Word Parts & Roots
This prefix means "slow," as in a slow heart rate.
What is brady-?
Named after a Greek hero, this tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel.
What is the Achilles tendon?
Latin dietary abbreviation meaning "nothing by mouth."
What is NPO?
Combining forms referring to the heart and the lungs.
What are cardi/o and pneum/o (or pulmon/o)?
Translate: "ECG in ER STAT."
What is "Electrocardiogram in Emergency Room Immediately"?
This combining form means "blue" or bluish discoloration.
What is cyan/o?
Named for a pioneer, this emergency maneuver clears an obstructed airway with abdominal thrusts.
What is the Heimlich maneuver?
Order derived from "statim" meaning "immediately."
What is STAT?
Combining forms referring to the stomach and the liver.
What are gastr/o and hepat/o?
Translate: "To PT for ROM by w/c BID."
What is "To Physical Therapy for Range of Motion by wheelchair twice a day"?
This prefix means "difficult," "painful," or "bad."
What is dys-?
The reflex tested by stroking the sole of the foot to check for neurological dysfunction.
What is the Babinski sign (or reflex)?
Abbreviation meaning "as needed" (from Latin).
What is PRN?
Combining forms referring to the brain and the skull.
What are encephal/o and crani/o?
Translate prescription shorthand: "Rx: 3 tabs PO TID q8h."
What is "Take 3 tablets by mouth three times a day every 8 hours"?
This prefix means "between" or "among".
What is inter-?
The distal radius wrist fracture named after an Irish surgeon, often from falling on an outstretched hand.
What is a Colles' fracture?
The three abbreviations meaning twice a day, three times a day, and four times a day.
What are BID, TID, and QID?
Combining forms referring to bones and joints.
What are oste/o and arthr/o?
Which national organization issues the "Do Not Use" list of dangerous abbreviations?
What is The Joint Commission (TJC)?
This word means infection of the blood.
What is Septicemia?
This blood test detects antibodies on red blood cells and is named after a British immunologist.
What is the Coombs test?
Two-letter abbreviations in records for History, Diagnosis, and Prescription/Treatment.
What are Hx, Dx, and Rx?
Combining forms referring to skin and fat (two common roots for each).
What are derm/o (or dermat/o) and adip/o (or lip/o)?
Why are trailing zeros (e.g., 5.0 mg) banned according to Joint Commission safety standards?
What is "Because a missed decimal point can produce a 10-fold overdose"?