Revised 5/2025

HLT 143 - Medical Terminology (3 CR.)

Course Description

Provides an understanding of medical abbreviations and terms. Includes the study of prefixes, suffixes, word stems, and technical terms with emphasis on proper spelling, pronunciation, and usage. Lecture 3 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

HLT 143 is an introductory course which emphasizes the basic structure and function of the language of medicine and health professions.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

This is an Internet-based class requiring proficiency with and access to e-mail and the web and Microsoft Office.

Course Objectives

Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:

  • Communication
    • Pronounce basic medical terms.
    • Spell medical terms.
    • Identify and use correct medical terminology in writing and conversation
  • Critical Thinking
    • Relate basic anatomy and physiology of the body systems to medical terms.
    • Identify fundamental word structure as it relates to medical terms.
    • Divide medical terms into their component parts.
    • Define selected basic medical terms.
    • Apply medical terminology in clinical scenarios.
  • Information Literacy
    • Use a medical dictionary.
    • Utilize the Internet to research topics and locate resource information.
  • Scientific Reasoning
    • Combine prefixes, suffixes, and word roots to form medical terms.

Major Topics to Be Included

  • Body System Roots
    • Divide medical terms into their component parts.
    • Identify the meaning of basic body system root terms and how they are associated with prefixes and suffixes.
    • Use combining forms, suffixes, and prefixes to build medical terms.
  • Suffixes
    • Use suffixes with combining forms to build terms.
    • Explain what combining forms are and why they are used.
  • Prefixes
    • Define prefixes used in medical terminology.
    • Explain the role of a prefix in medical terminology.
  • Body Organization
    • Identify the main parts of a cell.
    • Identify body cavities and organs contained within those cavities.
    • Describe the terms that relate to positions, directions, and planes of the body.
    • Identify the anatomic and clinical divisions of the abdomen.
  • Applying Terminology Strategies
    • Apply strategies to interpret, build, and pronounce words using prefixes, suffixes, combining forms, and roots for various systems including but not limited to: cardiac, respiratory, digestive, neuro, musculoskeletal, and the renal systems.
    • Identify primary structures and basic functions of systems.
    • Explain procedures of laboratory and clinical tests, and abbreviations that pertain to the given systems.
    • Apply terminology to the construction and use of SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment and Plan) notes in clinical settings.