1. Unit 2
The Language of Health Care
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2. Chapter 4
Medical Terminology
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3. Medical Terminology
• Language used by health care professionals
– Includes specialized terms, abbreviations, and
symbols
• Precise terms prevent confusion and error
• Do not use when communicating with
patients
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

4. Building Blocks
• Word root
– Gives word its main meaning
– All medical terms have at least one root
– Refers to structure and function of body
• Combining form
– Word root plus vowel
(continued)
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5. Building Blocks
• Combining vowel
– Links word root to next word part
– Usually “o,” but can be “a,” “e,” “i,” or “u”
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

6. Question
• What word part is “cardi”?
A. Word root
B. Combining form
C. Combining vowel
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

7. Answer
• A. Word root
• Cardi
– Word root meaning heart
– Combining form
• Cardi/o
– Combining vowel
• “o”
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

8. Building Blocks
• Suffix
– Attaches to end of word roots and combining
forms to add to or change meaning
– All medical terms have suffix
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

9. Question
• Which of the following suffixes means pain?
A. -cide
B. -ical
C. -algia
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

10. Answer
• C. -algia
• Suffix -cide
– To kill or destroy
• Suffix -ical
– Pertaining to
• Suffix -algia
– Pain
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11. Building Blocks
• Prefix
– Attaches to beginning of word roots and
combining forms to add to or change meaning
– Not all, but many medical terms have prefix
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

12. Question
• In the word hypothyroidism, what word part
is hypo?
A. Word root
B. Suffix
C. Prefix
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13. Answer
• C. prefix
• Prefix hypo = less than or under
• Word root thyroid = thyroid gland
• Suffix -ism = condition
• Hypothyroidism meaning
– Condition created by less than normal levels of
thyroid hormones
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14. Building Blocks
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15. Deciphering Medical Terms
• Start from right and work left
– Identify meaning of suffix
– Identify meaning of word root
– Identify meaning of prefix
• If one exists
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

16. Example
• Cardiology
– Suffix -ology = study of
– Word root cardi = heart
– Prefix = (none in this word)
– Meaning
• Study of the heart
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

17. Example
• Polyarthritis
– Suffix -itis = inflammation
– Word root arthr = joint
– Prefix poly = many or much
– Meaning
• Inflammation of many joints
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18. Question
• A patient is having intercostal pain.
Decipher the medical term to determine
where this pain would be located.
A. Between the ribs
B. In the abdomen
C. In the head or neck
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19. Answer
• A. Between the ribs
• Suffix -al = pertaining to
• Word root cost = rib
• Prefix inter = between
• Combine word parts to learn that patient is
having pain between ribs
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20. Animation
Click Here to Play Word Parts
Work Together Animation
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

21. Animation
Click Here to Play Combining
Word Parts Animation
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

22. Spelling and Pronunciation
• Accuracy critical
• Some words sound the same
– But spelled differently
• One letter can completely change meaning
• Memorize pronunciation and plural form
guides
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

23. Question
• What is the guideline for making a plural
form if the term ends in -ex or -ix?
A. Change the -ex or -ix to -es
B. Change the -ex or -ix to -ices
C. Add an -e to the end of the word
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24. Answer
• B. Change the -ex or -ix to –ices
• If term ends in -ex or -ix, plural usually
formed by changing -ex or -ix to -ices
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25. Medical Abbreviations and Symbols
• Shorthand
• Many common
– Others vary
• Use only those listed on facility’s approved
list
– If not on facility’s approved list, cannot be used
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

26. Question
• True or False:
– If the provider writes the order “up ad lib,” it
means the patient is to always walk with the
assistance of a health care professional.
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

27. Answer
• False
• Ad lib = freely or at will
• Up ad lib = patient can get up and move
about freely and at own will
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

28. Question
• True or False:
– The symbol ♂ means male.
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

29. Answer
• True
• Symbol for male
–♂
• Symbol for female
–♀
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30. Aids to Learning
• Purchase medical dictionary
– Choose one most helpful to individual needs
• Use study habits to build on own learning
style
– Visual, auditory, or kinesthetic
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

31. Question
• Which of the following would be a visual
study technique to learning?
A. Practice by writing the words down
B. Read medical terms aloud
C. Draw and color images of terms
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.

32. Answer
• A. Practice by writing the words down
• Writing terms
– Visual
• Speaking words aloud
– Auditory
• Drawing and coloring images
– Kinesthetic
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duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part.