Islets of Langerhans. These are groups of specialized cells in the pancreas that make and secret hormones. Known as the insulin-producing tissue. They are named after the German pathologist, Paul Langerhans, who discovered them in 1869.
Archive for the ‘Anatomy and Physiology’ Category
Medical Transcription New Phrase
Sunday, September 5th, 2010Medical Transcription Facts
Thursday, August 5th, 2010It seems to be a common misconception that women cannot get pregnant if they have just one ovary. This is entirely untrue. Granted, it is harder to conceive with only one, but it is possible.
So with that being said, do not rely on the lack of one ovary as your birth control method!
Medical Transcription Terms
Thursday, July 1st, 2010Disc or disk?
Disc refers to the eye. The optic disc is where ganglion cell axons exit the eye to form the optic nerve.
Disk pertains to the back. Intervertebral disks lie in the spine adjacent to the vertebrae. Each disk forms a joint to allow for slight movement of the vertebrae.
Transcription Definition
Monday, June 28th, 2010Isn’t Latin, the core of the English language, supposed to make it easier to understand words? Maybe not.
Scler or sclero. This prefix means either hardness or the sclera of the eye. Two totally different meanings. Yet another item in the long list of medical words that make you wonder who really is responsible for our confusion!
Medical Transcription Word of the Week
Thursday, June 10th, 2010Ptosis. This word has caused many newbie medical transcriptionists untold frustration. The reason for this is it is pronounced toe-sis. The “p” is silent.
Ptosis is a condition of the eye where the eyelid droops due to muscle weakness. It can affect one or both eyes and is more common in the elderly population but can be congenital. It can also occur because of cranial nerve damage, cerebrovascular accidents, and other neurologic disorders.
Word of the week: Ptosis.
Medical Transcription Terms
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010Labyrinth. A maze? A part of the ear? An ’80s sci-fi David Bowie flick? All of the above but today we will just talk about the ear.
The ear is an amazing thing. Not only is it needed for hearing but for balance as well. It consists of three parts-the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The inner ear is where you will find bony tubes with fluid and those tubes contain cell membrane lined tubes. These bony tubes are called the bony labyrinth.
The bony labyrinth has three sections as well-the cochlea, which is responsible for your hearing; the semicircular canals, which are associated with balance; and the vestibule, which connects the two.
A very complicated thing, the ear, and this is only a part of it. Much more interesting than the movie, but that is just MY opinion of course! Word of the week, labyrinth.
Medical Transcription Word of the Week
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010We all know what a cul-de-sac is; a neighborhood with a road that dead-ends. Did you know the human body has a cul-de-sac? What?! A neighborhood in my body, you say? Well, not exactly. Technically, it is a peritoneal space or pouch formed by a fold of peritoneum between the rectum and the uterus of the female body. And that is our word of the week, cul-de-sac.
While working as an MT, can I make corrections when I can’t understand or when the wrong location is dictated?
Monday, September 21st, 2009Yes, you can make corrections when the provider may have dictated the wrong location in the anatomy, but only if you are absolutely positive.
There will be occasions when you cannot make out what the provider is saying. No, you do not contact the provider yourself. When you are typing as an MT you have what is called a log that you fill out and send in with your work for the day. If you cannot make out what the provider is saying you would note that on your log and leave a blank in your chart note such as this _________. You will generally have a proofreader and she will try to figure out the blank. If she cannot then she will forward the blank on to the office you are working for and they will try to figure it out. If finally they cannot then they would contact the provider.