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Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties

MEDICAL SPECIALTIES

After a patient has received the initial treatment for a medical problem, he or she is often referred to a specialist in some area

for ongoing medical treatment. In this section, we’ll review some medical terms

which apply to medical specialists in various fields.

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Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties

Medical SpecialtiesWe’ll begin with some easy ones. Most you can identify based on the medical terms you

just learned.

Can you easily define each of the following types of specialists?

CardiologistDermatologist

NeurologistOtologist

Rheumatologist

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Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties

Make a Match

Cardiologist

Dermatologist

Neurologist

Otologist

Rheumatologist

A B C D

A B C D

A B C D

A B C D

LEGEND

A. Skin Specialist

B. Ear Specialist

C. Heart Specialist

D. Specialist in diseases of

the nerves

E. Specialist in diagnosis

and treatment of

diseases of the

joints,muscles and

bones.

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A B C D

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Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties

You probably noticed that all of the specialist names in the

preceding frame ended in the suffix ologist, which

comes from the Greek term, “ology”.

For example, cardiology is the study or science of the

heart.

OphthamologistSUFFIXES

Ology – study or science of

Changing the gy to gist changes to meaning to one who studies or one who specializes. So, a

cadiologist is someone who studies or specializes in the heart.

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Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties

What if we gave you this root word…..

ROOT WORDS

Ophthalmos - eye

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Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties

Pick a Box

Based on the previous page, which one of these terms below means eye specialist?

Ophthamologist Otologist Cardiologist

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Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties

A Neuropsychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the

treatment of people with neurologic illness and cognitive,

emotional, or behavioural problems.

Neuro - nerveNeuropsychiatrist

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Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties

The word oncologist is

derived from the Greek prefix.

Oncologist

PREFIXES

Onco – tumor, swelling, mass, bulk

Although the prefix onco technically refers to any type of

tumor, swelling or mass, it is commonly used to specifically describe cancerous tumors.

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Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties

You may see references in medical reports and

claims to the pathology of a disease. The word is derived from the following

Greek term…

PathologistROOT WORDS

Pathos - disease

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Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties

Another medical specialty you may see frequently is

internist.

Internist

ROOT WORDS

Intern - inside An internist is a physician who specializes in internal medicine, treating diseases of the internal organs by nonsurgical means.

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Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties

What do you do?

A NeuropsychIs strictly an interpreter of the x-rays someone else has taken

Not only interprets x-rays, but may also administer them to treat diseases

May administer x-rays to treat diseases, but is never involved in interpreting x-rays

An InternistTreating diseases of the internal organs through surgical treatment

Treating diseases of the internal organs through non-surgical treatment

Treating diseases of the internal organs through a combination of surgical and non-surgical treatment

A

A

B

B

C

C

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Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties

The last medical specialist we’ll discuss is an

orthopedist. The term is a combination of the Greek

words.

ROOT WORDS

Orthos – straightPais - child

Orthopedist

From the illustration, you’d think that an orthopedist specializes in straightening out children, and this is actually where the term comes from. At one time, bone deformities

were so common in children that the entire branch of orthopedics was devoted to correcting bone-deformed

children. The term has since been broadened to include all ages and all disorders of the skeleton and joints.

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Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties

Physical And Occupational Therapists

Two other specialists you’ll probably encounter in claims work are not physicians, but medically trained

persons who assist in the rehabilitation process. They are physical therapists

and Occupational Therapists.

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Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties

Physical And Occupational

TherapistsA physical therapist treats disease through the use of physical agents such as massage, heat,radiation,

water,electricity, and exercise.

An occupational therapist takes into consideration elements of the

patient’s life – not just the disease elements – in evaluating and helping

plan work, play and self-care activities to treat the physically

ROOT WORDS

Therapist – one who offers treatment

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Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties

Great Job!

You made it through MEDICAL SPECIALTIES. Now let’s proceed to the next part of the course; MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS.

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