Unit 2

Essentials of Medical Terminology

HPRS 1206

Unit 2 Objectives
In this unit, students will learn to:

● Identify, locate, and name major structures and organs of the musculoskeletal and
digestive systems
● Define medical terms that relate to the anatomical structure and function of the
musculoskeletal and digestive systems
● Recall various disease processes associated with musculoskeletal and digestive systems

● Identify laboratory tests, clinical procedures, and abbreviations related to the

musculoskeletal and digestive systems
● Apply new knowledge to understand medical terms in proper context

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 Skeletal System
Chapter 15, part 1

Anatomy:
Bones are considered to be an _______________________ made of _____________________
(bony) tissue. Bones contain osteocytes, __________________________ and calcium salts.

Function of Skeletal System:

1.
2. To protect and support the _____________________ organs
3. To provide body ____________________________

Ossification:

Two Processes:
1. oste/o/blasts -
2. oste/o/clasts -

Main functions of Calcium:

1. Helps with bone formation and excess is ___________________ in bones and blood
2. Helps with heart __________________ contraction
3. Helps with nerve impulse transmission to muscles

Parathyroid gland – secretes a hormone responsible for maintaining calcium levels. This
hormone allows calcium to leave the bone and enter the _________________________.

Thyroid gland – secretes a hormone that allows calcium to leave the bloodstream and enter the
_______________________.

Calcium phosphate – substance produced by osteoblastic activity; gives bone its ____________
quality

Vitamin D – necessary to help _____________________ pass through the lining of the small
intestine and into the bloodstream

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Bones Structure:
There are 206 bones in the body. The anatomy of a long bone is presented in diagrams in the
textbook. ***Students will need to know the division of a long bone diagram ***

Pleural words in the Skeletal System:

Epiphysis –
Metaphysis -

Bone Processes:
Enlarged areas that extend out from bones to serve as ______________________________ to
____________________________, tendons and _______________________________.
Ex: Acromion process – scapula extends to form shoulder joint
Olecranon process – ____________________ extends for form elbow joint

Bone Depressions:
Openings or ___________________________ regions in a bone; helps to join one bone to
another or serve as a passageway from blood vessels or nerves
Ex: Foramen – foramen magnum in the skull provides opening for spinal cord

Individual Bones
For the anatomy of this chapter, students will need to learn a variety of bones. This includes
the name and the location of the bone. Students will want to spend time looking at the
diagrams in the textbook with the intent of learning the name and location of various bones.

1. Cranial Bones
**Know the cranial bones diagram: Refer to diagrams in the textbook**
a. Frontal -

b. Parietal -

c. Temporal -

d. Occipital -

e. Sphenoid -

f. Ethmoid -

Table 15-2 will also be helpful for the Cranial and Facial bones
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 2. Facial Bones
**Know the facial bones diagram: Refer to diagrams in the textbook**
a. Nasal -

b. Lacrimal -

c. Maxillary -

d. Mandibular -

e. Zygomatic -

f. Vomer -

3. Skeletal Bones
**Know the skeletal bones diagram: Refer to diagrams in the textbook**
Students will want to label the diagram and pay special attention to the names and
location of bones listed on this diagram

4. Vertebral Column
**Know the vertebral column diagram: Refer to diagrams in the textbook**
This is a review of information from Unit 1.
a. Cervical -

b. Thoracic -

c. Lumbar -

d. Sacral -

e. Coccyx -

New Combining Forms for the bone section of this chapter

1. Using the textbook appendix, please write the definition of the word part on the left and
define the term on the right using word part definitions from the glossary.

a. Lord/o - Lordosis -

b. Scoli/o - Scoliosis -
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 c. Spondyl/o - Spondylosis -

d. Kyph/o - Kyphosis -

Sample of Pathological Conditions:

1. Fractures – breaking of a bone (fracture and break mean the same thing)
Several Types:
a. Simple (Closed) – bone is broken but there is _________ break in the skin
b. Open (Compound) – bone is broken and a fragment of the bone protrudes
through the skin (at some point in time)
c. Colles – radius fracture at the ____________________ end of the radius
d. Comminuted – bone is broken in several places
e. Compression – bones are compressed upon each other
f. Greenstick – bone is partially broken; __________________ on one side and
_________________ on the other

2. Osteosarcoma – oste/o = bone + sarc/o = flesh + -oma = tumor, mass

Tumor of the __________________ and _________________
Common location is at the end of long bones; found primarily in children and
adolescents

3. Osteomalacia – oste/o = bone + -malacia = softening

Bone softening caused by lack of Vitamin D to help calcium and __________________
enter the bloodstream from the intestine
a. Rickets – osteomalacia in infants and children

4. Osteoporosis – oste/o = bone + -porosis = _____________________________________

_____________________ in bone density (mass) resulting in thinning and weakening of
the bone
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5. Osteomyelitis – oste/o = bone + myel/o = bone marrow + -itis = ___________________
Inflammation of bone and bone marrow caused by infection

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 Joints and Muscles
Chapter 15, part 2

Definition of Joint
1. Synovial Joint – literal meaning “___________________ ______________________”.
Examples are hip and knee joints. Synovial membrane lies under the joint capsule and
_____________ the synovial cavity. Synovial cavity filled with lubricating synovial fluid.
See diagrams in the textbook

2. Bursa – plural = ________________________

Closes sacs of synovial fluid located near but ________ in the joint. Bursae are present
where two types of tissue need to slide past one another with little friction (between
tendons and bones or between ligaments and bones). Examples are ______________
and shoulder joints.
See diagrams in the textbook

Ligaments – connective tissue that connects bone to _______________

Tendons – connective tissue that connects ________________________ to bone

New word parts for the “joint” section of this chapter.

1. Using the textbook appendix, please write the definition of the word part on the left and
define the term on the right using word part definitions from the glossary.

articul/o = articular =

rheumat/o = rheumat/o/logy =

chondr/o = chondroplasia =

ankyl/o = ankylosis =

-stenosis =

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Pathological Conditions related to Joints
1. Arthritis – arthr/o = joint + -itis = inflammation. Inflammation of the joint is a global
definition for arthritis. There are several different forms of arthritis:
a. Ankylosing spondylitis – chronic, ____________________________ arthritis
with stiffening of joints of the spinal column.
b. Gouty Arthritis – inflammation and swelling of joints caused by excessive
_______________ ______________ in the body
c. Osteoarthritis – oste/o = bone + arthr/o = joint + -itis = inflammation
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a ___________________________ joint disease caused by:
i. Loss of articular cartilage
ii. Bone ____________________________ causing formation of bone spurs
iii. Usually involves the hips and knees. End stage disease may lead to joint
replacement surgery
d. Rheumatoid Arthritis – rheumat/o = watery flow + -oid = resembling
An ___________________________ disease where the synovial membrane
becomes inflamed and thickened. Fibrous tissue forms and calcifies at the joint
preventing movement. Usually occurs with hands and feet first, predominantly
in ____________________________

Clinical Procedures related to joints - define using word parts from the glossary
1. Arthrocentesis:

2. Arthrography:

3. Arthroplasty:

4. Arthroscopy:

Muscles

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1. Three types of muscles
a. striated muscles – striated is how it __________________ under microscope,
found in skeletal muscles and under ___________________________ control
b. smooth muscles – smooth is how they look under microscope, they contract to
move internal (____________________) organs, and under involuntary control
c. cardiac muscles – striated in appearance but act like smooth muscle
(involuntary); found only in the _____________________

2. Naming of skeletal muscles - students may refer to any online resource for additional
information or diagrams
a. Directions of muscle fibers:
o Rectus, ____________________________ or oblique
b. Relative size of the muscle:
o _______________________________, minimus, longus or brachy
c. Location of the muscle:
o Dorsi or ___________
d. Number of Origins:
o The origin is the point of attachment of the muscle to stationary bone
o The insertion is the point of attachment of the muscle to the bone that is
____________________________
o Origins are usually the __________________________ end of the muscle,
insertions are usually the distal end of the muscle
o Examples: bicep (2 heads of origin), tricep (3 heads of origin), quadricep
(4 heads of origin)
e. Location of the muscle’s origin and insertion:
o Ex: Sternocleidomastoid Muscle
o Origin: __________________________ and Clavicle
o Insertion: at mastoid process behind the ear

f. Shape of the muscle:

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 o Ex: Deltoid and Trapezius – both are _____________________, deltoid is
thick, and trapezius is flat

Recognize certain muscles:

1. Use diagrams in the textbook to identify location and function of the following muscles:
a. Orbicularis Oculi
b. Sternocleidomastoid
c. Pectoralis major
d. Bicep brachii
e. Occipitofrontalis
f. Temporalis
g. Masseter
h. Trapezius
i. Gluteus maximus
j. Hamstring
k. Gastrocnemius
l. Quadricep

Actions of skeletal muscles:

1. Flexion – decreasing the angle between two bones
2. Extension - _________________________________ the angle between two bones
3. Abduction –
4. Adduction –
5. Dorsiflexion – decreasing the angle of the joint; foot bends upward toward your face
6. Plantar flexion – increases the angle of the joint; a ballerina “en pointe”
7. Supination – turning palm ___________________ toward the ceiling
8. Pronation – turning palm ___________________ toward the floor

Students may want to review diagrams in the textbook and perform movements as a review

Pathological Conditions related to Muscles

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 1. Myasthenia Gravis – weakness of _______________________ muscles due to failure in
transmission of the nervous impulse from the nerve to the muscle cell. Muscles never
receive the message so they don’t ________________________
2. Muscular Dystrophy - Inherited disease characterized by a progressive ______________
and degeneration of muscle fibers without involvement of the nervous system. Muscle
fibers are replaced with ______________. Diagnosed by either a muscle biopsy or
electromyography (EMG)

Common abbreviations related to the Musculoskeletal system

1. ACL

2. DTR’s

3. EMG

4. IM

5. NSAID

6. ORIF

7. PT

8. RA

9. ROM

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 Digestive System
Chapter 5

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract -

Four functions of the digestive system

1. Food is taken into the mouth (ingestion)
2. Breaks down ______________________________ (digestion)
3. Once digestion occurs in the mouth, stomach and small intestine then ______________
can occur
4. Allows for elimination of __________________ waste material

Anatomy of the Oral Cavity

1. Cheeks
2. Lips
3. Hard palate
4. Soft palate
5. Uvula
6. Tongue
7. Tonsils
8. Gums
9. Teeth
**Students will need to know the diagram of the oral cavity. Refer to diagrams in the textbook

Definitions
1. Mastication –

2. Deglutition –
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Anatomy of a Tooth
1. Crown
2. Root
3. Enamel
4. Dentin
5. Pulp
**Students will need to know the diagram of a tooth. Refer to diagrams in the textbook

Salivary Glands
Surround the oral cavity and produce saliva that contains digestive enzymes. Three types:
1. parotid gland (inflamed in mumps)
2. _________________________________ gland
3. sublingual gland

Identify the location and function of the following structures

1. Pharynx – 5 in. long muscular tube lined with mucous membrane. Passageway for both
air traveling from nose to trachea ________________ for food from mouth to
esophagus
2. Epiglottis – ______________ of tissue covering trachea so food does not enter trachea
when swallowing
3. Esophagus – 9-10 in muscular tube extending from pharynx to stomach. Peristaltic
(__________________________waves) muscle contraction moves food toward stomach
4. Stomach – food passes from esophagus into stomach, the stomachs job is to prepare
food for small intestine, takes _________ hours depending on amount and type of food
ingested; 3 parts:
a. fundus (___________________ section)
b. body (middle section)
c. antrum (___________________ portion)
5. Sphincters – control openings into/out of the stomach
a. lower esophageal sphincter – allows food into stomach

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 b. pyloric sphincter – allows food to _____________________ stomach
6. Small Intestines – extends 20ft. from pyloric sphincter to beginning of large intestine,
____________________________ of food into bloodstream occurs here; 3 sections:
a. duodenum – receives food from stomach and bile from liver and gallbladder
b. ____________________________ – middle section, connects with ileum
c. ileum – connects with large intestine
7. Large Intestines – extends from ileum to __________________, receives waste products
unable to pass into bloodstream and stores waste until elimination
a. Cecum – pouch on right side that connects to ileum at the ileocecal valve
b. Colon – _______ ft. long, 4 divisions:
i. ascending colon -
ii. transverse colon -
iii. descending colon -
iv. sigmoid colon -
c. Rectum -
e. Anus – lower opening of the GI tract

**Students should review diagrams in the textbook for the location of these structures**

Accessory Organs of Digestion

1. Liver
a. Located in the _________________
b. Makes greenish fluid called bile
c. Helps to maintain normal blood ________________________ levels
d. Manufactures blood proteins needed for clotting
e. Releases ________________________ (pigment in bile)
f. Removes toxins from the bloodstream
2. Gallbladder -

3. Pancreas –
a. Ex/o/crine gland – produces enzymes to digest starch, __________ and proteins
b. End/o/crine gland – releases insulin, acts as carrier to bring glucose into cells to
be used for _________________________
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**diagrams are very helpful in learning the order of the digestive tract**
New Combining Forms
Students should use the glossary of the textbook to define the word part and the example term
using word parts from the glossary.

1. Bucc/o = Buccal -

2. Cheil/o= Cheilosis -

3. Labi/o = Labial -

4. Lingu/o = Sublingual -

5. Gloss/o = Hypoglossal -

Additional Word Parts

Students should use the glossary of the textbook to define the word part and the example term
using word parts from the glossary.

1. Chol/e = Chol/e/lithiasis =

2. Lith/o = Lith/o/tripsy =

3. Choledoch/o = Choledoch/o/tomy =

4. –chezia = Hemat/o/chezia =

5. Proct/o = Proct/o/scopy =

6. Gingiv/o = Gingiv/itis =

7. Cholecyst/o = Cholecyst/ectomy =

8. Col/o = Col/o/stomy =

9. Hem/o = Hem/o/lysis =

Signs and Symptoms

1. Anorexia – condition of _____ ______________, can be pathological (i.e. liver disease,
illness) or emotional in origin
2. Ascites – abnormal collection of fluid in the abdomen caused by tumor, inflammation,
hypertension, cirrhosis, or __________________ _____________________
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 3. Dysphagia - _____________________ of difficulty swallowing, often occurs after a
stroke, pharyngitis (painful swallowing)
4. Jaundice – _________________ color of skin and other tissues caused by high levels of
bilirubin in the blood
5. Steatorrhea - __________________ of fat in feces, causes foul smelling fecal matter

Oral Cavity and Teeth Disorders

1. Dental Caries – tooth _______________________ caused by bacterial growth in plaque,
bacterial growth produces acid which eats away at tooth enamel.
2. Herpetic Stomatitis – inflammation of the mouth caused by infection with
_____________________ virus (ex. fever blister or cold sore)

Upper GI Tract Disorders

1. Esophageal Varices – swollen, varicose veins in ______________________esophagus or
upper stomach. Causes severe (sometimes life threatening) bleeding
2. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) – solids and fluids return to the mouth from
the _______________________; heartburn is a symptom of hydrochloric acid
regurgitation from stomach to esophagus (notice the order of the word parts in the
term)
3. Peptic Ulcer – open _________________ or lesion in mucous membrane of stomach or
duodenum. H. Pylori bacteria is thought to be responsible.

Lower GI Tract Disorders

1. Colorectal cancer – ___________________ of the colon, rectum or both. Dx- blood in
stool or colonoscopy. Tx – surgical, chemo or radiation (or a combination of the three)

2. Diverticulosis – abnormal side pockets in the intestinal wall. Dx – blood in stool

3. Dysentery – painful, inflamed intestines; Sx – bloody stool and abdominal pain; caused
by ingestion of _______________________, amoebae or viruses
4. Hemorrhoids – swollen, twisted, _____________________ veins in rectum. Tx – topical
medication, banding, or surgery
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Liver, Gallbladder & Pancreas Disorders
1. Cholelithiasis – presence of ________________ in the Gallbladder, stones prevent bile
from leaving the gallbladder or bile ducts. Sx – severe pain, N & V; Tx – surgery
2. Cirrhosis – _____________________ degenerative disease of the liver caused by chronic
alcoholism, hepatitis, or other causes; Tx – depends on cause
3. Pancreatitis – inflammation of pancreas caused by digestive enzymes; Tx – rehydration,
pain meds, sometimes surgery
4. Viral Hepatitis - Inflammation of the ______________ caused by a virus. Several Types:
a. Hep A – caused by contaminated food and water
b. Hep B – caused by ____________________ contact, blood transfusions, sharing
contaminated needles, or maternal/fetal transmission
c. Hep C – also caused by blood transfusions or sharing contaminated needles

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 Digestive System
Chapters 5 & 6

Digestive Enzymes – causes change from ________________ food to a liquid substance, or

helps in the breakdown of food:
For example:
a. Proteins – break down into simpler amino acids
b. Carbohydrates – break into simple _____________________ like glucose
c. Triglycerides (fat) – breakdown into fatty acids and glycerol

Accessory Organs
Refer to diagrams in your textbook and be sure to label both the organs and the ducts that
come from each organ

Emulsification – process of ________________________ down large fat globules into smaller

globules so that enzymes can digest fat

Additional Pathological Condition

Inflammatory Bowel Disease – inflammation of the __________________ and small intestine
Common types are:
a. Crohn’s Disease – can occur ________________________ along the GI tract but most
commonly in the ileum and colon. S & S – diarrhea, abdominal pain, _______________,
anorexia, weakness, weight loss Tx – drugs to control symptoms, or surgery
b. Ulcerative Colitis – inflammation present with ________________ in the colon. S & S –
chronic diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and pain. Tx – drug therapy, dietary changes, surgical
removal of the diseased section. Patients are at higher risk for colon _______________.

Laboratory Tests
1. Hemoccult Test
detects __________________________ in feces; screens for colon cancer

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 2. Stool Culture
test for microorganisms present in ______________________ material
3. Liver Function Tests
tests for presence of enzymes and bilirubin in the blood serum
Examples of LFT’s are:
a. ALT and AST – levels may be elevated in patients with _______________ disease
b. Alkaline Phosphatase – enzyme that may be elevated in patients with liver, bone
and other diseases
c. Serum Bilirubin – levels are elevated in patients with liver disease and
____________________

Clinical Procedures
XRay Tests
a. Lower GI Series
barium sulfate is inserted rectally and xrays are taken of the rectum and colon area
Refer to diagrams in the textbook.
b. Upper GI Series
barium sulfate is swallowed and x-rays are taken of the esophagus, stomach and small
intestine
c. Abdominal Ultrasound
sound waves are beamed into abdomen to produce image of abdominal viscera; helpful
to examine ________________ filled structures (gallbladder, urinary bladder) for things
like stones

Other GI Procedures
1. Bariatric Surgery - used for weight loss in severely obese patients.
2. Paracentesis – ________________________ to remove fluid from abdomen (to drain
ascites from abdominal cavity)

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 Chapter 6 (Additional Suffixes)
Students should use the glossary of the textbook to define the word part and the example
term.
Suffixes: Example: Definition:

-emesis = Hematemesis

-pepsia = Dyspepsia

-phagia = Polyphagia

-ptysis = Hemoptysis

-rrhage = Hemorrhage

-rrhagia = Menorrhagia

-rrhea = Menorrhea

-rrhaphy Hysterorrhaphy

Abbreviations
a. BE –

b. CT –

c. GERD –

d. GI –

e. IBD -

f. LFT’s -

g. NG tube -

h. NPO -

i. PUD -

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 Practice Activities
Recall from Unit 1 the various different methods to break down and define a medical term.

1. Break the following terms into word parts and identify the type of word part:
a. Colostomy = col/o/stomy = col/ = root word, /o/ = combining vowel, -stomy = suffix

b. Osteosarcoma =

c. Chondroplasia =

d. Labial =

2. Break the following terms into word parts and define each word part:

a. Nasal = nas/ = nose, -al = pertaining to

b. Osteomalacia =

c. Arthrocentesis =

d. Pancreatitis =

3. Break the following terms into word parts and write a definition of the term using the

literal definition of each word part:

a. Rheumatology = rheumat/ + -logy = study of watery flow

b. Steatorrhea =

c. Hypoglossal =

d. Hematemesis =

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 Review Sheet for Unit Exam 2
Upon completion of this unit, the student should be able to:
Chapter 15 – Musculoskeletal System

● Identify anatomical structures and describe their function associated with the
musculoskeletal system

● Identify the cranial, facial, and skeletal bones from the textbook

o 6 cranial bones and their purpose

o 6 facial bones and their purpose
o Full body skeletal bones

● Identify parts of the bones associated with the diagram (diagrams 15-1) from textbook

● Identify the different sections and numbers of vertebrae in the vertebral column

Ex.: L1-L5 (Lumbar vertebrae)

● Differentiate between the type of muscle actions such as: flexion, extension, rotation,
etc…

● Describe how muscles are named based on location of major muscles

● Recall the prefixes, combining forms and suffixes related to the musculoskeletal system
from the textbook

● Recall pathological conditions for bones, joints, and muscles. For example:

o Discuss different types of fractures

o Define Osteoporosis
o Discuss types of Arthritis

● Recall Clinical Procedures associated with the musculoskeletal system from the
textbook.

● Identify pathological conditions, diagnostic studies, and treatments associated with the
musculoskeletal system

● Recall abbreviations associated with the musculoskeletal system

Chapters 5 and Digestive System

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 ● Identify anatomical structures and describe their function associated with the digestive
system

● Review the order of flow for food to follow from the mouth to the anus

● Identify the ducts associated with the digestive system:

o Hepatic
o Cystic
o Common Bile
o Pancreatic

● Recall the prefixes, combining forms and suffixes related to the digestive system from the
textbook

● Identify pathological conditions, diagnostic studies, and treatments associated with the
digestive system

● Difference between a barium swallow and enema

● Identify parts on the diagrams from the textbook

● Recall abbreviations associated with the digestive system

To achieve these learning outcomes for this unit, students should do the following:
Review exercises in the textbook
Make flash cards for each combining form, prefix, or suffix in each chapter

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