LEARNING TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE

Objectives

After completing this chapter, you should be able to:

Determine the meaning of medical words and phrases frequently encountered in a medical office

Recite basic information about human anatomy and physiology

Use root words, prefixes, and suffixes to obtain clues to the meanings of many medical words

Demonstrate abbreviations frequently used in medical offices and clinics

Distinguish among signs, symptoms, and significant findings

Recognize terms used in medical prescriptions

Recognize units of measure used in medical offices and clinics

Key Terms

circulatory system

uses the heart, blood, and blood vessels in a complex delivery system for the body. The heart pumps the blood and keeps it flowing through the blood vessels. Arteries carry blood away from the heart and veins carry blood back to the heart.

combining vowel

a vowel inserted to link word parts together to make them easier to read.

constitutional signs and symptoms

includes vital signs and an assessment of a person’s general well being.

digestive system

processes food to provide nutrients to the body and processes solid waste that is expelled by the body.

endocrine system

uses ductless glands to produce hormones. Hormones regulate many body functions.

eponym

a word, such as a medical diagnosis or procedure, that is named after a person or a place.

genitourinary system

the reproductive and urinary systems. The male and female reproductive systems work together to create a baby. The urinary system processes and expels liquid waste from the body.

immune system

uses the lymphatic system and the spleen to fight infection and regulate immune responses. Also regulates the amount of fluid in and around body cells.

integumentary system

consists of skin, hair, nails, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands. It is the body’s largest organ system and the first line of defense against infection.

musculoskeletal system

muscles and bones provide the framework that gives the body shape, form, and movement.

nervous system

the electronic computer system for the body. It gathers, stores, and interprets information, and it initiates responses. It includes the central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system, and the autonomic nervous system.

prefix

a word part attached at the beginning of a word to add to or alter the meaning of the word.

prescription

an order for a drug, treatment, or device, written or given by a properly licensed professional.

respiratory system

uses breathing to bring oxygen into the body and to expel carbon dioxide from the body.

root word

the word part that gives the basic meaning of the word.

sign

a change from normal noted or observed by the examiner.

significant finding

a change from normal (a sign or a symptom) or a significant normal finding that narrows the options and leads to a diagnosis.

suffix

a word part attached at the end of a word that adds to or alters the meaning of the word.

symptom

a change or suspected change from normal noted or observed by the patient.

vital signs

a minimum of 3 of 10 possible examination items identified by the American Medical Association considered critical to assess body function.

Introduction

Taking the time to learn the meanings of common medical words is very important for every medical office employee. The physicians, your co-workers, and the patients must have confidence that you understand what they are saying.

The easiest way to learn the meaning of medical words is to learn how to break them into smaller parts. In this chapter, you will learn how to interpret medical words using basic word parts that give clues to the meaning of each word. If you have already completed a medical terminology course or an anatomy and physiology course, you will find this chapter to be a good review. If you wish to take a medical terminology or an anatomy and physiology course later, you will find this chapter to be a valuable introduction for those courses.

Word Parts

Most medical words are developed by combining root words that describe the structure and function of the body. A root word gives the basic meaning of the word. A word must have at least one root to be considered a word, and a word with one root can stand alone as a complete word. Medical words often have more than one root word.

In addition, medical words often contain prefixes and suffixes. A prefix is a word part that is attached to the beginning of a word. A suffix is a word part that is attached at the end of a word. Prefixes and suffixes have specific meanings that either add to or alter the meaning of the root word, but they do not contain root words, and they are seldom used alone. When a prefix is listed alone, a hyphen is attached at the end of the prefix to indicate that something should come after (e.g., epi-). When a suffix is listed alone, a hyphen is attached at the beginning of the suffix to indicate that something should come before (e.g., -ic).

When you separate a word into various word parts, a slash (/) is used to show where the divisions occur. The word epi/gastr/ic has a prefix, a root word, and a suffix. The prefix epi- means “above”; the root word gastr means “stomach”; the suffix -ic means “pertaining to.” Therefore epigastric means “pertaining to above the stomach.”

Combining vowels make words easier to read. Whereas o is the most commonly used combining vowel, it is not the only combining vowel: a and i are also used. A combining vowel is always inserted to link root words together and is sometimes inserted to link root words to suffixes. The only time a combining vowel is dropped is when a suffix begins with a vowel. It is not dropped if a root word begins with a vowel. The word hemat/o/logy has a root word, a combining vowel, and a suffix. Hemat is the root word and means “blood”; o is the combining vowel; -logy is the suffix and means “study of.” Therefore hematology means “the study of blood.”

When a medical term is named after a person or a place and does not have a combination of word parts that give clues to the meaning of the word, the term is called an eponym. Many diseases and conditions are named for the person who discovered them. Eponyms are always capitalized.

To help you learn to use combining vowels correctly, the root words listed in word part tables throughout this chapter will be listed with combining vowels. By learning the most common root words, prefixes, and suffixes and how they are combined, you will be able to determine the meanings of most medical words. Many of the word part tables also list a few select eponyms and common abbreviations.

STOP & REVIEW

Use the root words, prefixes, and suffixes from Table 1-1 and follow the directions to complete the exercises. Rewrite each word using slashes to separate the word parts, and then write the meaning.

TABLE 1-1

Word Parts

Root Words	Prefixes	Suffixes
Root—Meaning	Prefix—Meaning	Suffix—Meaning
abdomin/o—abdomen	bi-—two	-ac, -al, -ic—pertaining to
cardi/o—heart	brady-—slow	-itis—inflammation
hist/o—tissue	end-, endo-—inside	-ia—condition
immun/o—immune	peri-—around	-logy—study, science
later/o—side	tachy-—fast	-pathy—disease
my/o—muscle	uni-—one	-plasty—surgical repair

1. abdominal

______________________

2. abdominoplasty

______________________

3. endocardiac

______________________

Write medical terms by combining word parts, and then write the meaning.

4. cardi/o + my/o + -pathy

______________________

5. bi- + later/o + -al

______________________

6. hist/o + -logy

______________________

7. tachy- + cardi/o + -ia

______________________

Write a term to match the meanings.

8. A condition in which the heart is slow

______________________

9. Pertaining to one side

______________________

10. Inflammation around the heart

______________________

Musculoskeletal System

The musculoskeletal system (Figure 1-1) provides the framework that gives the human body shape, form, and movement. It is made up of bones, joints, muscles, and connective tissue. The skeleton consists of bones and gives the basic shape to the body. The places where the bones come together are called joints. Some joints allow movement, and muscles provide the movement. The bones, joints, and muscles are held in place by connective tissue such as tendons and ligaments. There are many types of bones, muscles, and joints. Each type has a specific function and purpose.

The hard, rigid exterior of a bone gives strength to the skeleton and protects the important, soft interior of the bone, called marrow. New blood cells develop and mature in the marrow.

Skeletal muscles give the body form, and they work with nerves and joints to give the body movement. Skeletal muscles contract and relax in response to the signals sent by the central nervous system (voluntary movement). Smooth muscles are present in many of the organ systems (digestive, respiratory, circulatory, lymphatic, and genitourinary), and they contract and relax in response to signals sent by the parasympathetic nervous system (involuntary movement).

Joints can either be fixed, with no movement (as in the skull), or they can allow movement. Some are hinged joints, allowing movement in two directions (as in knees, elbows, fingers, and toes), and others are ball-in-socket joints, allowing rotation and movement in many directions (as in shoulders and hips).

STOP & REVIEW

Complete the following statements:

1. _____________give the body shape. They have a hard exterior and a soft interior.

2. _____________give the body form and work with______________________and nerves to give the body movement.

3. _____________holds the rest of the musculoskeletal system in place.

Use Table 1-2 to define the following:

TABLE 1-2

Word Parts for Musculoskeletal System Terminology

Root Words
Root—Meaning	Root—Meaning	Root—Meaning
acetabulo/o—acetabulum (hip socket) ankyl/o—crooked, bent, or stiff joint arthr/o, articul/o—joint, articulation (joint movement) burs/o—bursa (provides lubrication for joints) calc/o, calci/o—calcium carp/o—carpals (wrist bones) cephal/o—head cervic/o—neck chir/o—hand chondr/o—cartilage clavicul/o—clavicle (collar bone) coccyg/o—coccyx (tailbone) cost/o—ribs crani/o—cranium (skull bones) dactyl/o—digit (fingers and toes) dors/o—dorsal (back) fasci/o—fascia (forms sheaths enveloping muscles) femor/o—femur (thigh bone) fibr/o—fibrous connective tissue fibul/o, perone/o—fibula (one of two bones in lower leg) humer/o—humerus (upper arm bone) ili/o—ilium (upper part of the pelvic bone)	infer/o—inferior, situated below kinesi/o—movement kyph/o—humpback (outward curve in upper back) later/o—side ligament/o—ligament (connective tissue binding bones to bones) lord/o—swayback (inward curve of the lower back) lumb/o—lower back, loins mandibul/o—mandible (lower jaw) maxill/o—maxilla (upper jaw) medi/o—medial, middle metacarp/o—metacarpals (hand bones) metatars/o—metatarsals (foot bones) my/o, myos/o—muscles myel/o—bone marrow, spinal cord onc/o—tumor orth/o—straight oste/o—bone patell/a, patell/o—patella (kneecap) path/o—disease ped/o—foot, child pelv/i—pelvis (hip bone)	phylang/o—phalanges (bones in fingers and toes) plant/o—sole (bottom) of the foot proxim/o—proximal, near radi/o—radius (one of lower arm bones) or radiant energy (x-rays) rhabdomy/o—skeletal muscle connected to bones rheumat/o—watery flow (usually in joints) scapul/o—scapula (shoulder bone) scoli/o—crooked, bent (back curves sideways) spondyl/o—vertebral (conditions) stern/o—sternum (breast bone) synov/o—synovial membrane (lining in movable joints) tars/o—tarsals (ankle bones) ten/o, tendin/o—tendons (connective tissue binding muscles to bones) thorac/o—thorax, chest tibi/o—tibia (shin bone in lower leg) uln/o—ulna (one of lower arm bones) vertebr/o—vertebral (structure)

Prefixes
Prefix—Meaning	Prefix—Meaning	Prefix—Meaning
a-, an-—no, not, without ab-—away from ad-—toward anti-—against contra-—against, not, opposite dorsi-—back	dys-—bad, painful, difficul hemi-—half infra-—situated below inter-—between intra-—within meta-—change, next	multi-—many poly-—many, much pre- —before retro-—backward, behind super-, supra-—above, excess syn-—joined, together

Suffixes
Suffix—Meaning	Suffix—Meaning	Suffix—Meaning
-ac, -al, -ic, -eal—pertaining to	-listhesis—slipping	-plegia—paralysis (loss of ability
-ad—toward	-malacia—softening	to move body parts)
-algia, -dynia—pain	-oma—tumor, mass, swelling	-porosis—pore, passage
-asthenia—weakness, lack of strength	-osis—abnormal condition, disease, abnormal increase	-schisis—split
-clasia—break	-osis—abnormal condition, disease, abnormal increase	-scopy—viewing, examining
-desis—to bind, tie together, fuse	-paresis—less than total paralysis	-stenosis—narrowing
-ectomy—surgical removal, excision	-physis—to grow	-trophy—development, nourishment
-ema, -ia, -iasis—condition	-physis—to grow	-y—state, condition

Eponyms
Eponym—Meaning
Bence Jones protein—a protein found almost exclusively in the urine of a patient with multiple myeloma.
Ewing’s sarcoma—a malignant bone tumor most often found in children and teenagers; pain and swelling are common. It is sarcoma treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
Lyme disease—a disease carried by a tick; recurrent symptoms include weakness, muscle pain, joint pain, impairment of nerves, and impairment of heart. It is treated with antibiotics.

Abbreviations
Abbreviation—Meaning	Abbreviation—Meaning	Abbreviation—Meaning
BK —below knee Ca—calcium CTS—carpal tunnel syndrome C1-C7—cervical vertebrae 1-7 DJD—degenerative joint disease DTR —deep tendon reflexes EMG—electromyelogram	IM—intramuscular injection lab—laboratory LS—lumbosacral L1-L5—lumbar vertebrae 1-5 ortho—orthopedic, orthopaedic RA—rheumatoid arthritis RF—rheumatoid factor	ROM—range of motion SLE—systemic lupus erythematosus SLR—straight-leg raising TMJ—temporomandibular joint T1-T12—thoracic vertebrae 1-12 x-ray—a diagnostic test to investigate the integrity of body structures

4. Chondromalacia_____________

5. Arthrodesis_____________

6. Spondylolisthesis_____________

7. Myasthenia_____________

8. Lyme disease_____________

9. RA_____________

10. DTR_____________

STOP & REVIEW

Complete the following:

1. Skin has_____________ layers.

2. This layer of skin contains the blood vessels and nerve fibers._____________

3. This layer of skin is composed of fat cells._____________

4. Why does the skin have oil glands?_____________

Use Table 1-3 to define the following:

TABLE 1-3

Word Parts for Integumentary System Terminology

Root Words
Root—Meaning	Root—Meaning	Root—Meaning
adip/o, lip/o, steat/o—fat	hidr/o—sweat	pil/o, trich/o—hair, hair follicle
albin/o—white	ichthy/o—fish, scaly, dry	py/o—pus
axill/o—armpit	kerat/o—hard horny tissue, cornea	rhytid/o—wrinkle
bacter/i—bacteria	leuk/o—white	seb/o—sebum (oily secretion from sebaceous glands in skin)
caus/o —burn, burning	melan/o—black
cry/o—cold	myc/o—fungus (yeast, molds, mushrooms)	seps/o, sept/o—infection, septum
cutane/o, derm/o, dermat/o—skin	myc/o—fungus (yeast, molds, mushrooms)	squam/o—scalelike
diaphor/o—profuse sweating	necr/o—dead or death	therm/o—heat
erythem/o, erythmat/o—redness	onych/o, ungu/o—nail	xanth/o—yellow
heli/o—sun	phyt/o—plant	xer/o—dry
Prefixes

Prefix—Meaning	Prefix—Meaning	Prefix—Meaning
dia-—through	hypo-—below, deficient, less than	meso-—middle
hyper-—above, excessive, more than normal	in-—in, into, not	sub-—under
Suffixes

Suffix—Meaning	Suffix—Meaning	Suffix—Meaning
-ac, -al, -ic—pertaining to	-edema—swelling	-ous—pertaining to, characterized by
-algesia—sensitivity to pain	-itis—inflammation	-pathy—disease disease, abnormal increase
-algia—pain	-oma—tumor, mass, swelling	-pathy—disease disease, abnormal increase
-cidal—killing	-osis—abnormal condition,	-plasia, -plasm—formation, growth
-derma—skin	-osis—abnormal condition,	-plasia, -plasm—formation, growth

Eponyms
Eponym—Meaning
acne vulgaris—a condition caused by a buildup of oil and keratin in the skin. Vulgaris means ordinary. Sometimes pores become partially or completely blocked, which can lead to infection. Severe cases are treated with antibiotics and drying agents.
Mohs’ —microscopically controlled surgery in which thin layers of a malignant growth are removed and examined surgery under a microscope.
Abbreviations

Abbreviation—Meaning	Abbreviation—Meaning	Abbreviation—Meaning
Bx, bx—biopsy	I & D —incise and drain	TENS—transcutaneous electrical
Derm—Dermatology	LE—lupus erythematosus	UV —ultraviolet nerve stimulation
DLE —discoid lupus erythematosus	Subq, subq—subcutaneous
EAHF—eczema, asthma, and hay fever	Subq, subq—subcutaneous

5. Bactericidal_____________

6. Subcutaneous_____________

7. Dermatitis_____________

8. Mohs’ surgery_____________

9. I & D_____________

10. Subq_____________

Integumentary System

The integumentary system (Figure 1-2) contains skin, hair, nails, sweat glands, oil glands, a blood supply, a lymph supply, a nerve supply, and a layer of fat. Skin is the largest organ of the body, and the first line of defense against infection. Skin has three layers.

The thin outer layer is called the epidermis. The epidermis is composed of dead cells that form a tough protective coating on the outside and living cells on the inside. As the dead cells are worn away, the living cells multiply and replace them. Nails are part of the epidermis. The middle layer, called the dermis, is the thickest layer. Many consider it to be true skin. The dermis contains hair roots, sweat glands, oil glands (called sebaceous glands), the blood supply, the lymph supply, hair muscles, and the nerve supply. Each is held in place by connective tissue. The innermost layer, called the subcutaneous layer, is composed entirely of fat cells. These fatty substances make skin waterproof.

Skin is a sensory organ. It allows you to tell the difference between touch, temperature, pain, pressure, and itching. It also helps regulate body temperature. When the body is hot, the sweat glands produce perspiration and the blood vessels dilate (get bigger) to get rid of heat. When the body is cold, the blood vessels constrict (get smaller) to retain heat. The sebaceous glands produce an oily substance to keep skin supple. There are no sebaceous glands on the palms of the hands or the soles of the feet.

Respiratory System

Respiration is the process by which oxygen reaches body cells. It is used for metabolism, and is the process by which carbon dioxide, a waste product from metabolism, is expelled from the body. We inhale (breathe in) oxygen and exhale (breathe out) carbon dioxide. The respiratory system (Figure 1-3) works closely with the circulatory system.

Air containing oxygen is drawn in through the nose or mouth where it is warmed, filtered, and moistened before it travels through the trachea (windpipe) to reach the branching tubes called bronchi that deliver it to the lungs. In the lungs, each bronchus branches further into bronchioles. Bronchioles end with small air sacs called alveoli.

The pulmonary artery leads from the right side of the heart and delivers blood full of carbon dioxide to the alveoli in the lungs, where the carbon dioxide is removed and oxygen is picked up. The pulmonary veins deliver the blood full of oxygen back to the left side of the heart for distribution to the rest of the body. The pulmonary circulatory system is the only circulatory system in which arteries carry blood full of carbon dioxide, and the veins carry blood full of oxygen.

In the systemic circulatory system, arteries carry blood full of oxygen to individual cells in the body where the oxygen is used for metabolism. Metabolism is the process by which cells are nourished and energy is produced. Carbon dioxide is a waste product of metabolism that is removed by respiration. Blood full of carbon dioxide is carried back to the heart through veins and is then pumped back to the lungs through the pulmonary artery, and the cycle starts over again.

The ability to speak is also dependent on the respiratory system. The larynx, or voice box, forms the Adam’s apple and is larger in men. The larynx is a small pouch in front of the trachea (windpipe), and it contains the vocal cords. Sound is produced when air is drawn into the larynx and passes over the vocal cords. Muscles in the larynx determine when to draw air into the larynx, and they determine the shape of the larynx to produce the desired sound.

STOP & REVIEW

Complete the following statements:

1. The medical name for the windpipe is the_____________

2. The air sacs where the oxygen is absorbed and the carbon dioxide is released are called_____________

3. The medical name for the voice box is the_____________

Use Table 1-4 to define the following:

TABLE 1-4

Word Parts for Respiratory System Terminology

Root Words
Root—Meaning	Root—Meaning	Root—Meaning
acid/o—acid	coni/o—dust	phas/o—speech
adenoid/o—adenoids (lymph tissue	cyan/o—blue	phon/o—voice
in the nose and throat)	epiglott/o—epiglottis (lidlike cartilage	plas/o—formation, development
alkal/o—alkaline, basic	that covers the larynx)	pleg/o—paralysis
alveol/o—alveolus, alveoli	fibr/o—fiber, fibrous	pleur/o—pleura (membrane
(air sacs in lungs)	gen/o—origin, beginning	surrounding each lung)
anthrac/o, —coal	laryng/o—larynx (voice box)	pneum/o, pneumon/o—air, lungs
bronch/o, bronchi/o—bronchus, bronchi (tubes leading into lungs; branch from lower end of windpipe)	lob/o—lobe of the lung	pulm/o, pulmon/o—lungs
	nas/o—nose	rhin/o—nose
	or/o—mouth	sinus/o—sinus, cavity
	orth/o—straight, upright	spir/o—breathing
bronchiol/o—bronchiole (smaller tubes leading from bronchi to alveoli)	ox/o—oxygen	tel/o—complete
	palat/o—palate (roof of mouth)	thorac/o—chest
	pector/o—chest	tonsill/o—tonsils
capn/o—carbon dioxide	pharyng/o—pharynx, throat	trache/o—trachea, windpipe

Prefixes
Prefix—Meaning	Prefix—Meaning	Prefix—Meaning
a; an-—no, not, without	dys-—bad, painful, difficult	ex-—out, without, away from
bi-—two	epi- —above, upon	in-—in, inside, negative

Suffixes
Suffix—Meaning	Suffix—Meaning	Suffix—Meaning
-algia—pain	-itis—inflammation	-plagia—formation, development
-capnia—carbon dioxide	-metry—the process of measuring	-plegia—paralysis
-centesis—surgical puncture	-ole—little, small	-pnea—breathing
-ectasia, -ectasis—stretching, dilation	-osmia—smell	-ptosis—prolapse
-ectomy—surgical removal, excision	-osis—abnormal condition,	-ptysis—splitting
-ema, -ia, -iasis—condition	disease, abnormal increase	-sphyxia—pulse
-genesis, -genic, -genous—origin, beginning, produced by	-pathy—disease	-thorax—pleural cavity, chest
	-phasia—speech	-thorax—pleural cavity, chest

Abbreviations
Abbreviation—Meaning	Abbreviation—Meaning	Abbreviation—Meaning
AFB—acid fast bacillus (organism that causes tuberculosis)	CXR—chest x-ray	RDS—respiratory distress syndrome
ARDS—adult respiratory distress syndrome	DPT—diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus immunization	RLL—right lower lobe (of lung)
	FVC—forced vital capacity	RUL—right upper lobe (of lung)
	FVC—forced vital capacity	SIDS—sudden infant death syndrome
bronch—bronchoscopy	LLL—left lower lobe (of lung)	SOB—shortness of breath
COPD—chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema)	LUL—left upper lobe (of lung)	TB—tuberculosis
COPD—chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (emphysema)	PFT—pulmonary function test	URI—upper respiratory (tract) infection
CPR—cardiopulmonory resuscitation	PPD—purified protein derivative
CTA —clear to auscultation (by listening)	(used in test for tuberculosis)

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May 25, 2017 | Posted by admin in GENERAL & FAMILY MEDICINE | Comments Off

Basicmedical Key

Fastest Basicmedical Insight Engine

LEARNING TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE

LEARNING TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE

Introduction

Word Parts

Musculoskeletal System

Integumentary System

Respiratory System

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Basicmedical Key

Fastest Basicmedical Insight Engine

LEARNING TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE

LEARNING TO SPEAK THE LANGUAGE

Introduction

Word Parts

Musculoskeletal System

Integumentary System

Respiratory System

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