Catalog Course Description

In this course students learn the medical vocabulary used in the health care profession. Students receive a thorough grounding in basic medical terminology through a study of root words, prefixes and suffixes. The study focuses on correct pronunciation, spelling and use of medical terms. Anatomy, physiology, and pathology of disease are discussed. Other topics include the vocabulary associated with health and disease in the following anatomical systems: Integumentary System, Skeletal and Muscular Systems, Blood, Lymphatic System, Immunology, Cardiovascular System, Respiratory System, Digestive System, Urinary System, Reproductive System & Obstetrics, Nervous System & Mental Health, Special Senses of Sight & Hearing, and Endocrine System.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Describe and analyze the component parts of medical terms.
2. Use basic prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms to build medical terms.
3. Explain the common rules for proper medical term formation, pronunciation, and spelling.
4. Relate the terminology to the names, locations, and functions of the major organs of the body systems.
5. Describe the terms utilized for the major disease processes including symptoms, diagnosis, diagnostic testing, surgeries, and therapies.
6. Define basic terms and abbreviations used in documenting health records.