Medical Terminology: A Living Language (6th Edition)

Book Preface

Since the first edition of Medical Terminology: A Living Language was published it has been noted for its “clean” and logical format that promotes learning. In this revised edition, we have built upon this strength by enhancing many features to make this text an ideal choice for semester- or quarter-length courses.

Features of this Edition

This new sixth edition contains features that facilitate student mastery, while maintaining the best aspects of previous editions. Each chapter is arranged in a similar format and the content is organized with an emphasis on maintaining consistency and accuracy. All terms have been evaluated to ensure they remain in current use and reflect the newest technologies and procedures.

We have revised Medical Terminology: A Living Language so that it provides for an even more valuable teaching and learning experience. Here are the enhancements we have made:

• The Terminology section includes a comprehensive list of all combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes used to build terms in the remaining sections of the chapter.
• The popular Med Term Tip margin note has been expanded to include two additional features called What’s In A Name? and Word  Watch. Word Watch points out words that may confuse students due to similar sound or similar spelling and What’s In A Name? reinforces the breakdown of word parts used in the section being discussed.
• Practice As You Go is a “speed bump” feature scattered throughout the chapters that allows the reader to get a quick check on their grasp of the content presented by using a combination of short-answer exercises.
Answers are provided at the back of the book.

Organization of the Book

Introductory Chapter
Chapter 1 contains information necessary for an understanding of how medical terms are formed. This includes learning about word roots, combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes, and general rules for building medical terms. Readers will also learn about terminology for medical records and the different healthcare settings. Chapter 2 presents terminology relating to the body organization, including organs and body systems. Here readers will first encounter word-building tables, a feature found in each remaining chapter that lists medical terms and their respective word parts.

Anatomy and Physiology Chapters
Chapters 3–13 are organized by body system. Each chapter begins with the System At A Glance feature, which lists combining forms, prefixes, and/or suffixes with their meanings and is followed by a System Illustrated overview of the organs in the system. The anatomy and physiology section is divided into the various components of the system, and each subsection begins with a list of key medical terms accompanied by a pronunciation guide. Key terms are boldfaced the first time they appear in the narrative. The Terminology section of each chapter begins with a list of all word parts used within the chapter. For ease of learning, the medical terms are divided into five separate sections: adjective forms of anatomical terms, pathology, diagnostic procedures, therapeutic procedures, and pharmacology. The word parts used to build terms are highlighted within each table. An abbreviations section then follows to complete the chapter.

Special Topics Chapter
Chapter 14 contains timely information and appropriate medical terms relevant to the following medical specialties: pharmacology, mental health, diagnostic imaging, rehabilitation services, surgery, and oncology. Knowledge of these topics is necessary for the well-rounded healthcare worker.

Appendices
The appendices contain helpful reference lists of word parts and definitions. This information is intended for quick access. There are three appendices: Word Parts Arranged Alphabetically and Defined, Word Parts Arranged Alphabetically by Definition, and Abbreviations. Finally, all of the key terms appear again in the combination glossary/ index at the end of the text.