Chapter 5: Medical Terminology
Topics
● Medical Terminology
● The Language of Anatomy and Physiology
● Anatomic Terms
Medical Terminology
The Components of Medical Terms
Compounds are made up of two or more words
Smallpox
Words made up from parts
Roots
Term meaning “heat”
Roots with combining form
Therm/o + meter= thermometer
Prefixes
Dys-pnea, tachy-pnea
Suffixes
Arthr-itis, hemophil-iac
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Acronym
Abbreviation made up of initials that can be pronounced as a word
CPAP (SEE-pap)
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
Dissecting a Compound Word-Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis
chol/e meaning bile
Cyst meaning closed sac
-itis meaning inflammation
Assembled= “bile-sac-inflammation
Cholecystitis= inflammation of the gallbladder (which stores bile)
When and When Not to Use Medical Terms
Do not use when speaking to patients or family members. Occasionally complex terms used in
messages can cause confusion even among trained health care professionals. If there is
potential for ambiguity, it is better to use simple terms.
The Language of Anatomy and Physiology
Anatomy and Physiology
Anatomy
Study of body structure
Physiology
Topics
● Medical Terminology
● The Language of Anatomy and Physiology
● Anatomic Terms
Medical Terminology
The Components of Medical Terms
Compounds are made up of two or more words
Smallpox
Words made up from parts
Roots
Term meaning “heat”
Roots with combining form
Therm/o + meter= thermometer
Prefixes
Dys-pnea, tachy-pnea
Suffixes
Arthr-itis, hemophil-iac
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Acronym
Abbreviation made up of initials that can be pronounced as a word
CPAP (SEE-pap)
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
Dissecting a Compound Word-Cholecystitis
Cholecystitis
chol/e meaning bile
Cyst meaning closed sac
-itis meaning inflammation
Assembled= “bile-sac-inflammation
Cholecystitis= inflammation of the gallbladder (which stores bile)
When and When Not to Use Medical Terms
Do not use when speaking to patients or family members. Occasionally complex terms used in
messages can cause confusion even among trained health care professionals. If there is
potential for ambiguity, it is better to use simple terms.
The Language of Anatomy and Physiology
Anatomy and Physiology
Anatomy
Study of body structure
Physiology
