Lecture-Medical Terminologies and Abbreviations PDF

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Topic 3. MEDICAL TERMINOLOGIES AND ABBREVIATIONS MEDICAL TERM   

It is the professional language of those who are directly or indirectly engaged in the art of healing Terms dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and maintenance of health There are three types of medical terms: Words built from Latin and Greek word parts, Words based on a person’s names called eponyms (e.g. Koch’s infection), and Words utilizing modern English words

BASIC ELEMENTS OF A MEDICAL TERM 1. Word Root 2. Combining Form 3. Suffix 4. Prefix These four parts of a word are known as ELEMENTS. Each element has its own meaning and location in the term. There are around 300 elements and like building blocks, they can be combined to create thousands of medical terms. MEDICAL TERM = Prefix + Word Root/Combining Form + Suffix WORD ROOT   

Gives the main meaning to the word Usually, but not always, refer to the structure or function of the body part Some root words are derived from the Latin or Greek language; all medical terms have at least one root Examples:  “phlebo” means vein  :hemat” means blood  “dermat” means skin  “gastr” means stomach  “pancreat” means pancreas Table 3.1 lists common word roots and their origin.

COMBINING FORMS    

Correct pronunciation of medical words is important. In order to make the pronunciation of word roots easier, sometimes it is necessary to insert a vowel after the root. The combination of a word root and a vowel (with a slash mark) is known as a COMBINING FORM. Combining forms consist of a combining vowel which is usually an “o”, but others may be used. Examples:   

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Gastr/o Enter/o Cardi/o

When a word has more than one root, a combining vowel is used to link the root to each other. Examples: 

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Osteoarthritis Word Root 1: Combining Vowel: Word Root 2: Suffix: Gastroenterology Word Root 1: Combining Vowel: Word Root 2: Suffix:

Oste / /o/ / arthr / / itis Gastr / /o/ / enter / / logy

A combining vowel links the root to the next element of the term, the suffix, if the suffix begins with a consonant; this is to make pronunciation easier. Examples:  Cardi/o + megaly = Cardiomegaly  Hemat/o + genesis = Hematogenesis  Path/o + logist = Pathologist Table 3.2 lists commonly used combing forms and their meaning.

SUFFIXES   

A suffix is added to the END of a word root or combining form to modify its meaning; all medical terms have a suffix By adding a suffix to the end of a word root, we create a noun or adjective with a different meaning Common meanings of suffixes indicate a pathologic conditions, diagnostic procedure or surgical procedure; suffixes are preceded by a dash(-) Examples: 

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Suffixes as Noun Endings -a -um -y -e -us Suffixes Meaning “Pertaining to” -ac -ical -ory -an -ic -tic Suffixes meaning “Abnormal Conditions” -ago -iasis -ism -esis -ion -osis Suffixes Related to Pathology -algia -megaly -necrosis -it is -malacia -stenosis Suffixes Related to Procedures -centesis -gram -scopy -graphy -plasty -otomy The “Double R” Suffixes -rrhage -rrhapy -rrhea

Table 3.3 lists commonly used suffixes and their meaning. PREFIXES   

A prefix is a syllable or syllables placed BEFORE a word root or combining forms to alter its meaning or create a new word. Most medical terms have a prefix, like suffix it can be attached to many word roots resulting to thousands of words Some common meaning of prefixes include: location, position, direction, time, number, negation or color; prefixes are proceeded by a dash (-)

Examples:       

Hyper- (excessive) Pre- (before) Post- (after) Homo- (same) Hypo- (under) Macro- (large)

Be careful with prefixes that have similar spelling but opposite in meaning. Table 3.4 lists more examples of prefixes and their meaning.

WORD-BUILDING SYSTEM 

By understanding the meanings of word roots, one can determine the meaning of complex medical terms by putting together the smaller parts. Example: Leukocytopenia (decrease white blood cell in the blood)  Word Root 1: Leuk / (white)  Word Root 2: / cyt / (cell)  Combining Vowel: / o / Suffix: / penia (decrease)

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When deciphering a medical term, the word parts are separated, always start at the end of the word (suffix) and work toward the beginning Example: OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY = OT/O + RHIN/O + LARYNG/O + LOGY (study of the ears, nose, throat) (ear) (nose) (throat) (study of)

PRONUNCIATION, SPELLING, and PLURAL FORM 

The medical term is easier to understand and remember when you know how to pronounce it properly.

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Pronunciation of medical terms is based on their Greek, Latin, or other foreign origin

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The part of the word that receives the primary (most) emphasis when you say it is shown in uppercase boldface letters Example: Edema (eh-DEE-mah)

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A part of the word that receives secondary (less) emphasis when pronounced is shown in boldface lowercase letters. Example: Appendicitis (ah-pen-dih-SIGH-tis)

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Always make sure your spelling is correct, changing just one or two letters can completely change the meaning of the word Example: Sepsis- presence of infection Asepsis- absence of infection

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Terms with similar spelling or pronunciation (look-alike, sound-alike) have very different meanings Example: ILEUM – last and longest portion of the intestine ILIUM – part of the hip bone

Table 3.5 shows the guidelines on spelling and pronunciation of unfamiliar medical terms. There are unusual rules for changing a singular word into a plural form (see Table 3.6)

Table 3.1. Word Roots and their Origin Body Part/Component Abdomen Bladder Blood Blood vessel Bone Marrow Cell Eye Gallbladder Head Kidney Mouth Nose Stomach Tissue Womb

Greek Root lapar(o)cyst(o)hemat(o)angi(o)myel(o)-cyte, cyt(o)ophthalm(o)cholecyst(o)cephal(o)nephr(o)stomat(o)rhin(o)gastr(o)hist(o)-, histiohyster(o)-, metr(o)-

Latin Root abdominvesic(o)sangui-, sanguinevascul-, vasmedullocul(o)fellcapit(o)renornasventr(o)uter(o)-

Example laparoscopy cystitia/vesicular sanguinous provascular myelocytes/medullary erythrocytes, cytoblast ophthalmologist cholecystatony cephalic vein/capitate pyelonephritis/renicardiac stomatopathy/oral rhinallergosis/nasal cavity gastromyorrhea/ventriduction histionic hysterocele/uterine

Table 3.2. Combing Forms and Meaning Combining Forms Abdomin/o Bronch/I, Bronch/o Arteri/o Cyan/o Encephal/o

Meaning Abdomen Bronchus Artery Blue Brain

Combining Forms Erythr/o Hemat/o Leuk/o Path/o Pneumon/o

Meaning Red Blood White Disease Lung

Table 3.3. Common Suffixes Suffix -ac, -al, -an, -aneous, -ar, -ary, -eal, -eous, -iac, -iatric, -ic, -ical, -oid, -otic, -ous, -tic, -ular -cele -centesis -cyte -desis -dynia, -algia -ectasis, -ectasia -ectomy -edema -emesis -emia -genic -gram -graph -graphy -ian, -iantrist, -ist, -ilogist, -logy, -ics, -iatry, -iatrics -iasis -ism -itis -lith -lysis -malacia -megaly -meter -metry -oid -oma

Meaning converts a root or a noun term to an adjective

protrusion, hernia surgical puncture cell surgical binding pain expansion or dilation surgical removal excessive fluid in intracellular tissues vomiting blood origin, producing written or pictorial record device for graphic or pictorial recording act of graphic or pictorial recording specialty of, study of, practice of converts a verb to a noun indicating a condition a condition of; a process; or a state of inflammation stone, calculus, calcification disintegration softening enlargement device for measuring act of measuring resembling or like tumor

Examples geriatric, orthopedic, ocular, dental, cutaneous, cyanotic, atrial, cardiac, ureteral rectocele thoracentesis leukocyte arthrodesis arthrodynia angiectasis appendectomy angioedema hematemesis uremia osteogenic electrocardiogram electrocardiograph electrocardiography geriatrist, pediatrician, gynecology cholelithiasis dwarfism, gigantism appendicitis pneumolith hemolysis osteomalacia gastromegaly audiometer audiometry android gastroma

-opsy -osis -pathy -penia -pexy -phobia -plasia -plasty -plegia -pnea -poiesis -porosis -ptosis -rrhage -rrhaphy -rrhea -rrhexis -sclerosis -scope -scopy -spasm -stasis -stenosis -stomy -tome -tomy -tripsy

visual examination abnormal condition disease reduction of size or quantity surgical fixation fear, appears mainly as a suffix abnormal formation surgical repair paralysis breath, respiration producing porous condition downward displacement flowing forth suture discharge rupture hardness device for viewing act of viewing muscular contraction level; unchanging narrowed; blocked permanent opening instrument for cutting incision crushing

biopsy osteoporosis, arthrosis cardiopathy leukopenia hysteropexy claustrophobia chondroplasia rhinoplasty hemiplegia tachypnea erythropoiesis osteoporosis nephroptosis hemorrhage herniorrhaphy diarrhea hysterorrhexis arteriosclerosis arthroscope arthroscopy arteriospasm hemostasis arteriostenosis colostomy osteotome osteotomy lithotripsy

Table 3.4. Common Prefixes Prefix abadante-, preantibibradycon-, sym-, syn-

Meaning away from, outside of, beyond toward, near to before against, opposed two abnormally slow rate of speed with

contradiadysec-, ectoen-, endoepiex-, exoextrahemi-, semihyperhypoinfrainterintramacromesometamicromono-, unineoolig-, oligopanparapostquadriretrotachytri-

against across, through painful, bad, difficult outside, away from inside upon, subsequent to outside beyond half above, beyond normal below, below normal inside or below between inside big middle beyond small one new a few everywhere alongside, like after four backward, behind abnormally high rate of speed three

Examples abnormal addiction antepartum, premature antibiotic biannual bradycardia congenital, sympathetic, synarthrosis contralateral diagnosis dyspnea ectopy endoscopy epigastric exoskeleton extrasystole hemiplegia hypergastric hypogastric infrastructure intercostal intracerebral macrocyte mesothelium metacarpal microscope monocyte neoplasm oliguria pancarditis paraplegia postsynaptic quadriceps retroperitoneal tachycardia tricep

Table 3.5. Guidelines on Spelling and Pronunciation of Unfamiliar Terms If it sounds like F J K

S

Z

It may begin with F Ph G J C Ch K Qu C Ps S X Z

Example Flatus (FLAY-tus) Phlegm (FLEM) Gingivitis (jin-jih-VYE-tis) Jaundice (JAWN-dis) Crepitus (KREP-ih-tus) Cholera (KOL-er-ah) Kyphosis (kye-FOH-sis) Quadriplegia (kwad-rih-PLEE-jee-ah) Cytology (sigh-TOL-oh-jee) Psychologist (sigh-KOL-oh-jist) Serum (SEER-um) Xeroderma (zee-roh-DER-mah) Zygote (ZYE-goht)

Table 3.6. Guidelines on Unusual Plural Forms Guideline If the singular term ends in the suffix –a, the plural is usually formed by changing the ending to –ae. If the singular term ends in the suffix –ex or –ix, the plural is usually formed by changing these endings to – ices. If the singular term ends in the suffix –is, the plural is usually formed by changing the ending to –es. If the singular term ends in the suffix –itis, the plural is usually formed by changing the -is ending to –ides. If the singular term ends in the suffix –nx, the plural is usually formed by changing the –x ending to –ges. If the singular term ends in the suffix –on, the plural is usually formed by changing the ending to –a. If the singular term ends in the suffix –um, the plural is usually formed by changing the ending to –a. If the singular term ends in the suffix –us, the plural is usually formed by changing the ending to –i.

Singular Bursa Vertebra Appendix Index

Plural Bursae Vertebrae Appendices Indices

Diagnosis Metastasis Arthritis Meningitis Phalanx Meninx Criterion Ganglion Diverticulum Ovum Alveolus Malleolus

Diagnoses Metastases Arthritides Meningitides Phalanges Meninges Criteria Ganglia Diverticula Ova Alveoli Malleoli

MEDICAL ACRONYMS and ABBREVIATIONS   

Abbreviations are frequently used as a shorthand way to record long and complex medical terms Most clinical agencies have policies for accepted abbreviations Listed below are commonly encountered abbreviations in the health care practice:

AC- Before meals AMA- Against Medical Advice BID- Twice a day BL CX - Blood Culture BMI- Body Mass Index BP- Blood Pressure CBC- Complete Blood Count Chemo- Chemotherapy CLL- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia CPR- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation CXR- Chest X-ray DB- Direct Bilirubin D/O- Disorder D/T- Due to Dx- Diagnosis ECG/EKG- Electrocardiogram FBS- Fasting Blood Sugar GNR- Gram Negative Rod GPC- Gram Positive Coccus HCT- Hematocrit HDL- High-density Lipoprotein HIV- Human Immunodeficiency Virus HS- At Bedtime Hx- History

IDDM- Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus IMIntramuscular IVIntravenous LOC- Loss of Consciousness LYTES- Electrolytes MSSA- Methicillin Sensitive Staph. aureus NPO- Nothing by Mouth OD- Right Eye OS- Left Eye OTC- Over the Counter OU- Both Eyes PC- After meals PO- By Mouth PRN- “as needed” QEvery QID- Four Times a Day R/O- Rule Out Sx- Symptoms Sz- Seizure Bilirubin TB- Tuberculosis; Total TID- Tree Times a Day UO- Urine Output UTZ- Ultrasound VS- Vital Signs

REFERENCES: Alshok, M. (2015). Medical Terminology. Retrieved from: http://www.uobabylon.edu.iq/eprints/publication_3_4266_509.pdf Collins, C.E. (2014). A Short Course in Medical Terminology (3rd ed.). Baltimore, Maryland: Lippincott Williams & Wilkens. Common Prefixes, Suffixes and Combining Forms. Retrieved from https://library.vcc.ca/learningcentre/pdf/vcclc/CommonPrefixesSuffixesandCombini ngForms.pdf Corriero, C. (2016). The Anatomy of Medical Jargon https://www.pocketanatomy.com/teaching-anatomy/the-anatomy-of-medical-jargon Decoding Medical Terminology. Retrieved from: http://www.scienceprofonline.com/vapc/vapc-ppt/Terminology/Decoding-medicalterminology-lecture.pdf Ehrlich, A. & Schoeder, C.L. (2014). Introduction to Medical Terminology (3 rd ed.) Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning. Medical Terminology Basics. Retrieved fro m http://www.scienceprofonline.com/vapc/anatomy-language-general-terminologymain.html...