Basic Medical Assistant Terminology (A-Z Guide)
Jul 24, 2024
Navigating the healthcare field requires a firm grasp of its specialized terminology, essential for effective communication and job performance. This knowledge is particularly crucial for medical assistants.
Our complete A-Z guide of basic medical assistant terminology aims to familiarize you with the key terms you will encounter in your daily responsibilities.
Whether you are a student, a newly certified medical assistant, or seeking to refresh your knowledge, this guide will serve as an invaluable resource, enhancing your understanding and proficiency within the medical field.
Table of Contents
What are the responsibilities of a medical assistant?
Medical assistants play a vital role in the healthcare system, bridging the gap between patients and physicians.
Their responsibilities are diverse, encompassing both administrative and clinical tasks. These duties ensure the smooth operation of medical facilities and contribute significantly to patient care.
Administrative Responsibilities
- Scheduling patient appointments
- Managing patient records
- Handling billing and coding for insurance purposes
- Answering phone calls and emails
- Greeting patients and managing the front desk
Clinical Responsibilities
- Taking patient histories and vital signs
- Preparing patients for examinations
- Assisting physicians during exams and procedures
- Drawing blood and administering injections
- Performing basic laboratory tests
The scope of a medical assistant’s duties may vary depending on the healthcare setting and the state's regulations. To learn more about how to enter this rewarding field, visit our guide on how to become a medical assistant.
A-Z medical assistant terminology list
A solid understanding of medical terminology is essential for any medical assistant, as it forms the foundation for effective communication within the healthcare environment.
This comprehensive A-Z guide is designed to help you familiarize yourself with the most common root words, prefixes, and suffixes used in medical terminology.
- cardi/o: Heart
- derm/o: Skin
- gastr/o: Stomach
- hepat/o: Liver
- my/o: Muscle
- nephro/o: Kidney
- neur/o: Nerve
- os/o, oste/o: Bone
- ὀphthalm/o: Eye
- path/o: Disease
- pulmo/o: Lung
- sangui/o: Blood
- therm/o: Heat
- a-, an-: Without/ not
- Bi-: Two
- Dys-: Bad, painful
- endo-:
- hyper-:
- hypo-:
- inter-:
- intra-:
- peri-:
- post-:
- pre-:
- sub-:
- tachy-:
- trans-:
- -ectomy:
- -gram:
- -itis:
- -logy:
- -opia:
- -scope:
- -tomy:
