Medical Terminology

EMS Program

University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

Paramedic Training Division

The Language of medicine

To effectively communicate:

Those whowork in medicine must speak and

understand the same language

Medical Terminology

There are three potential parts of a medical term

Tonsil + itis = Tonsillitis

rootsuffix med term

Prefix

Root word

Suffix

Gastr/oPneum/oMening/oCyst/oEdemNeur/oAlveol/o

OvNephr/oHemoHepat/oOcul/oCholePyret/o

Often refers to an anatomical part

Conveys the essential meaning

Root Words

Examples of Root-Root words

Sternoclavicular

Musculoskeletal

Genitourinary

when 2 root words or a root-suffix are added, sometimes a combining vowel will be added to make it easier to speak

Brady-cardiaTachy-cardiaApneaBilateralAmbidextrous

Prefixes…

are never used alone

add a quantifier, color or a position to a word.

Common Prefixes

suprainfracostchole

subcystdysendoolig

sometimes a prefix is also a root!clear as mud~

Bad, painful, difficult

gallbladder

Beneath, under

urinary/bladder/sac of fluid

rib

above

inside

scanty/small amount

Suffixes…

found at the end of the word to alter the meaning of the word

describes a condition/diagnosis/disorder/procedure

Hematotoxic

Important suffixes

otomy

to create an opening

ectomy

to remove

ology

the study of

Inflammation of

itis

centesis

surgical perforation/puncture

odyn/o

pain

lysis

break down/separation

ostomy

surgical incision

More important suffixes…..

algia

painemia

blood condition

plasty

to repair

rrhea

drainageosis or ia

a condition

pathy

paresis

rrhagia

uria

esthesia

pnea

oma

tumor

And even more suffixes…

nervous sensation

breathing

urination

bursting forth

disease

weakness

Combining Vowel

use when joining….

root to root (gastrohepatitis)

OR

root to a suffix that begins with a consonant(cardiomegaly)

Easy & straightforward….right???

Ot/oAur/oAuricul/o

Opthalm/oOptic/oOpt/o

osisicia

PeriAmbipercircum

The anatomy & dissection of a medical term

Pericardiocentesis

The aspiration of fluid from thepericardium (sac of fluid) around theheart

Costochondritisprefix

combining vowel

root word (x2)Suffix

The anatomy & dissection of a medical term

Inflammation of the ribs/cartilage

The anatomy & dissection of a medical term

Lithotripsy Endocarditis

SubsternalPeriorbital

Supraventricular tachycardia

Antipyretic

paronychia

Common medical terms

Stridor SyncopeStatus epilepticus

Iatrogenic

Idiopathic

AphasiaHyperglycemia

Hypoglycemia

Rales

Anatomical Planes and Positions

Frontal or Coronal plane divides anterior (ventral) and posterior (dorsal) (#1)

Sagittal Plane runs vertically through the

body (#2)

Transverse or horizontal plane divides superior and inferior (#3)

Anatomical Planes imaginery straight line divisions of the body

Anatomical Position

Standing up with the feet and hands facing the examiner

Always refer to the patient’sleft or right, not yours

Body Positions

orinternal rotation

orexternal rotation

Abbreviations

Use only approved abbreviations to avoid confusion

Be mindful of capitalized & lower case letters

Abbreviations can cause legal nightmares

Remember the purpose of documentation

The mother called because the childwoke up coughing and appears to have difficulty breathing.

4 yo child found sitting in a tripod position. Alert, follows commands,skin warm, dry & pink. RR 12,able to appreciate intermittent episodes of stridor with deep barky cough. No intercostal or substernal retractions noted.

Medical Slang….we have it too

FLKFLB

Donut of Death CKS

Acute PneumoencephalopathyGassers

PID shuffle

Banana bag

Hi5