Medical Language

Course CodeBSC109
Fee CodeS2
Duration (approx)100 hours
QualificationTo obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of $36. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested.

Improve your use of medical terminology with this medical language course.

Do you need to communicate with health professionals or patients?

  • develop skills to communicate clearly and effectively using medical terminology.
  • this is an excellent starting point for anyone wishing to study, or work in health 
  • 100 hour, self paced course -start anytime, study anywhere

This course is relevant to anyone working or wishing to work in fields of health, alternative medicine or paramedical areas; such as reception for a doctor or natural therapist. 

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

  1. Scope and Nature of Medical Terminology
    • What is Medical Terminology.
    • Origins of Words.
    • Structure of Words.
    • Medical Prefixes.
    • Medical Suffixes.
    • Constructing Medical Terms by altering prefix or suffix.
  2. Anatomical Structure
    • Anatomical Prefixes.
    • Anatomical Suffixes.
    • Locating parts of the body.
    • Terms to indicate positioning of anatomical features in body.
    • Acronyms.
    • Symbols.
  3. Medical Equipment and Procedures
    • Terms to describe Diagnostic and Surgical Procedures.
    • Terms to describe Medical Equipment.
    • Storage and Handling of Medicines.
    • Sterilising Equipment.
    • Terms to describe Bacteria.
    • Gram Staining.
    • Diagnostic Microbiology.
    • Research Microbiology.
    • Types of Wounds.
    • Problems Resulting from Wounds.
    • Treating Wounds.
    • Electrolytes.
    • Examples of Prefixes and Suffixes.
  4. Pharmacological Terminology
    • Types of herbal and pharmaceutical medicines (e.g. Alkaloids, Calmatives, Cathartics, Decongestants, Expectorants, etc.).
    • Pharmacological Terms (e.g. Allergens, Carcinogens, Photosensitisers, Toxic Alkaloids, etc.).
    • Over the Counter Prescription Drugs.
    • Terminology for OTC and Prescription Drugs (e.g. Steroids, Barbiturates, anti-Psychotic Drugs etc.).
    • Prefix and suffix examples.
  5. Musculoskeletal System Terminology
    • Naming main muscles.
    • Musculature ... Types of Muscle tissue.
    • Relationship between muscles and bone.
    • Bone and Joint problems (e.g. Sprains, Broken Bones, etc.).
    • Disorders of musculoskeletal System (e.g. Fibromyalgia, Sprains, strains, Cramp, etc.).
    • Suffix Examples.
  6. Cardiovascular, Lymphatic and Immune Systems Terminology
    • Parts of the Heart.
    • Circulation.
    • Systole and Disystole.
    • Terms related to Disorders of Cardiovascular System.
    • Lymphatic System and Immunity.
    • Leucocytes.
    • Vaccination.
    • Immunity.
    • Disorders of Immunity.
    • Suffix and Prefix Examples.
  7. Respiratory and Reproductive Systems Terminology
    • Lungs.
    • Respiration.
    • Pulmonary Circulation.
    • Gas Exchange (Diffusion, Perfusion, Arterial Pressure).
    • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning.
    • Diagnostic Procedures for Lungs and Airways.
    • Respiratory Disorders.
    • Male Reproductive System.
    • Female Reproductive System.
    • Pregnancy.
    • Parturition.
    • Caesarean Section, VBAC and Multiple Gestation.
    • Premature Birth and Miscarriage.
    • Reproductive Disorders (e.g. Amenorrhoea, Menorrhagia, PCOS, Endometriosis, etc.).
    • Suffix and Prefix Examples.
  8. Digestive and Excretory Systems Terminology
    • Parts of the Digestive System.
    • Renal System.
    • Kidneys.
    • Ureters and Bladder.
    • Urethra.
    • Disorders of Digestive and Renal Systems (e.g. Anal Fissure, Haemorrhoids, Inflammatory Bowel System, Kidney Stones, Pancreatitis, etc.).
    • Suffix and Prefix Examples.
  9. Integumentary System (Skin) Terminology
    • Thermoregulation.
    • Electrolytes.
    • Types of Sensory Nerves.
    • Sun Protection.
    • Integument Structure.
    • Cell Types.
    • Disorders (e.g. Scab, Atrophic skin, Abrasion, Excoriation, Scar, Ulcer, etc.).
    • Diagnostic Procedures.
    • Suffix and Prefix Examples.
  10. Nervous and Sensory Systems Terminology
    • Brain.
    • Central Nervous System.
    • Peripheral Nervous System.
    • Disorders of Nervous System.
    • Disorders of Sensory System (e.g. Aphasia, Apraxia, Vertigo, etc.).
    • Diagnostic Procedures.
    • Suffix and Prefix Examples.

Aims

  • To communicate clearly and effectively using medical terminology
  • To explain the scope and nature of terminology used in medicine and allied professions.
  • To identify the meaning of words that describe general anatomical features, including dsorders
  • To identify the meaning of words which describe medical tools, equipment and procedures.
  • To identify the meaning of words that describe pharmacological terms.
  • To identify the meaning of words that describe physiological and anatomical features in the musculoskeletal system, including disorders.
  • To identify the meaning of words that describe physiological and anatomical features in the respiratory and reproductive systems, including disorders.
  • To identify the meaning of words that describe physiological and anatomical features in the digestive and excretory systems, including disorders.
  • To identify the meaning of words that describe physiological and anatomical features in the nervous and sensory systems, including disorders

Medical words actually have meaning behind the way they are constructed.

There is a system behind the way medical words are constructed; and through this course, you get to know that system. Medical terms are generally built up as a series of components, for example:

Examples of prefixes

Prefix

Meaning or pertaining to-

Application in a Word

Ab-

Away from

Abnormal, aberrant

Ad-

Toward

Adduction, adhesion

Acro- or Acr-

Extremities

Acrophobia

Cardio- or Cardi-

Heart

Cardiac, cardio myelitis

Cephal-

Head

Cephalic, cephalgia

Cervi-

Cervix or neck

cervical

Cyto- or Cyt-

Cell

cytology

Dermat/o or derm-

Skin

 

En- endo-

inside

Encephalitis, endoderm

Ex- exo- or ecto-

outside

Exoskeleton, ectoplasm

Fore-

In front

Forehead, forearm

Gastro- or gastr-

stomach

gastric

Gingiv/o-

gum

gingivitis

Gloss/o-

tongue

glossitis

Hema- or hemo-

blood

Haemophilia, haemorrhage

Hepati-

liver

Hepatitis, hepatic

Inter-

between

Intercostal, interferon

Kerato-

cornea

Keratitis, keratoconus

Juxta-

Near or close

Juxtaspinal, juxtavesicular

Labia-

Lips (of mouth or vulva)

labial

Media-

Middle (or nearest the middle of the body)

Medial, mediastinum

Stomat/o-

mouth

stomatisis

Naso-

nose

Nasopharynx, nasogastric

Neuro-

nerves

Neurotoxin, neuropathy

Ocul-

Eye

oculist

Odont-

tooth

odontiod

Oo-

Related to the female egg

Oocyte, oophorectomy

Opthal-

eyeball

opthalmology

Oto-

ear

Otology, otoscope

Peri

Around or about

Periaortic, pericardial

rhin

nose

Rhinitis, rhinophyma

Sub-

Below (in terms of physical location)

Subcutaneous, sublingual

Supra-

above

Supraglottal, suprarenal

tempor

Relating to the temple areas of the head

Temporomandibular, temporal

Thora-

Chest area

Thoracic, thoracentesis

vesic

bladder

 

Tracheo-

Relating to the trachea (windpipe)

Tracheostomy, trachoma

Ure/i- or urethr-

Relating to the urethra

Urethritis, urinary

 

Examples of suffixes

Suffix

Meaning

Application in a Word

-al or -ar

Pertaining to

Renal, lingual, lumbar

-Able or -ible

Is capable of

Flexible, ingestible

-cyte

Pertaining to cells

Lymphocyte,

-derma

Of the skin

Leukoderma,

-ic

Pertaining to

hypodermic

-megaly

oversized

Cephalomegaly

-itis

Inflammation of

Periocarditis, gastritis

-oid

Resembling or like

lipoid, ovoid

-oma

tumour

Carcinoma, melanoma

-osis  Also –a or -y

Abnormal condition of

Cyanosis,

-stasis

State or condition

Homeostasis, metastasis

-static

In the condition or state of

Homeostatic, metastatic

-tosis

 

 

-trophy

Development of

Atrophy

 

If you would like to learn more about medical terminology and improve your use of medical English, this is the course for you. Why delay? Enrol today.

 
  




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