Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology Distance Learning Course

A special course designed for people working or wishing to work in medical environments, with no medical training, to develop skills to communicate clearly and effectively using medical terminology.

Lesson Structure

There are 10 lessons in this course:

1. Scope and Nature of Medical Terminology
2. Anatomical Structure
3. Medical Equipment and Processes
4. Pharmacological Terminology
5. Musculoskeletal System
6. Cardiovascular, Lymphatic and Immune Systems
7. Respiratory and Reproductive Systems
8. Digestive and Excretory Systems
9. Integumentary System (Skin)
10. Nervous and Sensory Systems

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

• Communicate clearly and effectively using medical terminology
• Explain the scope and nature of terminology used in medicine and allied professions.
• Identify the meaning of words that describe general anatomical features, including dsorders
• Identify the meaning of words which describe medical tools, equipment and procedures.
• Identify the meaning of words that describe pharmacological terms.
• Identify the meaning of words that describe physiological and anatomical features in the musculoskeletal system, including disorders.
• Identify the meaning of words that describe physiological and anatomical features in the respiratory and reproductive systems, including disorders.
• Identify the meaning of words that describe physiological and anatomical features in the digestive and excretory systems, including disorders.
• Identify the meaning of words that describe physiological and anatomical features in the nervous and sensory systems, including disorders.

Medical Terminology is not only used in medicine by Doctors and Nurses; but is also used in a wide range of associated professions. These related professions include Dentistry, Veterinary Care, Medical practice managers, Medical receptionists and many types of natural therapies.

This course is aimed to develop your awareness of terms not only used by Doctors and Nurses, but also by other allied professionals.

Anyone working in any of these professions will benefit from doing this course.

There are three parts to most medical terms:

1. The Word Root   This is usually the middle of the word and provides its core meaning.

2. The Prefix   This is normally at the start and commonly identifies a part of the core meaning.

3. The suffix   This comes at the end and modifies the core meaning (eg. What it is interacting with or what is happening to it).

By developing an understanding of the components that are commonly used in these systematically constructed words it is (in time) easier to both understand and remember the meanings of the terminology.