EMT COMPLETE

A Comprehensive Worktext
SECOND EDITION

CHAPTER 4
Medical
Terminology

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

Copyright © 2014, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc.
Le Baudour | Batsie | Dickinson
 Learning Readiness

• EMS Education Standards, text p. 73

• Objectives, text p. 73
• Key terms, text p. 73

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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 Setting the Stage

• Overview of Lesson Topics

 Medical Terms
 Body Structure
 Body Systems
 Terms of Location and Position
 Effective Communication
 Abbreviations and Acronyms

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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Le Baudour | Batsie | Dickinson
 EMERGENCY DISPATCH

• Chapter 4 Emergency Dispatch, p. 74

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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 EMERGENCY DISPATCH

• Discussion Questions
 How do you predict that medical
terminology will come into play in the
assessment and care of this patient?
 How will the use of medical terminology
change, based on with whom the EMTs
are communicating?

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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Le Baudour | Batsie | Dickinson
 Introduction

• Communication is essential to excellent

patient care
• Medical terminology allows precise,
efficient communication
• Medical terminology is important to
understanding EMT material and for
successful practice

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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 Roots of Medical Terminology

• Medical terms consist of

 Root words/combining forms
• Artery: arterio-
• Bladder: cyst-
• Blood: hemat-

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Roots of Medical Terminology

Anatomical Root Words

continued on next slide
EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.
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Le Baudour | Batsie | Dickinson
Roots of Medical Terminology

Anatomical Root Words

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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Le Baudour | Batsie | Dickinson
 Roots of Medical Terminology

• Medical terms consist of

 Prefixes
• Slow: brady-
• Heart: cardio-
 Suffixes
• Pain: -algia

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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Le Baudour | Batsie | Dickinson
Stop, Review, Remember

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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Le Baudour | Batsie | Dickinson
 Medical Terms

• Used to describe body structure and

systems

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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 Medical Terms

The anatomical position.

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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 Medical Terms

Anatomical planes of reference.

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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 Medical Terms

• Lines of reference
 Midline
 Midaxillary
 Midclavicular

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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 Medical Terms

The abdominal quadrants.

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 Body Systems

The regions and features of the body.

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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 Body Systems

The main body cavities.

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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Terms of Location and Position

• Terms of location
 Anatomic landmarks and references
• Superior/inferior
• Proximal/distal

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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 Terms of Location and Position

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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Terms of Location and Position

Supine position.

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Terms of Location and Position

Prone position.

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Terms of Location and Position

Lateral recumbent (recovery) position.

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Terms of Location and Position

Semi-Fowler's position.

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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Terms of Location and Position

Trendelenburg position.

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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Terms of Location and Position

Shock position.

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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 Effective Communication

• Needed for documentation and

communication with health care
providers
• Conveys professionalism; allows
common understanding
• Use less-technical language for patients
• When in doubt, use plain language

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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 Abbreviations and Acronyms

• Can simplify complex terminology

• Also can be vague and misinterpreted

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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Abbreviations and Acronyms

Common EMS Acronyms and Abbreviations

continued on next slide
EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.
Copyright © 2014, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc.
Le Baudour | Batsie | Dickinson
Abbreviations and Acronyms

Common EMS Acronyms and Abbreviations

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

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Le Baudour | Batsie | Dickinson
Stop, Review, Remember

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

Copyright © 2014, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc.
Le Baudour | Batsie | Dickinson
 Lesson Summary

• Medical terminology is the professional

language of medicine
• Roots, suffixes, prefixes
• Many terms are relative to the
anatomical position

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

Copyright © 2014, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc.
Le Baudour | Batsie | Dickinson
 Lesson Summary

• Anatomical position, planes, lines

• Terms of position and direction
• Use caution with abbreviations and
acronyms

EMT Complete: A Comprehensive Worktext, 2nd Ed.

Copyright © 2014, 2007 Pearson Education, Inc.
Le Baudour | Batsie | Dickinson