Chapter 5 – Medical Terminology

Medical terms components:

·       Word root – main part of work, that conveys essential meaning.

·       Prefix – usually describe location/intensity

o   At beginning of term

·       Suffix – usually indicate a procedure, condition, disease, part of speech

o   At end of term

·       Combining vowels – Connects word root to suffix/other word root (most cases o, I, or e)

o   Occurs when suffix begins with consonant.

Directional Terms:

·       Superior/inferior – Top/bottom

·       Lateral/medial – Side/Center

·       Proximal/distal – Closer/Further from center

·       Superficial/deep – Exterior/interior

·       Ventral/dorsal – belly/back

·       Palmar/Plantar – Palm/back of palm

·       Apex – Tip of rounded structure.

·       Unilateral – ONLY on one side of the body

·       Bilateral – both sides of midline (both external and internal structures)

Movement Terms:

·       Flexion – Bending of a joint

·       Extension – Straightening of a joint

·       Adduction – Motion toward midline

·       Abduction – Motion away from midline

Anatomic Positions:

·       Prone – Lying face down

·       Supine – Lying face up

·       Fowler position – Semi-reclining with head elevated (Imagine hospital bed w/ slight elevation)

o   Semi-Fowler – Patient sits at 45 degree angle

o   High-Fowler – Patient sits at 90 degree angle

Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols

Joint Commission AND Institute for Safe Medication Practices – 2 authorities on useable and nonuseable abbreviations.