Chapter 1.3 - Rules for Punctuation and Spelling

Question 1

ch

Answer 1

Sometimes pronounced like k, ex: chronic

Question 2

pn, gn, kn

Answer 2

is pronounced like n, ex: pneumonia, gnath(o), knee

Question 3

pt

Answer 3

is pronounced like t, ex: ptomaine

Question 4

c

Answer 4

is pronounced s before e, i, y, ex: cytoplasm

Question 5

g

Answer 5

is pronounced j before e, i, y, gynecology is an exception, ex: generic

Question 6

c and g

Answer 6

have a hard sound before other letters, ex: cardiac, gastric

Question 7

ae, oe

Answer 7

are pronounced e when contained within a word, ex: paediatrics, foetal

Question 8

ae

Answer 8

is pronounced a when found at the end of a word, ex: fossae

Question 9

i

Answer 9

at the end of the word to form a plural is pronounced like eye, ex: alveoli

Question 10

e, es

Answer 10

at the end of a word are often pronounced as separate syllables, like e, a, ex: syncope, indices

Question 11

ph

Answer 11

is pronounced like f, ex: physician

Question 12

rh

Answer 12

is pronounced like rhu, ex: rheumatism

Question 13

Alike Pronunciations

Answer 13

In medical language, many words are pronounced alike but are spelled differently and have entirely different meanings.
Ex: ileum - part of the small intestine. ilium - part of the pelvic or hip bone

Question 14

Misspelled Words

Answer 14

A misspelled word may give the wrong meaning to a diagnosis.

Ex: cirrhosis - a liver disease, scirrhous - a hardening of connective tissue

Question 15

Two Correct Spellings

Answer 15

Some words are correctly spelled one of two ways.

Ex: hemmorhage, haemorrhage, edema, oedema

Question 16

Spelled Correctly, Incorrectly Pronounced

Answer 16

Words spelled correctly but incorrectly pronounced may be easily misunderstood
Ex: Peritoneum - the serous membrane lining the walls of the abdominal and pelvic activity.
Perineum - external genital area between the vaginal orifice and the anus (female), the area between scrotum and anus (male)

Question 17

Factors that Create Misunderstandings

Answer 17

Correct and clear pronunciation is essential when communicating by radio or telephone for obvious reasons. Some of the factors which create misunderstandings are:

1. School or country where education was obtained
2. Person’s accent
3. Carelessness in speech
4. The dictionary is used as a reference, ex: respiratory duodenum

These variables must not be allowed to interfere with effective communication.