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Medical Terminology Chapters 1 & 2: Step-by-Step Study Guidance

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Study Guide - Smart Notes

Tailored notes based on your materials, expanded with key definitions, examples, and context.

Q1. Break down the term 'gastroscopy' into its word parts and define each part.

Background

Topic: Medical Word Structure

This question tests your understanding of how to analyze and define medical terms by identifying their suffixes and combining forms, and then constructing the overall meaning.

Key Terms and Formulas

  • Suffix: The ending part of a word that modifies its meaning.

  • Combining Form: The root of the word plus a combining vowel (often 'o').

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Identify the suffix in the term. In 'gastroscopy', the suffix is '-scopy'.

  2. Define the suffix '-scopy'.

  3. Identify the combining form. In this case, it is 'gastr/o-'.

  4. Define the combining form 'gastr/o-'.

  5. Combine the meanings, starting with the suffix, to form the overall definition.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q2. List each of the singular and plural nouns from page 6 and know the correct spelling of each. Review how each is formed from singular to plural as well.

Background

Topic: Medical Pluralization Rules

This question is about recognizing common patterns for forming plurals in medical terminology, which often differ from standard English rules.

Key Terms and Formulas

  • -a to -ae (e.g., vertebra to vertebrae)

  • -us to -i (e.g., bronchus to bronchi)

  • -um to -a (e.g., bacterium to bacteria)

  • -is to -es (e.g., diagnosis to diagnoses)

  • -ex/-ix to -ices (e.g., appendix to appendices)

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Review the list of singular nouns provided in your textbook (page 6).

  2. Identify the plural form for each noun, noting the spelling change.

  3. Write out both the singular and plural forms for each term.

  4. Pay attention to the specific ending of each word to apply the correct pluralization rule.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q3. Understand each example of a prefix, combining form, and suffix. Give a few examples of each.

Background

Topic: Medical Word Parts

This question checks your ability to identify and provide examples of prefixes, combining forms, and suffixes used in medical terminology.

Key Terms and Formulas

  • Prefix: Added to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning (e.g., 'brady-').

  • Combining Form: The root plus a combining vowel (e.g., 'cardi/o-').

  • Suffix: Added to the end of a word to modify its meaning (e.g., '-itis').

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. List at least one example of a prefix, combining form, and suffix from your textbook.

  2. Write the definition for each example you choose.

  3. Explain how each part changes the meaning of a medical term.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q4. Define prefix, combining form, and suffix.

Background

Topic: Medical Word Structure

This question is about understanding the basic building blocks of medical terms and being able to define each part.

Key Terms and Formulas

  • Prefix: A word part added to the beginning of a root word.

  • Combining Form: The root word plus a combining vowel.

  • Suffix: A word part added to the end of a root word.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Write a definition for 'prefix' in your own words.

  2. Write a definition for 'combining form' in your own words.

  3. Write a definition for 'suffix' in your own words.

  4. Give an example of each, if possible.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q5. Break down the terms 'bradycardia' and 'tachycardia', giving the definition of each word part and an overall definition for each term.

Background

Topic: Medical Term Analysis

This question tests your ability to break down complex medical terms into their components and define each part.

Key Terms and Formulas

  • Prefix: 'brady-' (slow), 'tachy-' (fast)

  • Combining Form: 'cardi/o-' (heart)

  • Suffix: '-ia' (condition)

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Identify the prefix in each term and define it.

  2. Identify the combining form and define it.

  3. Identify the suffix and define it.

  4. Combine the meanings, starting with the suffix, to form the overall definition for each term.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q6. List the combining forms from page 20 and the definition of each.

Background

Topic: Combining Forms in Medical Terminology

This question is about recognizing and defining the combining forms used in medical terms, as listed in your textbook.

Key Terms and Formulas

  • Combining Form: The root word plus a combining vowel, used to connect with suffixes or other roots.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Review page 20 in your textbook for the list of combining forms.

  2. Write each combining form and its definition.

  3. Practice using each combining form in a sample medical term, if possible.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q7. List the planes of the body and their definitions. Also, list all directional terms and define them (Pages 27–31).

Background

Topic: Anatomical Terminology

This question tests your knowledge of anatomical planes and directional terms, which are essential for describing locations and movements in the body.

Key Terms and Formulas

  • Planes: Sagittal, coronal (frontal), transverse (horizontal)

  • Directional Terms: Anterior, posterior, superior, inferior, medial, lateral, proximal, distal, etc.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. List each anatomical plane and write its definition.

  2. List each directional term and write its definition.

  3. Practice using these terms in sentences describing body locations.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q8. Define each physical examination technique and explain the process: Palpation, Auscultation, Percussion, Inspection (Pg 56).

Background

Topic: Physical Examination Techniques

This question is about understanding the main techniques used during a physical examination and being able to define and describe each process.

Key Terms and Formulas

  • Palpation: Using hands to feel body parts.

  • Auscultation: Listening to body sounds, usually with a stethoscope.

  • Percussion: Tapping on the body to assess underlying structures.

  • Inspection: Visually examining the body.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Write a definition for each technique.

  2. Describe the process for each technique (how it is performed).

  3. Give an example of when each technique might be used.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q9. Define the different types of care and settings (pg 53–55).

Background

Topic: Healthcare Delivery

This question is about understanding the various types of patient care (e.g., acute, chronic, palliative) and the settings in which care is provided (e.g., hospital, clinic, home care).

Key Terms and Formulas

  • Types of Care: Acute, chronic, palliative, preventive, etc.

  • Settings: Hospital, clinic, long-term care, home care, etc.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. List each type of care and define it.

  2. List each care setting and define it.

  3. Match examples of care types to appropriate settings.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q10. Define these terms as you break each term down: Etiology, Communicable, Pathogen, Nosocomial, Iatrogenic, Hereditary (pgs 36–37).

Background

Topic: Disease Terminology

This question is about understanding and breaking down terms related to disease origin and transmission.

Key Terms and Formulas

  • Etiology: Study of the cause of disease.

  • Communicable: Able to be transmitted from one person to another.

  • Pathogen: Disease-causing organism.

  • Nosocomial: Acquired in a hospital.

  • Iatrogenic: Caused by medical treatment.

  • Hereditary: Passed from parent to offspring.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Break down each term into its word parts (prefix, root, suffix).

  2. Define each word part.

  3. Combine the meanings to form the overall definition.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q11. Define the specialties listed on pages 44–50 and break each term down (giving breakdown and definitions).

Background

Topic: Medical Specialties

This question is about understanding the names of medical specialties, breaking down each term, and defining the components.

Key Terms and Formulas

  • Specialty: A branch of medical practice (e.g., cardiology, dermatology).

  • Suffix: '-logy' (study of)

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. List each specialty from your textbook.

  2. Break down each term into its combining form and suffix.

  3. Define each part and then the overall specialty.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q12. Break down the following terms, giving breakdowns and definitions: Cardiology, Pericardial, Intracardiac, Cardiomegaly (Pgs 8, 14–17).

Background

Topic: Medical Term Analysis

This question tests your ability to break down and define complex medical terms related to the heart.

Key Terms and Formulas

  • Cardi/o-: Heart

  • -logy: Study of

  • Peri-: Around

  • -al: Pertaining to

  • Intra-: Within

  • -megaly: Enlargement

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Break down each term into its prefix, combining form, and suffix.

  2. Define each word part.

  3. Combine the meanings to form the overall definition for each term.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q13. Give your summary and definition of the study of word origins.

Background

Topic: Etymology

This question is about understanding the field of etymology and its importance in medical terminology.

Key Terms and Formulas

  • Etymology: The study of the origin and history of words.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Write a brief summary of what etymology is.

  2. Explain why understanding word origins is helpful in medical terminology.

  3. Give an example of a medical term and its origin, if possible.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q14. Break down the term 'arteriography' (pg. 9).

Background

Topic: Medical Term Analysis

This question is about breaking down a medical term into its combining form and suffix, and defining each part.

Key Terms and Formulas

  • Arteri/o-: Artery

  • -graphy: Process of recording

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Identify the combining form in 'arteriography' and define it.

  2. Identify the suffix and define it.

  3. Combine the meanings, starting with the suffix, to form the overall definition.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q15. For the term 'cardiology' would you keep the combining vowel? For the term 'cardiac' would you keep the combining vowel?

Background

Topic: Combining Vowel Usage

This question is about understanding when to keep or drop the combining vowel in medical terms, depending on the suffix that follows.

Key Terms and Formulas

  • Combining Vowel: Usually 'o', used to connect word parts.

  • Rule: Keep the combining vowel when the suffix begins with a consonant; drop it when the suffix begins with a vowel.

Step-by-Step Guidance

  1. Look at the suffix in 'cardiology' and determine if it starts with a consonant or vowel.

  2. Decide if the combining vowel is kept or dropped based on the rule.

  3. Repeat the process for 'cardiac'.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q16. Review abbreviations from each chapter. You do not need to list them here.

Background

Topic: Medical Abbreviations

This instruction is a reminder to review the abbreviations in your textbook. No written answer is required for this item.

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