Identify meanings of key word components of the sensory systems

Prefixes

bi- (two

bin- (two)

a- (absence of, without, no, not, negates meaning)

an- (absence of, without, no, not negates meaning)

endo- (within, in)

Combining Forms

acous/o (hearing)

audi/o (hearing)

audit/o (hearing)

aur/o (ear)

aur/i (ear)

blephar/o (eyelid)

cochle/o (cochlea)

conjunctiv/o (conjunctiva)

cor/o (pupil)

corne/o (cornea)

core/o (pupil)

cry/o (cold)

cyst/o (bladder, sac or cyst)

dacry/o (tear, tear duct)

dipl/o (two, double)

ir/o (iris)

irid/o (iris)

is/o (equal)

kerat/o (cornea)

labyrith/o (labyrinth, inner ear)

lacrim/o (tear, tear duct)

mastoid/o (mastoid bone)

myring/o (tympanic membrane, eardrum)

ocul/o (eye)

ophthalm/o (eye)

opt/o (vision)

ossicul/o (ossicle)

ot/o (ear)

phac/o (lens)

phak/o (lens)

phot/o (light)

pupill/o (pupil)

retin/o (retina)

salping/o (tube)

scler/o (sclera)

staped/o (stapes, middle ear)

ton/o (tension, pressure)

tympan/o (tympanic membrane, middle ear)

vestibul/o (vestibule)

Suffixes

–al (pertaining to)

-algia (pain)

-ar (pertaining to)

-ary (pertaining to)

-eal (pertaining to)

-ectomy (excision or surgical removal)

-gram (record, radiographic image)

-graphy (process of recording)

-ia (condition of, diseased or abnormal state)

-ic (pertaining to)

-itis (inflammation)

-logist (specialist or physician who studies and treats)

-logy (study of)

-malacia (softening)

-meter (instrument used to measure)

-metry (process of measuring)

-oma (tumor, swelling)

-opia (vision as it relates to condition)

-osis (abnormal condition)

-pathy (disease)

-pexy (surgical fixation)

-phobia (abnormal fear, aversion to specific things)

-plasty (surgical repair)

-plegia (paralysis)

-ptosis (prolapse, drooping, sagging)

-rrhea (flow, discharge)

-sclerosis (hardening)

-scope (instrument used to view)

-scopy (process of viewing)

-stomy (creation of artificial opening)

-tomy (incision, cut into)

Apply the rules of medical language to pronounce, break into word parts, and define the following terms.

Label each word part by using the following abbreviations:

P = Prefix
WR = Word Root
CV = Combining Vowel
S = Suffix
CF = Combining Form

Example: osteoarthropathy (ä-stē-ō-är-THROP-ă-thē) – disease of bone and joint

WR     CV    WR     CV     S

oste / o / arthr / o /pathy

     CF               CF

Practice pronouncing and defining these medical terms that are not easily broken into word parts.

amblyopia (am-blē-Ō-pē-ă)

anosmia (a-NOZ-mē-ă)

astigmatism (Ast) (ă-STIG-mă-tizm)

cataract (KAT-ă-rakt)

hyperopia (hī-pĕr-Ō-pē-ă)

myopia (mī-Ō-pē-ă)

nyctalopia (nik-ta-LŌ-pē-ă)

optician (ŏp-TĬSH-ăn)

optometrist (ŏp-TŎM-ĕ-trĭst)

presbycusis (prez-bĭ-KŪ-sĭs)

presbyopia (prez-bī-Ō-pē-ă)

sty (stī)

visual acuity (VA) (VIZH-u-ăl ă-KŪ-ĭt-ē)

Practice pronouncing and defining these commonly abbreviated sensory system terms.

Sort the terms from the word lists above into the following categories.

• Disease and Disorder (terms describing any deviation from normal structure and function)
• Diagnostic (terms related to process of identifying a disease, condition, or injury from its signs and symptoms)
• Therapeutic (terms related to treatment or curing of diseases)
• Anatomic (terms related to body structure)

Use terms related to the sensory system.

Label the following sensory system ear anatomy.

auricle | cochlea | cochlear nerve | ear canal | eustachian tube | external ear | incus | inner ear | malleus | middle ear | round window | stapes (attached to oval window) | tympanic cavity | tympanic membrane | vestibular nerve | vestibule

Label the following sensory system eye anatomy.

conjunctiva | cornea | eyebrow | eyelashes | levator palpebrae superioris muscle | orbicularis oculi muscle | palpebral conjunctiva

Label the following sensory system eye anatomy.

anterior chamber | central retinal artery and vein | choroid | ciliary muscle | ciliary process | cornea | fovea centralis | iris | lateral recus muscle | lens | medial rectus muscle | optic disc (blind spot) | optic (II) nerve | posterior chamber | pupil | retina | sclera | scleral venous sinus (canal of Schlemm) | suspensory ligaments | suspensory ligaments | vitreous chamber

Place the following medical terms in context to complete the scenario below.

acuity | cataracts | dilate | eye | halos | intraocular | iris | ophthalmoscope | subcapsular | surgery

SENSORY SYSTEM – CONSULTATION REPORT

PATIENT NAME: Betty FOX
AGE: 72
SEX: Female
DOB: October 2
DATE OF CONSULTATION: August 5
CONSULTING PHYSICIAN: Brian Gates, MD, Ophthalmology

REASON FOR CONSULTATION: Cataracts

HISTORY: I saw Mrs. Fox a 72-year-old for her regular ________ examination. She has been wearing reading glasses for several year now but has noticed that she has been having troubles reading and has been seeing ________ around lights while driving at night.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: A visual ________ test was performed. I used a slit lamp to view the cornea, ________, lens, and the space between the iris and cornea. I detected tiny abnormalities. I administered drops to ________ the pupils to examine the retina. Using an ________, I was able to examine the lenses for signs of ________. I was able to determine that Mrs. Fox has posterior ________ cataracts in both eyes.

PLAN: I explained to Mrs. Fox that she required cataract ________. I explained that her clouded lens would be replaced with an ________ lens – a clear artificial lens. She was in agreeance to having the surgery. I told her we would perform the surgery on her right eye first, then in about eight weeks we would do the left eye. Arrangements for her surgery will be made for next month.

_____________________________
Brian Gates, MD, Ophthalmology

Place the following medical terms in context to complete the scenario below.

abnormalities | anaesthetic | antihistamines | dacryocystitis | dacryocystorhinostomy | erythematous | masses | medication | nasolacrimal | ophthalmalgia | OS | puncta | thyroid | watering

SENSORY SYSTEM – CONSULTATION REPORT

PATIENT NAME: Rose MACKENZIE
AGE: 57
SEX: Female
DOB: November 25
DATE OF CONSULTATION: April 16
CONSULTING PHYSICIAN: Ashley Cook MD, Ophthalmology

REASON FOR CONSULTATION: Epiphora in left eye.

HISTORY: Patient is a 57-year-old female who reports epiphora in ________. Prior to the encounter, she attempted to cure the condition with various ________. She states that this has been an ongoing issue for the past 2 years, but the ________ has affected her ability to safely drive over the past 8 months. She denied any persistent ________, although noted that the surface of the eye was occasionally irritated and ________ due to rubbing away the tears. She has had no prior eye surgery and no relevant family or personal history of dermatitis or ________ pathologies.

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: Patient is alert and oriented x 3, and in no acute distress. Examination of the eye surface revealed no ________ other than the erythema and tearing. The skin surrounding the eye appeared normal, with no ________ or swelling.

An irrigation test was then conducted. The eye was treated with ________ eye drops prior to the test. A syringe filled with saline was inserted into the left ________ using a hollow wire. The syringe was then pressed to assess the pressure of the left ________ duct. The fluid did not pass through the nose, indicating inflammation of the duct. No further diagnostic testing was required.

ASSESSMENT: Chronic ________ of the left nasolacrimal duct.

PLAN: Return for ________ in 3 months. Patient was instructed to remove tears using tissue instead of her hand to avoid the risk of infection. No ________ is required in the meantime.

_______________________________
Ashley Cook MD, Ophthalmology

Test your knowledge by answering the questions below.

1. Nociceptors
2. Thermoreceptors
3. Mechanoreceptors

1. Proprioception
2. Kinesthesia
3. Visceral

1. Proprioception
2. Kinesthesia
3. Visual acuity

1. Nociceptors
2. Thermoreceptors
3. Glossopharyngeal

1. Tympanic membrane
2. Glossopharyngeal
3. Mechanoreceptors

Chapter Attributions

This chapter was adapted by Karen Hobbs from “Sensory Systems” in Medical Terminology Student Companion by Stacey Grimm; Colleen Allee; Heidi Belitz; Traci Gotz; Micheal Randolph; Elaine Strachota; and Laurie Zielinski. Licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license.