And Frequently Used Abbreviations Medical Terminology
Dec 14, 2015
AndFrequently Used Abbreviations
Medical Terminology
ObjectivesThe student will be able to analyze medical
terminology to determine the meaning of medical terms describing patients’ conditions, symptoms, diagnostic tests and surgical procedures
The student will be able to understand commonly used medical abbreviations
The student will be able to list certain abbreviations which are to be avoided.
Medical Terms You Probably KnowAppendectomyTonsillitisInflammationUmbilicalMammogram
Medical Terms You Will Be Able to analyze and understand after this classEGD or EsophagogastroduodenoscopyERCP or Endoscopic Retrograde
CholangiopancreatographyNephrolithiasisHip Arthroplasty and Hip ArthroscopyHemoptysisThoracentesisHyperplasiaTachycardiaPneumonectomyBSO or Bilateral Salpingoophorectomy
Categories of Medical Terms1. Descriptive: describes the shape, color, size,
function Example: Erythrocyte (Erythr means red,
cyte means cell)2. Eponyms: terms named after a person
(usually the first person to discovered or described a disease or organ)
Example: Eustachian tubes are named after Bartolommeo Eustachii; Alzheimer’s disease is named after Alois Alzheimer, MD.
Categories of Medical Terms3. Acronyms: An abbreviation that forms a pronouncible word Examples: CAT or computerized axial tomography SOAP: subjective, objective, analysis, plan CABG: coronary artery bypass graft PERRLA: pupils equally round, reactive to light and accommodation
TestHow did we get the name “Foley Catheter”
TestHow did we get the name “Salmonella”?
AnswersDr. Frederick Foley (1891-1966)Dr. Daniel Salmon (1850-1914)
Test: Acronyms
What do you think the initials PICU stand for?
How about GERD?
Basic Parts of Medical Words1. Roots: usually the middle of the word
and its central meaning2. Prefix: a syllable at the beginning of the
word which usually identifies some subdivision or part of the central meaning
3. Suffix: comes at the end of the central meaning and refers to what or who is interacting or what is happening regarding it.
ExampleMyocarditis
Root: card (referring to the heart)Prefix: myo (referring to the muscle)Suffix: itis (inflammation)
Meaning: inflammation of the muscle layer of the heart
Read the meaning of medical terms from the suffix, back to the beginning of the term, and then across.
Myocarditis
ChangesPrefix change: Pericarditis (inflammation of the outer layer
of the heart) Endocartitis (inflammation of the inner lining
of the heart)Suffix change: Cardiologist ( a physician specializing in the
heart) Cardiomyopathy (damage to heart muscle
layer) Cardiomegaly (enlargement of the heart)
Pericarditis
Endocarditis
Also: Combining vowelsUsually is the letter “O” but may be A, E, I,
U or YUsually has no meaning of its own but is
used to connect the root and the suffix or two roots and two suffixes
Example: ELECTR O CARDI O GRAM GASTR O ENTER ITIS
ExamplesGASTR O ENTER O LOGY (ROOT) (ROOT) (SUFFIX)
GASTR O SCOPE (ROOT) (SUFFIX)
GASTR IC (ROOT) (SUFFIX)
GASTR O ENTER ITIS (ROOT) (ROOT) (SUFFIX)
Plurals1. Words ending in a, retain the a add ae : vertebra - vertebrae1. Words ending in is, drop the is and add es: Diagnosis - diagnoses2. Words ending in ex or ix, drop the ex or ix
and add ices: apex - apices3. Words ending in on, drop the on and add a: ganglion - ganglia5. Words ending in um, drop the um and add a: bacterium - bacteria2. Words ending in us, drip the us and add i: bronchus - bronchi
Terms for Body Systems: Cardiovascularangi/o vesselaorto/o aortaarteri/o arterycardi/o heartcoron/o heartphleb/o veinven/o vein
Terms for Body Systems: Digestivean/o anusappend/o appendixcholecyst/o gallbladdercol/o colonduoden/o duodenumesophag/o esophagusgastr/o stomachhepat/o liverile/o ileum
Terms for Body Systems: Digestivejejun/o jejunumor/o mouthpancreat/opancreaspharyng/o pharynxproct/o anus and rectumrect/o rectumsigmoid/o sigmoidstomat/o mouth
Terms for Body Systems: Endocrineadren/o adrenalhypophys/o pituitaryoophor/o ovaryovari/o ovarianorchi/o testispancreat/opancreasparathyroid/o parathyroidpituitar/o pituitarythym/o thymusthyroid/o thyroid
Terms for Body Systems: Reproductivecervic/o cervixvagin/o vaginahyster/o uterusmamm/o breastuter/o uterineoophor/o ovarysalping/o fallopian tubebalan/o penisorch/o testisprostat/o prostatescrot/o scrotum
Terms for Body Systems: Musculoskeletalarthr/o jointchondr/o cartilagecost/o ribcrani/o skullligament/o ligamentmy/o musclemuscul/o musclemyel/o bone marrowoste/o bonepelv/o pelvisvertebr/o vertebra
Terms for Body Systems: Nervous Systemcerebell/o cerebellumcerebr/o cerebrumencephal/o brainmedull/o medullamyel/o spinal cordneur/o nerve
Terms for Body Systems: Respiratoryalveol/o alveolarbronch/o bronchial tubecyan/o bluelaryng/o larynxnas/o noserhin/o nosepharyng/o pharynxphren/o diaphragmpneumon/o lungtonsill/o tonsilstrache/o trachea
Terms for Body Systems: Eye, Ear, Nails, Skinaur/o earot/o earcutane/o skinderm/o skinmyring/o eardrumocul/o eyeonych/o nailophthalm/o eyepil/o hairretin/o retinatrich/o hairungu/o nail
Terms for Body Systems: Urinarycyst/o urinary bladdernephr/o kidneyren/o renalpyl/o renal pelvisureter/o ureterurethr/o urethra
Test: Identify the type of specialistNeurolgistOrthopedistPathologistUrologistPulmonologist
Prefixes: At the beginning of a word
Prefix Meaning ExampleA, an no, not, without ApneaAb away from abductionAd toward adductionAna up, apart analysisAnte before, forward antepartumAnti against antibodyBi two, both bilateral
PrefixesBrady slow
bradycardiaCircum around circumoralCon with, together congenitalContra against
contraindicatedDia complete diarrheaDys bad, painful, difficult dysuria abnormal dyspnea
Prefixes
PrefixesIn in, into incisionInter between intervertebralIntra within intravenousMal bad malignantMega big megakaryocyteMeta change, beyond metastasisMicro small microscopicNeo new neonatal
PrefixesPara beside, near,
alongside of parathyroidPeri surrounding
periosteumPoly many, much polyuriaPost after, behind postpartumPre before precancerousPro before, forward prolapsePros before, forward prosthesis
PrefixesQuadri four quadriplegiaRe back, behind relapseRetro back, behind
retroperitonealSub under, less than subcutaneousSyn with, together syndromeTachy Fast tachycardiaTrans across, through transabdominalTri three tricuspid valve
Suffixes: at the end of a word SUFFIX MEANING EXAMPLE
al pertaining to neuralalgia pain arthralgiacyte cell leukocyteectomy removal, excision
gastrectomyemia blood condition leukemiaglobin protein hemoglobingram record (xray) arthrogramia condition hyperglycemiaic pertaining to gastric
Suffixesism condition, process
hypothyroidismitis inflammation appendicitislogistspecialist in the neurologist
study oflogy study of neurologyoma tumor, mass hepatomaopsy to view biopsyosis abnormal condition nephrosisplasty surgical repair arthroplasty (with hardware)
Suffixesscope visual exam with
gastroscopean instrument
scopy visual examarthroscopy
o (with an instrument)
sis state of prognosistomy cutting into, appendectomy incisionuni one unilateral
Test
What do you think is the name of the surgical procedure pictured in the next slide?
Common abbreviationsAbd abdomenAc before mealsAd lib freely as desiredAKA above the knee amputationA & O alert and orientedAssist assistanceBKA below the knee amputationBid twice a day
Common abbreviationsBm bowel movementBP blood pressureBS bowel sounds, breath sounds, blood
sugarBSC bedside commode bx biopsyˉc withCBC complete blood countCath catheterCm centimeterc/o complains of
Common abbreviationsCO2 carbon dioxideC&S culture and sensitivityCXR chest x-rayD/C discontinue, dischargeDNR do not resuscitateDOB date of birthDOE dyspnea on exertionDx diagnosis
Common abbreviationsF/U follow-upFx fractureG gramGI gastrointestinalHr hourHbg hemoglobinHct hematocritHx history
Common abbreviationsI & D incision and drainageI & O intake and outputIM intramuscularIV intravenousK potassiumL leftLat lateralLOC level of consciousnessLQ lower quadrant (of
abdomen)
Common abbreviationsm meter; milli (one
thousandth)mg milligramml milliletermm millimeterNa sodiumNKA no known allergiesN & V nausea and vomitingO2 oxygenOOB out of be
Common abbreviationsp afterP pulsepc after mealsPer bypo by mouthPOD # post-op day #Prep prepare forPrn as neededPt patientPx prognosis
Common abbreviationsq everyQid 4 times a dayR rightRx treatment, prescriptionSig directions or medical
instructionsSOB shortness of breathStat immediatelySub-q subcutaneousSx surgery
Common abbreviationsT temperatureTab tabletTid 3 times a dayT,P,R temp, pulse, respirationsTx treatmentUA urinalysisUQ upper quadrant (of
abdomen)VS vital signs
Common abbreviationsVSWNL vital signs within normal
limitsWBC white blood cell (count)WNL within normal limitsWt weightw/u workupY, yr yeary/o year(s) old
Common Symbols< less than> more than= equals≈ approximately↑ increase↓ decrease∆ change♀ female♂ male
Abbreviations to be avoidedMS4 write “Morphine”OD write “right eye”OS write “left eye”OU write “ both eyes”Qd write “daily”QOD write “every other day”.1 write “0.1”1.0 write “1” Gtt. write “drop”HS write “at bedtime”