Introduction to Health CareLevels of Organization
Building Blocks of Medical Terminology
Introduction to Health CareLevels of Organization
Building Blocks of Medical Terminology
How are these images connected?
How are these images connected?
Simple Complex
Simple Complex
atom molecule cell tissue organ system organism population community Eco-system planet
Simple Complex
atom molecule cell tissue organ system organism population community Eco-system planet
Chemistry
Biology
Ecology/Environmental Science
Space
OxygenCarbonGoldSilverNitrogenLeadMercuryCesium
humaneaglecrabsnail
wormfruit flyplant
“bacteria”
ponddesserthot ventrainforestrivermountainvolcano“mouth”
Earthsupernovagalaxysolar systemblack holestarlightmeteor
DNA/RNAenzymehormoneglucoseglycerolammoniaCO2alcohol
digestivenervousintegumentarycirculatoryendocrineexcretoryreproductiveauditory
RBCLeukocyte
skinliver
muscleprokaryoteplant: vascular … flower, root, leaves, etc.
Levels of Organization
Allied Health Professions• Medicine: cardiovascular technologists/technicians nuclear medicine technologists, medical assistants surgical technologists• Dentistry: dental hygienists, dental assistants• Nursing: registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, licensed vocational nurses, dieticians• Pharmacy: pharmacy technicians, pharmacy aides• Optometry: dispensing opticians• Emergency Medical Services: emergency medical technicians, paramedics• Imaging modalities: radiologic technologists, radiation therapists• Respiratory Care: respiratory therapists• Physical Therapy: physical therapists, physical therapists assistants• Veterinary Medicine: veterinary technologists, animal care workers
• Medical terms derive from: English, French, German, Spanish, Greek, Italian, Latin etc…
• Medical terms have a general form of:
• Medical terms can also come from different combinations of those three components
Building blocks of Medical Terms
Root ++ SuffixesPrefixes
eg. Root+PrefixesRoot + Suffixes
Root Root+Prefixes Suffixes+
(infront) (behind)(fundamental)
Building blocks of Medical Terms
For example #1: epithelial tissue
epi- is a prefix; it means outside, on, topthelium is a root; it means holes, apertures, openings-al is a suffix; it means belong/pertaining to
When putting the meanings together, you get …
the skin or lining surfaces (covering tissue)
Building blocks of Medical Terms
For example #2: endocrine system
endo- is a prefix; it means internal, inside-crine is a suffix; it means secrete
When putting the meanings together, you get …
internal secretion system
(endocrine system refers to the glands that make hormones and release into the circulatory system – communication messengers)