xvi Introduction to Medical Terminology
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
To the Student
Have you ever found yourself totally captivated by a medical program,
watching a surgery and listening to the conversation around the operating
room? Were you ever intrigued by the long, technical, multisyllable words
your healthcare provider used to describe a diagnosis or procedure you,
a family member, or a friend experienced? Do you already understand
common medical abbreviations such as EKG or STAT, and do you want to
learn more? Have you ever learned about a disease process by searching for
symptoms online?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, welcome to
Medical Terminology!
Medical terminology is the language of medicine and the
very foundation of understanding the world of healthcare. As
a future healthcare professional, you will benefi t from knowing
and understanding medical terminology, regardless of the area of
medicine you choose. The biomedical laboratory technician, the
certifi ed personal trainer, the X-ray technician, and the surgeon all
need a solid background in medical terminology. You will fi nd that
medical terminology is a useful tool in all future healthcare courses.
Our textbook is an excellent means for you to discover the basics
of medical terminology. Real-world Case Studies will challenge you to
think critically and evaluate your own interpretations of diagnoses
and treatments. You will fi nd yourself learning up-to-date, state-
of-the-art procedures with Team Challenge, Inquiring Minds, Student
Challenge, and Ponder This activities.
In each chapter, you will read an overview of the human anatomy
and physiology for a new body system, and you will study the
diseases and conditions related to that system. In addition, you will
learn about common diagnostic procedures, surgical procedures, and
therapeutic treatments for those diseases and conditions. Frequently
used medical abbreviations are listed and embedded in simulated
medical records so that you can practice using and interpreting the
same terms you will encounter in real-world healthcare settings. You
will also read about possible career options in each chapter.
As you learn about each body system, you will be exposed to terms
specifi c to that system. Soon you will notice that the beginnings,
ends, and core parts of long, diffi cult words begin to look familiar.
Your hard work and study will begin to pay off as repetition makes
your learning stick!
We hope you will love medical terminology as much as we do.
Enjoy the fascinating world of the language of medicine!
Linda Stanhope
Kimberly Turnbull