Understanding Medical Terminology: Origin, Pluralization, and Formation, Study notes of Latin

Download Understanding Medical Terminology: Origin, Pluralization, and Formation and more Study notes Latin in PDF only on Docsity! 1 Learning Terminology After studying this chapter, you will be able to: 1.1 Explain how medical terms are developed 1.2 Describe the process of pluralizing terms 1.3 Describe how to interpret pronunciation marks 1.4 Define the four word parts used to build medical terms 1.5 Define common medical combining forms 1.6 List basic legal and ethical issues for health-related professionals 1.7 Describe how medical documentation is compiled 1.8 Describe HIPAA in relation to allied health The Language of Medicine Many everyday terms that we use to describe our health and our medical care go back to the early history of civilization. The language of medicine dates to the time when people had only spoken language, not written. Like all people who followed after them, they gave names to parts of their bodies, to illnesses, and to the cures they used. Some of these names survive in the roots and words still used today in medical terminology. For example, the ancient Greeks thought of the disease we call “cancer” as something eating at a person on the inside, and so named the condition karkinos, meaning both crab and cancer. Medical terminology began to become standardized when Hippocrates (460–377 B.C. ), a Greek physician, set about to organize an approach to medicine. The Hippocratic oath that is generally attributed to him has been in use for over 2,000 years. The actual Hippocratic oath along with other information about the oath appears in the student online learning center at www.mhhe.com/medterm3e . Derivation of Medical Terminology Many medical terms originate directly from ancient Greek or Latin terms. Table 1-1 shows a sampling of words taken directly from those languages. Notice how the terms have retained their meaning over the centuries. Other languages form words in the same way. For example, the word nerve is derived from the Latin nervus. In Spanish, the word nervio is also derived 1 CHAPTER thi74725_ch01_001-022.indd 1 10/15/08 8:04:46 AM 2 Chapter 1 Learning Terminology from the same Latin word. (In the student online learning center ( www .mhhe.com/medterm3e ), you will find a Spanish-English glossary of some of the key terms used in this book. In many cases, you will find the words very similar to their English counterparts.) Later, people of many cultures used these ancient terms in their lan- guages. Even though the appearance of the words changed, the roots from which the words developed remained the original Greek or Latin terms. Over the ensuing centuries, people involved in medicine and the devel- opment of treatments tended to look for Greek or Latin words or roots to describe their newest discoveries. Hence, many medical terms used today are based on ancient Greek and Latin. Word building became and remains the primary way to describe new medical discoveries. The study of the origin of words is called etymology. General language terms tend to change dramatically. It takes a talented word detective to find the actual root of a word that has undergone centuries of change. Remem- ber that most languages, up until the last 500 years, were spoken by most of the population, but were available in written form to only a few. Although books had been around for many centuries, printed material was not avail- able to the general population until the advent of the printing press in the sixteenth century. Even then, it took some time for large numbers of people to become readers of newspapers, journals, and books. As spoken words are passed down through generations, pronunciations (and even meanings) often change. An example is the word heart. It is derived from Old Eng- lish heorte, which ultimately comes from an early Germanic word, related to Greek kardia, meaning heart, and found in words like cardiac, cardiology, and cardiogram. The change in medical terms has generally been less drastic. Most people who have studied medicine since Greek and Roman times have also studied the Latin and Greek languages as part of learning medical terminol- ogy. So, a suffix, - tomy, which means “cutting,” may be used in modern types of surgery ( phlebotomy, incision into a vein), but the basic meaning is still the original one, “cutting.” Throughout this text, you will learn the parts of words that enable you to understand many medical terms. TABLE 1–1 Derivations of Terms Modern Term Historical Derivation artery Latin arteria; Greek arteria cardi(o), the heart Greek kardia cell Latin cella, chamber gene Greek genos, birth hernia Latin hernia, rupture ligament Latin ligamentum nerve Latin nervus sinus Latin sinus, cavity tendon Latin tendo vein Latin vena thi74725_ch01_001-022.indd 2 10/15/08 8:04:50 AM Chapter 1 Learning Terminology 5 In this text, there are two ways we help you learn to pronounce words. First, we capitalize one syllable of all words with two or more syllables so you can tell where the heaviest accent falls. For example, the word femoral is pronounced FEM-or-al, with the accent on the first syllable. Next, we add marks, called diacritical marks, to the vowels to guide you in pronouncing them. Vowels are either long or short, as shown in Table 1-3 . Long and short vowels are just a guide to help you pronounce the words correctly. English dictionaries have much more extensive pronunciation sys- tems, with many degrees of vowel sounds. For the purposes of learning medi- cal terminology, long and short marks provide enough guidance. Some spelling differences occur in different fields of allied health. For example, medical transcriptionists follow AAMT (The American Association for Medical Transcription) style. In this style, diseases, procedures, and condi- tions that are named after people are spelled without the possessive form. For example, Alzheimer's disease is spelled Alzheimer disease and Fontan's operation is spelled Fontan operation. The AMA (American Medical Association) has also adopted this practice. However, U.S. government Websites still use the possessive form, as do most organizations (for example, Alzheimer's Founda- tion of America). Appendix F gives some examples of these style differences. TABLE 1–3 Pronunciation Guide Vowel Long () or Short ( ˘ ) Examples of Pronunciation a long a pace, plate, atrium e long e feline, easy, beat i long i dine, line, I, bite o long o boat, wrote, rose u long u cute, cube a short 5 rap, cat, mar e short 6 ever, pet i short 7 pit, kitten o short 8 pot, hot u short 9 put, cut PRONUNCIATION EXERCISES Saying What You Mean In the following list of words, the accented syllable is shown in capital letters. The vowels need a long or short mark added. As an exercise in how familiar you already are with medical words, add the diacritical marks to the vowels. Check the answers at the end of the chapter. 10. hemoglobin [HE-mo-GLO-bin] 11. lymphoma [lim-FO-ma] 12. neuritis [nu-RI-tis] 13. osteoporosis [OS-te-o-po-RO-sis] 6. anemia [a-NE-me-a] 7. angioplasty [AN-je-o-plas-te] 8. bursitis [ber-SI-tis] 9. disease [di-ZEZ] thi74725_ch01_001-022.indd 5 10/15/08 8:04:52 AM 6 Chapter 1 Learning Terminology Forming Medical Terms Many medical terms are formed from two or more word parts. There are four word parts to learn about in the study of medical terminology.  A word root is the fundamental portion of a word that contains the basic meaning. For example, the word root cardi means “heart.”  Combining forms are the word root and a combining vowel that enable two parts to be connected. For example, the word root cardi  the combining vowel -o- can form words relating to the basic mean- ing “heart,” such as cardiology, the practice that studies, diagnoses, and treats disorders of the heart. It is often easier to understand medical terms by looking at the suffix first. Thus, -logy, the study of, plus the prefix cardio- gives you a quick understanding of the definition.  Prefixes are word parts attached to the beginning of a word or word root that modify the meaning of that word root. For example, the pre- fix peri -, meaning “around, near, surrounding,” helps to form the word pericardium, meaning “around or surrounding the heart.” Common prefixes used in medical terminology are discussed in Chapter 2 as well as in the body systems chapters.  Suffixes are word parts attached to the end of a word or word root that modify the meaning of that word root. For example, the suffix - oid, meaning “like or resembling,” helps to form the word fibroid, meaning “made of fibrous tissue.” Common suffixes used in medical terminology are discussed in Chapter 2 as well as in the body systems chapters. By familiarizing yourself with the word parts in this chapter and in Chapters 2 and 3, you will find the separate chapters about body systems eas- ier to understand. Once you have learned the basic words, combining forms, and word parts in the systems chapters, you will be able to define many of the medical terms you will encounter as a health care professional. Word Roots and Combining Forms Most medical word roots come directly from Greek and Latin terms. The history of a word is called its etymology. The list that follows includes com- mon medical combining forms with meanings that are not specifically part of a body system or may apply both to general terms and to specific body sys- tems. (Body systems combining forms are discussed in later chapters.) Many of the combining forms in this chapter form medical terms when used with word parts or other terms. In Chapter 2, you will study prefixes and suffixes. Once you master all three basic word parts, along with roots, you will have the basic tools necessary for understanding medical terms. 14. paraplegia [par-a-PLE-je-a] 15. pulse [puls] 16. radiation [ra-de-A-shun] 17. reflex [RE-fleks] 18. retina [RET-i-na] 19. rheumatism [RU-ma-tizm] 20. sciatica [si-AT-i-ka] 21. septum [SEP-tum] 22. sinus [SI-nus] 23. therapy [THAR-a-pe] 24. typhoid [TI-foyd] 25. vaccine [VAK-sen] thi74725_ch01_001-022.indd 6 10/15/08 8:04:53 AM Chapter 1 Learning Terminology 7 COMBINING FORM MEANING EXAMPLE acanth(o) spiny; thorny acanthoid [5-K0N-th8yd], spine-shaped actin(o) light actinotherapy [0K-t7n-o-THAR-5-pe], ultraviolet light therapy used in dermatology aer(o) air; gas aerogen [AR-o-j6n], gas-producing microorganism alge, algesi, algio, algo pain algospasm [0L-go-sp5zm], pain caused by a spasm amyl(o) starch amylophagia [0M-7-lo-FA-je-5], abnormal craving for starch andro masculine androblastoma [0N-dro-bl5s-TO-m5], testicular tumor athero plaque; fatty substance atheroma [5th-6r-O-m5], swelling on the surface of an artery from a fatty deposit bacill(i) bacilli; bacteria bacilliform [b5-S2L-7-f8rm], rod-shaped like a bacterium bacteri(o) bacteria bacteriogenic [b5k-TER-e-o-J1N-7k], caused by bacteria bar(o) weight; pressure barostat [B0R-o-st5t], pressure-regulating device bas(o), basi(o) base basophilic [BA-so-F2L-7k], having an affinity for basic dyes (said of tissue) bio- life biopsy [BI-8p-se], sampling of tissue from living patients blasto immature cells glioblastoma [GLI-o-bl5s-TO-m5], growth consisting of immature neural cells cac(o) bad; ill cacomelia [k5k-o-ME-le-5], congenital limb deformity calc(o), calci(o) calcium calcipenia [k5l-s7-PE-ne-5], calcium deficiency carcin(o) cancer carcinogen [k5r-S2N-o-j6n], cancer-producing substance chem(o) chemical chemolysis [k6m-3L-7-s7s], chemical decomposition chlor(o) chlorine, green chloruresis [klo-yu-RE-s7s], excretion of chloride in urine chondrio, chondro cartilage, grainy, gritty chondrocyte [K3N-dro-sit], cartilage cell chore(o) dance choreoathetosis [KOR-e-o-5th-6-TO-s7s], abnormal body movements chrom, chromat, chromo color chromatogenous [kro-m5-T3J-6-n9s], producing color chrono time chronometry [kro-N3M-6-tre], measurement of time intervals thi74725_ch01_001-022.indd 7 10/15/08 8:04:53 AM 10 Chapter 1 Learning Terminology COMBINING FORM MEANING EXAMPLE immun(o) safe; immune immunodeficient [2M-yu-no-de-F2SH-6nt], lacking in some essential immune function kal(i) potassium kalemia [k5-LE-me-5], presence of potassium in the blood karyo nucleus karyolysis [k5r-e-3L-7-s7s], destruction of a cell nucleus ket(o), keton(o) ketone; acetone ketogenesis [ke-to-J1N-6-s7s], metabolic production of ketones kin(o), kine movement kinesthesia [K2N-6s-THE-zhe-5], perception of movement kinesi(o), kineso motion kinesiology [k7-ne-se-3L-o-je], study of movement kyph(o) humpback kyphoscoliosis [KI-fo-sko-le-O-s7s], kyphosis combined with scoliosis lact(o), lacti milk lactogen [L0K-to-j6n], agent that stimulates milk production latero lateral, to one side lateroduction [L0T-6r-o-D4K-sh9n], movement to one side lepto light, frail, thin leptomeninges [l6p-to-m6-N2N-jez], two delicate layers of meninges leuk(o) white leukoblast [LU-ko-bl5st], immature white blood cell lip(o) fat lipoblast [L2-po-bl5st], embryonic fat cell lith(o) stone lithotomy [l7-TH3T-o-me], operation for removal of stones log(o) speech, words, thought logopathy [l8g-3P-5-the], speech disorder lys(o) dissolution lysemia [li-SE-me-5], dissolution of red blood cells macr(o) large; long macromelia [m5k-ro-ME-le-5], abnormally sized limb medi(o) middle; medial plane mediolateral [ME-de-o-L0T-6r-5l], relating to the medial plane and one side of the body meg(a), megal(o) large; million megaloencephaly [M1G-5-lyo-6n-S1F-5-le], abnormally large brain melan(o) black; dark melanoderma [M1L-5-no-D1R-m5], abnormal skin darkening mes(o) middle; median mesocephalic [M1Z-o-s6-F0L-7k], having a medium-sized head micr(o) small; one-millionth; tiny microorganism [MI-kro-OR-g5n-7zm], tiny organism thi74725_ch01_001-022.indd 10 10/15/08 8:04:55 AM Chapter 1 Learning Terminology 11 COMBINING FORM MEANING EXAMPLE mio smaller; less miopragia [mi-o-PRA-je-5], lessened functional activity morph(o) structure; shape morphology [mor-F3L-o-je], study of the structure of animals and plants narco sleep; numbness narcolepsy [N0R-ko-l6p-se], sleep disorder necr(o) death; dying necrology [n6-KR3L-o-je], study of the cause of death noct(i) night nocturia [n8k-TU-re-a], urination at night normo normal normocyte [NOR-mo-sit], normal red blood cell nucle(o) nucleus nucleotoxin [NU-kle-o-T3K-s7n], poison that acts upon a cell nucleus nyct(o) night nyctalopia [n7k-t5-LO-pe-5], reduced ability to see at night oncho, onco tumor oncolysis [8ng-K3L-7-s7s], destruction of a tumor orth(o) straight; normal orthodontics [or-tho-D3N-t7ks], dental specialty concerned with correction of tooth placement oxy sharp; acute; oxygen oxyphonia [8k-se-FON-ne-5], shrillness of voice pachy thick pachyonychia [P0K-e-o-N2K-e-5], abnormal thickening of the nails path(o) disease pathogen [P0TH-o-j6n], disease-causing substance phago eating; devouring; swallowing phagocyte [F0G-o-sit], cell that ingests bacteria and other particles pharmaco drugs; medicine pharmacology [F0R-m5-K3L-o-je], the science of drugs, including their sources, uses, and interactions phon(o) sound; voice; speech phonometer [fo-N3M-6-t6r], instrument for measuring sound phot(o) light photometer [fo-T3M-6-t6r], instrument for measuring light physi, physio physical; natural physiotherapy [F2Z-e-o-THAR-5-pe], physical therapy physo air; gas; growing physocele [FI-so-sel], swelling due to gas phyt(o) plant phytoxin [fi-to-T3K-s7n], substance from plants that is similar to a bacterial toxin plasma, plasmo formative; plasma plasmapheresis [PL0Z-m5-f6-RE-s7s], separation of blood into parts thi74725_ch01_001-022.indd 11 10/15/08 8:04:56 AM 12 Chapter 1 Learning Terminology COMBINING FORM MEANING EXAMPLE poikilo varied; irregular poikilocyte [P3Y-k7-lo-sit], irregularly shaped red blood cell pseud(o) false pseudodiabetes [SU-do-di-5-BE-tez], false positive test for sugar in the urine pyo pus pyocyst [PI-o-s7st], cyst filled with pus pyreto fever pyretogenous [pi-r6-T3J-6-n9s], causing fever pyro fever; fire; heat pyrogenic [pi-ro-J1N-7k], causing fever radio radiation; x-ray; radius radiography [RA-de-3G-r5-fe], x-ray examination salping(o) tube salpingectomy [s5l-p7n-J1K-to-me], removal of the fallopian tube schisto split schistocytosis [SK2S-to-si-TO-s7s], bladder fissure schiz(o) split; division schizophrenia [sk7z-o-FR1-ne-5, sk7ts-o-FR1- ne-5], a spectrum of mental disorders often with a disorder in perception scler(o) hardness; hardening scleroderma [skler-o-D1R-m5], thickening and hardness of the skin scolio crooked; bent scoliometer [sko-le-3M-6-t6r], instrument for measuring curves scoto darkness scotograph [SKO-to-gr5f], appliance for helping the blind to write sidero iron sideropenia [S2D-6r-o-PE-ne-5] abnormally low level of iron in the blood sito food; grain sitotoxin [si-to-T3K-s7n], any food poison somat(o) body somatogenic [SO-m5-to-J1N-7k], originating in the body somn(o), somni sleep somnambulism [s8m-N0M-byu-l7zm], sleepwalking sono sound sonomotor [s8n-o-MO-t6r], relating to movements caused by sound spasmo spasm spasmolytic [SP0Z-mo-L2T-7k], agent that relieves spasms spher(o) round; spherical spherocyte [SFER-o-sit], spherical red blood cell spir(o) breath; breathe spiroscope [SPI-ro-skop], device for measuring lung capacity squamo scale; squamous squamofrontal [SKWA-mo-FR3N-t5l], relating to the squamous part of the frontal bone thi74725_ch01_001-022.indd 12 10/15/08 8:04:56 AM Chapter 1 Learning Terminology 15 41. homeostasis 42. radiology 43. necrosis 44. dysphagia Completing the Terms Using one or more of the following combining forms, complete the word that best fits the definition given below. If you have difficulty understanding some of the word parts, refer to Chapter 2. angi(o) burs(o) carcin(o) cry(o) cyst(o) cyt(o) erythr(o) fibr(o) glyc(o) gynec(o) hypn(o) immun(o) later(o) lip(o) lith(o) lymph(o) macr(o) medi(o) neur(o) oste(o) 45. condition of red blood cells: osis 46. cancerous tumor: oma 47. ultrasound examination of the bladder: graphy 48. examination of a cell: scopy 49. cold therapy: therapy 50. pertaining to one side: al 51. deficiency of sugar: penia 52. large enough to be examined with the naked eye: scopic 53. breakdown of fats: lysis 54. altered state of consciousness resembling sleep: osis 55. toward the middle: ad 56. impairment or insufficient development of immune response: compromised 57. branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis of disorders affecting women: ology 58. resembling or made of fibers or fibrous tissue: oid 59. surgical crushing of a stone: tripsy 60. abnormal thinning and degeneration of the bone: porosis 61. inflammation of the bursa: itis 62. nerve inflammation: itis 63. surgical repair of a vessel: plasty 64. mass or tumor made of lymph tissue: oma thi74725_ch01_001-022.indd 15 10/15/08 8:04:59 AM For more information about the Patient's Bill of Rights, go to the Ameri- can Hospital Association's Web site (www.aha.org). 16 Chapter 1 Learning Terminology Legal and Ethical Issues Health care workers share some special obligations, both legally and ethi- cally. Many legal decisions have upheld the right of patients to privacy in the health care setting. Patients also have the right to sue over maltreatment. Ethical standards require that patients and their families are treated fairly. “Fair” may include giving the best care, keeping clear records, or respect- ing patients’ rights. The American Hospital Association's Patient's Bill of Rights gives twelve guidelines for medical staff, administrative personnel, and patients. Although these are specifically meant for hospitals, most of the following guidelines provide a clear, ethical standard for patients’ rights in all health care settings. e The right to considerate and respectful care. © The right to relevant, current, and understandable information about their diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. e The right to make decisions about the planned care and the right to refuse care. © The right to have an advance directive (such as a living will) concern- ing treatment if they become incapacitated. e The right to privacy in all procedures, examinations, and discussions of treatment. e The right to confidential handling of all information and records about their care. © The right to look over and have all records about their care explained. e The right to suggest changes in the planned care or to transfer to another facility. e The right to be informed about the business relationships among the hospital and other facilities that are part of the treatment and care. e The right to decide whether to take part in experimental treatments. e The right to understand their care options after a hospital stay. ¢ The right to know about the hospital's policies for settling disputes and to examine and receive an explanation of all charges. Asa worker in health care, you may be a clinical worker who provides direct care, or you may be an administrative worker who usually has access to, or responsibility for, patient records. In either case, the adherence to all legal and ethical standards is a fundamental requirement of your job. Many issues are legislated differently around the country. You must follow the rules of the state and institution for which you work. Never take it upon yourself to make medical decisions for which you have not been trained and are not qualified. HIPAA and Allied Health Professions In 1996, Congress passed the Health Insurance Portability and Account- ability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). This law protects health insurance cover- age for workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs. The act also requires the Department of Health and Human Services to Chapter 1 Learning Terminology 17 The Crestview Walk-In Medical Center is a nonemer- gency clinic. It employs three doctors, four nurses, three medical assistants, and two receptionists. All twelve employees have access to the many patient records kept in the files and in the computers at Crestview. The small conference room at the back of the facility doubles as a lunchroom. Most of the staff bring their snacks and lunches to work because Crestview is in a suburban neighborhood that does not have many stores or restau- rants nearby. All the employees have one thing in common—the patients. When they gather in the conference room for meetings, the teams discuss how to handle their cases. However, when the room becomes a lunchroom, all CASE STUDY Working in Health Care patient discussion stops. The facility has a strict policy that allows discussion of cases only in a professional setting. Everyone observes the ethical and legal codes that forbid staff from discussing cases outside the facility and outside the domain of a work situation. Critical Thinking 65. Why should the facility have a policy about discussing specific cases among the staff? What should it be? 66. Based on what you understand about the roles of the physicians, nurses, medical assistants, and receptionists, who do you think should have access to patient files? establish national standards for electronic health care transactions and national identifiers such as personal identification numbers (or PINS) for providers, health plans, and employers. It also addresses the security and privacy of health data. The goal of the law is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the nation's health care system by encouraging the wide- spread use of electronic data interchange in health care. There are a number of Web sites where you can learn about HIPAA ( www.cms. gov ; www.hhs.gov ). You can also do a search for the keyword HIPAA and you will come up with many more sites. MORE ABOUT . . . HIPAA and Privacy The following are examples of possible violations of patient privacy under HIPAA regulations and some suggestions about how to avoid them.  Telephone conversations with (or regarding) patients should not be held within earshot of the reception room or other patients. This is why phone triage is set apart from patient areas.  A conversation with the patient being escorted down the hall to the exam or treatment room should not include the reason the patient is being seen, how treatment is progressing, or whether they followed the prep instructions for this visit. Limit the conversation until there is a private environment.  Patient records, documents, telephone messages, lab reports, etc. should be sorted, processed, and/or filed promptly. If there is a need to retain the documents for processing or reference, the documents should be stored in an area apart from patient flow.  When scheduling a procedure by phone, it should be done away from areas of high traffic, preferably in a private office. thi74725_ch01_001-022.indd 17 10/15/08 8:04:59 AM 20 Chapter 1 Learning Terminology SNOMED Many health care providers and government agencies are involved in an international attempt to standardize medical terminology for use in elec- tronic medical records. The adoption of SNOMED ( S ystematized No men- clature of Med icine) Clinical Terms ® , better known as SNOMED CT ® , is a major step toward this goal. Eventually, it is expected that all medical cod- ing and electronic transfer of medical data will use SNOMED as the basis for medical terms. SNOMED is gradually being standardized and is being uploaded into a database on the Internet continually. It is available in a number of languages. Currently, it is in use in Britain. It is expected that people who do medical coding will be using it for electronic records in the United States in the near future. ICD-9 and ICD-10 The set of diagnosis codes in the coding reference called The International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification is the current standard for coding patient records and death certificates. Eventually, it is thought that ICD will be combined with SNOMED once all healthcare records are electronic. The World Health Organization (WHO) developed the ICD CM sys- tem. The numeric reference indicates what edition is being used within the system. ICD-10CM and ICD-10PCS (Professional Coding System prepared by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid) are currently available; however, the United States is not currently using the new updated classifications. More information on ICD-10 can be found at: www.ahima.org . For more information, visit SNOMED's Web site ( www.snomed.org ). FIGURE 1-4 A medical record of a gastroscopy, a surgical procedure. thi74725_ch01_001-022.indd 20 10/15/08 8:05:04 AM Chapter 1 Learning Terminology 21 Abbreviations Throughout this text, you will learn common medical abbreviations. In recent years, several organizations have come out with recommendations regarding the use of certain abbreviations that have caused confusion. See Appendix for more details on the use of abbreviations in the medical setting. U SING M EDICAL T ERMINOLOGY E XERCISES Analyzing the Record Write S for subjective, O for objective, A for assessment, and P for plan after each of the following phrases. 67. I feel nauseous 68. Allergy medicine prescribed 69. Has dermatitis (rash) 70. My arm aches 71. Has hypertension Check Your Knowledge Circle T for true of F for false. 72. Nurses never add to a patient's record. T F 73. A medical assistant should be able to decipher the doctor's notes. T F 74. Rules of confidentiality apply to patient records. T F 75. Objective information is always given by the patient. T F 76. A plan for treatment must never be changed. T F 77. HIPAA governs the Patient's Bill of Rights. T F 78. SNOMED is used widely in the United States. T F 79. Privacy in the medical office is the responsibility of everyone who works there. T F 80. Combining forms are the same as prefixes. T F 81. A word's history is called its etymology. T F U SING THE I NTERNET 82. At the Electronic Privacy Information Center site ( http://epic.org/privacy/medical/ ), you will find discussions of current cases, articles, and advice on safeguarding medical records. Click one of the site's topics. Write a paragraph explaining the issue being discussed. 83. Using a search engine, find a site that discusses medical errors and gives details of one type of medical error that you find. thi74725_ch01_001-022.indd 21 10/15/08 8:05:05 AM Name Date Chapter 1: Test of Pluralizing (25 Questions, 1 pt. each) Give the plurals for the following terms. Where possible, give two different plurals. 1. carcinoma 2. frenulum 3. serum 4. psychosis 5. virus 6. septum 7. femur 8. kidney 9. tongue 10. urethra 11. ureter 12. malignancy 13. leukocyte 14. nucleus 15. reflex 16. tremor 17. venogram 18. suture 19. macula 20. thrombus 21. tricuspid 22. respiration 23. antibiotic 24. fungus 25. palate