Medical Terminologies & Abbreviations

Medical Terminologies Overview

• Medical terms often derived from Greek and Latin.
• Each medical term consists of a root word, prefix, and suffix.

Root Words

• Define the core meaning of the medical term.
• Common examples include:
  • Colo - colon
  • Phlebo - vein
  • Hemat - blood
  • Aero - air

Prefixes

• Located at the beginning of a term, modifying meaning.
• Examples include:
  • a-/an - without or absence
  • Hyper - increased or above normal
  • Poly - many
  • Pre - before

Suffixes

• Positioned at the end of a term, providing additional meaning.
• Examples include:
  • -megaly - enlargement
  • -uria - urine condition
  • -emia - blood condition
  • -ostomy - creating an opening

Combining Vowels

• Used when a suffix starts with a consonant to ease pronunciation, typically the letter "O."
• Does not alter root word meaning.
• Example: Hemat + logy = hematology (study of blood).

Pluralization Rules

• Different endings require specific plural forms:
  • "-a" changes to "-e"
  • "-is" changes to "-es"
  • "-ex/ix" changes to "-ices"
  • "-on" changes to "-a"
  • "-um" changes to "-a"
  • "-us" changes to "-i"
  • "-itis" changes to "-itides"
  • "-nx" changes to "-nges"
  • "-y" changes to "-ies"
  • "-x" changes to "-ces"

Laboratory Testing Abbreviations

• A comprehensive list of frequently used abbreviations:
  • A1A - Alpha-1 Antitrypsin
  • A1c - Hemoglobin A1c
  • ABG - Arterial Blood Gas
  • BMP - Basic Metabolic Panel
  • CBC - Complete Blood Count
  • CRP - C Reactive Protein
  • HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Important Abbreviation Examples

• Hormonal and metabolic tests:
  • ACTH - Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
  • GH - Growth Hormone
  • TSH - Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
• Enzyme and protein levels:
  • CK - Creatine Kinase
  • LDH - Lactate Dehydrogenase
  • PSA - Prostate Specific Antigen

Vitamins and Minerals

• Common abbreviations:
  • B12 - Vitamin B12
  • Fe - Total Iron
  • Zn - Zinc

Blood Components

• Key terms for blood components:
  • RBC - Red Blood Cell
  • WBC - White Blood Cell Count
  • Hct - Hematocrit

Additional Testing Terms

• Specialized tests and conditions:
  • PAP - Pap Smear
  • VDRL - Syphilis Test
  • AFB - Acid Fast Bacillus

Studying Medical Terminology

• Familiarize with root words, prefixes, and suffix systems.
• Understand and apply pluralization rules to medical terms.
• Recognize common laboratory abbreviations and their significance in medical practice.

This quiz focuses on the basic components of medical terminology, including root words, prefixes, and suffixes. Participants will learn to identify and properly use these terms in medical practice, enhancing their understanding of language in healthcare. This foundational knowledge is essential for any healthcare professional.