Unit One
Self Needs Analysis:
Learning outcomes
Date………………
Prior Level of Knowledge
and Comprehension
Evidence
of
knowledge
(*score A,
B)
Understanding clinical terminology
State definitions for fundamental medical
terms.
(For this unit of learning, working on the
above outcome is expected to be
ongoing)
*Evidence of Knowledge and Understanding:
 A: Previous education undertaken
 B: Documented evidence of Knowledge
Needs
revision
Date………………
Post Study Analysis
Evidence
Totally
of
lacking
Knowledge knowledge
(√ tick if
appropriate)
(*score A,
B)
Needs
revision
Totally
lacking
Knowledge
(√ tick if
appropriate)
Action Plan
Learning outcomes of the unit that
need revision
Resources that you plan to use
Timescale
for achieving
outcomes for this
unit
Unit 1 Content
Understanding clinical terminology: The language of
science
Medical words are easy to understand if you
know the meaning of each of the components of
the word.
Five types of components are used:
1. The word root
These are the basic medical words and many are derived from Latin or Greek.
2. The prefix
This precedes the word root and modifies its meaning.
3. The suffix
This follows the word root and further modifies the meaning.
4. The combining vowel
This is added to the word root to enable it to be combined. The most common is ‘o’.
5. The combining form
This consists of a medical word root plus a combining vowel.
To understand the meaning of many medical words we read from the suffix back to
the beginning of the word.
Example 1
ANTE
NAT
AL
This is a prefix
meaning before
This is a root
meaning birth
This is a suffix
meaning pertaining to
Reading back from the suffix
Antenatal means ‘pertaining to before birth’
Example 2
CYT
O
LOGY
This is a root
meaning cell
This is a combining
vowel
This is a suffix
meaning study of
Reading back from the suffix
Cytology means the study of cells
Example 3
NEUR
O
GEN
IC
This is a root
Meaning nerve
This is a
combining vowel
This is a root
meaning formation
This is a suffix meaning
pertaining to
Reading back from the suffix: Neurogenic means ‘pertaining to the formation of nerves’
EXERCISES
State the meaning of the following words:
CYTOPATHY ..................................................................................................
LEUCOCYTE ..................................................................................................
ERYTHROCYTE ............................................................................................
MELANOCYTE ................................................................................................
OOCYTE ............................................................................................................
Match each word component in column A with a meaning in column C by inserting
the appropriate number in column B
Column A
a) chem/o
b) cyt/o
c) erythr/o
d) granul/o
e) hist/o
f) leuc/o
g) -log/ist
h) -logy
i) lymph/o
j) -lysis
k) melan/o
l) microm) oo/o
n) oste/o
o) -pathy
p) -scope
q) -scop(ist)
r) -scopy
s) spermat/o
t) -tox(ic)
Column B
..............
..............
..............
.............
..............
..............
...............
................
...............
...............
...............
..............
..............
...............
...............
................
.................
................
................
................
Column C
1. egg
2. bone
3. white
4. study of
5. pigment(black)
6. sperm cells
7. chemical
8. tissue
9. person who studies
10. small
11. specialist who examines
12. breakdown/disintegration
13. pertaining to poison
14. cell
15. visual examination
16. disease
17. lymph
18. red
19. granule
20.viewing instrument
Build words which mean:
a) small cell ...........................................................................................
b) person who specialises in the study of disease ..................................
c) person specializing in the study of disease of cells .............................
d) pertaining to disease of cells ...............................................................
Roots
OESOPHAG (from Greek word oisophagos meaning gullet )
GASTR (from Greek gaster meaning belly or stomach )
ENTER (from Greek word enteron meaning intestine, gut )
DUODEN (from a Latin word duodeni meaning twelve - refers to the duodenum which is
the first 12 inches of the small intestine )
Find the meaning of the suffixes -scope, -ectomy, -tomy and -itis and write the
meaning of
oesophagitis ..................................................................
gastroscope ..................................................................
enterotomy ..................................................................
duodenectomy
.......................................................
LOOK UP THE MEANING OF THE FOLLOWING
ADRENOCORTICAL
AGORAPHOBIA
ANAESTHESIA
ANALGESIA
ATAXIA
BALANITIS
BRADYCARDIA
CEREBROSPINAL
ECHOLALIA
ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAM
ENDOMETRIOSIS
EPIGASTRIC
ERYTHROBLAST
EUSTRESS
HAEMOLYTIC
HISTOLOGY
HOMEOSTASIS
HYPERGLYCAEMIA
HYPERKALAEMIA
HYPOXIA
HYSTERIA
INTERVERTEBRAL
IATROGENIC
INTRACELLULAR
INTRAOCULAR
MACROPHAGE
MENARCHE
MYOCARDIUM
OSTEOCLAST
PERICARDIUM
PERIOSTEUM
PRESBYOPIA
SALPINGITIS
SPHYGMOMANOMETER
SUBLINGUAL
THERMOSTAT
WARD REPORT/S
Mr. Jones has been admitted with acute appendicitis. He’s NBM and due to go down for surgery
at 10am. He needs a pre-op check list completed, pre-med to be given STAT as per chart. He will
be having a G.A.
Mr. Lloyd has just come back from Theatre. He’s had an AP Resection and is a bit hypovolaemic.
He’ll need 1/2 hourly obs and CVP readings, hourly measurements with the urimeter and N.G
drainage. He will also need some IM analgesia p.r.n.
Mr. Smith has been complaining of balanitis and has been taking antibiotics. He has now
developed some general erythema.
Mr. Evans has been having severe epigastric pain and is having investigations on his GI tract. He’s
already had a barium swallow and enema. This afternoon he’s having an endoscopy and tomorrow
he’s due for a sigmoidoscopy.
Mrs Aubrey has been suffering with salpingitis and has had a salpingectomy. She has been
having analgesia via her PCA and is comfortable but as yet has NPU.
Mrs Jenner has been complaining of pruritis in the vulval area following her hysterectomy. The
doctor is due to see her mane.
Mr. Donaldson has been admitted from A and E with a H. I. He has a sub-dural haematoma and
raised ICP. He’s bradycardic and hypertensive. His GCS score is very low (6).
Mr. Hyde seems to be having a psychotic episode following his course of steroids. His symptoms
include echolalia and delusions. He’s due for an electroencephalogram later on today if he’s a bit
more settled. He is also going to need his U and E’s checked.
Mrs. Harries has come in for control of her diabetes. She is currently hyperglycaemic and has
glucosuria. She has some degree of retinopathy, neuropathy and problems with peripheral
perfusion. She’s apyrexial but having 4 hourly obs and BM stix.
Mrs. Harding is not making much progress, she remains dyspnoeic and cyanosed. This morning
she is quite hypoxic despite the O2 therapy and nebulised salbutamol and saline. Her IVI has
tissued and needs resiting.
Mr. Noakes has had an M.I. 2 days ago. He’s just come to us from CCU. He’ll be having a repeat
12 lead ECG following further chest pain unrelieved by his sublingual GTN.
Mrs Head has had a CVA with a R hemiplegia. She is dysphasic as well as dysphagic. She is
NBM, having aspirated and appears to also have quite a bad UTI with dysuria and frequency.
We’ll need to send an MSU and sputum specimens for C and S.
PREFIX AND SUFFIX LIST
aabadaden/o
adren/o
adrenocortic/o
-aemia
aer/o
-aesthesia
-aesthetic
-agogic
agora-al
albumin/o
algesi/o
-algia
alveol/o
amni/o
anaanandr/o
angi/o
anteanter/o
antiaort/o
apoappendic/o
aqua-ar
-arche
arter/i
arthr/o
ather/o
audi/o
-aural
aur/i
autoaxill/o
balan/o
basobibinblast/o
-blast
blephar/o
brachi/o
bradybronch/i
bronchiol/o
bucc/o
burs/o
caec/o
calc/i
calcin/o
cancer/o
carcin/o
without, not
away from
towards
gland
adrenal gland
adrenal cortex
condition of blood
air, gas
sensation, feeling
pertaining to sensation
inducing
open space
pertaining to
albumin
sense of pain
condition of pain
alveoli
amnion
apart
without, not
male
vessel
before, in front
in front
against
aorta
away
appendix
water
pertaining to
beginning
artery
joint
plaque lining
hearing
pertaining to the ear
ear
self
armpit
glans penis
basic, alkaline
two
double
early growth, development
germ cell, immature
eyelid
arm
slow
bronchus
bronchiole
cheek
bursa
caecum
calcium
calcium
cancer (general term)
cancerous, malignant
card/i
-cardia
carp/o
-cele
-centesis
cephal/o
cerebr/o
cervic/o
cheil/o
chem/o
chol/e
choledoch/o
chondr/o
chori/o
chromat/o
-chromia
-cide
circumcistern/o
-clasis
-clast
clavicul/o
col/o
colon/o
colp/o
conjunctiv/o
contracor/o
core/o
cortic/o
cost/o
crani/o
-crit
crypt/o
cyst/o
-cyte
cyt/o
derm/a
dermat/o
-desis
dextrodidia-dialysis
digit/o
dipl/o
disc/o
dist/o
dorsodur/o
dysecect-ectasis
-ectomy
ef-
heart
heart condition
carpal, wrist bones
swelling, hernia
surgical puncture
to remove fluid
head
cerebrum, brain
cervix
lip
chemical
bile
common bile duct
cartilage
chorion
colour
condition of colour
killing
around
enclosed space
breaking
a cell which breaks
clavicle
colon
colon
vagina
conjunctiva
against, opposite
pupil
pupil
cortex
rib
skull
separate
hidden
bladder
cell
cell
skin
skin
sticking together
right
two, double
through
separate
finger, toe
double
intervertebral disc
far
back (of body)
dura mater
difficult, painful
out, outside
out, outside
dilatation, stretching
removal
away from, out of
electroemembol/o
enencephal/o
endoenter/o
eosin/o
epierythr/o
euexexo-externa
extra-form
galact/o
gastr/o
-genesis
-genic
gen/o
gingiv/o
gli/o
-globin
-globulin
glomerul/o
gloss/o
glyc/o
gnath/o
-grade
-gram
-graph
-graphy
granul/o
-gravida
gynaec/o
-haemia
haem/o
haemat/o
hallux
helc/o
hemihepat/o
hepatic/o
hidr/o
hist/o
hydr/o
hyperhypohyster/o
-ia
-iasis
-iatr
-ic
ichthy/o
ile/o
ili/o
immun/o
ininfra-
electrical
in
embolus, plug
within, in
brain
within, inside
intestine
red/dawn coloured
above, upon
red
good
out of
out, away from
external
outside
having form of
milk
stomach
pertaining to formation
originating in
produced by
gum
pertains to neuroglial cells
protein
protein
glomerulus of the kidney
tongue
sugar
jaw
to go
recording
X ray or tracing
technique of recording
granular
pregnancy
woman
blood condition
blood
blood
great toe
ulcer
half
liver
hepatic bile duct
perspiration
tissue
water
above, excessive
below, under
uterus
condition of
abnormal condition
medical treatment
pertaining to
dry, scaly, fish like
ileum
ilium
immune
in, into
below, inferior to
inter-interna
intrairid/o
isch/o
-ism
iso-ist
-itis
kal/i
kerat/o
-kinesis
kinesi/o
kinet/o
-kymia
kyph/o
labi/o
lacrim/o
lact/i
lact/o
-lalia
lamin/o
lapar/o
laryng/o
later/o
leuc/o
leuk/o
-ligation
lingu/o
lith/o
-lith
-lithiasis
lob/o
-logist
-logy
lord/o
lymphaden/o
lympgangi/o
-lytic
-lysis
macro-malacia
mamm/o
man/o
mast/o
medi-media
megamegal/o
-megaly
melan/o
mening/i
mening/o
men/o
mesometa-meter
metr/o
micromono-
between
internal
within, inside
iris
holding back, reducing
process
same, equal
specialist
inflammation
potassium
epidermis
movement
movement
movement
involuntary twitching
hump
lip
tear, tear ducts
milk
milk
condition of talking
thin plate
abdomen
larynx
side
white
white
tying off a vessel
tongue
stone
stone
stones
lobule
specialist who studies
study of
bend forward
lymph gland
lymph vessel
disintegration
disintegration
large
condition of softening
breast
pressure
breast
middle
middle
abnormally large
abnormally large
enlargement
melanin
membranes (of CNS)
membranes (of CNS)
menses, menstruation
middle
change in form, beyond
measuring instrument
uterus
small
single
motor
morph/o
muscul/o
multimyc/o
myel/o
my/o
myocardi/o
narc/o
nas/o
nat/o
natr/I
necr/o
neonephr/o
neur/o
neutr/o
nulliobstetricocul/o
odont/o
-oedema
-oid
olig/o
-oma
onc/o
onych/o
oo/o
oophor/o
opthalm/o
-opthalmos
opt/o
-opia
-opsia
optic/o
or/o
orchi/o
orchid/o
orth/o
os
-osis
oste/o
-otic
ot/o
paed/o
panpaopill/o
para-para
-paresis
-pathia
Pathic
path/o
-pathy
-penia
ped/o
perperipericardi/o
perine/o
moving
shape, form
muscle
many
fungus
bone marrow
muscle
myocardium
stupor
nose
birth
sodium
death
new
kidney
nerve
neutral
none
midwifery
eye
tooth
swelling due to fluid
resembling
little, deficiency
tumour, swelling
tumour
nail
egg
ovary
eye
eye
vision, eye
defective vision
defective vision
vision, eye, optic nerve
mouth
testis
testis
straight
bone
disease of
bone
disease of
ear
child
all
nipple like, optic disc
beside, near
to bear
slight paralysis
condition of disease
pertaining to disease
disease
disease
lack of, deficiency
foot
through
around
pericardium
perineum
peritone/o
-pexy
phag/o
-phagia
phalang/o
phall/o
pharyng/o
-phasia
-pheresis
phleb/o
-phobia
phon/o
-phonia
phren/o
-phyma
physis
-phyte
-phil
pil/o
-plasia
plasmaplasm/o
-plasty
-plegia
pleur/o
plex/o
pneum/a
pneumat/o
pneum/o
pnoea
-poiesis
poliopollex
polypor/o
port/o
postposter/o
prepresbyoprimiproproct/o
prosth/o
proxim/o
pseudopsych/o
-ptosis
ptyal/o
pulmon/o
pyel/o
py/o
quadrirachi/o
radic/o
radi/o
peritoneum
fix in place
eating
condition of eating
phalange, finger, toe
penis
pharynx
speech
separate
vein
condition of fear
sound, voice
having voice
diaphragm
tumour, boil
growth
plant, fungus
loving, affinity for
hair
condition of growth,
formation of cells
liquid part of blood
anything shaped or
moulded
surgical repair,
reconstruction
condition of paralysis
pleural membranes
network of nerves, blood
or lymph vessels
gas, air, lungs
gas, air, lungs
gas, air, lungs
breathing
formation
grey matter (of CNS)
thumb
many
passage, pore
portal vein
after, behind
behind, posterior
before, in front of
old age
first
before
rectum, anus
replacement part
near
false
mind
prolapse, displacement
saliva
lung
pelvis
pus
four
spine
nerve root
Xray
rerect/o
ren/o
reticul/o
retrorhabd/o
rhabdomy/o
rhin/o
roentgen/o
-rrhage
-rrhagia
-rrhaphy
-rrhexis
-rrhoea
salping/o
sarc/o
sarcomat/o
-schisis
schiz/o
scint/I
scler/o
-sclerosis
scoli/o
-scope
-scopy
seb/o
-sect
semin/o
septic/o
ser/o
sigmoid/o
sin/o
sinussomat/o
son/o
-spadia
-spasm
spermat/o
sphygm/o
spir/o
splen/o
spondyl/o
-stasis
-static
-staxis
sten/o
stern/o
steth/o
stomat/o
-stomy
subsuper/o
suprasynovi/o
tachytax/o
-taxia
tetra-
back
rectum
kidney
net-like
backwards
striated, striped
striated muscle
nose
Xray
bleeding
bleeding
suture
break, rupture
excessive discharge
fallopian tube
connective tissue
sarcoma
splitting, parting
split
flash of light
sclera (white of eye)
hardening
crooked, twisted
instrument to view
visual examination
sebum
cut
semen
sepsis, infection
serum
sigmoid colon
sinus
sinus
body
sound
condition of drawing out
involuntary contraction
of muscle
sperm
pulse
to breathe
spleen
vertebra
stopping, cessation of
movement
stopping, controlling
dripping
narrow, constricted
sternum
chest, breast
mouth
to form a new opening
under
superior, above
above
synovial
fast
ordered movement
ordered movement
four
-therapy
therm/o
thorac/o
thromb/o
thrombocyt/o
toc/o
-tome
-tomy
-tonia
ton/o
-toxic
tox/o
trans-trauma
tritrich/o
-tripsy
-trophic
-trophy
-tropic
ultrauni-uresis
-uria
valv/o
varic/o
vas/o
vascul/o
ven/o
ventro-version
vesic/o
vesicul/o
xanth/o
xer/o
treatment
heat
thorax
thrombus, clot
platelet
labour, birth
cutting instrument
incision into
tone
stretching, tension
pertaining to poisonous
poison
across
injury
three
hair
act of crushing
pertaining to nourishment
nourishment or development
stimulating
beyond
one
excrete in urine
condition of urine
valve
dilated veins
vessel
vessel
vein
belly side of body
turn
bladder
seminal vesicle
yellow
dry
Tick off the terms
within these lists
that you have
seen/heard used as
working terms by
practitioners in
clinical settings
Post study Action plan for Unit 1
Action points arising in relation to your ability to apply knowledge and
understanding to practice.
Remaining areas of weakness.
Strategy for developing a deeper understanding
and enhancing your ability to apply this theory to
nursing practice.