Medical Terminology

Learning a new language can be a daunting task. In this resource, we offer a method for breaking down medical words that takes that daunting task and makes it manageable. What is required from you is a commitment to memorizing the word parts, learning the rules, and identifying the rebels. Once you meet that commitment we will show you how to apply the rules to the word parts you have memorized. As you memorize the language components of medical terminology it is important to support that learning with the context of anatomy and physiology. Consider where in the body the medical term is referencing and then how it works within the body. This will build a medical terminology foundation that you can continue to grow in your future health-care courses.

The introductory anatomy and physiology content of this OER has been adapted from the OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology OER by Betts, et al., which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Following OpenStax’s leadership and in the spirit of OPEN education we have licensed this OER with the same license.

This book was then adapted in 2021 from the eCampusOntario’s version of Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by K. Carter and M. Rutherford which is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. The Lakeshore Technical College team modified this version of the textbook based on the Wisconsin Technical College System course competencies for Medical Terminology. We later added on faculty contributors from Gateway Technical College and Milwaukee Area Technical College as well as a librarian project manager from Western Technical College.

Students: this OER is different than many traditional medical terminology textbooks. The interactive content is built into each chapter. In this resource you will work through each body system that includes word parts, whole medical terms, and common abbreviations associated with that particular body system. At the end of each body system chapter is a vocabulary list of associated terms related to that body system. The interactive reinforcement activities require you to click, drag and drop, listen and repeat, flip, and test yourself.

Faculty and teaching staff: while this OER was curated and created for Medical Terminology students in a technical college system, our hope is that you will take this OER and customize it for your program and share again.

In Fall of 2020, this OER textbook was adapted to be used by the Wisconsin Technical College System for their Medical Terminology course. A team of instructors and librarians from across the 16 technical colleges collaborated to get this open education resource (OER) book adapted specifically for Wisconsin Technical College students so they could take the Medical Terminology course with no additional textbook costs!

We wish to recognize the work of our students whose dedication, creation of activities, and commitment to reviewing interactive activities throughout development of this resource was invaluable. Additional thanks for examining content and providing feedback from the student perspective. Thank you for paying it forward for future students.

• Tiffany Hunt BSc., Conestoga College ITAL
• Heather Scudder, Georgian College CAAT
• Gisele Tuzon, Georgian College CAAT
• Alyssa Arsenault, Conestoga College ITAL