Medical Terminology Basics

Basic Principles

• Medical terminology facilitates clear communication and accurate documentation for enhanced patient care.
• A foundational understanding of the etymology of medical terms improves comprehension.
• Consistent terminology ensures accuracy in healthcare settings.

Word Parts: Prefixes

• Prefixes modify root words and come at the start of a word.
• a-, an- means absence or without (e.g., acardiac, meaning without a heart)
• ab- means away from (e.g., abduction, movement away from the midline)
• ad- menas toward (e.g., adduction, movement toward the midline)
• anti- means against (e.g., antibiotic, substance that combats bacteria)
• auto- means self (e.g., autoimmunity, immune response against self-tissues)
• hyper- means excessive or above normal
• hypo- means deficient or below normal
• tachy- means fast
• brady- means slow
• dys- means difficult or painful
• inter- means between
• intra- means within
• sub- means below or under
• super- means above or excessive

Word Parts: Suffixes

• Suffixes follow root words, often indicating a procedure, condition, or part of speech.
• -itis signifies inflammation (e.g., appendicitis, inflammation of the appendix)
• -ectomy indicates surgical removal (e.g., appendectomy)
• -logy represents the study of (e.g., cardiology)
• -oma denotes a tumor (e.g., carcinoma)
• -pathy signifies disease (e.g., neuropathy)
• -otomy indicates surgical incision
• -ostomy indicates the surgical creation of an opening
• -algia indicates pain
• -emia means a blood condition
• -plasty means surgical repair
• -scopy indicates visual examination

Word Parts: Root Words

• Root words provide the core meaning of the term, often from Greek or Latin.
• cardi/o means heart (e.g., cardiovascular)
• derm/o means skin (e.g., dermatology)
• gastr/o means stomach (e.g., gastritis)
• neur/o means nerve (e.g., neuropathy)
• path/o means disease or suffering (e.g., pathology)
• osteo/o means bone (e.g., osteoporosis)

Combining Forms

• Combining forms use root words and vowels (often 'o') for easier pronunciation.
• cardi/o signifies heart (e.g., cardiovascular)
• gastr/o signifies stomach (e.g., gastric)
• neur/o signifies nerve (e.g., neurology)
• oste/o signifies bone (e.g., osteology)

Building Medical Terms

• New terms are created by combining prefixes, suffixes, and root words.
• cardiologist: (cardi/o - heart, -logist - specialist) - specialist in the study of the heart.
• gastroscopy: (gastr/o - stomach, -scopy - visual examination) - visual examination of the stomach.
• neurology: (neur/o - nerve, -logy - study of) - study of the nervous system.
• osteoporosis: (oste/o - bone, -porosis - porous condition) - porous condition of the bone.

Anatomical Directional Terms

• Directional terms describe relative positions of body structures
• Anterior/ventral means toward the front
• Posterior/dorsal means toward the back
• Superior/cranial means toward the head, upper part
• Inferior/caudal means toward the tail, lower part
• Medial means toward the midline of the body
• Lateral means away from the midline of the body
• Proximal means closer to the point of origin or attachment
• Distal means far from the point of origin or attachment

Body Planes and Sections

• Terms describe dividing the body to view internal structures.
• Sagittal plane divides the body into left and right sections.
• Frontal (coronal) plane divides the body into front and back sections.
• Transverse (horizontal) plane divides the body into upper and lower sections.
• Oblique plane divides the body diagonally.

Musculoskeletal System

• Bone Anatomy: Bones consist of compact (cortical) and spongy (trabecular) bone. Compact bone is dense and strong, while spongy bone is lighter and more porous
• Bone Types: Long bones (e.g., femur), short bones (e.g., carpals), flat bones (e.g., skull), irregular bones (e.g., vertebrae), sesamoid bones (e.g., patella).
• Bone Markings: Processes (projections) and depressions (cavities) are critical for muscle attachment and joint formation. Examples: tubercles, trochanters, spines, fossae, foramina, sinuses.
• Joints: Locations where bones meet, classified as Fibrous (immovable), cartilaginous (slightly movable), or synovial (freely movable) joints (synovial cavity).
• Ligaments & Tendons: Ligaments connect bone to bone, providing joint stability, and Tendons connect muscle to bone, facilitating movement.
• Muscle Types: Skeletal (voluntary), smooth (involuntary), and cardiac (involuntary, heart-specific).
• Muscle Anatomy: Muscles consist of fascicles (bundles of muscle fibers) containing myofibrils (contractile units of actin and myosin filaments).
• Common Musculoskeletal Conditions: Osteoporosis (loss of bone density), arthritis (inflammation of joints), fractures (breaks in bones), sprains (damage to ligaments).

Cardiovascular Terminology

• Heart Anatomy: Four chambers (two atria for receiving, two ventricles for pumping), Valves (tricuspid, mitral, pulmonary, aortic) regulate blood flow, and the electrical conduction system (sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node, bundle of His) ensures coordinated contractions.
• Blood Vessels: Arteries carry blood away from the heart, veins carry blood towards the heart, and capillaries enable substance exchange between blood and tissues.
• Blood Components: Consisting of Plasma (liquid portion) and formed elements (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets).
• Terms Related to Circulation: Systemic circulation which covers the body, and pulmonary circulation which covers the lungs.
• Cardiovascular Conditions: Hypertension (high blood pressure), hypotension (low blood pressure), myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke (blood vessel blockage in the brain), atherosclerosis (plaque build-up in arteries).
• Cardiac Cycle: Rhythmic contraction and relaxation of the heart.

Disease Nomenclature

• Disease nomenclature involves the formal classification and naming of diseases.
• The International Classification of Diseases (ICD) is a widely used system for classifying and coding diseases.
• The employment of precise terms proves crucial for correct diagnosis and treatment
• This standardization supports epidemiological studies and tracking disease prevalence.
• Precise disease nomenclature aids in the development of effective preventative strategies.

Pharmacological Terms

• Pharmacological terms describe drugs, their actions, mechanisms, and properties.
• Common terms specify drug classes (e.g., analgesics, antibiotics), routes of administration (oral, intravenous), and pharmacological effects (e.g., analgesic, anti-inflammatory).
• Specific terms may relate to potency, efficacy, and toxicity.
• Understanding pharmacological terms assists in medication safety considerations and proper administration.
• Knowledge of dosage forms (tablets, injections) is important.

Diagnostic Procedures

• Diagnostic procedures include medical tests employed for identifying diseases or conditions.
• These various procedures offer understandings into the patient's health.
• Specific terms include procedures like imaging (radiography, ultrasound), laboratory tests (blood panels, urine analysis), and endoscopy.
• Each procedure includes specifics terminology for equipment, techniques, and results interpretation.
• Understanding diagnostic procedures aids in effective patient care.
• Diagnostic codes are used for billing and tracking.

Medical Abbreviations

• Medical abbreviations are shortened forms of words or phrases commonly used in medical settings.
• Abbreviations often involve combining letters or acronyms to shorten lengthy statements.
• They expedite medical documentation, but use requires understanding and avoiding ambiguity.
• Correct spelling and clarity are essential, to ensure proper interpretation and avoid miscommunication.
• Common abbreviations include (e.g., CPR, IV, BP, Dx).
• Understanding medical abbreviations is vital for effective communication and documentation in the healthcare industry.

Anatomy Terms

• Anatomy describes the structure of the human body.
• Nomenclature, or the naming system for anatomical structures, employs precise anatomical terms for each part of the body.
• Standardized anatomical terminology allows for universal communication among medical professionals.
• Key terms include directional terms (superior, inferior), regional terms (abdominal, thoracic), and body planes (transverse, sagittal).
• Body cavities and organization of structures (e.g., skeletal, muscular, nervous systems) are defined by specific anatomical references.

Anatomical Terms

• Anatomical position is the standard reference: body erect, facing forward, arms at the sides with palms forward.
• Anterior (ventral) refers to the front of the body.
• Posterior (dorsal) refers to the back of the body.
• Superior (cranial) indicates towards the head.
• Inferior (caudal) indicates towards the feet.
• Medial means towards the midline of the body.
• Lateral means away from the midline of the body.
• Proximal means closer to the point of attachment or origin.
• Distal means farther from the point of attachment or origin.
• Superficial means closer to the surface of the body.
• Deep means farther from the surface of the body.
• Sagittal plane divides the body into right and left portions.
• Midsagittal plane divides the body into equal right and left halves.
• Coronal (frontal) plane divides the body into anterior and posterior portions.
• Transverse (horizontal) plane divides the body into superior and inferior portions.

Body Systems

• Integumentary system includes the skin, hair and nails and protects the body as well as regulates temperature and provides sensory information
• Skeletal system includes the bones, cartilage, and ligaments and supports the body, protects organs, and enables movement
• Muscular system includes the skeletal muscles, enables movement, maintains posture, and generates heat
• Nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and nerves, controls and coordinates body functions, and responds to stimuli
• Endocrine system includes glands that secrete hormones in order to regulate growth, metabolism, and reproduction
• Cardiovascular system compromises the heart, blood vessels, and blood and transports oxygen, nutrients, and hormones throughout the body
• Lymphatic system includes lymph nodes, lymphatic vessels, and lymphoid organs and returns fluid to the bloodstream and protects against disease
• Respiratory system includes the lungs and airways, exchanges oxygen and carbon dioxide
• Digestive system involves the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, and breaks down food and absorbs nutrients
• Urinary system includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra, filters waste from the blood and eliminates it as urine
• Reproductive system includes organs involved in the production of offspring
• Immune system consists of the thymus, spleen and tonsils and defends the body again pathogens and abnormal cells

Common Diseases

• Cardiovascular diseases: hypertension (high blood pressure), coronary artery disease (narrowing of coronary arteries), heart failure (heart unable to pump efficiently), stroke (brain damage due to interrupted blood supply)
• Respiratory diseases: asthma (airway inflammation and constriction), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; emphysema (lung damage) and chronic bronchitis (inflammation of the bronchi)), pneumonia (lung infection), lung cancer (malignant tumors in the lungs)
• Digestive diseases: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD; stomach acid reflux), peptic ulcer disease (sores in the stomach or duodenum), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS; abdominal pain and bowel dysfunction), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis - chronic inflammation of the digestive tract)
• Endocrine diseases: diabetes mellitus (high blood sugar due to insulin deficiency or resistance), hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland)
• Nervous system disorders: Alzheimer's disease (progressive cognitive decline), Parkinson's disease (movement disorder), multiple sclerosis (MS; autoimmune disorder affecting the brain and spinal cord), epilepsy (seizure disorder)
• Musculoskeletal disorders: osteoarthritis (joint degeneration), rheumatoid arthritis (autoimmune joint inflammation), osteoporosis (decreased bone density), back pain (pain in the back region)
• Infectious Diseases: influenza (flu; viral respiratory infection), HIV/AIDS (viral infection affecting the immune system), tuberculosis (TB; bacterial infection usually affecting the lungs), hepatitis (liver inflammation caused by viral infection)
• Mental Health: depression (mood disorder), anxiety disorders (excessive worry and fear), schizophrenia (chronic mental disorder affecting thought and behavior), bipolar disorder (mood swings between mania and depression)

Diagnostic Procedures

• Imaging techniques: X-rays (use of electromagnetic radiation to visualize bones and dense tissues); computed tomography (CT) scans (detailed cross-sectional images using X-rays); magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (images using magnetic fields and radio waves); ultrasound (images using sound waves); nuclear medicine scans (use of radioactive tracers to visualize organ function)
• Endoscopy involves using a flexible tube with a camera to visualize internal organs or cavities (e.g., colonoscopy for the colon, upper endoscopy for the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum)
• Laboratory tests: blood tests (analysis of blood samples to assess various parameters such as cell counts, glucose levels, and cholesterol levels); urine tests (analysis of urine samples to detect abnormalities); cultures (growing microorganisms from samples to identify infections); biopsies (removal of tissue samples for microscopic examination)
• Electrocardiography (ECG or EKG) records the electrical activity of the heart to detect abnormalities
• Pulmonary function tests assess lung function by measuring lung volumes, airflow rates, and gas exchange
• Neurological tests: electroencephalography (EEG; recording electrical activity of the brain); nerve conduction studies (measuring the speed of electrical impulses along nerves)