copyright © 2009, 2007 by saunders, an imprint of elsevier inc. all rights reserved. chapter 2...

Copyright © 2009, 2007 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chapter 2Chapter 2

Medicine and Its Specialties: Using Medicine and Its Specialties: Using Combining Forms to Build Terms about Combining Forms to Build Terms about

Medical SpecialtiesMedical Specialties


Lesson 2.1: Medicine and its Lesson 2.1: Medicine and its SpecialtiesSpecialties

1.1. Recognize prefixes, suffixes, combining Recognize prefixes, suffixes, combining forms, and word roots in medical words.forms, and word roots in medical words.

2.2. Write the meanings of the word parts and Write the meanings of the word parts and use them to build and analyze terms.use them to build and analyze terms.

3.3. Match medical specialists with the areas in Match medical specialists with the areas in which they specialize or write the health which they specialize or write the health professions when given their descriptions.professions when given their descriptions.

4.4. Identify the specialty associated with various Identify the specialty associated with various medical conditions. medical conditions.


Suffixes: Specialists or SpecialitiesSuffixes: Specialists or Specialities

-logist one who studies; specialist-logist one who studies; specialist

-logy study or science of-logy study or science of


Suffixes: Specialists or SpecialtiesSuffixes: Specialists or Specialties (cont.)(cont.)

-er, -ist-er, -ist one whoone who

-iatrician-iatrician practitionerpractitioner

-iatrics, -iatry-iatrics, -iatry medical profession or treatmentmedical profession or treatment


Suffixes: “Pertaining To”Suffixes: “Pertaining To”

-ac, -al, -ic-ac, -al, -ic

-logic, -logical -logic, -logical


Combining Forms: Selected Medical Combining Forms: Selected Medical SpecialtiesSpecialties

cardi(o) heartcardi(o) heart

crin(o) to secrete; endo- means insidecrin(o) to secrete; endo- means inside

-crine to secrete-crine to secrete

dermat(o) skindermat(o) skin

esthesi(o) sensation, an- means notesthesi(o) sensation, an- means not

gastr(o) stomachgastr(o) stomach

enter(o) intestines enter(o) intestines


Combining Forms: Selected Medical Combining Forms: Selected Medical Specialties Specialties (cont.)(cont.)

gynec(o) femalegynec(o) female

obstetr(o) midwifeobstetr(o) midwife

immun(o) immuneimmun(o) immune

ne(o) newne(o) new

nat(o) birthnat(o) birth

neur(o) nerveneur(o) nerve

ger(a), ger(o) and geront(o) elderly ger(a), ger(o) and geront(o) elderly


Figure 2-2 from Seidel HM, Ball JW, Dains JE, Benedict GW: Mosby’s Guide To Physical Examination, ed 4, St. Louis, 1999, Mosby


Figure 2-4 From Thibodeau GA, Patton KT: Anatomy & Physiology, 6th ed., St. Louis, 2007, Mosby/Elsevier.


Quick Quiz!Quick Quiz!

What is the difference between a psychologistWhat is the difference between a psychologist

and a psychiatrist?and a psychiatrist?A.A. A psychologist is a medical doctor.A psychologist is a medical doctor.

B.B. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor.A psychiatrist is a medical doctor.

C.C. A psychologist prescribes medicine.A psychologist prescribes medicine.

D.D. They are the same. They are the same.


Combining Forms: Selected Medical Combining Forms: Selected Medical Specialties, Specialties, (cont.)(cont.)

onc(o) tumoronc(o) tumor

ophthalm(o) eyeophthalm(o) eye

orth(o) straightorth(o) straight

ped(o) child or footped(o) child or foot

ot(o) earot(o) ear

laryng(o) larynx (voicebox)laryng(o) larynx (voicebox)

path(o) disease path(o) disease


Figure 2-5 From Seidel HM, Ball JW, Dains JE, Benedict GW: Mosby’s Guide To Physical Examination, ed 5, St. Louis, 2003, Mosby.


Combining Forms: Selected Medical Combining Forms: Selected Medical Specialties Specialties (cont.)(cont.)

ped(o) childped(o) child

psych(o) mindpsych(o) mind

radi(o) radiationradi(o) radiation

rheumat(o) rheumatismrheumat(o) rheumatism

rhin(o) noserhin(o) nose

ur(o) urinary tract (sometimes urine)ur(o) urinary tract (sometimes urine)


Figure 2-3 Ballinger PW, Frank ED: Merrill’s atlas of radiographic positions and radiologic procedures, vol 1, ed 9, St Louis, 1999, Mosby.


SurgerySurgery plastic surgeryplastic surgery neurosurgery, neurosurgeonneurosurgery, neurosurgeon orthopedic surgeon orthopedic surgeon


Family practice (general practitioner)Family practice (general practitioner) Primary health care providerPrimary health care provider Internal medicine, internist Internal medicine, internist


emergency medicine, triage emergency medicine, triage epidemiologist (epidemic)epidemiologist (epidemic) forensic medicineforensic medicine preventive medicine preventive medicine


benign vs. malignantbenign vs. malignant carcinomas, remissioncarcinomas, remission

acute vs. chronicacute vs. chronic


Lesson 2.2 Other Health Professions Lesson 2.2 Other Health Professions

1.1. List five categories for classifying medical List five categories for classifying medical terms used in this book.terms used in this book.

2.2. Match health professions presented in this Match health professions presented in this chapter with their descriptions or write health chapter with their descriptions or write health professions when given the descriptions.professions when given the descriptions.

3.3. Spell medical terms accurately.Spell medical terms accurately.4.4. Write the meaning of the abbreviations, Write the meaning of the abbreviations,

including those in a health report.including those in a health report.5.5. Pronounce medical terms correctly using the Pronounce medical terms correctly using the

phonetic system in this book.phonetic system in this book.


Physician assistant (PA) Physician assistant (PA)


Nursing Nursing registered nurse (RN)registered nurse (RN) licensed practical nurse (LPN)licensed practical nurse (LPN) licensed vocational nurse (LVN)licensed vocational nurse (LVN)

nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, nurse nurse midwife, nurse practitioner, nurse educator, nurse anesthetist educator, nurse anesthetist


pharmac(o) means drugspharmac(o) means drugs pharmacologypharmacology pharmacistpharmacist pharmacypharmacy

Institute for Safe Medication Practices: Institute for Safe Medication Practices: www.ismp.orgwww.ismp.org

Pharmacology information on the CD Pharmacology information on the CD


bi(o) means life or living bi(o) means life or living biohazardbiohazard

medical laboratory personnelmedical laboratory personnel medical technologists, medical technicians, medical technologists, medical technicians,

laboratory assistants laboratory assistants


rehabilitation medicinerehabilitation medicine therapeut(o) means therapytherapeut(o) means therapy

therapeutictherapeutic physical therapist physical therapist



Which term means the disappearance ofWhich term means the disappearance of

malignant characteristics?malignant characteristics?A.A. remissionremission

B.B. carcinomacarcinoma

C.C. oncologyoncology

D.D. roentgenology roentgenology


Figure 2-8 From Gerdin J: Health careers today, ed 4 St Louis, 2007, Mosby.


Figure 2-9 From Ignatavicius MS, Workman ML: Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical thinking for collaborative care, ed 5, 2006, Philadelphia, Saunders.


radiologic technologistradiologic technologist respiratory therapistrespiratory therapist medical records, medical transcriptionmedical records, medical transcription dietetics, dietician dietetics, dietician


dent(i), dent(o), odont(o)dent(i), dent(o), odont(o) dentistry, dentist, orthodontistdentistry, dentist, orthodontist

or(o)or(o) oral surgery oral surgery


opt(o), optic(o)opt(o), optic(o) optometry, optometrist, opticianoptometry, optometrist, optician


Medical RecordsMedical Records

patient (Pt)patient (Pt) inpatient (IP), outpatient (OP)inpatient (IP), outpatient (OP) date of birth (DOB)date of birth (DOB) social security number (SSN)social security number (SSN) Health Insurance Portability and Health Insurance Portability and

Accountability Act (HIPAA)Accountability Act (HIPAA)


Medical Records Medical Records (cont.)(cont.)

history (Hx), chief complaint (CC)history (Hx), chief complaint (CC) history of present illness (HPI)history of present illness (HPI) family history (FH), past medical history family history (FH), past medical history

(PMH)(PMH) review of systems (ROS)review of systems (ROS)


Medical Records Medical Records (cont.)(cont.)

history and physical (H&P)history and physical (H&P) physical examination (PE)physical examination (PE) vital signs (VS)vital signs (VS) diagnosis (Dx)diagnosis (Dx) treatment (Tx)treatment (Tx)


Categories of Medical TermsCategories of Medical Terms

AnatomyAnatomy DiagnosticDiagnostic PathologyPathology SurgerySurgery Therapy Therapy



What does the abbreviation HPI mean?What does the abbreviation HPI mean?A.A. health portability of insurancehealth portability of insurance

B.B. history of past illnesshistory of past illness

C.C. history of the present illnesshistory of the present illness

D.D. history, physical, illness history, physical, illness


Abbreviations Abbreviations

MD MD ED, ERED, ER ENTENT GPGP OB, GynOB, Gyn OROR


Abbreviations Abbreviations (cont.)(cont.)

ADLADL LPNLPN LVNLVN PA PA PTPT RNRN

copyright © 2009, 2007 by saunders, an imprint of elsevier inc. all rights reserved. chapter 2...

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