BASIC MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY SUBCOURSE ... - EnglishZone

Lesson Materials Furnished:
Lesson materials provided include this booklet, an examination answer sheet, and an
envelope. Answer sheets are not provided for individual lessons in this subcourse
because you are to grade your own lessons. Exercises and solutions for all lessons are
contained in this booklet. You must furnish a #2 pencil.
Procedures for Subcourse Completion:
You are encouraged to complete the subcourse lesson by lesson. When you have
completed all of the lessons to your satisfaction, fill out the examination answer sheet and
mail it to the Army Medical Department Center and School along with the Student
Comment Sheet in the envelope provided. Be sure that your social security number is on
all correspondence sent to the Army Medical Department Center and School. You will be
notified by return mail of the examination results. Your grade on the exam will be your
rating for the subcourse.
Purpose:
This programmed instruction subcourse has been prepared for use by students in the
medical field. It is designed to help you obtain a knowledge of basic medical terminology.
It is NOT intended to be complete or comprehensive. There are numerous textbooks on
medical terminology for those students desiring a more complete study of the subject. You
are encouraged to continue your study of medical terminology after completing this basic
orientation to medical terminology.
This booklet may be written in and retained by the student for future reference. The
glossary, pronunciation guide, and list of abbreviations will be a useful reference document.
The final goal or terminal learning objective of this subcourse is that you be able to
convert a medical term into lay terminology. This means that when you are given the
definition of a medical term, you will be able to identify the proper medical term or, when
you are you given the medical term, you will be able to identify the proper definition.
Using the Dictionary:
As you work in the medical field, you will hear and see unfamiliar medical terms.
Many times you will have access to a medical dictionary. You need to know how to use a
dictionary properly. Most dictionaries have the basic characteristics described below:
a. Guide Words. The two large words printed at the top of each page are called
"guide words." These words identify the first and last words entered alphabetically on that
page, and their use will speed up your process of locating a word. The introduction to the
dictionary will tell you how words are alphabetized in that particular dictionary.
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