Medical Terminology Chapter 4

Medical Terminology (4) - Diagnosis and Intervention

• Normal range is the acceptable limit for a measurement, for example hemoglobin is 14-16 gm/dL.
• Pathologic refers to a condition involving a disease process.
• Diagnosis is the process of naming a disease or condition.
• Prognosis is the predicted outcome of a disease or medical condition.

Basic Examination Procedures - Vital Signs

• Vital signs are clinical measurements that indicate the function of an individual.
• Basic vital signs include pulse, respiration, temperature, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and pain.

Vital Sign (1) - Pulse, Respiration, Temperature

• Pulse is the number of heart beats per minute.
• Respiration is measured by counting the rise and fall of the chest during breathing.
• Temperature is the balance between heat lost and heat gained.
  • Measurement: thermometer
  • Units: therm/o = heat, -meter = instrument used to measure
  • Routes: oral, axilla (armpit), rectal.

Vital Sign (2) - Oxygen Saturation, Blood Pressure

• Oxygen saturation refers to the measurement of the concentration of oxygen.
  • Measurement: pulse oximeter.
• Blood pressure (B.P) refers to the amount of pressure exerted on the walls of the blood vessels.
  • Measurement unit: millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).
  • Components:
    • Systolic: maximum arterial pressure (during contraction).
    • Diastolic: pressure during relaxation.

Four Techniques in Physical Examination

• Physical examination involves collecting information using the senses (sight, hearing, and touch).
• Inspection: Observing using sight
  • Skill: Using eyes to observe details, such as skin colour.
• Palpation: Feeling using touch
  • Skill: Using hands to assess size, consistency, and location of body parts, e.g., feeling for lumps.
• Percussion: Tapping to assess sounds
  • Skill: Using fingertips to tap and listen for sounds to assess size, borders, and consistency of body organs.
• Auscultation: Listening using a stethoscope
  • Skill: Using a stethoscope to listen for sounds within the body, e.g., listening for breath sounds.

Diagnostic tests and procedures

• -gram: a record (e.g., electrocardiogram)
• -graph: instrument for recording (e.g., radiograph)
• -graphy: process of recording (e.g., radiography).
  • Examples
    • Electrocardiogram
    • Radiograph (X-ray image)
    • Radiography (technique of X-rays)

Diagnostic tests and procedures (continued)

• -meter: instrument used for measurement (e.g., thermometer)
• -metry: process of measuring (e.g., optometry, spirometry)
• -scope: instrument used for visual examination (e.g., endoscope)
• -scopy: visual examination with a lighted instrument (e.g., endoscopy)
  • Endoscopy: visual examination inside the body using a lighted instrument (endoscope); common medical procedure.

Diagnostic Radiology

• Ech/o: sound.
  • Example: echocardiogram
• Son/o: sound.
  • Example: sonography
• Electr/o: electricity
  • Example: electroconvulsive therapy.
• Radi/o: radiant energy
  • Example: radiography.
• Tom/o: to cut
  • Example: tomography.
• Ultra-: excessive
  • Example: ultrasound

Body Fluids

• -crine: to secrete
  • Example: endocrine
• Lacrim/o: tear/ cry
  • Example: lacrimation
• -emia: condition in the blood
  • Example: anemia
• Hemlo: blood
  • Example: hemoglobin
• Lymph/o: lymph
  • Example: lymphatic vessels

Body Fluids (continued)

• Muco-: mucous
  • Example: mucolytic
• poiesis: production
  • Example: erythropoiesis
• -poietin: substance that causes production
  • Example: erythropoietin
• Py/o: pus
  • Example: pyorrhea
• Sial/o: saliva
  • Example: sialography
• Ur/o: urine
  • Example: urinary