One of the challenges in medical transcription is that the audio quality is not always of optimal quality. There are many words that sound alike, and some can be difficult to understand, even in context. Below is Part 3 (M – V) listing sound alike words that are encountered by medical professionals, along with a brief definition. It’s helpful for both health care professionals and transcriptionists to review them to make sure they are deliberate in their pronunciation as well as to understanding the context in which they are used.
mammoplasty plastic surgery of the breast; mammaplasty
manoplasty plastic surgery of the hand
meiosis method of cell division
miosis contraction of the pupil of the eye
mitosis method of indirect cell division
mycosis presence of parasitic fungi in the body
myiasis infection due to invasion of body tissues or cavities by larvae of dipterous insects
meiotic pertaining to special cell division
miotic causing contraction of the pupil of the eye
mitotic pertaining to indirect division of a cell
myopic nearsighted
menorrhagia excessive uterine bleeding
menorrhalgia painful menstruation; dysmenorrhea
metrorrhagia uterine bleeding of abnormal amount, occurring at abnormal times
mnemonic something intended to assist memory
pneumonic related to or affecting the lungs
modeling learning by observation and imitation
mottling a condition of spotting with patches of color
mucous adjective form of mucus; pertaining to or resembling mucus
mucus free slime of the mucous membranes
myoclonic demonstrating one of a series of shock-like muscular contractions, as in a seizure
myotonic exhibiting delayed relaxation of a muscle after a strong contraction, or prolonged contraction after mechanical stimulation
nucleide a compound of nucleic acid with a metallic element
nuclide a species of atom
osteal bony
ostial pertaining to an ostium
pain discomfort, distress, or agony
pane a segment of window glass
pair two of something
pare to trim or remove skin
palate roof of the mouth
palette an oval board with a thumb-hole used by artists to mix their paints
pallet a portable platform; a temporary bed made of folded blankets
palpable may be felt with the hand
palpebral pertaining to the eyelid
palpation feeling with the fingers
palpitation an abnormal, rapid heartbeat
papillation a covering of small round protuberances
parotic near the ear
perotic characterized by perosis
porotic favoring growth of connective tissue
peal to ring, as a bell
peel to strip away a layer
perfusion the act of pouring over or through
profusion abundance
protrusion a jutting-out from the surrounding surface
perineal pertaining to the perineum
peritoneal pertaining to the peritoneum
peroneal pertaining to the outer or fibular side of the leg
perspective one’s ideas; a way of looking at something
prospective in the future, potential
phenol carbolic acid
phenyl derived from benzene
pheresis removal from a donor; separation and retransfusion
-phoresis word ending indicating transmission
plain not fancy; radiograph, as in plain abdomen
plane anatomic level, as in the sagittal plane
pleuritis inflammation of the pleura
pruritus itching
pleural pertaining to the pleura of the lung
plural more than one
precede to go before
proceed to continue on
precedent coming before; an example
president a governmental leader
prescribe to order; to advise
proscribe to banish or denounce; to forbid
principal a leader, as in high school principal; a main participant, as in principal diagnosis; the main body of an estate or financial holding
principle a basic truth; a rule or standard
Procan SR; an antiarrhythmic medication
procaine a local anesthetic
prostate a gland of the male urinary tract
prostrate stretched out with the face upon the ground
rostrate having a beak-like structure
prostatic relating to the prostate gland
prosthetic pertaining to an artificial device that replaces a body part
psoriasis a dermatosis
siriasis sunstroke
psychosis mental disorder
sycosis pustular inflammation of hair follicles
quiet without noise
quite completely
radical extreme, drastic, or innovative; elements or atoms in an uncombined state, as in free radicals
radicle smallest branch of a vessel
rectus straight structure
rhexis rupture of an organ
rictus fissure or cleft; a gaping expression
ructus a belching of wind
refection recovery
reflection bending back
refraction deviation of light
regard to look at or observe; to relate or refer to
regards good wishes
regime a form of government
regimen a system of treatment, medication, or diet designed to achieve certain ends
role the part one plays
roll to turn over (v); a list for attendance purposes (n)
saccadic simultaneous movements of both eyes that are involuntary in changing the point of fixation
psychotic pertaining to a severe mental disorder
scatoma a tumor-like mass in the rectum
scotoma an area of depressed vision in the visual field
scleredema unusual swelling of the facial area
scleroderma chronic thickening and hardening of the skin
xeroderma a mild form of ichthyosis
serial arranged in a series
sural pertaining to the calf of the leg
shoddy of poor workmanship or quality
shotty resembling buckshot, as in shotty nodes
statue a three-dimensional work of art
statute a law enacted by a legislative body
subtle so slight as to be difficult to detect or analyze
supple moving or bending with agility; limber
vary to change
very extreme; a high degree
venous relating to a vein
Venus second planet from the sun; the Roman goddess of love
vial a small bottle
vile despicable or abhorrent
2Ascribe Inc. is a medical transcription services agency located in Toronto, Ontario Canada, providing medical transcription services to physicians, clinics and other healthcare providers across Canada. With WEBscribe, a client interface portal for document management, 2Ascribe continues to implement and develop technology to assist and improve the transcription process for physicians and other healthcare providers. As a service to our clients and the healthcare industry, 2Ascribe offers articles of interest to physicians and other healthcare professionals, medical transcriptionists and office staff, as well as of general interest. Additional articles may be found at http://www.2ascribe.com/category/articles/dictation-tips and http://www.2ascribe.com/category/articles.
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