Free Online Medical Transcription Course

A. COMPLETE THE SENTECES OF THE FOLLOWING: 1. The foundation of a word is known as the ____________________. 2. Word endings are called ____________________. 3. Word beginning are called ____________________. 4. A letter linking a suffix and a root, or linking two roots, in a term is called the ____________________. B. GIVEN THE MEANINGS FOR THE FOLLOWING COMBINING FORMS: 1. cardi/o ____________________. 2. ade/o ____________________. 3. bi/o ____________________. 4. cerebr/o ____________________. 5. cephal/o ____________________. 6. arthr/o ____________________. 7. carcin/o ____________________. 8. cyst/o ____________________. 9. dermat/o ____________________. 10. derm/o ____________________. 11. encephal/o ____________________. 12. electr/o ____________________. C. GIVE THE MEANING OF THE FOLLOWING SUFFIXES: 1. -oma ____________________. 2. -al ____________________. 3. –itis ____________________. 4. –logy ____________________. 5. –scopy _______________...

An antigen is a substance, usually foreign to the body (such as a poison, virus, or bacterium), that stimulates the production of antibodies. Antibodies are protein substances made by white blood cells in response to the presence of foreign antigens. For example, the flu virus (antigen) enters the body, causing the production of antibodies in the bloodstream. These antibodies will then attach to and destroy the antigens (viruses) that produced them. The reaction between an antigen and an antibody is called an immune reaction (immune/o means protection). Another example of an antigen-antibody in the Rh condition. A person who is Rh+ has a protein coating (antigen) on his or her red blood cells (RBCs). This antigen factor is something that the person is born with and is normal for him or her. A person who is Rh- has normal RBCs as well, but they do not carry the Rh factor antigen. If an Rh- woman and Rh+ man conceive an embryo, the embryo may be Rh- or Rh+. A dangerous condition a...

As an medical transcription learner, you must know about more disease conditions and its causes, so I am trying to give you appendices of terms to improve your knowledge. In this lesson, we will learn what is acromegaly...ok WHAT IS ACROMEGALY? Acromegaly is an example of an endocrine disorder. The pituitary gland attached to the base of the brain produces an excessive amount of growth hormone after the completion of puberty. So, a person with Acromegaly is of abnormal height. Because the long bones have stopped growth after puberty, but has an abnormally large growth of bones and tissue in the hands, feet, and face. High levels of growth hormone before completion of puberty produce excessive growth of long bones (gigantism) as well as Acromegaly. Acromegaly (from Greek akros "extreme" or "extremities" and megalos "large" - extremities enlargement) is a syndrome that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone (hGH) after...

MORE NEW IMPORTANT PREFIXES 1. a-, an- means no, not, without apnea-no breathing anoxia-without oxygen 2. ab- means away from abnormal-away from normal 3. ad- means toward adduction-a muscle draws the body towards the median plane 4. ana- means up, apart anabolism-process of burning energy up 5. ante-before, forward antecebum-before meals anteflexion-bending forward antepartum-before delivery 6. anti- means against antisepsis- against infection 7. auto- means self, own autoimmune-immune protection 8. bi- means two bifurcation-dividing into two bilateral-two sides 9. brady- means slow bradycardia-slow heart beat 10. cata- means down catabolism- process of burning energy down 11. con- means with, together congenital anomaly-abnormal condition of childs connective-to connect 12. contra- means against, opposite contraindication-against indication contralateral-opposite sides 13. de- means down, lack of dehydration-lack of water in the body 14...

MORE NEW IMPORTANT COMBINING FORMS 1. carp/o means wrist bones. 2. cib/o means meals 3. cis/o means to cut 4. cost/o means rib 5. cutane/o means skin 6. dactyl/o means fingers, toes 7. duct/o means to lead, carry 8. flex/o means to bend 9. furc/o means forking, branching 10. glosso/o means tongue 11. glyco/o means sugar 12. immun/o means protection 13. morph/o means shape, form 14. mort/o means death 15. nat/i means birth 16. nect/o means to bind, tie, connect 17. norm/o means rule, order 18. ox/o means oxygen 19. seps/o means infection 20. somn/o means sleep 21. son/o means sound 22. the/o means to put, place 23. thyr/o means shield 24. top/o means place, position, location 25. tox/o means poison 26. trache/o means windpipe, trachea 27. urethr/o means urethra MORE NEW IMPORTANT SUFFIXES 1. –blast means embryonic, immature cells 2. –cyesis means pregnancy 3. –drome means to run 4. –fusion means to pour 5. –gen means pro...

Tonsils are lymphatic tissue in the throat. They contain white blood cells (lymphocytes) and function to filter and fight bacteria, but they can also become infected and inflamed. Streptococcal infection of the throat can cause tonsillitis, which leads to the procedure of tonsillectomy. Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils and will often, but not necessarily, cause a sore throat and fever. There are 3 main types of tonsillitis: acute, subacute and chronic. Acute tonsillitis can either be bacterial or viral in origin. Subacute tonsillitis is caused by the bacterium Actinomyces. Chronic tonsillitis, which can last for long periods if not treated, is almost always bacterial. Symptoms of tonsillitis include a severe sore throat (which may be experienced as referred pain to the ears), painful/difficult swallowing, crouch coughing, headache, fever and chills. Tonsillitis is characterized by signs of red, swollen tonsils which may have a purulent exudativ coating ...

In medicine, ischemia is a restriction in blood supply, generally due to factors in the blood vessels, with resultant damage or dysfunction of tissue. It may also be spelled ischaemia or ischæmia. Ischemia- Isch/o means hold back, -emia means blood from a part of the body. A tissue that becomes ischemic loses its normal flow of blood and becomes deprived of oxygen. The ischemia can be caused by mechanical injury to a blood vessel, by blood clots lodging in a vessel, or by the gradual closing off (occlusion) of a vessel owing to of fatty material. Rather than in hypoxia (less oxygen), a more general term denoting a shortage of oxygen (usually a result of lack of oxygen in the air being breathed), ischemia is an absolute or relative shortage of the blood supply to an organ. Relative shortage means the mismatch of blood supply (oxygen delivery) and blood request for adequate oxygenation of tissue. Ischemia results in tissue damage because of a lack of oxygen and nutrients...

Anemia means less number of erythrocytes or red blood cells in blood. qualitative or quantitative deficiency of hemoglobin, a molecule found inside red blood cells (RBCs). Since hemoglobin normally carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues, anemia leads to hypoxia (lack of oxygen) in organs. Since all human cells depend on oxygen for survival, varying degrees of anemia can have a wide range of clinical consequences. Anemia is also caused by a lack of iron in the body. The three main classes of anemia include excessive blood loss (acutely such as a hemorrhage or chronically through low-volume loss), excessive blood cell destruction (hemolysis) or deficient red blood cell production (ineffective hematopoiesis). Anemia is the most common disorder of the blood. There are several kinds of anemia, produced by a variety of underlying causes. Anemia can be classified in a variety of ways, based on the morphology of RBCs, underlying etiologic mechanisms, and discernible clinical spe...

Our bright red blood contains seven types of cells, such as: I. Red blood cells. II. White blood cells or leukocytes. III. Thrombocytes or platelets (clotting cells). We will see importance of each type of cell one by one now. I. Red blood cells or Erythrocytes: These cells are made in the bone marrow (soft tissue in the center of certain bones) and are necessary to carry oxygen from the lungs through the blood to all body cells. The oxygen is then used up by body cells in the process of converting food to energy (catabolism). Hemoglobin (globin is a protein) is an important protein in erythrocytes that carries the oxygen through the bloodstream. II. White Blood Cells or Leukocytes: Leukocytes are of two types. a). Granulocytes b). Agranulocytes Granulocyes- Granulocytes-these cells containing dark-staining granules in their cytoplasm, and these cells are formed in bone marrow. They are further divided into three types of cells such as A). Eosinophils-these ce...

We start this lesson with a tip, i.e. words ending in -us commonly form their plural by dropping the -us and adding -i. Thus, nucleus becomes nuclei and coccus becomes cocci (KOK-si). STREPTOCOCCUS: A Streptococcus is a beery-shaped bacterium that grows in twisted chains. One group of streptococci are responsible for such conditions as "strep" throat, tonsilitis, rheumatic fever, and certain kidney ailments, whereas another group cause infections in teeth, in the sinuses (cavities) of nose and face, and sometimes in the valves of the heart. The genus streptococcus is comprised of gram-positive, microaerophilic cocci (round), which are not motile and occur in chains or pairs. The genus is defined by a combination of antigenic, hemolytic, and physiological characteristics into groups a, b, c, d, f, and g. groups a and d can be transmitted to humans via food. STAPHYLOCOCCUS: A Staphylococcus is a bacterium that grows in small clusters, like grapes. S...

What is amniocentesis and what is amniotic fluid? The amnion is the sac (membrane) which surrounds the embryo (an embryo is the fetus of 8th week age) in the uterus. A fluid accumulates within this sac, which is called amniotic fluid and can be withdrawn through a process called amniocentesis. This can be done after the fetus growth at the stage of 13th week to analyze the fetus condition. In this process, after the fluid withdrawal, the fluid will be cultured, and the cells of the fetus in the fluid are grown, and then analyzed by microscopic process. What is the importance of amniocentesis in child birth? Using this method a karyotype or classification of chromosomes are done to analyze the chromosomes in those cells. The presence of high levels of certain chemicals may indicate defects if any in the developing spinal cord and spinal column of the fetus. How is amniocentesis is performed? Amniocentesis (also referred to as amniotic fluid test or AFT), is a...

TYPES OF HERNIAS:  INGUINAL HERNIA: This type of hernia occurs in the groin (the area between the abdomen and thigh). It is called inguinal because the intestines push through a weak spot in the inguinal canal, which is a triangle-shaped opening between layers of abdominal muscle near the groin. Obesity, pregnancy, heavy lifting, and straining to pass stool can cause the intestine to push against the inguinal canal. Symptoms of inguinal hernia: These may include a lump in the groin near the thigh, pain in the groin, and in severe cases, partial or complete blockage of the intestine. The doctor diagnoses hernia by doing a physical exam and by taking X-rays and blood tests to check for blockage in the intestine. Treatment: Repair of inguinal hernias done by using laparoscopic techniques. HIATAL HERNIA (HIATUS HERNIA): A hiatal hernia develops in a small opening in the diaphragm that allows the upper part of the stomach to move up into the chest. It causes...

In this lesson we will study about hernia in detail. This term is used often in medical transcription while doing files.  HERNIA:  Hernia is a protrusion or bulging forth, of an organ or the muscular wall of an organ through the cavity that normally contains it. The hernia has three parts: the orifice through which it herniates, the hernial sac, and its contents. CHARACTERISTICS OF HERNIA:  1. Congenital or acquired: congenital hernias occur prenatally or in the first year(s) of life, and are caused by a congenital defect, whereas acquired hernias develop later on in life. However, this may be on the basis of a locus minoris resistentiae (Lat. place of least resistance) that is congenital, but only becomes symptomatic later in life, when degeneration and increased stress (for example, increased abdominal pressure from coughing in COPD) provoke the hernia. 2. Complete or incomplete: for example, the stomach may partially herniate into the chest, or complet...

We now see some shorter suffixes used in medical language, which will be useful in medical transcription. 1. -er means one who- radiographer-person who record x-rays 2. -ia means condition leukemia-condition of increased WBC of cancerous nature pneumonia-disease condition of lungs 3. -ist means one who specializes in cardiologist-one who specializes in heart diseases neurologist-one who specializes in nerve diseases 4. -ole means little, small arteriole-small or little arteries 5. -ule means little, small venule-small or little vein 6. -um, -ium means structure, tissue, thing pericardium-strucutre surrounding the heart 7. -y means condition or process cardiomyopathy-disease condition of heart Now we see some adjective suffixes used in medical language useful for medical transcription. 1. -ac, -iac means pertaining to cardiac-pertaining to heart 2. -al means pertaining to peritoneal-pertaining to pericardium p...

1. –pathy means disease condition- cardiomyopathy-disease condition of the heart muscles 2. –penia means deficiency erythropenia-deficiency or RBC 3. –phobia means fear acrophobia-fear of heights agoraphobia- fear of crowds and market place 4. –plasia means development, formation, growth achondroplasia-malformation of cartilage of bones 5. –plasty means surgical repair angioplasty-surgical repair in the blood vessels 6. –ptosis means drooping, sagging blepharoptosis-sagging or falling of the eyelids 7. scleosis means hardening arteriosclerosis-hardening of blood vessels or arteries 8. –scope means instrument for visual examination laparascope-instrument for viewing abdomen 9. –scopy means process of visual examination laparoscrope-process of visual examination of the abdomen 10. –stasis means stopping, controlling metastasis-spreading beyond control 11. –stomy means opening to form a mouth tracheost...

Suffix or word ending is of two types i.e. NOUN SUFFIXES and ADJECTIVE SUFFIXES. Now we will the list of each one by one. These suffixes are used most common in medical transcription. Now we will see NOUN SUFFIXES. 1. -algia means pain- arthralgia-pain in the joints neuralgia-pain the nerves otalgia-pain in the ear myalgia-pain in the muscle 2. -cele means hernia rectocele-hernia in the rectum (for female) cystocele-hernia in the bladder 3. -centesis means surgical puncture to remove fluid thoracocentesis-puncture the chest to remove fluid amniocentesis-puncture of the abdomen (also known as paracentesis) 4. -coccus means berry-shaped streptococcus-a bacteria looked like twisted chain staphylococci-cluster shaped bacteria 5. -dynia means pain pleurodynia-pain of chest 6. -ectomy means excision, removal, resection laryngectomy-removal of voice box mastectomy-removal of breast 7. -emia means blood condition anemia-con...

In this lesson we will just go through the most commonly using combining form in medical transcription while doing live files 1. abdomin/o means adbomen 2. acr/o - extremities, top, extreme point 3. acu/o - sharp, severe, sudden 4. aden/o - gland 5. agor/o - market place 6. amni/o - amnion (a sac surrounding the embryo in the uterus) 7. angi/o - vessel 8. arteri/o - artery 9. arthr/o - joint 10. axill/o - armpit 11. blephar/o - eyelid 12. bronch/o - bronchial tubes (two tubes one on the right and one on the left that branch from the trachea to enter into lungs) 13. carcin/o - cancer 14. chem/o - drug, chemical 15. chondr/o - cartilage 16. chron/o - time 17. col/o - colon (large intestine) 18. cyst/o - urinary bladder 19. encephal/o - brain 20. hydr/o ...

MORE COMBINING FORMS, PREFIXES, AND SUFFIXES No --- Combining form---Meaning--- Medical term---Meaning 1. abdomin/o means abdomen-abdominal-pertaining to the abdomen 2. adip/o means fat-adipose- full of fat 3. anter/o means front-anterior-pertaining to front 4. bol/o means to cast-anabolism-to cast a process up 5. cervic/o means neck-cervical- body neck, or neck of the uterus 6. chondr/o means cartilage-chondroma-tumor of cartilage 7. chrom/o means color-chromosomes-bodies absorbing color in the body 8. coccyg/o means coccyx coccygeal petaining to tail bone 9. crani/o means skull-craniotomy-process of cutting the skull 10. cyt/o means cell-cytoplasm-formation of a cell 11. dist/o mean...

The HISORY AND PHYSICAL (H&P) is generated shortly before or after a patient is admitted to the hospital. This report usually contains: 1. Chief complaint or presenting problem 2. History of present illness which are the events leading to the patient’s hospitalization 3. Past medical history which is medical and surgical problems from childhood to the present, medications, and allergies 4. Family History which is the medical condition of parents and other family members• Social history which is the patient’s occupation, lifestyle, and habits 5. Review of systems which is the medical condition of the patient’s major organs• Physical examination EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT REPORTS are much like the initial office evaluation with the exception of the patient is seen and treated in an emergency department of a hospital or acute care clinic. Usually dictated are: 1. Presenting complaint 2. Present illness 3. Physical examination ...