HC1234: Medical

Terminology/Language
CRAIG GRIFFITHS GriffithsC17@Cardiff.ac.uk
(+44)2922510690
@CU_ODP
Origins of Terminology
 For over 2,000 years the parts, functions and movement of the human body have been given
specific names and terms

 They started with the Greek language

 Latin-Greek and then Latin-Roman followed

The requirements of terminology
 Precise
 Unambiguous
 Adaptable
 Expandable
 Universal
Building terminology
Terms will often have:
 A root – usually Greek/Latin e.g. ren- (Latin) nephr- (Greek)

 Prefix/suffix e.g. Narc(o)lepsy.

 Prefix: Narc(o)- (sleep/numb)
 Suffix: -lepsy (attack/seizure)

 +/- Combining vowel

 E.g. Gastro(R)scopy(S) - viewing (the inside) of the stomach with an instrument
The uses of terminology

 Names for anatomical parts

 Function of anatomical parts
 Location of anatomical parts
 Movement of anatomical parts
 Movement of multiple parts
 Interventions, procedures & equipment
Body parts
 Arthr-
 pertaining to a joint
 Cardi-
 pertaining to the heart
 Gastr-
 pertaining to the stomach
 Hepat-
 pertaining to the liver
 Pulmon-
 pertaining to the lungs
Procedure

……..ectomy
surgical removal
……..stomy
creation of opening
……..otomy
……..graphy cutting into
……..plasty recording/imaging
……..scopy surgical repair
……..pexy view with an instrument
fixation
Additional terminology

 Location terms

 Numerical terms

 Movement terms
Location terms

 Proximal  Distal
 Medial  Lateral
 Internal  External
 Superior  Inferior
 Anterior  Posterior
Your turn…
Numerical terms
 hemi/demi/semi -- Half
 mono/uni -- One
 bi/di -- Two
 ter/tri -- Three
 quadr/tetra -- Four
 quinqu/penta -- Five
 hexa/sex-- Six
 sept -- Seven
 octa -- Eight
 noni-- Nine
 deca -- Ten
Movement terms

 Pronation
 Supination
 Abduction
 Adduction
 Flexion
 Extension
 Rotation
 Circumduction
 Other Languages
 Chirurgery – Old French
• Kuru (Papua New Gunea)
 Tampon(ade) – French
• Kwashiorkor (Ghana)
 Quarantine – Italian

 Malaria – Italian • (Na)trium – Arabic

• (K)alium - Arabic
Mythology
 Adam’s apple

 Achilles tendon

 Venereal

 Hymen

 Ondine’s Curse
Epynoms

 Fallopian Tube

 Mallory-Weiss syndrome

 Lou Gehrig’s disease

Acronyms & Abbreviations

 Abbreviations (L. brevis, meaning short) is a shortened

form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it
consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word
or phrase, e.g.
USA, DVD.
 Acronyms are formed from the initial letters or parts of
words in a sequence, but have the distinction of being
pronounceable words, e.g. RADAR, SCUBA.
Acronyms & Abbreviations in practice

 LASER  QDS
 AIDS  TDS
 BOTOX  TPR
 NOTES  TPN
 PEG  PR
 PV
 Be VERY CAREFUL –
abbreviations in particular, can
have more than one meaning
 ICP, PTA, BKA
Questions ?
Resources and Homework
 Worksheet:
 Optional activities Not for submission/marking
 Pre- post lecture quizzing

Click link:
• Wikipedia
• Dummies cheat sheet
• Epyonyms App: