terms as possible (see exemplar)
Each term should pertain to anatomy and physiology
Building a Medical Terminology Foundation
Building a Medical Terminology Foundation
KIMBERLEE CARTER AND MARIE RUTHERFORD
ECAMPUS ONTARIO
TORONTO, ONTARIO
Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.
Contents
Introduction 1
Acknowledgements
Thanks and Gratitude 3
3
1. Identifying Word Parts in Medical Terms 5
2. Medical Language Rules 7
3. Prefix 11
4. Suffix 15
5. Medical Language Within the Context of Anatomy and Physiology 19
6. Integumentary System 39
7. Respiratory System 73
8. Urinary System 103
9. Male Reproductive System 129
10. Female Reproductive System 145
11. Obstetrics 165
12. Cardiovascular System – Heart 177
13. Cardiovascular System – Blood Vessels and Blood 203
14. Lymphatic and Immune Systems 251
15. Digestive System 299
16. Skeletal System 329
17. Muscular System 359
18. Sensory Systems 373
19. Nervous System 397
20. Endocrine System 437
Introduction
Welcome to Building a Medical Terminology Foundation. Medical terminology is a language that is used in health care settings. Medical terms are built from Greek and Latin word parts and in addition include acronymns, eponyms, and modern-day language terms.
Learning a new language can be a daunting task. In this resource, we offer a method for breaking down medical words that takes that daunting task and makes it manageable. What is required from you is a commitment to memorizing the word parts, learning the rules, and identifying the rebels. Once you meet that commitment we will show you how to apply the rules to the word parts you have memorized. As you memorize the language components of medical terminology it is important to support that learning with the context of anatomy and physiology. Consider where in the body the medical term is referencing and then how it works within the body. This will build a medical terminology foundation that you can continue to grow in your future health-care courses.
How this open educational resource (OER) works.
The introductory anatomy and physiology content of this OER has been adapted from the OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology OER by Betts, et al., which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Following OpenStax’s leadership and in the spirit of OPEN education we have licensed this OER with the same license.
Students: this OER is different than many traditional medical terminology textbooks. The interactive content is built into each chapter. In this resource you will work through each body system that includes word parts, whole medical terms, and common abbreviations associated with that particular body system. At the end of each body system chapter is a vocabulary list of associated terms related to that body system. The interactive reinforcement activities require you to click, drag and drop, listen and repeat, flip, and test yourself.
Faculty and teaching staff: while this OER was curated and created for Health Office Administration and Health Services students in the first year of college, our hope is that you will take this OER and customize it for your program and share again.
Anatomy and Physiology Book Citation:
Betts, J.G., Young, K.A., Wise, J.A., Johson, E., Poe, B., Kruse, D. H., Korol, O., Johnson, J.E., Womble, M. & DeSaix, P. (2013). Anatomy and Physiology. OpenStax. http://cnx.org/content/col11496/latest/
Cover image: Medical Diagram. From Spratt, A., 2018. Licensed for reuse under UnSplash’s licence.
Introduction | 1
Acknowledgements
In the Spring of 2018, I (Kimberlee) attended a workshop on building OER (Open Educational Resources) for high impact in first year courses. I was moved by the student speaker’s plea over the rising costs of textbooks and motivated to learn more about the ability to customize OER. In health office administration programs, customization is important because we are combination of health and business. I attended a Pressbooks webinar, signed up for an account, and started plugging away. I will be honest the task was daunting to do alone.
Marie and I met in the Winter of 2019 as participants in the Ontario Extend eCampus Ontario mOOC and went on to become Empowered Educators. Through this program we learned about creative commons licensing and were inspired to create OER. In the fall of 2019, I shared what I had been working on with Marie and this led to a collaborative partnership that snowballed into this OER. We advocated for support, found collaborators, and ultimately crowd-sourced this OER. Please read below to learn about the amazing collaborative support we had for this OER, for which we are truly grateful.
Kimberlee Carter B.Ed., M.A., Conestoga College ITAL
Thank you Kimberlee for inviting me to partake and share this adventure with you. The opportunity to create a resource for learners in this OPEN format has been a wonderful and collaborative endeavour.
Marie Rutherford, Dip., Nursing, LD., BGS., Georgian College CAAT
Thanks and Gratitude
We wish to thank Gary Hallam, Vice President of Research & Executive Dean of the School of Business at Conestoga College ITAL, for sharing his dream for OER and championing our project to other business heads in the Ontario College System. His encouragement and resource support led to the expansive collaboration team that saw this project through to publishing.
We also extend our gratitude to Pavla Kazda, Associate Dean from Georgian College CAAT, for her support, encouragement and resource allocation.
We wish to recognize the work of our students whose dedication, creation of activities, and commitment to reviewing interactive activities throughout development of this resource was invaluable. Additional thanks for examining content and providing feedback from the student perspective. Thank you for paying it forward for future students.
• Tiffany Hunt BSc., Conestoga College ITAL • Heather Scudder, Georgian College CAAT • Gisele Tuzon, Georgian College CAAT • Alyssa Arsenault, Conestoga College ITAL
To our amazing subject matter experts who continued to trek up the mountain carrying a backpack full of extra responsibilities during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020 to author and assist with crowd-sourcing this OER.
Acknowledgements | 3
• Ellen Dilgert BSc, BEd, RTNM, RTMR, Conestoga College ITAL • Sheila Bellefeuille, Conestoga College ITAL • Connie Stevens RN, BScN, MA, PhD (c). Sheridan College ITAL • Catherine Statton, R. Kin., CHE, BSc, MA, University of Guelph & Sheridan College ITAL • Shanta Doobay MSc, OCT, Fanshawe College CAAT • Kadeem Sampath, MD, Centennial College CAAT • Saeedeh Akram, PhD, Conestoga College ITAL • Jennifer Ethier, BScH, MSc candidate, Georgian College CAAT
A special thank you to Jesslyn Wilkinson (OCT. M.Ed candidate, BEd, Hons. BA) Educational Technology Officer – Teaching & Learning at Conestoga College ITAL for her infectious enthusiasm for OER, support for H5P technology, and asking the question, “Are you ready to Sprint?”.
A big shout out to Holly Ashbourne, our copy editor, and the Library team for their tireless work in copy editing, copyright proofing, accessibility compliance, and their continuous championing of OER. You are, truly, the quiet leaders that make students’ lives better.
• Holly Ashbourne, copy editor, Dipl. LIT, Hon. BA, MLIS, Conestoga College ITAL • James Yochem, Hon. BA, MLIS, Conestoga College ITAL • Michelle Doadt, MLIS, Conestoga College ITAL • Antonina Gousseva, BA, Dipl. LIT, Conestoga College ITAL • Chris Woodley, BESc, BEd, MLIS, Conestoga College ITAL • Juliet Conlon, MLS, Conestoga College ITAL
This OER was greatly enhanced by the leadership, support and contributions of the following colleagues:
• Lisa Koster OCT, MBA, BMath, BEd, Conestoga College ITAL • Peggy French BEd, MLIS, MET, Mohawk College CAAT • Sandra Neubauer BA, MAdEd, Fanshawe College CAAT
Special thanks to eCampus Ontario for the work that they do putting collaborators together. Supporting OER through the Open library, Open Publishing Infrastructure, Ontario Extend Professional Learning for Educators, and answering countless Pressbooks questions. Thank you to:
• Lillian Hogendoorn, Hon. BA, MI • Emily Carlisle-Johnston, MLIS • Lena Patterson, BA, MA
4 | Acknowledgements
1. Identifying Word Parts in Medical Terms
Word Parts
Medical terms are built from word parts. Those word parts are prefix, word root, suffix, and combining form vowel. When a word root is combined with a combining form vowel the word part is referred to as a combining form.
An interactive or media element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online
here:
Identifying Word Parts in Medical Terms
Identifying Word Parts in Medical Terms
By the end of this resource, you will have identified hundreds of word parts within medical terms. Let’s start with some common medical terms that many non-medically trained people may be familiar with.
Examples
Osteoarthritis Oste/o/arthr/itis – Inflammation of bone and joint. Oste/o is a combining form that means bone arthr/o is a combining form that means joint -itis is a suffix that means inflammation
Intravenous Intra/ven/ous – Pertaining to within a vein. Intra- is a prefix that means within ven/o – is a combining form that means vein -ous is a suffix that means pertaining to
Identifying Word Parts in Medical Terms | 5
Notice, when breaking down words that you place slashes between word parts and a slash on each side of a combining form vowel.
Language Rules
Language rules are a good place to start when building a medical terminology foundation. Many medical terms are built from word parts and can be translated literally. At first, literal translations sound awkward. Once you build a medical vocabulary and become proficient at using it, the awkwardness will slip away. For example, suffixes will no longer be stated and will be assumed. The definition of intravenous then becomes within the vein.
Since you are at the beginning of building your medical terminology foundation stay literal when applicable. It should be noted that as with all language rules there are always exceptions and we refer to those as rebels. So let’s begin by analyzing the language rules for medical terminology.
6 | Identifying Word Parts in Medical Terms
2. Medical Language Rules
Language Review
Before we begin analyzing the rules let’s complete a short language review that will assist with pronunciation and spelling. In class, you will practice pronunciation with your Instructor.
Short Vowels a, e, i, o, u, and sometimes y are indicated by lower case.
Long Vowels A, E, I, O, U are indicated by upper case.
Consonants Consonants are all of the other letters in the alphabet. b, c, d, f, g, h, j, k, l, m, n, p, q, r, s, t, v, w, x, and z.
Language Rules for Building Medical Terms
1. When combining two combining forms you keep the combining form vowel. 2. When combining a combining form with a suffix that begins with a consonant you keep the combining
form vowel.
Examples
Gastr/o/enter/o/logy – The study of the stomach and the intestines
◦ Following rule 1, when we join combining form gastr/o (meaning stomach) with the combining form enter/o (meaning intestines) we keep the combining form vowel o.
◦ Following rule 2, when we join the combining form enter/o (meaning intestines) with the suffix -logy (that starts with a suffix and means the study of) we keep the combining form
Medical Language Rules | 7
vowel o.
3. When combining a combining form with a suffix that begins with a vowel you drop the combining form vowel.
4. A prefix goes at the beginning of the word and no combining form vowel is used.
Examples
Intra/ven/ous – Pertaining to within the vein
◦ Following rule 3, notice that when combining the combining form ven/o (meaning vein) with the suffix -ous ( that starts with a vowel and means pertaining to) we drop the combining form vowel o.
◦ Following rule 4, the prefix intra- (meaning within) is at the beginning of the medical term with no combining form vowel used.
5. When defining a medical word, start with the suffix first and then work left to right stating the word parts. You may need to add filler words. As long as the filler word does not change the meaning of the word you may use it for the purpose of building a medical vocabulary. Once you start to apply the word in the context of a sentence it will be easier to decide which filler word(s) to choose.
Examples
Intra/ven/ous – Pertaining to within the vein or Pertaining to within a vein.
◦ Following rule 5, notice that I start with the suffix -ous (that means pertaining to) then we work left to right starting with the prefix Intra- (meaning within) and the combining form ven/o (meaning vein).
8 | Medical Language Rules
◦ Notice that we have used two different definitions that mean the same thing. ◦ In these examples we do not have the context of a full sentence. For the purpose of building a
medical terminology foundation either definition is accepted.
Medical Language Rules | 9
3. Prefix
Prefixes are located at the beginning of a medical term. The prefix alters the meaning of the medical term. It is important to spell and pronounce prefixes correctly.
Many prefixes that you find in medical terms are common to English language prefixes. A good technique to help with memorization is the following:
• Start by reviewing the most common prefixes. • Consider common English language words that begin with the same prefixes. • Compare them to the examples of use in medical terms.
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
a-, an No, not, without, negates the meaning atypical, anoxia
ab- away from; from abduction
ad- toward, at, increase, on, toward adduction
ante- before antepartum
anti- against, opposing antipsychotic
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
bi-,bin- two, twice, double bilateral, binocular
brady- slow bradycardia
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
de- from, down, away from dehydrate
dia- through, complete dialysis
dys- painful, abnormal, difficult, laboured dysphagia
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
endo- within, in endotracheal
epi- on, upon, over epidermis
eu- normal, good eupnea
Prefix | 11
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
hemi- half hemicolectomy
hyper- above, excessive hyperthyroidism
hypo- below, incomplete, deficient, under hypoglycemia
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
inter- between intercostal
intra- within, in intramuscular
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
macro- large, long macrocephalus
meta- after, beyond, change metacarpal bones
micro- small microscope
multi- many multipara
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
neo- new neonate
nulli- none nulligravida
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
pachy- thick, thickening, thickened pachyderma
pan- all, total pancytopenia
para- beside, beyond, around, abnormal parathyroid glands
per- through percutaneous
peri- surrounding (outer) peripheral vision
poly- many, much polymyositis
post- after postpartum
pre- before prenatal
pro- before prognosis
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
sub- below, under subcutaneous
supra- above suprascapular
sym-, syn- together, joined symphysis
12 | Prefix
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
tachy- fast, rapid tachycardia
trans- through, across, beyond transdermal
tri- three triceps
PREFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
uni- one unilateral
Prefix | 13
4. Suffix
Suffixes are word parts that are located at the end of words. Suffixes can alter the meaning of medical terms. It is important to spell and pronounce suffixes correctly.
Suffixes in medical terms are common to English language suffixes. Suffixes are not always explicitly stated in the definition of a word. It is common that suffixes will not be explicitly stated when defining a medical term in the workplace. However, when transcribing or reading medical reports the suffix is always clearly written. In order to properly spell and pronounce medical terms, it is helpful to learn the suffixes.
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-a noun ending, no meaning leukoderma
-ac pertaining to cardiac
-ad toward dorsad
-algia pain myalgia
-amnios amnion, amniotic fluid oligohydramnios
-apheresis removal plasmapheresis
-ar pertaining to appendicular
-ary pertaining to coronary
– asthenia weakness Myasthenia gravis
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-carcinoma cancerous tumour adenocarcinoma
-cele hernia, protrusion, swelling hydrocele
-centesis surgical puncture to aspirate fluid amniocentesis
-crine to secrete exocrine
-cyesis pregnancy pseudocyesis
-cyte cell leukocyte
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-desis surgical fixation, fusion arthrodesis
-drome run, running syndrome
Suffix | 15
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-e noun ending, no meaning neonate
-eal pertaining to esophageal
-ectasis stretching out, dilation, expansion bronchiectasis
-ectomy excision, surgical removal, cut out gastrectomy
-emesis vomiting hematemesis
-emia in the blood anemia
-esis condition diuresis
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-gen substance or agent that produces or causes teratogen
-genic producing, originating, causing carcinogenic
-gram the record, radiographic image electrocardiogram
-graph instrument used to record; the record electrocardiograph
-graphy process of recording, radiographic imaging electrocardiography
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-ia condition of, diseased state, abnormal state tachycardia
-iasis condition choledocholithiasis
-iatrist specialist psychiatrist
-iatry specialty, treatment psychiatry
-ic pertaining to cardiac
-ictal seizure, attack postictal
-ior pertaining to anterior
-ism state of hyperthyroidism
-itis inflammation colitis
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-logist specialist who studies and treats oncologist
-logy study of cardiology
-lysis separating, loosening, dissolution thrombolysis
16 | Suffix
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-malacia softening chondromalacia
-megaly enlarged, enlargement gastromegaly
-meter instrument used to measure thermometer
-metry measuring, process of measuring spirometry
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-oid resembling lipoid
-oma tumour, swelling melanoma
-opia vision diplopia
-opsy viewing, process of viewing biopsy
-osis abnormal condition, increased number (blood) erythrocytosis
-ous pertaining to intravenous
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-paresis slight paralysis hemiparesis
-pathy disease polyneuropathy
-penia abnormal reduction in number erythrocytopenia
-pepsia digestion dyspepsia
-pexy surgical fixation, suspension colpopexy
-phagia swallowing, eating dysphagia
-phobia aversion, abnormal fear photophobia
-physis growth symphysis
-plasia formation, development, growth hyperplasia
-plasm growth, substance, formation cytoplasm
-plasty surgical repair rhinoplasty
-plegia paralysis ophthalmoplegia
-pnea breathing dyspnea
-poiesis formation leukopoiesis
-ptosis prolapse, drooping nephroptosis
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-rrhage excessive bleeding hemorrhage
-rrhagia excessive bleeding, rhinorrhagia
-rrhaphy repairing, suturing cholecystorrhaphy
-rrhea discharge, flow rhinorrhea
-rrhexis rupture amniorrhexis
Suffix | 17
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-salpinx fallopian tube, uterine tube pyosalpinx
-sarcoma malignant tumour rhabdomyosarcoma
-schisis split, fissure cranioschisis
-sclerosis hardening arteriosclerosis
-scope instrument used for visual examination hysteroscope
-scopic pertaining to visual examination pelviscopic
-scopy process of visually examining gastroscopy
-spasm sudden, involuntary contraction of muscle vasospasm
-stasis stop, control, standing hemostasis
-stenosis constriction, narrowing ureterostenosis
-stomy creation of artificial opening nephrostomy
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-thorax chest cavity, chest hemothorax
-tocia labour, birth dystocia
-tome instrument used to cut dermatome
-tomy incision, cut into laparotomy
-tripsy surgical crushing cholecystolithotripsy
-trophy nourishment, development hypertrophy
SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE OF USE IN MEDICAL TERMS
-um no meaning endocardium
-uria urine, urination nocturia
-us no meaning microcephalus
18 | Suffix
5. Medical Language Within the Context of Anatomy and Physiology
Learning Objectives
• Connect medical language learning to the context of anatomy and physiology • Introduce the basic architecture and levels of organization of the human body • Evaluate the anatomical position, regional terms, directional terms, body planes, and body quadrants for
anatomical positioning • Describe body cavities and the functions of associated membranes
As you memorize the language components of medical terminology it is important to support that learning within the context of anatomy and physiology. Proceeding through the body system chapters you will learn word parts, whole medical terms, and common abbreviations. It is important to put into context where in the body the medical term is referencing, and then consider how it works within the body.
Anatomy focuses on structure and physiology focuses on function. Much of the study of physiology centers on the body’s tendency toward homeostasis .
Consider the structures of the body in terms of fundamental levels of organization that increase in complexity: subatomic particles, atoms, molecules, organelles, cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, organisms, and biosphere (Figure 5.1).
Medical Language Within
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