COMMON MEDICAL TERMS

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Medical Terminology – Module 6 – Medical Usage

COMMON MEDICAL TERMS

In everyday life, people speak of bruises, wounds,

sprains and other types of injuries with a common

understanding about what the terms generally mean.

In medical cases, however, such words have very

specifically defined meanings that are important in

analyzing the severity of injuries. In this section, you

will learn how certain terms are defined when used by

medical personnel.

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Flesh and Soft Tissue Injuries

Bruises,

Contusions,

Abrasions

A bruise and a contusion are the same thing: An injury that does not break the skin but which discolours it and also spreads into the tissue

below the skin. The rupture of superficial blood vessels directly below the skin cause

discoloration. A contusion may be painful and cause swelling as well. Bruising may be referred

to as ecchymosis. Bruise, contusion or ecchymosis, this is typically a nonthreatening injury in healthy people without other medical

problems.

Unlike a bruise, an abrasion scrapes away some of the skin and could include bleeding. This is a

minor injury in healthy people. A scab forms quickly, preventing or minimizing infection.

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Wounds

Wounds can cause a break in the continuity of the soft parts of the body as the result of traumatic

injury to soft tissue. Various kinds of wounds

are specified by descriptive adjectives

Lacerated

Wounds

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Slight of Hand

A lacerated wound or laceration is an irregular tear of the flesh as opposed to a

clean cut. Which of these illustrations shows a lacerated wound?

A B

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An incised wound is a clean, straight cut caused by a sharp-

edged instrument. Incised wounds do not have the irregular

tearing that characterizes lacerations.

An incised wound might result from a surgical incision but may also be caused by other means,

such as stabbing.

WoundsIncised

Wounds

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Pick a Box

1. The type of wound characterized by a clean, straight cut from a sharp-edged

object is…

2. The type of wound characterized by irregular tearing is…

lacerated incised

lacerated incised

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WoundsPuncture wounds are caused by a

sharp, pointed instrument. Punctures leave a deep narrow hole penetrating the

flesh, which makes proper cleansing difficult. Since germs and bacteria thrive in this environment, puncture wounds are

prime sources for infection. A bullet wound is an example of a puncture

wound.

When an object breaks the skin and enters under the skin or deeper into the body, as a bullet might do, the wound is

often referred to as a penetrating wound. Furthermore, in the case of a

bullet or other object that not only penetrates but also exits at another point, such a wound is known as a perforating

wound.

Puncture

Wounds

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Arm Wrestle

Each illustration below represents a kind of wound. Identify for each whether it is a puncture

wound (PUNC), a penetrating wound (PEN), or a perforating wound (PERF).

A B C

PEN

PERF

PUNC

PEN

PERF

PUNC

PEN

PERF

PUNC

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Wounds

Crushing Wounds A crushing wound is caused by trauma of sufficient force to smash or compress the tissues

but sometimes without lacerating the skin.

If the skin is broken, bleeding may occur. Broken bones are common with crushing wounds because of the extreme force

that caused the injury.

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Implications of Flesh & Soft Tissue Injury

Whenever the skin is broken, as it is with a wound, there is danger of infection. Some types of wounds are more likely to become infected than others – puncture wounds for

example. However, infection can usually be controlled with drugs or other medical care

appropriate to the situation.

In addition to infection, scarring may have an adverse effect on the injured person even though the medical significance of a scar

could be slight. For example, a fairly minor facial wound might cause no ongoing health

problems but could pose a psychological problem concerning scarring on the face.

Infection and Scarring

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While superficial scars usually disappear over time, deep or jagged wounds can result in a

lasting scar. It is difficult to determine the end result of such a wound until several months

have passed since most wounds appear severe immediately after they occur.

In severe injuries, plastic surgery might be needed for any part of the body. However, facial scars are those for which people are

more likely to seek corrective plastic surgery since society places great emphasis on

physical attractiveness.

Implications of Flesh & Soft Tissue

InjuryInfection and Scarring

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Pick a Box

The long term evaluation of a scar, especially on the face, therefore should be

made…

as soon as the injuries

are reported to the

insurance company since

the severity is most

apparent at that time

on the basis of the

psychological effect on

the injured person

sometime after healing

has progressed

sufficiently to determine

the severity and extent of

the scarring that will result

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One type of scarring that might not respond positively to plastic surgery or other treatment

is called keloid. Keloid is scar tissue that occurs more massively than is necessary for normal healing, resulting in a thick, raised, irregularly shaped red scar, which is often

painful to the touch. In general, darker pigmented individuals are more likely to

develop keloid.

Certain steroids, drugs and laser therapy are treatments that have had some success in

removing keloid scars, but keloid sometimes recurs after apparently successful treatment.

Implications of Flesh & Soft Tissue

InjuryKeloid scarring

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Pick a Box

Which statement(s) below are true concerning keloid scarring?

Some methods for

removing keloid are

steroids, drugs and laser

treatment.

keloid is an irregular mass

of tissue that is disfiguring

but never painful.

Although treatment is

difficult, once keloid is

removed, it never returns.

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Strains & SprainsStrains and sprains are two different

injuries that are sometimes confused if for no other reason than the similarity of the names. A strain is a minor injury with no

lasting effects, although there may be significant pain when a strain first occurs.

It involves stretching of muscles or tendons beyond their usual limits.

Muscles can be strained simply by excessive use or by accidental or traumatic means. WAD injuries are ones that you are

familiar with – research indicates such injuries for most are minor with a good

prognosis and full recovery.

Strains

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A sprain, on the other hand, is a serious injury to a joint, such as the elbow or knee joint, wherein the ligaments are partly or

totally torn from the bone. Ligaments are connective tissue that help joints work

properly. A sprained joint will become hot, swell rapidly and become limited in

movement. Discoloration usually occurs as well.

Sprains are typically treated like bone fractures by immobilizing the injured part of

the body. Common methods used to immobilize sprains include elastic

bandages, casts, and splints. In less severe cases, the affected area may be

taped.

Strains & Sprains

Sprains

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The swelling, discoloration and inflammation that characterizes a

sprain will disappear slowly or rapidly, depending upon the severity of the injury. However, returning the affected joint – the knee, for example – to normal movement and function may be difficult or impossible. The effects of any kind of joint injury can

vary greatly.

Another problem that can occur with a sprain is the possible weakening of the joint, increasing the chance that a similar injury might occur to the same

area.

Strains & Sprains

Sprains

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Make a Match•Muscles or tendons are stretched

beyond their normal limits

•Cause rapid swelling and limits movement

•May require immobilization

•Has no lasting adverse effects

•Might be immobilized with a cast as if it were a fractured bone

• Injures a joint by pulling the ligaments away from the home

SP ST B

SP ST B

SP ST B

SP ST B

SP ST B

SP ST B

LEGEND

SP = sprain

ST = strain

B = both

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Congratulations

You have completed the

online “ Medical Terminology”

course. (Please do not forget to complete the mandatory

post assessment and

evaluation.)

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Sandra Buckberrough

BI Technical Trainer

Jackie Roberts

Instructional Design

Bysis Education

Punchstock Images

Acknowledgements

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Documents

COMMON MEDICAL TERMS