The Basics of Medical Terminology
Medical is the practice of diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries. It also includes research and education to improve health and wellness. The field is broad and varied; some examples include:
A physician needs to understand the patient’s medical history, which is collected during medical interviews. This information is used for accurate diagnosis and efficient treatment plans. The medical history is sometimes referred to as a case history or anamnesis.
The history is taken from the patient and, if applicable, people close to them. The information is useful to identify any harmful behaviors, as well as determine whether or not a disorder has impacted a person’s normal state of being or level of functioning. The patient’s social history is also important, as it can influence a person’s health.
Medical education is becoming more and more specialized, as doctors specialize in specific fields of medicine. This has allowed for the development of more effective treatments and the creation of new fields of study. For example, a doctor who has studied and gained experience in the treatment of cancer is now considered a specialist in oncology.
As with any field, there are many terms that have become synonymous with medical terminology. Some of these are more common than others, but a quick review can help a student of the medical field avoid the confusion of unfamiliar words.
Like any language, medical terms are based on a root, prefix, and suffix. Some medical roots come from Greek, some from Latin. In general, a word’s root is the middle of the word and indicates its central meaning. The prefix comes at the beginning of a word and usually indicates some subdivision or part of its central meaning, and the suffix is added at the end to modify the central meaning as it applies to a particular person, place, thing, or situation.
Some of the most widely known medical terminology words are those related to anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Anatomy refers to the body’s physical structure, while physiology and pathology focus on biological processes and the way that those processes work together.
Other commonly used medical terms include:
Medical terminology is a powerful tool for health care professionals to have. It is helpful to know these terms when examining the chart of a patient, or when reading through medical papers and journals. In addition, learning medical terminology can help anyone who wants to be more aware of their own personal health, as small changes can impact entire “systems.” For example, a healthy diet and exercise can change your heart rate and blood pressure, which can affect the way your lungs and muscles function.
Medical is the practice of diagnosing and treating illnesses and injuries. It also includes research and education to improve health and wellness. The field is broad and varied; some examples include: A physician needs to understand the patient’s medical history, which is collected during medical interviews. This information is used for accurate diagnosis and efficient treatment plans. The medical history is sometimes referred to as a case history or anamnesis. The history is taken from the patient and, if applicable, people close to them. The information is useful to identify any harmful behaviors, as well as determine whether or not a disorder has impacted a person’s normal state of being or level of functioning. The patient’s social history is also important, as it can influence a person’s health. Medical education is becoming more and more specialized, as doctors specialize in specific fields of medicine. This has allowed for the development of more effective treatments and the creation of new fields of study. For example, a doctor who has studied and gained experience in the treatment of cancer is now considered a specialist in oncology. As with any field, there are many terms that have become synonymous with medical terminology. Some of these are more common than others, but a quick review can help a student of the medical field avoid the confusion of unfamiliar words. Like any language, medical terms are based on a root, prefix, and suffix. Some medical roots come from Greek, some from Latin. In general, a word’s root is the middle of the word and indicates its central meaning. The prefix comes at the beginning of a word and usually indicates some subdivision or part of its central meaning, and the suffix is added at the end to modify the central meaning as it applies to a particular person, place, thing, or situation. Some of the most widely known medical terminology words are those related to anatomy, physiology, and pathology. Anatomy refers to the body’s physical structure, while physiology and pathology focus on biological processes and the way that those processes work together. Other commonly used medical terms include: Medical terminology is a powerful tool for health care professionals to have. It is helpful to know these terms when examining the chart of a patient, or when reading through medical papers and journals. In addition, learning medical terminology can help anyone who wants to be more aware of their own personal health, as small changes can impact entire “systems.” For example, a healthy diet and exercise can change your heart rate and blood pressure, which can affect the way your lungs and muscles function.