Download Fields of Medical Practice

Chapter 3
Fields of Medical Practice
Combining Forms for
Fields of Medical Practice
cardi/o
heart
cardiology
chir/o
hand
chiropractic
crin/o
to secrete
endocrinology
Combining Forms for
Fields of Medical Practice
dent/i
teeth
dentist
dermat/o
skin
dermatology
enter/o
small
intestine
gastroenterology
Combining Forms for
Fields of Medical Practice
esthesi/o
sensation
anesthesiology
gastr/
stomach
gastroenterology
gen/o
origin/
production
gene
Combining Forms for
Fields of Medical Practice
ger/o
old age
geriatric
gynec/o
woman
gynecology
hemat/o
blood
hematology
Combining Forms for
Fields of Medical Practice
immun/o
safe
immunology
laryng/o
voicebox
otolaryngology
nephr/o
kidney
nephrology
Combining Forms for
Fields of Medical Practice
neur/o
nerve
neurologist
obstetr/o
midwife
obstetric
onc/o
tumor
oncology
Combining Forms for
Fields of Medical Practice
ophthalm/o
eye
ophthalmology
opt/o
eye
optometry
orth/o
straight,
normal,
or correct
orthopedics
Combining Forms for
Fields of Medical Practice
ot/o
ear
otolaryngologist
path/o
disease
pathology
ped/o
child or foot
pediatrics
orthopedics
Combining Forms for
Fields of Medical Practice
physi/o
physical
physiatrist
plas/o
formation
plastic surgery
pod/o
foot
podiatry
Combining Forms for
Fields of Medical Practice
psych/o
mind
psychiatry
radio
x-ray
radiology
vascul/o
vessel
vascular
The Evolution of Medicine
 Today’s practice of medicine evolved from customs
of ancient times
 Care for the patient was often given by priests who
performed rituals to give homage to mythical gods
to appease them in order to rid the body of disease
 Hippocrates — Greek physician in 400 B.C.
 Known as the “Father of Medicine”
 Wrote the Hippocratic Oath
 First to separate medicine from myth and write terms
Hospitals
 Latin term meaning guest house
 Early hospitals run by religious orders
 Romans had military hospitals
 In the 19th century, hospitals became centers for
treating all classes of society and operated for both
profit and non-profit
The Physician
 Greek term meaning natural
 The term “physician” is interchangeable with the
term “medical doctor”
 The doctor of medicine (M.D.) degree is earned by
successfully completing medical school
 The doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) is similar
to an M.D. but with an emphasis on the role of
musculoskeletal system maintaining function and
balance in the body.
American Board of Medical Specialists
 Established twenty-four (24) individual physician
specialty boards specifying standards for training,
testing and monitoring
 After a physician completes specialty training and
passes a specified board examination, he/she is
designated as “board certified” and referred to as a
“diplomate”
The Caduceus Symbols
The Caduceus
 Staff of Mercury
 Two serpents twined around staff
 Emblem in Greek mythology
 Serpent
 Symbol of Wisdom
 Object of Worship
 Medical symbol of healing because of its long life, annual
shedding of skin suggesting renewal of youth/health, and
keen eyesight
The Caduceus
(continued)
 Rod of Aesculapius
 Earliest caduceus
 Single serpent twining around a stick or rod
 Aesculapius — god of medicine
Other Fields of Medical Practice
 Medial specialists who are licensed but do not hold
an M.D. or O.D. degree:
 D.C. (doctor of chiropractic medicine)
 D.D.S. (doctor of dental surgery)
 D.P.M. (doctor of podiatric medicine)
 O.D. (doctor of optometry)
 Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy)