50 Introduction to Medical Terminology
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
50 Introduction to Medical Terminology
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Treatment Defi nition
diskectomy
dis-KEK-toh-mee
Surgical removal of a herniated
(ruptured) vertebral disk.
open reduction and internal
fi xation (ORIF)
Surgical procedure involving the
use of steel rods, plates, or screws
to realign a severe bone fracture to
normal position.
orthosis
or-THOH-sis
orth/o = straight
-osis = abnormal condition
Straightening or correction of a
bone deformity.
osteoplasty
AHS-tee-oh-PLAS-tee
oste/o = bone
-plasty = surgical repair
Surgical correction of the bone.
osteotomy
AHS-tee-AH-tuh-mee
oste/o = bone
-tomy = process of cutting;
incision
Incision through the bone.
physical therapy Rehabilitation that focuses on
restoring physical function and
preventing disability.
prosthesis
prahs-THEE-sis
Artifi cial replacement for a missing
body part, such as an extremity
(arm or leg).
spondylosyndesis
SPAHN-dih-loh-sin-DEE-sis
spondyl/o = vertebra; backbone
syn- = together; with
-desis = to bind; tie together
Surgical fusion of joints (ankylosis)
between vertebrae; spinal fusion
(Figure 2.34).
tenotomy
teh-NAH-tuh-mee
ten/o = tendon
-tomy = process of cutting;
incision
Incision to, or cutting of, a tendon.
Therapeutic Drug Treatments
Injuries and illnesses of the skeletal system often require treatment
with medications. The following list includes common drugs and their
pharmacodynamics (actions in the body).
Drug Effect on Body
analgesic
AN-uhl-JEE-zik
Drug that relieves pain.
Figure 2.34 Spondylosyndesis.
What do you think is the
most commonly broken
bone in the human body?
Share your response with
your classmates, along
with an explanation for your
reasoning.
Ponder This
??
?