About this course

Healthcare and medical professions have their own vocabulary, a specialised language that allows for quick and efficient communication between its members while minimising potential misunderstandings. Whether you are new to the medical profession or need a refresher class, we have a medical terminology course that will give you the boost you are looking for to further your career! In this course, we will cover the medical language and terminology used by healthcare professionals everywhere. If you’re interested in pursuing a health career and need the ability to communicate with medical professionals, you will find this course a perfect fit by providing you with a solid foundation in medical language.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

• Understand the importance of medical terminology and the proper use of medical language for interacting with professionals and performing medical tasks.
• Synthesize medical language and information accurately.
• Analyze basic medical root words, prefixes, suffixes and their meanings.
• Differentiate between suffix endings (e.g. adjective, noun, singular and plural forms).
• Appropriately recognize word roots and combining forms pertaining to each body system.
• Pronounce medical terms correctly.
• Identify common medical disorders and their associated symptoms for each body system.
• Correlate medical word parts with usage in anatomy, pathology, symptomatology, procedures, treatments, and medical specialties.
• Interpret medical treatments and common abbreviations and acronyms.
• Build composite medical terms referring to each body system.
• Define common terms related to diseases.
• Define common pharmacological terms.
• Recite common laboratory and diagnostic terms.
• Achieve 70% or higher on course assignments and chapter tests.

Contents:

This course is comprised of 17 modules which will help the student to master the core fundamentals of medical terminology. The modules can be accessed in any order (and are also available as seperate products).

Terminology Basics

Lesson Objectives

• Define medical terms derived from Latin and Greek word origins.
• Distinguish rudimentary medical root words.
• Identify basic medical terminology prefixes.
• Recognize fundamental medical term suffixes.
• Use combining vowels appropriately in medical term creation.
• Recognize medical terms using combining forms.
• Identify other language influences on medical terms such as French and English.

Structures of the Body, Movement & Color

Lesson Objectives

• Define the 4 structures that comprise human body structure.
• Distinguish anatomy of the human body.
• Demonstrate knowledge of organ system physiology.
• Identify body cavities.
• Recognize directional and positional terms.
• Recall word parts and terms associated with body systems.
• Identify terms denoting color.

Integumentary System

Lesson Objectives

• Identify organs and structures of the integumentary system.
• Interpret and correctly spell word parts related to this organ system.
• Define, pronounce and spell common disorders, conditions and diseases of the integumentary system as well as their available treatment options.
• Interpret the meaning of abbreviations and acronyms related to the integumentary system.
• Familiarize yourself with clinical procedures and laboratory tests related to the integumentary system.
• Identify eponyms, abbreviations, and acronyms that pertain to the integumentary system.

Muskuloskeletal System

Lesson Objectives

• Identify organs and structures of the muscular system.
• Delineate the structures of the skeletal system.
• Define the functions of the components of both of these organ systems.
• Identify common diseases and disorders of this body system.
• Review diagnostic procedures and lab data associated with the musculoskeletal system.
• Interpret abbreviations and acronyms associated with these organ systems.

Cardiovascular System

Lesson Objectives

• Identify the organs and structures of the cardiovascular system and describe their location and function.
• Describe the electrical system of the heart and outline the sequence of signal conduction.
• Compare and contrast pulmonary circulation and systemic circulation.
• Name the 4 basic measurements of cardiac function and select the correct meaning for terms related to the outcomes of those measures.
• Give the meanings of combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes that pertain to the cardiovascular system.
• Identify symptoms of specified cardiovascular system diseases.
• Name and define laboratory tests and clinical procedures used in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular system diseases.
• State the meaning of abbreviations that pertain to the cardiovascular system.

Hematology, Lymphatic, Immune & Oncology

Lesson Objectives

• Define the components of blood as well as describe the formation and composition of blood.
• Identify different components of blood as well as blood groups.
• Recognize factors for blood clotting and how this works to protect the body.
• Describe structures of the lymphatic system, their key functions as well as their physiologic processes.
• Determine common symptoms, signs, diseases and disorders, as well as treatments associated with hematology, immunology, the lymphatic system, and oncology.
• Explain common clinical procedures and laboratory tests used to diagnose and treat hematologic, immunologic and lymphatic diseases and disorders.
• Analyze terminology used to describe different kinds of cancer and how they grow.
• Identify common cancer protocols and what types of cancers they are used to treat.
• Interpret abbreviations and combining forms related to hematology.
• Characterize abbreviations and combining forms related to the lymphatic and immune system.
• Classify oncologic abbreviations and combining forms.

Respiratory system

Lesson Objectives

• Identify the structures of the upper and lower respiratory system and their function.
• Detail the process of respiration.
• Describe common diseases and disorders, as well as treatments and medications, of the respiratory system.
• Enumerate common clinical procedures and laboratory tests used to diagnose and treat common respiratory disorders.
• Spell and pronounce common terms associated with the pulmonary system.
• Interpret abbreviations that pertain to the respiratory system.
• Recognize and define the meaning to combining forms of the respiratory system terminology.

Nervous system

Lesson Objectives

• Identify the organs and structures of the nervous system; describe their location and functions.
• Specify disease and disorder terminology related to the brain, central nervous system, and peripheral nervous system.
• Interpret abbreviations, combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes for the nervous system.
• List and explain clinical and surgical procedures as well as laboratory tests for the nervous system.
• Define common symptoms and diagnoses associated with behavioral health.
• Recognize abbreviations that pertain to behavioral health.
• Identify classifications of disorders pertaining to behavioral health.
• Match tests and procedures used to diagnose behavioral health disorders.
• Identify medications commonly used for nervous system disorders as well as behavioral health conditions.

Endocrine system

Lesson Objectives

• Name organs and structures of the endocrine system.
• Interpret the functions of these organs and structures.
• Identify terminology related to the endocrine system.
• Give meanings of combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes of endocrine system terminology.
• List and explain clinical procedures and laboratory tests related to the endocrine system.
• Be able to recognize and define abbreviations that pertain to the endocrine system.
• Spell the names of medications commonly used.

Special Senses

Lesson Objectives

• Name the organs of the sensory system and describe their location and functions.
• Identify terminology related to the eyes, ears, nose, and throat (the sensory system).
• Define meanings of combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes of sensory system terminology.
• List and explain clinical procedures and laboratory tests.
• Describe common conditions and diagnoses associated with each part of the sensory system.
• Recognize and define abbreviations that pertain to the sensory system.
• Interpret the medications commonly used for individual sensory systems.

Digestive System

Lesson Objectives

• Identify the structures of the digestive system and their functions.
• Describe the process of ingestion and digestion and how the process nourishes the body.
• Define common diseases and disorders, as well as treatments and medications, of the gastrointestinal system.
• Recognize common clinical procedures and laboratory tests used to diagnose and treat common gastrointestinal disorders.
• Interpret abbreviations that pertain to the gastrointestinal system.
• Recognize and define combining forms of the digestive system terminology.

Genitourinary System

Lesson Objectives

• Name the structures of the genitourinary system and describe their location and function.
• Describe the process of glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption, and tubular secretion.
• Recognize combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes that pertain to the genitourinary system.
• Identify symptoms of specified genitourinary system diseases and be able to interpret pathological conditions of the urinary tract.
• Name and define laboratory tests and clinical procedures used in the diagnosis and treatment of genitourinary system diseases.
• State the meaning of abbreviations that pertain to the genitourinary system.

Reproductive System

Lesson Objectives

• Identify the organs and structures of the male and female reproductive systems.
• Define terminology related to both reproductive systems.
• List and explain diagnostic procedures, lab tests, and blood tests for reproductive medicine.
• Recognize and define abbreviations as they apply to the process of reproduction.
• Associate meanings of combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes to the genital systems.
• Identify medicines commonly used in the treatment of reproductive system conditions.

Obstetrics & Neonatology

Lesson Objectives

• Describe the process of conception and how the zygote develops into a fetus.
• Identify the different stages of pregnancy and how each affects the developing fetus.
• Define specific terminology as it relates to childbirth and the neonate.
• Name diagnostic procedures performed during pregnancy, childbirth and post-delivery.
• Analyze medical prefixes, suffixes, combining forms and abbreviations for this specialty.
• List medications or treatments applicable to obstetrics and neonatology.
• Relate conditions and disorders unique to this medical specialty.

Pediatrics

Lesson Objectives

• Describe the milestones and major landmarks in a child’s health story.
• Identify the different stages of childhood development and necessary health monitoring.
• Define specific terminology as it relates to pediatrics and diseases in children.
• Name diagnostic procedures performed in pediatric medicine.
• Analyze medical prefixes, suffixes, combining forms and abbreviations for this specialty.
• List medications or treatments applicable to pediatrics.
• Relate conditions and disorders unique to this medical specialty.
• Identify genetic disorders in pediatric medicine.

Pharmacology

Lesson Objectives

• List general fundamentals of pharmacology including drug administration, schedules, and development.
• Identify the basics of drug nomenclature.
• Define the classification and function of different drug types.
• Identify drug classes by generic name endings.
• Analyze abbreviations used in the field of pharmacology and define their meanings.
• Recognize sound-alike medications and decipher which is appropriate for what condition.

Diagnostic Data

Lesson Objectives

• Identify the types of diagnostic testing done and information provided.
• List most common blood and urine laboratory testing and define information given.
• Define the different types of diagnostic radiology studies, their purpose and technological terms.
• Identify other types of diagnostic testing such as physical exam, orthopedic maneuvers, etc.
• Analyze word parts and abbreviations as they relate to diagnostic medicine.
• Define how performance of diagnostic procedures aid in establishing diagnoses and aid in the maintenance ofoverall health in the general population.