Author: Myrna LaFleur Brooks

This is Myrna's BIO

Medical Abbreviations Quiz

Medical Abbreviations Quiz

The healthcare field is rich with medical abbreviations. While useful for saving time, errors can occur as a result of misinterpretation. Check your knowledge of ten commonly used abbreviations.
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Arrhythmia vs. Dysrhythmia

Medical Terminology - Arrhthmia or Dysrhythmia

Is there a difference between the terms arrhythmia and dysrhythmia? What is their meaning? How does the spelling of each differ?.
Read the blog post to find the answers.
Preface. How are they used?

Cartoon Word Jumble Game

Thanks to the 2,114 of you following my medical terminology blog – many for over five years. You have helped make my journey as a blogger exciting and challenging. I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. Myrna LaFleur Brooks

Now rearrange the letters to find an anatomical term for the digestive system – the tube through which your Thanksgiving dinner will travel.

Preview: Cartoon Word Jumble
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Medical Terminology Teaching Tip: Pretests

Teaching Medical Terminology

Are your students’ minds elsewhere when you begin class? Cell phones? Instagram? Student loans? Try using chapter pretests to actively and immediately engage them in chapter content.

Preface: Teaching Tip: Pretests

Misspelled Medical Terms Quiz

Misspelling Medical Terms

Misspelling medical terms may be a habit, therefore, hard to break. Becoming aware of medical terms you are apt to misspell may help.

Take this quiz featuring ten commonly misspelled medical terms, plus learn hints on how to remember to spell them correctly.
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Anatomical Directional Terms Crossword

If you are employed in the medical or health care field or read your own medical records, you have encountered many anatomical directional terms.
How many do you know? Test your knowledge with our crossword.
Preview Directional Terms Crossword

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Medical Eponyms Crossword Puzzle

Eponyms are a long-standing tradition in medicine. Eponyms often involve honoring a prominent physician-scientist who played a major role in the identification of the disease.

Solve the crossword to review the more common medical eponyms in use today.
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Medical Terminology: Medical Suffixes Quiz

Medical Terminology Quiz - Medical Suffixes

Knowing the meaning of medical suffixes can help you figure out the meaning of a tricky term, whether you are reading a medical report, talking to your doctor, or taking a test.

This quiz can help you evaluate your knowledge of medical suffixes and/or as a practice to learn them.

Preview – Medical Suffixes Quiz
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COVID-19 Hits Home

COVID-19 Test

When my husband tested positive for COVID-19, the pandemic went from something “out there” into our home. It seemed a good time to revisit the coronavirus and take a look at two terms we hear often: omicron and monoclonal antibodies.

Preview: Omicron, COVID-19, Monoclonal Antibodies

Medical Terminology Crossword: Ophthalmology

    Ophthalmology means the study of the eye. We know a lot about our eyes. Most of us use them every day. But how much do we really know? What terms describe diseases and conditions, anatomical structures, treatments, and diagnostic procedures? What is the correct spelling of these terms? Solve the crossword and check […]

COVID-19 and the Flu

COVID-19 versus Flu

Flu season is here! COVID-19 is still with us.

Read the comparison chart of these two infectious respiratory diseases and be prepared!

Endoscopic Surgery and Diagnostic Endoscopy

Which of the following is NOT endoscopic surgery?

Minimally invasive surgery
Keyhole surgery
Video-assisted surgery
Open surgery
Laparoscopic surgery

Read the blog to find the answer, plus learn about the procedures, their history, and hear the terms pronounced.

Preview: Endoscopic Surgery and Diagnostic Endoscopy

Lyme Disease – A Reminder

Lyme Disease

Approximately 30,000 cases of Lyme Disease are reported each year. Most Lyme disease occurs in June, July, and August, but now is the time to pay attention to it.

Read the post for reminders on how the disease is transmitted and on the disease itself, with emphasis on the medical terms used to describe it.

Exploring Medical Language

Medical Terminology Teaching Career

Why this Textbook Stood the Test of Time 32 Years and Counting! The Possibilities Imagine that you find yourself with a contract to write a textbook for Mosby Inc. a reputable publishing company. There is some competition, but still, it is an emerging discipline. It is an opportunity to create a standard. You have a […]

Medical Terminology Quiz: The Common Cold

THE Common Cold

Medical Terms for The Common Cold   Colds are minor viral infections of the nose and throat and are highly contagious. Although Sir William Osler famously said, “The only way to treat the common cold is with contempt,” most of us seek ways to relieve its symptoms.   Take the quiz and see how many […]

Terminology for COVID-19 Tests

COVID-19 Tests

COVID-19 test information is swirling about us. It’s on TV, in newspapers, on social media, and in conversation. Did you have a test? Which one was it? Do I need to get one? Why? Where?

To help you sort through all the confusion and complexity of COVID-19 testing, read the blog post. Learn the types of tests, when they are used, and the medical terms that surround them.

Medical Terminology Quiz: Endocrine System

Medical Terminology Quiz: Endocrine System

Most of us can use diabetes or thyroid in our everyday communication. But how about other terms related to the endocrine system such as hyponatremia or adenopathy?
Take the quiz and check your knowledge of terms associated with the endocrine system.
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5 Ways to Use Blog Posts with Your Medical Terminology Class

Medical Terminology

Are you currently working with your medical terminology course materials to prepare for your next class? Or, are you looking for ideas on how to liven up your class, or make it more interactive? If your answer is yes, then this blog is for you. Learn how to use medical terminology blog posts to add games, activities, assignments, and more to your class. They are free and waiting to be used.

COVID-19 Videos

CCOVI-19 Video

Watch one or both of these featured COVID-19 videos. One is short and covers basic information. The other is longer and is an in-depth scientific presentation. Both videos allow one to see COVID-19 medical terms in use. Cause, symptoms, spread, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are covered.
Watch the video >>

Coronavirus, COVID-19, & SARS-CoV-2

Covid-19 and Coronavirus

Coronavirus COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2

Today, you can hardly go an hour without hearing one of these terms.

Two were added to our medical terminology vocabulary in February 2020.

What do they mean?
How they differ?
How they are connected?
What is their proper use?.

Coronavirus COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2

Today, you can hardly go an hour without hearing one of these terms.

Two were added to our medical terminology vocabulary in February 2020.

What do they mean?
How they differ?
How they are connected?
What is their proper use?.

The Human Microbiome

The Human Microbiome

Why is the human microbiome a hot topic? Why is it at the frontier of personalized medicine? Does it change while you are on vacation? The answers are in this concise, easy-to-understand blog post.

Medical Terminology Syllabus

Medical Terminology Syllabus

Constructing a syllabus can be complicated and time-consuming. For convenience, we have created a sample syllabus for your use. Use the syllabus as is, or modify it in any way to adapt it to your course and/or your teaching style.

Medical Terminology Crossword: Endoscopy

Most are familiar with the term colonoscopy. It is a type of endoscopy. Many endoscopic terms are in use today, but interestingly, the term dates back to the time of Hippocrates (460-375 BC). Use the crossword to review endoscopic terms and see what they have in common.

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A Career Teaching Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology Teaching Career

Myrna LaFleur Brooks has had a 49-year relationship with medical terminology. Teaching and writing about it became a life-long passion. After having two popular medical terminology textbooks published and creating a medical terminology blog, she takes a look back.

Medical Terminology Quick Question

Are you limited on time, but looking for a fun challenge? Solve our latest Medical Prefixes Mini Crossword, and you will be reminded of what prefixes are and how they work?

Rhabdomyolysis

Are you taking statins? Has a patient you are caring for experienced extreme body trauma? Are aggressive workouts part of your patient’s life? Check out why you might be hearing “rhabdo” at the gym or “rhabdomyolysis” in your medical field.

Medical Terminology Quick Question

        Incidentaloma is NOT a form of cancer. According to the Exploring Medical Language textbook: Incidentaloma refers to a mass lesion involving an organ that is discovered unexpectedly [incidentally] by the use of ultrasound, computed tomography [CT] scan, or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and has nothing to do with the patient’s symptoms or […]

Video: Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

Fecal transfusion, stool transplant, human probiotic, fecal enema – why have these terms been replaced by fecal microbiota transplantation to describe this now standard procedure to treat recurrent Clostridium difficile, or C. diff. infection? Watch this short Mayo Clinic video to learn more.
Watch the video >>

Medical Terminology Flashcards – Paper Rules

How often have you seen students overwhelmed by the number of word parts they need to memorize in a short period of time?

Read this article on how you can help them effectively use the ‘old fashioned’ paper flashcard method to learn word parts and save time doing it.

How to Easily Navigate Our Medical Terminology Blog

Are you interested in using the crosswords in your classroom? Or do you want to assign quizzes for extra credit? How can you find out which blog post relates to the chapter(s) you are teaching. Use this post to learn easy navigation of the blog

Homonyms in Medical Language

Homonyms – terms that sound alike but have a different meaning, for example, ileum and ilium. Misuse may cause harm and at the very least be embarrassing. Take care in their use. Check out the post for guidelines.

A New Term for Obesity!

Obesity, overweight, excessive fat – is there a stigma attached to these terms? Yes, there is! A physician group is working toward transitioning to a new term, one that broadens the definition and removes the attached stigma. Learn more – read this article.

Teach Anatomic Planes with Playdough

Teaching Medical Terminology

Do you find teaching anatomic planes challenging? Watch this short video; it’s a great tutorial for using play dough to teach anatomic planes in the classroom.

The New Language of Addiction

Do you use these terms when talking about addiction: substance abuse, addict, alcoholic, drug addiction? Read the post and learn the changing language of addiction.

Pressure Ulcer Now Pressure Injury

New Medical Terms

Do you know the new term for pressure ulcers? You may know it as bedsore or decubitus ulcer as well. Whether you are a healthcare employee or a patient, keep current with the latest terminology by clicking on the post below.

Zika Virus Disease

Have you seen Zika in the headlines lately? Check out the terms you need to know, and more, to help understand this emerging infectious disease. Click the link below.

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)

Have you noticed the medical term Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy or CTE used in the news recently? Learn more about the disease that affects some retired football players. Click the link below.

End-of-Life Doulas Help the Dying

Medical Terminology - End of Life Doula

When you hear the word doula you are apt to think of someone helping with childbirth. Now doulas are being trained to help with the dying.

Homonyms in Medical Language

Homonyms -terms that sound alike but have a different meaning, for example, two, too and to, or in medical language, ileum and ilium. They can be confusing. Misuse may cause harm and at the very least be embarrassing. Be safe in their use. Read this post on the proper use of medical homonyms.