Med Terms

Chapter 1:
• Combining form- the foundation of the word
• Suffix- the word ending
• Prefix- optional word beginning
• -a to -ae, vena to venae
• -us to -i, bronchus to bronchi
• -um to -a, atrium to atria
• -is to -es, diagnosis to diagnoses
• -ix to -ices, helix to helices
• -ex to -ices, apex to apices
• -is to -ides, iris to irides
• -nx to -nges, phlanx to phalanges
• -oma to omata, carcinoma to carcinomata
• -on to -a, mitochondrion to mitochondria
Chapter 2:
• Coronal plane- a vertical plane that divides the body into front and back sections
• Anterior means front
• Posterior means back
• Dorsal supine is lying on the back
• Prone is lying facedown
• Anteroposterior direction- front to back
• Postanterior- back to front
• Sagittal plane- is a vertical plane that divides the body into right and left
• Medial- moving toward middle section
• Lateral- moving toward the side
• Transverse plane- divides body into superior and inferior sections
• Cephalad- moving toward the head
• Caudad- moving toward the tailbone
• Proximal- moving toward the body
• Distal- moving away from the body
• Psychiatry- medical treatment of the mind
• Radiology- study and use of x-rays, sound waves and other forms of radiation and energy to diagnose diseases and conditions
• Oncology- study of cancerous tumors or masses
• Dentistry- specialty of teeth
• Pharmacology- study of medicines and drugs
• Neonatology- study of new babies at birth
• Pediatrics- practice of children and their medical treatment
• Geriatrics- practice of elderly and their medical treatment
• Auscultation- using a stethoscope to listen to the sounds of the heart, lungs or intestines
• Percussion- using the finger of one hand to tap on the finger of the other that’s spread over a body cavity
• Acute- sudden in nature and severe in intensity
• Chronic- continuing for 3+ months
• Exacerbation- sudden worsening of symptoms or signs
• Remission- temporary improvement
Chapter