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Medical Terminology

MEDTERM101 | 3 Credits

Medical Terminology will give you the language you need to be successful in medicine. You’ll get an introduction to elements of medical terminology, how to apply proper terminology to describe the human body, and build out your vocabulary on major pathological conditions.

Professor: Dr. L

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$79 + membership
99% Average Pass Rate
28 Day Average Completion
$3.2 Million Saved on Tuition
ACE-RECOMMENDED 2025

About This Course

What You’ll Learn

Our Medical Terminology online course introduces you to elements of medical terminology, like the etymology of words used to describe the human body. Learn how to apply the proper terminology and spelling for major pathological conditions. After completing this course, students will be able to:

  • Identify medical nomenclature, prefixes, and suffixes
  • Associate medical terminology with specific organ and/or functional systems
  • Employ positional, directional, regional, and planar anatomical terms to effectively communicate the relative positions of bodily structures
  • Decipher unfamiliar medical terminology as applied to anatomical terminology, procedures, and pathologies
  • Discuss common diseases, disorders, and procedures within their respective organ system categories
  • Identify and define common diagnostic procedures and their associated terminology, encompassing imaging, laboratory tests, and other investigative methods
  • Read and interpret medical literature and/or medical materials, integrating the terminology to form an accurate understanding of the content
  • Explain the meaning of medical terms within the context of patient scenarios presented in the textbook, and practice how these terms would be used to communicate medical information in a clinical setting

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Course Details

MEDTERM101
Medical Terminology
3 Credits

Students will design preparatory, informative, persuasive, research and reflective projects, engaging in civic discourse as a process of advocacy including consideration of the following: organizational structure, context, content, modality, language, aesthetic and rhetorical choices, statements of connectivity, and desired outcomes. In addition, students will learn how to appropriately select, analyze and synthesize credible source material, with the ultimate goal of combining researched evidence with their own unique insights.

ACE-Recommended

The American Council on Education (ACE) evaluates and recommends college credit for courses taken outside traditional degree programs. StraighterLine courses are ACE Credit®-recommended, which means they are transferable to over 3,000 colleges and universities nationwide.

ACE Code:

OOSL-0022

Flexible Schedule

28-day Average Course Completion

Transferred 2,900 times

$3,200,000 Saved on Tuition

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites to take Medical Terminology.

Course Text 

No need to track down a textbook; the readings are built right into this course. We adapted the lessons from the following source:

 

Course Checkpoints

Checkpoint 1: Introduction to Nomenclature, Prefixes, and Suffixes

  • Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Word Parts and Rules
  • Textbook Reading: Prefixes and Suffixes

Checkpoint 2: Body Terminology

  • Textbook Reading: Body Terminology
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Checkpoint 3: Skeletal System

  • Skeletal Systems Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Skeletal Systems
  • Case Studies: Medical Terms in Context
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Checkpoint 4: Muscular System

  • Muscular System Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Muscular System
  • Case Study: Medical Terms in Context
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Checkpoint 5: Integumentary System

  • Integumentary System Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Integumentary System
  • Case Studies: Medical Terms in Context
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Checkpoint 6: Blood Vessels and Blood

  • Blood Vessels and Blood Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Blood Vessels and Blood
  • Case Study: Medical Terms in Context
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Checkpoint 7: Cardiovascular System

  • Cardiovascular System Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Cardiovascular System
  • Case Study: Medical Terms in Context
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Checkpoint 8: Respiratory System

  • Respiratory Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Respiratory System
  • Case Studies: Medical Terms in Context
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Checkpoint 9: Digestive System

  • Digestive System Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Digestive System
  • Case Study: Medical Terms in Context
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Checkpoint 10: Sensory Systems

  • Sensory Systems Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Sensory Systems
  • Case Studies: Medical Terms in Context
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Checkpoint 11: Nervous System

  • Nervous System Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Nervous System
  • Case Studies: Medical Terms in Context
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Checkpoint 12: Endocrine System

  • Endocrine System Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Endocrine System
  • Case Studies: Medical Terms in Context
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Checkpoint 13: Lymphatic & Immune System

  • Lymphatic & Immune System Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Lymphatic & Immune Systems
  • Case Studies: Medical Terms in Context
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Checkpoint 14: Urinary System

  • Urinary System: Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Urinary System
  • Case Studies: Medical Terms in Context
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Checkpoint 15: Male Reproductive System

  • Male Reproductive System Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Male Reproductive System
  • Case Study: Medical Terms in Context
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Checkpoint 16: Female Reproductive System

  • Female Reproductive System Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Female Reproductive System
  • Case Studies: Medical Terms in Context
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Checkpoint 17: Obstetrics

  • Obstetrics Word Parts
  • Textbook Reading: Obstetrics
  • Case Study: Medical Terms in Context
  • Vocabulary and Test Yourself

Assignments & Grading 

Your score provides a percentage score and letter grade for each course. A passing percentage is 70% or higher.

Assignments for this course include:

  • 17 Checkpoints
  • 4 Benchmarks
  • 2 Capstones

What You’ll Need 

  • A reliable computer or laptop
  • Stable internet connection
  • Web browser
  • Basic computer skills
  • Any required course materials

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Course Professor

Dr. L

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Student Reviews

4.6

Quick, Manageable, and Worth It

The entire course was easy to manage and I was able to complete it in 4 weeks. I walked away with a 92 in the Medical Terminology course. I would recommend StraighterLine to anyone looking to complete a class for credits.

Sherey,  StraighterLine Student

Sherey,  StraighterLine Student

Recommended by Others at the Board of Nursing

 

Recommended by others at the board of nursing. it also is easy to do the class at my pace in spare time without going into a classroom.

Arati,  StraighterLine Student

Arati,  StraighterLine Student

Loved it!

Self-paced classes to yourself up for success. Majority of my nursing pre requisites were able to be taken at Straighterline and lightened my load tremendously!

Mieraa,  StraighterLine Student

Mieraa,  StraighterLine Student

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Learning to Speak the Language of Healthcare

You’ll need a lot of new vocabulary for your healthcare career. Medical Terminology takes you beyond memorization and teaches you the structure that you’ll be able to use again and again. Whether you’re preparing to become a nurse, medical assistant, physical therapist, or another hands-on medical role, you’ll come away from Medical Terminology with more confidence to communicate!

Why it matters:

  • Job security is a great bonus of a healthcare career! As one of the fastest-growing industries, you can expect 1.8 million new jobs to be added between 2022–2032.
  • Start with a strong foundation in medical terminology and make the most of your healthcare classes!

In-demand careers in this field include:

Registered Nurse, Licensed Practical Nurse, Physical Therapist Assistant, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Medical Assistant, Radiologic Technologist, Surgical Technologist, Paramedic/EMT

How this course sets you up for success:

Medical Terminology is an important prerequisite credit for most healthcare programs. Complete your course today and get started towards an in-demand career!

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