Welcome Vonda! Don't be afraid to ask questions. I've sent my instructors so many e-mails, they should be annoyed. But they always patiently answer every question, no matter how trivial it may seem. They are there for your learning and help! You'll do fine! I'm just finishing up Module 2. Best of luck to you!!
Hi Sara, I'm telling you, your bit of encouragement came right on time. Just yesterday I sent an email (another one) because I'm reading the Turley's Medical Language book in chapter one on page nine after I just get done reading and understanding that "When a Latin singular noun ends in -is, form the plural by changing -is to -es." Example, singular diagnosis becomes plural diagnoses and singular testis becomes plural testes. Then I go down the page and read about Greek Singular and Plural Nouns. When a Greek singular noun ends in -is, form the plural by changing -is to -ides. Example, singular epididymis becomes plural epididymides and singular iris becomes plural irides. Am I missing something? How am I suppose to know whether this word is Latin and this other Greek? Both of these Latin and Greek words end in -is. I'm really trying to understand. Anyways, thanks again, all the best to you in your studies.
I don't consider myself an expert, in any sense of the word, when it comes to foreign languages. However, I don't think the origination of the medical words we're studying is going to have a huge impact in the great scheme of things. Just keep reading and learning and most of all ENJOYING the learning...it really can be fun and don't let a few Greek and Latin words hinder you much! (My two cents for what it's worth!!) :)
Just keep going! I can identify with you on wanting to understand and retain every little detail you're reading, but face it, everything is open book, and you really just have to be an expert on knowing where to find information when you need it. All your text books will be great references over and over in your education and career. Don't try to memorize things!
For now, just know that diagnosis means one diagnosis and diagnoses means more than one. Don't sweat the rest of that particular section. What is important will be repeated.
Diagnosis: One diagnosis
Diagnoses: More than one diagnosis
Hi Linda, thanks for responding but what it is that I'm not understanding is this... How do I look at a medical word and think this is Latin or this is Greek? I'd have to know in order to correctly put the -is ending of that word to the correct plural of Latin or Greek. Both words diagnosis and epididymis end in -is but because one is Latin and the other Greek, they require a different plural ending. How would I know which plural ending to add to the word if I don't know if a word is Latin or Greek?
One shows Latin singular diagnos(is) to Latin plural diagnos(es) the other shows Greek singular epididym(is) to Greek plural epididym(ides). Both singulars end in -is but each needs a different ending for the plural form.
Vonda, I can't remember a time in the history of the school when that has been a problem in doing coding or anything else. If anyone has had such a problem where they were unable to do an assignment or code a procedure or diagnosis for this reason, please post it here.
Your instructor may clobber me (good old-fashioned Oklahoma term), for saying this, but I'm going to give you the same advice a brilliant doctor once told me. I had decided that I was allergic to an ingredient that is found in most foods. I went to him in a panic. He said, "Here's what I want you to do. Go home and eat anything you want."
What I am telling you is: Don't worry about that anymore. This is not an issue to be concerned about.
Now let me know if you get graded down because of my advice, which is not likely to happen. Let me know if you ever can't code something because you can't tell the difference, which is not likely to happen. :)
Years from now when you are bored and don't have anything better to do, you can dig into this further.
Oh, and by the way, all of the rest of us know the difference automatically. It just came naturally to us. You're the only one who can't instantly tell the difference between Latin and Greek terms.
JUST KIDDING! :D
I hate it when I keep adding more, but...
We are going to give you LOTS of important things to delve deeply into. This is just not one of them.
Often we have students who want to spend 2 weeks on a medical terminology chapter!!! That is not what we want. Read through the chapter. Understand where that material is so you can find it when you need it, and that get on with the main thing which, in your case, is learning to code.
No clobbering, Linda! :)
Vonda I would tell you exactly what Linda did.
You will be covering a large amount of information in this module but don't try to memorize anything. It's much more important that you know where to go to find the information you need. This would include your text books or an internet search but if you can't find anything there be sure to send your instructor an email. Explain what you are searching for and what you have done to find the answer.
Just my 2 cents, if I had tried to understand every nuance in Turley, I'd probably still be in chapter 5 after 4 months in the program. I may never know all the medical terms that are out there, but every time I code something I don't know I try to learn something about it.
Excellent, Russ!
That is exactly the way we want you guys to learn Turley.