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
