MEDICAL

TERMINOLOGY
By
Ms R. Maritz (BSc Human Life Sciences, BEMC,MEMC)

“Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.”

― Rudyard Kipling
 TIPS
• Break words down into components
• Eg. Neuroblastoma
• “Neuro”=nerves
• “blast”= immature cells
• “oma”= tumour
• Study common root words, prefixes and suffixes
• Make your own list!
 TERMINOLOGY 1
• Chief Complaint
• A patients Primary Complaint
• Clinical Reasoning
• Using results from questions to consider associated problems & body
system changes related to the pt’s complaint
• Current health Status
• Current status of pt’s health, environment & personal habits
• Family History
• Illness or disease in a pt’s family or family’s background that may relate to
the pt’s current condition.
 TERMINOLOGY 2
• History Taking
• Information gathered during the pt interview
• Present Illness
• Identification of the chief complaint & a full clear
chronological account of the symptoms
• SAMPLE
• Significant Past Medical History
• A pt’s medical background that may offer insight into the pt’s
current problem
 TERMINOLOGY 3
• Auscultation
• A technique requiring the use of a stethoscope used to assess
body sounds produced by the movement of fluids or gasses in
organs or tissues
• Inspection
• Visual assessment of the patient and surroundings
• Palpation
• A technique using ones hands and fingers to gather information
from a pt via touch
 TERMINOLOGY 4
• Percussion
• A technique used to assess the presence of air or fluid in body
tissues using ones hands and fingers
• Physical Examination
• An assessment of a pt that includes examination/ assessment
techniques incl. vital signs, height, weight and the skilful use of
examination equipment
• Tidal Volume
• The volume of gas inhaled and exhaled during normal breath
 TERMINOLOGY 5
• Focussed History
• A component of pt assessment to ascertain the pt’s chief complaint,
history of presenting illness, medical history & current health status
• General Impression
• An immediate assessment of the environment & pt’s chief complaint
used to determine whether the pt is injured or ill & the nature of
illness or mechanism of injury
• Initial Assessment
• A component of the pt assessment to recognise and manage all life-
threatening conditions
 TERMINOLOGY 6
• On-going Assessment
• A repeat of the initial assessment that is performed throughout the
emergency care provider-pt-encounter
• Priority Patients
• Pts who need immediate medical care and transport
• Scene Size-up
• An assessment of the scene to ensure the safety of the ambulance crew,
pts and bystanders as well as to determine resources required
QUESTIONS