Terminology of Medical Disciplines

To understand disease causes, effects, prevention, and treatment . . . it is

necessary to understand the language!

The “Ologies” and More

• 1. Anatomy

• the structure of living things

• 1a. Gross Anatomy

• the study of features observed with the naked eye

• 1b. Histology

• the of anatomical features with the assistance of a microscope

The “Ologies” and More

• 2. Physiology

• the activities of living things; how they occur

• 3. Embryology

• the development of the embryo in-utero

The “Ologies” and More

• 4. Microbiology

• study of microscopic organisms

– 4a. Bacteriology

– 4b. Virology

The “Ologies” and More

• 5. Electronmicroscopy

• study of organisms using a electron micro.

• 6. Immunology

• study of immunity and it factors

The “Ologies” and More

• 7. Pathology

• study of disease

• 7a. Gross pathology = unaided eye

• 7b. Histopathology = disease of tissues

• 7c. Pathophysiology = mechanisms of disease production

• 7d. Clinical pathology = disease causes utilizing certain laboratory methods

Important Medical Terminology

Medical Terms

• Disease

• ‘not at ease’; deviation from the norm

• Etiology

• study of the cause of the disease

• Diagnosis

• determine the nature and cause of disease

Medical Terms

• Prognosis

• forecast of “probable” outcome or results of having a disease

• Morbidity

• ratio of sick animals to well (%age)

• Mortality

• death rate (%age)

Medical Terms

• Pathogen• disease causing agent

• Pathogenesis• development of the disease, “process”

• Prophylaxis• prevention of disease

Medical Terms

• Pathognomonic

• an alteration that indicates “without doubt” the cause of a particular disease

• i.e. Negri bodies in the hippocampus

• Lesion

• a morphologic change in tissue caused be a disease process

Medical Terms

• Necropsy

• the examine a dead animal (Post Mortem)

• Symptom

• a clinical sign “evidence” (lameness, swell)

• Acute

• a rapid onset with sever pain

• Chronic

• persisting over a long period of time

Medical Terms

• Idiopathic

• of unknown cause

• Iatrogenic

• disease caused by erroneous treatment

The Body as a Whole

• Cells

• Tissues

• Organs

• Systems

• Organism

General Body Compartments

• Cranial cavity

• Thoracic cavity

• Abdominal cavity (peritoneum)

• Pelvic cavity

The Systems

Digestive Systemconverts substances to simpler ones

• Contains . . .

• Digestive tract

• Salivary glands

• Liver (Hepatic)

• Pancreas

Respiratory Systemprovides oxygen so energy can occur

• Nasal or Oral cavity

• Pharynx

• Trachea

• Bronchi

• Alveoli

Circulatory Systemcarry products of digestion and

respiration all over the body• Heart

• Arteries

• Capillaries

• Veins

• Tissue fluid

• Lymphatic fluid

Excretory Systemremoves waste

• Kidneys

• Ureters

• Bladder

• Urethra

• Lungs

• Skins

Nervous Systemspecialized to coordinate body activity

• CNS– Brain– Spinal cord

• PNS– cranial nerves– spinal nerves

Reproductive Systemresponsible for perpetuation of species

• Pituitary hormones• Gonadal hormones• Sexual parts

• Endocrine System– not a “system”, but works together via hormonal

action from ductless glands to coordinate activities with nervous system

– What is Endocrenology?

Introduction to Terminology of Prefixes and Suffixes

Prefixes and Suffixes

• A, An• Ab• Aero• Ambi• Anero• Angio• Ante• Anti

• Arthro• Auto• Bi• Brady• Broncho• Carcino• Cardio• Cephalo

Prefixes and Suffixes

• Cide• Cutaneous• Cryo• Crypto• Cyte• Derm• Dys• Ecto

• Emia• Encephalo• Endo• Entero• Epi• Galacto• Gastro• Glyco

Prefixes and Suffixes

• Hema• Hepato• Hetero• Histo• Homo• Hyper• Hydro• Hypo

• Inter• Intra• In-utero• In-vitro• In-vivo• Iso• Itis• Leuco

Prefixes and Suffixes

• Lysis• Macro• Mal• Mania• Mast• Metri• Micro• Myco

• Myo• Necro• Neo• Nephro• Neuro• Non• Ology• Oma

Prefixes and Suffixes

• Opthalmo• Os• Oscopy• Osis• Osteo• Otomy• Paresis• Partum

• Pathy• Per os• Peri• Phage• Phobia• Pnea• Pneumo• Poly

Prefixes and Suffixes

• Post• Pre• Pulmo• Pyelo• Pyo=purulent• Renal• Rhino• Septic

• Sero• Stasis• Stoma• Sub• Thermo• Tox• Tracheo• Uni

Prefixes and Suffixes

• Uria• Vaso• Verm

• On to vet school . . .