AHS-1205-Medical Terminology

Course Description

This course encompasses the development and use of medical vocabulary, definitions, and medical abbreviations. Students will build medical terms through the use of prefixes, word roots, combining forms and suffixes.

Essential Objectives

By the end of the course, students will be able to: 

1. Demonstrate the use of word roots, combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes that form the majority of medical terms.
2. Define, spell, pronounce, and employ a fundamental vocabulary of medical terms.
3. Translate medical terminology from word/terms to abbreviations and from abbreviations to word/terms.
4. Relate appropriate medical terms to structures and functions of the human body and related body systems (e.g. musculoskeletal, immune, endocrine, nervous, respiratory, cardiovascular, and digestive).
5. Identify and define medical terms related to diseases and disorders.
6. Identify and define medical terms related to diagnostic and surgical procedures.
7. Demonstrate the proper use of a medical dictionary.
8. Demonstrate proficiency in understanding, interpreting, evaluating, and applying quantitative data and information.

Textbooks & Technology

Required Textbooks:

There are a couple of options for texts in our course. If you would like to purchase a book through the CCV Bookstore, please purchase Medical Terminology for Health Care Professionals (9th Edition) by Jane Rice.  If you would prefer to access a free, eBook through the Hartness Library, please access Medical Terminology Express : A Short-course Approach by Body System, Second edition (2015) by Gylys, Masters and O'Brien.  There will be reading instructions for both options in the module Readings & Resources pages. In addition to either option above, you will also access the following eBook from the Hartness Library for assignments: Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary (2012) by Dorland. 

Note from your Spring 2021 Instructor: I strongly encourage acquiring the Medical Terminology for Health Care Professionals 9th Edition so that you have a more recent, peer-reviewed foundation for your study of medical language. Medical terminology is not a static subject area and is more dynamic than some others in health sciences. There are constant changes in the use of medical terms as technology changes, medical science advances, and reimbursement platforms evolve. It is my hope that you will enter your future profession with the most current information available.

• If you would like to purchase a dictionary for future work, the college suggests: Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary, 23rd Edition, ISBN-13: 978-0-8036-5904-9. This is not required for the course.
• If you would like a light introduction to the topic, consider reviewing this free resource from the Hartness: Medical Terminology Made Incredibly Easy by David Woodruff
• Recommended:  For additional details pertaining to each body system, view the corresponding section “A&P Crash Course” videos available on YouTube!
• To keep up with changes in medical terminology, visit the Medical Terminology Blog

Modular Topics

• Module 1: Introduction to Medical Terminology
• Module 2: Body Structure & Medical Abbreviations
• Module 3: Cells & Tissues
• Module 4: The Integumentary System
• Module 5: The Special Senses
• Module 6: The Nervous System
• Module 7: Musculoskeletal System
• Module 8: Endocrine System
• Module 9: Mid-Term Examination
• Module 10: Cardiovascular System
• Module 11: Respiratory System
• Module 12: Blood, Lymph and Immune Systems
• Module 13: Digestive System and Nutrition
• Module 14: Urinary System
• Module 15: Reproductive System
• Module 16: Final Examination

Suggested Progression

This is a self-paced asynchronous course which means that students will be starting and progressing at different rates throughout the term. Once you feel like you have a strong handle on the material, and you have completed all of the assignments for the module, you should feel comfortable moving on, regardless of the pace, as long as you complete the course within the semester timeframe.  If you are starting at the beginning of the term, you could spend one week on each module to successfully complete the course within the term. If you are starting 7 weeks into the course, you could spend one week covering two modules so that you complete the course successfully within the term.
(Note: There is a 16th module in this course, so you will want to double up on modules for one week if you are starting at the beginning of the term. You may have to complete multiple modules per week if you are starting later in the term.)

Grading 

Your final grade will be based on the following assessments:

Assignments Overview

Your learning modules will consist of learning resources, demonstrate your learning forums, module assignments, and quizzes. You will also have a mid-term and final exam. In each module, you will create flashcards for the terminology used in the terminology self-tests and module terminology quizzes later in the module.  In most modules, you will have pathology self-tests where you will be provided with a guide to complete to help you work through it. Your modules will end with a terminology quiz that combines questions from the flashcards and pathologies in each module. The modules are set up so that you work through each resource and assignment sequentially so that you are set up for success by the time you hit the final module quiz.

Demonstrate Your Learning forums are a part of every learning module and most are post-first discussions which means that you will post your reply before seeing the replies of others. Discussions will be graded based on the following rubric:

Student Support & Policies

Please review the following policies and support services: