MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
Class details...
This course introduces the language of medicine with emphasis on terminology used in diagnostic imaging. Students will learn word roots, prefixes, and suffixes to build and interpret medical terms, as well as abbreviations and symbols commonly used in radiology practice. Special focus is given to terminology related to anatomy, pathology, radiographic positioning, imaging procedures, and patient care within the limited diagnostic radiology scope.
Class Modules...
1. Introduction to Medical Terminology
- Importance of medical terminology in healthcare and radiology
- Word structure: prefixes, roots, suffixes, combining vowels
- Pronunciation and spelling rules
- Abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols
- Planes of the body: sagittal, coronal, transverse
- Directional terms: anterior/posterior, medial/lateral, proximal/distal, etc.
- Body cavities and regions
- Quadrants of the abdomen
- Terminology for positioning and movement (e.g., supine, prone, oblique, flexion, extension)
- Common radiographic positions and projections
- AP, PA, lateral, oblique, decubitus, axial
- Imaging modalities vocabulary
- X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, fluoroscopy, interventional radiology
- Contrast media terminology
- Barium, iodine-based, gadolinium, negative contrast agents
- Radiation protection terms
- ALARA, shielding, collimation, dose, exposure
4. Terminology by Body System (with Radiology Applications)
- Skeletal System
- Root words related to bones and joints
- Common fractures and dislocations
- Radiographic terminology (closed vs. open reduction, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis)
5. Pathology Terminology in Radiology
- Benign vs. malignant terms
- Inflammatory conditions (itis) vs. degenerative conditions (osis)
- Neoplasms and metastasis
- Trauma-related terminology
6. Abbreviations and Symbols in Radiology
- Common radiology abbreviations (XR, CT, MRI, US, PET, IVP, PACS)
- Radiation measurement units: mSv, Gy, mAs, kVp
- Medical abbreviations relevant to imaging requests
7. Case Study Applications
- Reading and interpreting physician orders for imaging
- Matching terminology to correct radiology procedure
- Case-based practice with real-world imaging requisitions
8. Review and Practical Application
- Practice quizzes: word building, abbreviations, and imaging scenarios
- Radiology reports analysis (identifying key terminology)
- Final comprehensive review
By the end of the course, students will be able to understand, apply, and communicate medical terminology accurately in clinical and professional radiology settings.