GST 111 Medical Terminology PDF

English Unit General Studies Division Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun GST111: Communication in English Lesson 2: Medical Terminology and Vocabulary I1 Topic: Specialised Terminology and Word Formation in Medical English Duration: 2 Hours 2.1 Introduction Terminologies are registe...

English Unit General Studies Division Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun GST111: Communication in English Lesson 2: Medical Terminology and Vocabulary I1 Topic: Specialised Terminology and Word Formation in Medical English Duration: 2 Hours 2.1 Introduction Terminologies are registers and specialised lexical items whose meanings and use vary according to different professional contexts. In this presentation, the various word formation processes involved in medical terminologies are discussed. 2.1.2 Instructional Objectives By the end of the lesson, students should be able to: 1. identify and apply specialized medical terminology related to pharmacology, treatments, and diagnoses; 2. explain and use medical abbreviations and acronyms in context; 3. understand the communicative significance of these word formation processes in healthcare; and 4. demonstrate the ability to decode and interpret abbreviations and acronyms across various disciplines. 2.3 Other Morphological or Word Formation Processes in Medical Communication II 1. Derivation Derivation involves adding prefixes or suffixes to the base morphemes to create new words. Derivation is one of the most productive word formation processes in medical English, particularly in forming nouns for conditions (- tion, -sis), adjectives for descriptions (-ic, -al), and verbs for procedures (-ize). This process often changes the grammatical category (e.g., from noun to adjective) or meaning of the base word. Examples: 1. Immune → Immunity, Immunization, Immunology 2. Prevent → Prevention, Preventative 3. Treat → Treatment, Treatable 4. Infect → Infectious, Infection, Infective 5. Act → Reaction, Activation, Reactive 6. Operate → Operation, Operative 7. Assist → Assistance, Assistant 8. Resist → Resistance, Resistant 9. Monitor → Monitoring, Monitored 10. Inject → Injection, Injectable 2. Compounding 1|Page English Unit General Studies Division Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun Compounding joins two or more free or bound morphemes (often from Latin or Greek origins) to create a single term. It is commonly used in creating specific, descriptive medical terms. Compounding is vital for constructing precise terms that describe anatomical structures, diseases, or procedures. The compounds can also reflect advancements, e.g., telemedicine (telecommunication + medicine). Examples: 1. Ophthalmoscope (eye + instrument to observe) 2. Cardiothorax (heart + chest) 3. Neurotransmit (nerve + chemical messenger) 4. Endoscope (inside + viewing instrument) 5. Hematopoiesis (blood + formation) 6. Dermatophyte (skin + fungus) 7. Electroencephalogram (electricity + brain + recording) 8. Cholelithiasis (bile + stone + condition) 9. Polymyositis (many + muscles + inflammation) 10. Orthopedic (straight + child/foot) 3. Clipping Clipping shortens longer words while retaining their essential meanings, often for convenience. It is widely used in informal contexts or spoken medical English. Clipping shows how medical professionals adapt terminology for efficiency, especially in fast-paced environments. Examples: 2. Radiography → X-ray 3. Gynecology → gyny 4. Hemorrhoids → Rhoids 5. Psychiatrist → Psych 6. Ambulance → Ambul 7. Pharmaceutical → Pharma 8. Laryngoscopy → Laryng 9. Pediatrics → Peds 10. Oncology → Onco 4. Acronymy and Initialism Acronyms are formed from the initial letters of a phrase and pronounced as a word (AIDS). Initialisms are also formed from initials but pronounced letter by letter (MRI). Acronyms are crucial for communication in medical settings, saving time and space in both writing and speech. 2|Page English Unit General Studies Division Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun Examples: 1. ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation) 2. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) 3. BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen) 4. DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) 5. H&P (History and Physical) 6. ICD (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) 7. KUB (Kidney, Ureter, Bladder X-ray) 8. EEG (Electroencephalogram) 9. RBC (Red Blood Cell) 10. ABG (Arterial Blood Gas) 5. Borrowing Many medical terms are borrowed directly from Latin and Greek, often unchanged. These borrowed terms are highly stable due to their origins in "dead" languages. Borrowing reflects the historical dominance of Latin and Greek in the sciences. 1. Femur (Latin: thigh bone) 2. Tibia (Latin: shinbone) 3. Iris (Greek: rainbow) 4. Glaucoma (Greek: opacity of the eye) 5. Aorta (Greek: lift or hang) 6. Bronchus (Greek: windpipe) 7. Clavicle (Latin: little key) 8. Esophagus (Greek: gullet) 9. Pancreas (Greek: all flesh) 10. Ulna (Latin: elbow) 6. Blending Blending combines parts of two words to create a new term, often incorporating truncation. It is used for innovations and technological advancements. Blending showcases creativity in forming modern medical terms, especially for interdisciplinary fields. Examples: 1. Medtech (Medical + Technology) 2. Cybermed (Cyber + Medicine) 3|Page English Unit General Studies Division Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun 3. Pharmacoepidemiology (Pharmacology + Epidemiology) 4. Physiatry (Physical + Psychiatry) 5. Biopharmaceuticals (Biology + Pharmaceuticals) 6. Psychooncology (Psychology + Oncology) 7. Teleconsultation (Telecommunication + Consultation) 7. Back-Formation Back-formation creates a simpler form of a word by removing an affix. It often involves the formation of verbs from nouns. Back-formation is a natural morphological process to simplify complex terms for practicality. Examples: 1. Sedate (from Sedation) 2. Vaccinate (from Vaccination) 3. Intubate (from Intubation) 4. Defibrillate (from Defibrillation) 5. Rehabilitate (from Rehabilitation) 6. Accumulate (from Accumulation) 7. Dominate (from Domination) 8. Excise (from Excision) 9. Clarify (from Clarification) 10. Prognose (from Prognosis) 8. Coinage Coinage involves the creation of entirely new words, often proprietary names or based on no specific linguistic origin. Coinage reflects marketing and branding influence in pharmaceutical and medical industries. Examples: 1. Lipitor (brand name for atorvastatin) 2. Zantac (brand name for ranitidine) 3. Viagra (brand name for sildenafil) 4. Xanax (brand name for alprazolam) 5. Prozac (brand name for fluoxetine) 6. Panadol (brand name for paracetamol) 7. Amoxicillin (antibiotic name) 8. Humira (brand name for adalimumab) 4|Page English Unit General Studies Division Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun 9. Plavix (brand name for clopidogrel) 10. Novocaine (local anesthetic) 2.4 Forming Complex Terminologies in Medical English The formation of complex medical terms often involves the interaction of multiple morphological processes to create precise, descriptive, and functional terminology. Some common patterns required in the formation of complex medical terms are illustrated below: 1. Prefixation + Compounding + Suffixation A prefix modifies the meaning of the base, while compounding adds specificity by combining roots. This interaction allows for detailed descriptions of medical conditions, anatomy, or procedures. Example: Hyperlipoproteinemia: Hyper- (prefix: excessive) Lipo- (root: fat) + Protein (root: protein) → Compounding -emia (suffix: condition of the blood) Analysis: Prefixation adds quantitative detail (hyper- = excessive). Compounding between lipo- and protein narrows the subject. The suffix (-emia) ties the term to pathology (blood-related). 2. Borrowing + Derivation Borrowed Greek/Latin roots are modified through derivation to create new terms or adapt existing ones to different grammatical categories. Example: Cardiomyopathy: Cardio- (borrowed root: heart) Myo- (borrowed root: muscle) -pathy (derived suffix: disease/condition) Analysis: Borrowed roots (cardio- and myo-) are combined to create a base term. The derived suffix (-pathy) transforms it into a term for a medical condition. 3. Blending + Derivation Blending combines two words into a base, which is then modified through derivation. 5|Page English Unit General Studies Division Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun Example: Telemedicine is derived from telecommunication + medicine Analysis: The blend (tele- + medicine) reflects advancements in healthcare technology. Through derivation, telemedicine can produce related terms like telemedical or telemedically. 4. Compounding → Clipping(Clipped Initialism) Clipping simplifies compound terms for practical use in clinical environments. Example: Electroencephalogram → EEG: Electro- (electricity) Encephalo- (brain) -gram (recording) → Compound EEG is a clipped initialism form of the full term. Analysis: The compound term provides precision, while clipping increases usability, particularly in high-pressure medical settings. 5. Borrowing + Compounding + Derivation Borrowed roots are combined and further modified by derivation to reflect complex phenomena. Example: Bronchopneumonia: Broncho- (borrowed root: bronchus) Pneumo- (borrowed root: lung/air) -ia (derived suffix: condition/state) Analysis: Borrowed roots ensure historical and linguistic consistency. Compounding specifies the area affected (bronchus + lung). The suffix -ia standardizes the term within medical taxonomy. 6. Coinage + Derivation Newly coined terms, particularly drug names, are often derived into adjectives, verbs, or related nouns. Example: Aspirin → Aspirinate (verb), Aspirinic (adjective) 6|Page English Unit General Studies Division Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun Analysis: Coined terms provide brand recognition or identify new discoveries. Derivation expands their functional usage in medical literature. 7. Acronymy + Derivation Acronyms are treated as root words and subjected to derivational processes. Example: Intensive care unit (ICU) → ICU-related, ICU-acquired ICU (Intensive Care Unit) serves as a root. Derivation adds affixes to create new terms. Analysis: Acronyms simplify communication while retaining scientific rigor when extended through derivation. 8. Back-Formation + Derivation A back-formed root can undergo derivation to create related terms. Example: Diagnose (back-formed from Diagnosis) → Diagnosable (adjective), Re-diagnose (verb) Diagnosis = diagnose+ able= diagnosable  (backformation) + (derivation) Analysis: Back-formation reduces complexity. Derivation expands the term’s grammatical and semantic flexibility. 9. Borrowing + Coinage Borrowed elements from Latin or Greek are combined with coined terms to describe new phenomena. Example: Biopharmaceuticals: Bio- (Greek: life) Pharmaceutical (coined English term) Analysis: Borrowing ensures historical accuracy and consistency. Coinage allows innovation for modern applications. Interaction in a Complex Term 7|Page English Unit General Studies Division Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun Example: Electrocardiographic Monitoring 1. Prefixation: Electro- (electricity) 2. Borrowing: Cardio- (heart, Greek) 3. Compounding: Electrocardio- (electricity + heart) 4. Derivation: -graphic (related to recording, derived suffix) 5. Clipping: Monitoring simplifies the phrase in practice. Analysis: The term integrates multiple processes to describe a procedure succinctly. The interaction of morphological processes in medical vocabulary ensures precision, adaptability, and ease of communication. This interplay reflects both the historical depth and evolving demands of medical science. 10. Medical Abbreviations Definition: An abbreviation is a shortened form of a medical word or phrase, often used for ease of documentation and communication. Communicative Significanceof Medical Abbreviations It saves time in recording and communication; It maintains standardization in medical records. Examples of Medical Abbreviations Across Disciplines: 1. Pharmacology: q.d.: Once daily (from quaque die in Latin). b.i.d.: Twice daily (bis in die). IV: Intravenous. 2. Nursing: BP: Blood pressure. HR: Heart rate. NPO: Nothing by mouth (nil per os). 3. Microbiology: CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid. WBC: White blood cell. TB: Tuberculosis. 4. Nutrition and Dietetics: BMI: Body Mass Index. RDA: Recommended Dietary Allowance. 8|Page English Unit General Studies Division Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun CHO: Carbohydrates. Illustration: IV bolus: Intravenous injection given all at once. q.i.d.: Four times a day (quater in die). 11. Medical Acronyms Definition: Acronyms are formed from the initial letters of multi-word medical terms, pronounced either as a single word or individual letters. Communicative Significance of Medical Acronyms Medical acronyms facilitate quick and standardized communication. Medical acronyms are often used in documentation, prescriptions, and diagnostic summaries. Examples of Medical Acronyms Across Disciplines: 1. Pharmacology: NSAID: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (e.g., ibuprofen). PPI: Proton Pump Inhibitor (e.g., omeprazole). 2. Nursing: CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. DVT: Deep Vein Thrombosis. 3. Microbiology: HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus. MRSA: Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. 4. Nutrition and Dietetics: TDEE: Total Daily Energy Expenditure. PKU: Phenylketonuria. Illustration: MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (diagnostic imaging technique). COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (lung condition). 2.5 Features of Morphological Patterns in Medical Vocabulary 1. Consistency: Greek roots are often used for diagnosis and disease terms (neuritis), while Latin roots dominate anatomical terms (brachium for arm). 2. Abbreviation: Combining forms simplify lengthy terms (electroencephalography → EEG). 3. Compound Forms: Many medical terms are descriptive, allowing precise communication in healthcare. 9|Page English Unit General Studies Division Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun Understanding these patterns helps in constructing, analyzing, and understanding complex medical terminologies systematically. These examples demonstrate the systematic structures and meaningful patterns found in medical terminology. 2.6 Conclusion Medical terminology is enriched with abbreviations and acronyms that simplify communication across health related fields. Their proper use ensures accuracy and efficiency in documenting treatments and diagnoses. 2.7 Summary This content explores the dynamics of the word formation processes in medical and healthcare communications. Derivation, compounding borrowing, coinage, back formation, acronymy, etc. have been discussed with relevant examples and illustrations.Specialized medical terminology includes terms for pharmacology, treatments, and diagnoses.Medical abbreviations (e.g., IV, q.d.) and acronyms (e.g., HIV, NSAID) are essential for effective communication.Mastery of these terms enhances interdisciplinary understanding and collaboration. Activity 1. List 10 common abbreviations and acronyms in your field of study. 2. Write the full forms of the following: CPR, NSAID, MRI, TDEE, DVT, WBC. 3. Explain the significance of using abbreviations and acronyms in healthcare communication. 10 | P a g e