Unit 3: A&P - Terms and Abbreviations Flashcards
These are made of distinct parts and perform specific functions.
Medical terms
What are 4 components that comprise medical terms?
- Root word
- Prefix
- Suffix
- Combining vowel
What is the foundation of a medical term?
Root word
Which part of a medical term conveys the essential meaning of the word?
Root word
Which part of a medical term frequently indicates a body part?
Root word
What is an example of a term with more than one root?
cardiopulmonary
cardi
pulmon
-phasia (suffix)
speaking
-phagia (suffix)
eating or swallowing
dys- (prefix)
difficult or painful
Dysphasia
difficulty speaking
Dysphagia
Difficulty eating or swallowing
ilium
pelvis
ileum
intestine
Cardi (root)
Heart
Pulmon (root)
lungs
True or False: adding a prefix to the root word creates a term
True
True or False: Changing a prefix or suffix will change the meaning of the term
True
True or False: some root words may also be used a prefixes or suffixes for other terms
True
Which part of a medical term usually describes positions/locations/dierections?
Prefix
Which part of a medical term usually describes intensity?
Prefix
Which part of a medical term can be used to indicate numbers?
Prefix
Which part of a medical term can be used to indicate colors?
Prefix
True or false: Not all medical terms have prefixes
True
True or false: A prefix gives the root word its specific meaning
True
pnea (root)
breathing
a- (prefix)
without
brady- (prefix)
slow
tachy- (prefix)
rapid
Which part of a medical term is placed at the end of words?
Suffixes
Which part of a medical term usually indicates a procedure?
Suffixes
Which part of a medical term usually indicates condition?
Suffixes
Which part of a medical term usually indicates disease?
Suffixes
Which part of a medical term usually indicates a part of speech?
Suffixes
-itis (suffix)
inflammation
anthro- (root)
joint
anthritis
inflammation of the joints
Which part of medical term connects a root word to a suffix or other root word?
Combining vowels
What are the most common combining vowels?
In most cases, it is an “o”; however, it may also be an “i” or an “e”
When is a combining vowel used?
when joining a suffix that begins with a consonant or when joining another root word
Gastr (root)
stomach
Enter (root)
intestines
-logy (suffix)
the study of
Gastroenterology
The study of the stomach and the intestines
Which part of the medical term helps ease the pronunciation of the term?
Combining vowels
cardi/o (root word + combining vowel)
heart
hapat/o (root word + combining vowel)
liver
ostel/o (root word + combining vowel)
bone
nephr (root)
liver
neur (root)
nerves
psych (root)
mind
thorac (root)
chest
tachycardia
fast heart rate
hepatomegaly
enlargement of the liver
nephropathy
disease of the kidney
neurologist
physician who specializes in the nervous systems
psychology
study of the mind
thoracic
pertaining to the chest
hyper- (prefix)
over, excessive, high
hypo- (prefix)
under, below normal
pre- (prefix)
before
hyperventilation
fast ventilations
post- (prefix)
after, behind
hypoperfusion
below normal blood flow to vital organs
bradyplnea
slow breathing
prenatal
occurring before birth
postsurgical
occurring after surgery
-al (suffix)
pertaining to
-algia (suffix)
pertaining to pain
-ectomy (suffix)
surgical removal of
-ic (suffix)
pertaining to
-logistic (suffix)
specialist
-megaly (suffix)
enlargement
-meter (suffix)
measuring instrument
-oma (suffix)
tumor (usually referring to cancer)
-pathy (suffix)
disease
syncopal
pertaining to syncope
athralgia
joint pain
appendectomy
surgical removal of appendix
diaphoretic
pertaining to diaphoresis
epiglottis
inflammation of the epiglottis
pulmonologist
specialist in diseases of the lung
cardiomegaly
enlargement of the heart
sphygmomanometer
instrument to measure blood pressure
lymphoma
cancer of the lymphatic system
nephropathy
diseases of the kidneys
True or false: in a erm with more than one root word, a combining vowel must be placed between the two root words, even if the second root begins with a vowel
True
Singular words that end in “a” changes to what when plural?
ae
ex: vertebra becomes vertabrae
Singular words that end in “is” change to what when plural?
es
ex: diagnosis becomes diagnoses
Singular words that end in “ex” or “ix” change to what when plural?
ices
ex: apex becomes apices
Singular words that end in “on” or “um” change to what when plural?
a
ex: ganglion becomes ganlglia
ovum becomes ova
Singular word that end in “us” change to what when plural?
i
ex: bronchus becomes bronchi
uni- (prefix)
one
dipl- (prefix)
two; double
null- (prefix)
none
primi- (prefix)
first
tri- (prefix)
three
bi- (prefix)
two
quad (prefix)
four
unilateral
one side
diplopia
double vision
nullipara
never given birth
primigravida
pregnant for the first time
multiparous
giving birth to one or more offspring at a time
bilateral
pertaining to both sides
trigeminy
irregular heartbeat of two normal beats followed by one premature beat
quadriplegic
paralysis of all four extremeties
tetra- (prefix)
four
quint- (prefix)
five
sexti- (prefix)
six
septi- (prefix)
seven
oct- (prefix)
eight
nona- (prefix)
nine
deca- (prefix)
ten
semi- (prefix)
half; partial
hemi- (prefix)
half; one sided
ambi- (prefix)
both
pan- (prefix)
all, entire
tetralogy of Fallot
a congenital defect involving four anatomic abnormalities of the heart
quintipara
five pregnancies resulting in five live births
sextuplets
six offspring of the same pregnancy
septuplets
seven offspring of the same pregnancy
octigravida
pregnant for the eighth time
nonan
occurring on the ninth day
decagram
measurement of ten grams
seminconscious
partially conscious
hemiplegia
paralysis on one side of the body
ambidextrous
able to use either hand equally well
pandemic
an epidemic over a wide area
cyan/o (root)
blue
leuk/o (root)
white
erythr/o (root)
red
cirrh/o (root)
yellow-orange
melan/o (root)
black
poli/o (root)
gray
alb (root)
white
chlor/o (root)
green
cyanosis
bluish discoloration of the skin
leukocyte
white blood cells that contain hemoglobin to carry oxygen
cirrhosis
inflammation of the liver causing yellow-orange pigmentation in the liver
melena
black, tarry stool typically caused by upper GI bleeding
poliomyelitis
an acute viral disease that attacks the motor neurons of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
chlorophyll
green pigment in leaves used in photo synthesis
ab- (prefix)
away from
ad- (prefix)
to, toward
de- (prefix)
down from, away
circum- (prefix)
around, about
peri- (prefix)
around
trans- (prefix)
across, through, beyond
epi- (prefix)
above, upon, on, outer
supra- (prefix)
above, over
retro- (prefix)
behind
sub- (prefix)
under, beneath
infra- (prefix)
below, under
para- (prefix)
near, bedside, beyond, apart from
contra- (prefix)
against, opposite
ecto- (prefix)
out, outside
endo- (prefix)
within
extra- (prefix)
outside, in addition
intra- (prefix)
inside, within
ipsi- (prefix)
same
abduction
away from the point of reference
adduction
toward the center
decay
to waste away
circumferential burn
a burn around an entire area (arm, chest, abdomen, etc)
pericardium
the sac around the heart
transvaginal
across or through the vagina
epigastric
above or over the stomach
suprasternal notch
top of the sternum
retroperitoneal
the area behind the peritoneum
subcutaneous
beneath the skin
infraclavicular
below the clavicle
parasternal
beside the sternum
contraindicated
something that is not indicated
ectopic pregnancy
pregnancy where the embryo attaches outside the uterus
endoscopy
examining inside someone’s body (with an endoscope)
extraneous
outside the organism and not belonging to it
intrauterine
within the uterus
ipsilateral
on or affecting the same side
When trying to define a term begin with _____ and then work backward?
Suffix
If the term contains a prefix, define the _____, then the _____, then the root word.
Suffix
Prefix
-ia (suffix)
condition of
ur (root)
urine
dysuria
painful urination (pain when urinating) or difficulty urinating
emesis (root)
vomiting
hyperemesis
excessive vomitting
alges (root)
pain
analgesic
pertaining to no pain
When you use an _____, you are shortening several words, usually the fist letter of each word to make it.
Acronym
The _____ and the _____ are considered two authorities on abbreviations and provide do-not-use lists
Joint Commission
Institute for Safe Medication Practices
In which three ways can acronyms be pronounced?
- As their own word (e.g., SAMPLE history is pronounced like the word “sample”)
- By reading the letters one by one (e.g., EMS is pronounced “E-M-S”)
- By a combination of the two (e.g., DCAP-BTLS is pronounced “D-cap-B-T-L-S”)
_____ take the place of words to shorten notes or documentation
Abbreviations
True or False: Remember to use only standard, accepted abbreviations to avoid confusion and errors
True
True or False: Be familiar with accepted use of abbreviations in your local jurisdiction or service area
True
Like abbreviations, _____ are sometimes used as a shortcut in communication and documentation.
Symbols
True or False: As with abbreviations, it is important to only use symbols that are widely understood and accepted
True
1°
first, first degree, primary
2°
secondary, second degree
↑
increase(d)
↓
decrease(d)
®
right
Ⓛ
left
µ
micro
β
beta
~
approximately
N
Normal
X2
times two
/
per
≠
not equsl
>
greater than
<
less than
?
questionable, possible
∆
change
-
negative
♀
female
♂
male
