HIM 2360
Medical Terminology
Scope & Nature of the Course
Welcome to medical terminology. Medical terminology is the language used for communicating about
diseases and medical conditions in the healthcare delivery system. It is a universal language with Latin and
Greek being the basis for many of the terms.
For the most part, medical terms are formed by joining together the building blocks of the language—the
prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms or root words. Let’s look at a common example such as cardio- or
card-, which is a combining form denoting relationship to the heart, the cardiac orifice, or portion of the
stomach (Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary). This is an example of a combining form or root form, from
which many medical terms can be built by adding prefixes and/or suffixes that will then communicate
important medical information in a universal language.
Several of the prefixes and suffixes commonly used with cardio-/card- are -itis, inflammation of; -tomy,
process of cutting, incision; -ectomy, excision, removal; and peri-, around. Using these prefixes and suffixes,
you can form the following terms:
carditis—inflammation of the heart
pericardium—the sac which surrounds the heart
pericarditis—inflammation of the pericardium
cardiotomy—surgical incision of the heart
pericardotomy—surgical incision of the pericardium
pericardectomy—surgical excision of the pericardium
Literally hundreds of words can be made with the root or combining form cardio-/card- using different
prefixes, suffixes, and other roots. Yes, there are many of these suffixes, roots, and prefixes to learn, but
let’s review common parts of words we use everyday. You will see that you already have a start on
mastering the definitions of the medical terminology building blocks.
Sub- is a prefix signifying “below or under.” With this in mind, think about the words subway and submarine.
Do the meanings of the words exit and exile make sense when it is known that the prefix ex- means “out?”
Even the meaning of the words medical terminology can be determined by breaking these words down into
their component parts, determining the meanings of each part, and then putting the meanings together in a
logical format.
Thus, medical terminology is the study of vocabulary pertaining to medicine.
Course Objectives
When you have successfully completed this course, you will be able to
• analyze the elements of a medical term and define these elements and the term as a whole;
• construct medical terms from prefixes, roots, and suffixes;
• use the textbook and other resources to locate definitions, correct pronunciation, and find plural
forms of terms;
• differentiate lay terminology from appropriate medical terminology;
• recognize and write standard abbreviations for medical terms;
• identify common drug terms, laboratory tests, and radio logical terms;
• interpret meanings of medical terms as used in a given context.
Required Materials
The text required for this course is
Chabner, Davi-Ellen. The Language of Medicine, 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company,
2013.
The Publisher provides many resources for the student on the website. Go
to: https://evolve.elsevier.com/cs/product/9781455745241?role=student and register as a student "ON
YOUR OWN".
Resources for The Language of Medicine, 10th Edition; By Davi-Ellen Chabner, BA, MAT
Student Resources include:
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Mobile Resources
Quick Quizzes
Flash Cards
Mobile Dictionary
Many interactive activities, including:
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Games
Exercises
Career Videos
Animations
Body Spectrum Coloring Book
Glossaries
Quick Quizzes
Flash Cards
Mobile Dictionary
Course Procedure
You have chosen to enroll in a course in medical terminology by correspondence study. It can be completed
successfully in this format if you accept the responsibility for making these words, parts of words, and
phrases a part of your vocabulary.
Each lesson begins with a list of objectives. Read these objectives before you read the assigned chapters in
the textbook. By reading the objectives first, you will begin to narrow your focus and understand the scope of
the lesson before you begin the reading. When you’ve completes a lesson, it’s a great idea to read the
objectives again to see if you met the lesson goals.
With each lesson of this study guide, you will be directed through approximately two or three of the textbook
chapters. However, you should read one chapter at a time and achieve a good command of the terms in that
chapter before proceeding to the next. Periodically, you should return to previous chapters to review and
reinforce the information. You will soon recognize that there is much repetition as you continue through the
book and that a pattern develops for building and defining the medical terms.
The discussion sections of each lesson highlight important aspects of the reading assignments and
supplement the textbook with additional information. Often, the discussion offers advice and solutions for
some of the more difficult terms and concepts.
With each lesson you must submit a written assignment. These assignments generally include matching
prefixes, suffixes, and roots with their definitions, building terms, defining terms, and answering multiplechoice questions.
Scheduling Your Time
This is a self-paced course, so it is important to use your time effectively. Completing an assignment every
ten to fourteen days is recommended. Students must wait to receive a graded assignment back before
submitting the next assignment. Constructive comments from the instructor will improve students’
performance and retention.
Exam
There will be one midcourse exam taken after Lesson Five and one final exam taken after Lesson Ten.
These exams will be taken in proctored environments and without notes. The final exam will be
comprehensive, stressing the new material covered after the midcourse.
Students with Disabilities
The Office of Distance and Extended Learning is committed to helping students with disabilities achieve their
education goals. A disability is not a barrier to correspondence study, and we strive to provide reasonable
and appropriate accommodations to individuals in coursework and test taking. Students who require special
accommodations (e.g., testing accommodations, information in alternative format, sign language interpreting
services) need to provide verification of their disability to the Office of Disability Services, Suite 5-5.1 LBJ
Student Center, (512) 245-3451 (voice/TTY).
Grading Criteria
Your final grade for this course will be determined as follows:
Lessons
25%
Midcourse Exam
25%
Final Exam
50%
You must earn a score of sixty or above on the comprehensive final exam to receive a passing grade for this
course.
The following is the scale I will use to determine your course letter grade:
90–100
A
80–89
B
70–79
C
60–69
D
below 60
F
University Honor Code
The Texas State University Honor Code serves as an affirmation that the University demands the highest
standard of integrity in all actions related to the academic community. The Honor Code applies to all Texas
State students, including correspondence students. As stated in the Texas State Student Handbook,
Violation of the Honor Code includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic
work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials.
Academic work means the preparation of an essay, thesis, report, problem, assignment, or other projects
which are to be submitted for purposes of grade determination.
Cheating means engaging in any of the following activities:
• copying from another student’s test paper, laboratory report, other report or computer files, data
listing, or programs;
• using, during a test, materials not authorized by the person giving the test;
• collaborating, without authorization, with another person during an examination or in preparing
academic work;
• knowingly, and without authorization, using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, soliciting,
copying, or possessing, in whole or in part, the content of an unadministered test;
• substituting for another student—or permitting another person to substitute for oneself—in taking an
exam or preparing academic work;
• bribing another person to obtain an unadministered test or information about an unadministered
test;
• purchasing, or otherwise acquiring and submitting as one’s own work, any research paper or other
writing assignment prepared by an individual or firm. This section does not apply to the typing of the
rough or final versions of an assignment by a professional typist.
Plagiarism means the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work in
one’s own written work offered for credit.
Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another
person in preparing written work offered for credit.
Abuse of resource materials means the mutilation, destruction, concealment, theft, or alteration of materials
provided to assist students in the mastery of course materials.