Chapter 5: medical terminology

What is a potential danger of using abbreviations?

They have different meanings in different contexts.

Palmar

pertaining to the palm of the hand

Fowler's position

a semi-sitting position; the head of the bed is raised between 45 and 60 degrees

Anterior

front of the body

bilateral

having two sides, arms , legs, ears

What is the medical term for coughing up blood?

hemoptysis

Superior

toward the head, upper, above

What does asthenia mean?

weakness

plantar

bottom of foot

A trauma patient has a gunshot wound to the left side of the chest, away from the nipple. How should this injury location be described

Anterolateral

Lateral

Away from the midline of the body

A patient has bilateral femur fractures . This means that

both femurs are fractured.

What is the root word for "pain"

Alges

Dorsal

At the back side of the human body

Ventral

At the belly side of the human body

deep

Away from the body surface; more internal

Your partner makes the following symbol in a PCR: Δ What does this mean?

Change

Proximal

Closer to the point of attachment

Suffix "pathy" means

Disease

T/F the root word "eryth/o" denotes the color white

False it denotes the color red

The patient has a history for hypertension. What is the abbreviation for hypertension?

HTN

This patient currently has low blood pressure. What is the prefix for low?

Hypo

Which of the following organs exhibit bilaterality Kidneys Pancreas Heart Liver

Kidneys

What is the term for on one side?

Lateral

What is adduction?

Motion of a limb toward the midline.

Abduction

Movement away from the midline of the body

Adduction

Movement toward the midline of the body

How would you identify a patient who does not have any apparent allergies?

NKA

A patient has a wound on the bottom of his left foot. How would you describe the location of his injury?

Plantar

extension

Straightening of a joint

Medial

Toward the midline of the body

(T/F) The elbow is distal to the shoulder and proximal to the wrist and hand.

True

You responded to a 6 year old male struck the handlebars of his bicycle. you notice a bruise on his abdomen. Which of the following anatomical terms describes the location of his injury

Ventral

Inferior

away from the head, below

Distal

away from the point of attachment

Posterior

back of body

A patient lacerated the dorsal aspect of his hand. This means that the injury is:

back of hand

Flexion

bending a joint

What should you do when trying to define the term "dysuria"?

define the suffix, then the prefix, and then the word root.

The patient is seeing double. What medical term means double vision?

diplopia

A woman amputated the tip of her finger. Which directional term should be used to describe her injury location?

distal

In general, which of the following does a prefix describe?

location and intensity

prone position

lying face down

supine position

lying on back, facing upward

superficial

near the surface

Relative to the ankle, the knee is:

proximal

A newborn has four anatomic abnormalities of the heart. What prefix is used to describe this?

tetra

apex

the highest point