Medical Terminology 101 from Udemy

Hello. This course is Medical Terminology 101. I’m Dr. Emma Hitt Nichols, a long-time medical writer, and I’ve collaborated with medical writer Dr. Jessica Martin to bring you this course so that you can add to your knowledge of medical vocabulary.

Perhaps you are starting some medically-related training, you have to communicate about medicine, or you simply need a refresher course for the knowledge you already have.

With more opportunities to work in healthcare than ever before (and that demand is only growing), learning medical terminology is important if you are hoping to pursue a career in any aspect of healthcare, from medical billing to an allied healthcare profession.

By the end of this course, you will be able to describe the main suffixes and prefixes involved in medical terminology, and decode medical words pertaining to all major body systems.

In this course, we discuss the what, why, and how of medical terminology; we cover the bones, the muscles, the skin, the digestive system, the urinary system, the reproductive system, the heart and circulatory system, the respiratory system, the brain and nervous system, and the eye and the ear. We use a simple approach to medical terminologynot only do we teach you what you need to know, we teach you how to learn medical terminology efficiently. (Hint: it's not by memorizing hundreds of thousands of medical words). Throughout the course, we will give you the tools you need to understand the information, and all of the medical terms are presented with engaging visuals and simple, clear overviews.

Throughout the course we have included cheat sheets and over 140 quiz questions so that you can better learn and retain the material.

This course will be invaluable for people with a passion to learn medical terminology or anyone interested in a career in...

health care, including nursing, dentistry, chiropractics, pharmacy, physical therapy, midwifery, and more
medical and scientific writing, editing, copyediting, or copywriting
medical billing and coding
medical transcription
medical secretary or receptionist
pharmacy technicians
clinical research

All you need to get started is the passion to learn medical terminology and the need to use it in your life.

Just click on the link to enroll. Thanks so much.

What's inside

Learning objective

Basic medical terminology

Syllabus

Suffixes Quiz

Introduction

Why Learn Medical Terminology?

What is Medical Terminology?

This quiz will holistically assess your knowledge from all of the lectures. You may not have seen many of the words tested in this quiz, but you will have seen most of the combining forms and root parts. Use your knowledge of these combining forms to answer the questions.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a foundational understanding of medical terminology, which is essential for effective communication and comprehension in healthcare settings

Covers major body systems, enabling learners to decode medical terms related to various areas of the human body

Includes cheat sheets and quizzes, which can help learners retain the material and assess their understanding of medical terminology

Focuses on suffixes and prefixes, which are the building blocks of medical terms, and helps learners understand how to decode complex words

Requires learners to have a passion for learning medical terminology, which may be a barrier for some individuals seeking a general overview

Reviews summary

Solid introduction to medical terminology

According to learners, this course offers clear explanations that effectively break down complex medical terms, making it an excellent starting point for beginners. Many found it valuable for pursuing career paths in fields like medical billing, coding, and nursing, providing a solid foundation. Reviewers often praised the helpful materials, specifically noting the utility of the quizzes and cheat sheets for reinforcing learning. While some appreciated the manageable pace, others with prior knowledge felt it was quite basic, highlighting that it delivers well on its '101' promise without delving into deeply advanced topics. Overall, it is regarded as a highly positive introductory course.

Suitable for beginners, maybe basic for others.

"For a '101' course, the pace was just right for learning this vast amount of information from scratch. Not too fast, not too slow."

"If you have *any* prior medical knowledge, this might feel very basic and cover familiar ground slowly."

"It delivers exactly what an introductory course should. Don't expect advanced clinical terminology, but it covers the fundamentals thoroughly."

"Wish some sections went slightly deeper, but for an intro, it's comprehensive enough across systems."

Practice exercises reinforce learning.

"The quizzes after each section were invaluable for testing my understanding and retention of the material."

"Having the cheat sheets readily available made reviewing and quick lookups very convenient."

"I really appreciated the amount of practice questions provided. It wasn't just lectures; there was ample opportunity to apply what was taught."

"The final comprehensive quiz felt challenging but fair, using the decoding skills taught throughout the course."

Concepts explained simply and well.

"Loved how the course broke down words by prefixes, suffixes, and root words. It made understanding so much easier than just memorizing lists."

"The way medical terms are explained, focusing on building blocks rather than rote memorization, is incredibly effective and easy to grasp."

"Dr. Nichols' explanations were very clear and concise. I finally feel like I understand the logic behind medical language."

"The simple approach really helped me decode new words I encountered later."

Excellent foundation for medical fields.

"This was the perfect starting point for me as someone entering a healthcare administration program. Highly recommend for pre-requisite."

"I needed this for a medical billing and coding job, and it gave me exactly the vocabulary foundation I required. Very practical."

"Great refresher course on medical terms I hadn't used actively in years. Helpful for getting back into a healthcare role."

"As a complete beginner with no medical background, I found this course manageable and incredibly informative. It built my confidence."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Medical Terminology 101 with these activities:

Review Basic Biology Concepts

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Reinforce your understanding of fundamental biological concepts, which are essential for grasping medical terminology related to cellular biology and body systems.

Browse courses on Cellular Biology

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Review key concepts in cellular biology.
Study the basics of human anatomy and physiology.
Complete practice quizzes on introductory biology topics.

Read 'Medical Terminology: A Short Course'

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Supplement your learning with a comprehensive textbook that provides additional explanations and examples of medical terms.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Medical Terminology: A Short Course'.
Read the chapters corresponding to the course syllabus.
Complete the exercises and quizzes in the book.

Create Flashcards for Common Prefixes and Suffixes

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Solidify your knowledge of prefixes and suffixes by creating flashcards, which will aid in memorization and recall.

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Identify the most common prefixes and suffixes from the course materials.
Create flashcards with the prefix/suffix on one side and its meaning on the other.
Use the flashcards to practice regularly.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Practice Decoding Medical Terms

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Enhance your ability to decode medical terms by practicing with a variety of examples.

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Find online resources or textbooks with medical terminology exercises.
Practice breaking down complex terms into their component parts.
Check your answers and review any terms you struggled with.

Explore 'The Language of Medicine'

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Deepen your understanding of medical terminology with a comprehensive textbook that covers a wide range of topics.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'The Language of Medicine'.
Review the chapters related to the body systems covered in the course.
Complete the practice exercises and case studies in the book.

Tutor a Classmate

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Reinforce your understanding by explaining medical terminology concepts to a classmate.

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Offer to tutor a classmate who is struggling with the material.
Prepare explanations and examples of key concepts.
Answer your classmate's questions and provide feedback.

Create a Medical Terminology Glossary

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Consolidate your knowledge by creating a comprehensive glossary of medical terms covered in the course.

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Compile a list of all the medical terms covered in the course.
Write clear and concise definitions for each term.
Organize the glossary alphabetically or by body system.

Career center

Learners who complete Medical Terminology 101 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Medical Writer

A medical writer creates documents about medicine, such as articles, reports, and educational materials. This course helps build a foundation in medical terminology, crucial for accurately writing about complex medical topics. The course discusses prefixes, suffixes, and root parts, which are used to construct medical words. A medical writer's work often demands this knowledge. This course is particularly useful because it teaches not only the vocabulary but also how to learn it efficiently, which aids in continuous learning and adaptation in a medical context.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Writer

Medical Editor

The role of a medical editor is to review and refine medical documents for clarity and accuracy. This course helps anyone wanting to be a medical editor by providing in-depth knowledge of medical terminology. Knowing the specifics of suffixes, prefixes, and how they form words, medical editors can ensure that texts are not only correct but also easily understood by a variety of audiences. The course specifically covers major body systems, which is particularly relevant for this role when editing medical content.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Editor

Medical Coder

The job of a medical coder is to assign codes to patient diagnoses and procedures for billing purposes. A strong background in medical terminology is required for this work, and this course may be useful for building such a background. This course gives an overview of the various body systems and the terminology used in reference to them, along with the essential prefixes and suffixes of the field. Medical coders need to be able to use this information correctly. A better grasp of the medical vocabulary will lead to a greater aptitude for medical coding.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Coder

Pharmacy Technician

Pharmacy technicians assist pharmacists in dispensing medications and managing pharmacy operations. This course can help build a foundation in medical terminology, which is helpful to those in this role. It covers the prefixes, suffixes, and root words used in medical terminology, as well as the body systems most often referred to in a healthcare setting. Pharmacy technicians must accurately interpret prescriptions and medication labels. This course provides the foundational knowledge necessary for this understanding.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pharmacy Technician

Medical Secretary

A medical secretary works in administrative roles at healthcare facilities, often handling communication and documentation. This course may help provide a firm base of medical terminology for those in this role. It teaches about the prefixes, suffixes, and body systems common to medical contexts. Medical secretaries need to be able to understand and communicate using medical terminology. Knowing how to learn the vocabulary efficiently, as discussed in the course, will provide an ongoing benefit.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Secretary

Medical Receptionist

A medical receptionist is responsible for greeting patients, scheduling appointments, and managing records in a healthcare setting. This course is useful for medical receptionists as it provides a grounding in medical terminology. The course covers the prefixes and suffixes used in many medical words, as well as terms used for the body's major systems. A medical receptionist can use this knowledge to effectively communicate with patients and fellow healthcare professionals. The course will help anyone starting out in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Receptionist

Medical Transcriptionist

Medical transcriptionists listen to recordings made by healthcare professionals and transcribe them into written reports. A firm knowledge of medical terminology is essential for this role and this course may be useful in developing this skillset. The course covers the building blocks of medical terms, including the prefixes, suffixes, and root parts. It also goes over the terminology used for the major body systems. This background helps medical transcriptionists understand what they hear, converting spoken words into accurate written documents.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Transcriptionist

Health Educator

Health educators teach people how to improve their health and wellness. A basic grasp of medical terminology, such as what is taught in this course, may be useful for anyone looking to work in this field. This course provides information on the building blocks of medical language, including prefixes, suffixes, and root words. It also covers the terminology used when discussing body systems. Health educators often need to interpret complex medical information for a general audience, making this a helpful background.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Educator

Clinical Research Associate

Clinical research associates are involved in the monitoring and management of clinical trials. Knowledge of medical terminology, as taught in this course, may be useful for those in this role. This course specifically covers the terms that pertain to various body systems, along with prefixes and suffixes common in the medical field. This background can help anyone working in medical research to properly understand, document, and manage data from clinical trials. A clinical research associate should be able to understand and use the terminology of the field.

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Copywriter

Copywriters create persuasive content for marketing and advertising purposes, often in specialized fields such as healthcare. This course may be helpful for anyone who wants to be a copywriter in the medical field. This course covers the basic components of medical terminology. Healthcare copywriters need to be able to use medical terminology correctly and effectively. This course may be useful for establishing a strong foundation in this area.

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Registered Nurse

Registered nurses provide direct patient care and work collaboratively with other healthcare providers. While this role requires advanced education, this course may be helpful for setting a base understanding of medical terminology. The course provides instruction on the prefixes and suffixes of medical words, as well as vocabulary associated with the major body systems. Registered nurses must clearly understand medical terminology to perform their duties effectively. The course can act as a foundation for further study.

See salaries and explore the career path for Registered Nurse

Chiropractor

Chiropractors diagnose and treat musculoskeletal problems through manual adjustments and other therapies. While this role requires advanced education, this course may be useful in gaining an understanding of medical terminology. The course provides a good start in recognizing prefixes, suffixes, and root words. It also details the terminology of body systems. A chiropractor needs to understand medical language to communicate effectively with other medical professionals. This course provides an efficient framework for that learning.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chiropractor

Physical Therapist

Physical therapists work with patients to help them recover from injuries and manage chronic conditions. While this role requires advanced education, this course may be helpful in establishing a basic knowledge of medical terminology. The course identifies prefixes, suffixes, and root words that are common in medical texts. Physical therapists use medical terminology on a daily basis, and this course may be useful to those starting in the field. The course also covers medical vocabulary used to discuss the body's various systems.

See salaries and explore the career path for Physical Therapist

Pharmacist

Pharmacists dispense medications and advise patients on their proper use. While this role requires advanced education, this course may be useful in building a base understanding in medical terminology. This course details suffixes and prefixes alongside terminology for various body systems. A pharmacist must have a firm understanding of medical words to do their job effectively, and this course may help anyone learning the ropes of the medical field. This course's focus on how to efficiently learn medical terminology may aid in long-term success.

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Physician Assistant

Physician assistants provide direct patient care under the supervision of a physician. While this role requires advanced education, this course may be useful in providing a base knowledge of medical terminology. This course covers the vocabulary related to body systems, as well as the prefixes and suffixes common in medical terms. A physician assistant needs this information for communicating effectively with other medical professionals as well as understanding medical charts and information. This course may be useful for building a foundation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Physician Assistant

Medical Terminology 101

What's inside

Learning objective

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Solid introduction to medical terminology

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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