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Peer Review

Medical Terminology: An Interactive Approach

Reviewed:

Nov 19, 2025 by Health Sciences
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 5.0 stars
Content Quality: 5.0 stars
Effectiveness: 5.0 stars
Ease of Use: 5.0 stars
Overview:

This textbook offers students the ability to learn basic medical terminology to prepare them for education and a profession in the medical field. This text book has been adapted from the Building a Medical Terminology Foundation OER textbook by Kimberlee Carter and Marie Rutherford, which was adapted from the OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology textbook by Betts et al. Changes were made to the Building a Medical Terminology Foundation textbook to better suit the needs of our specific learners. These changes include the following: Some anatomy and physiology content was deemed excessive relative to the goals of a medical terminology textbook and was therefore removed. Interactive H5P elements that corresponded to this excessive anatomy and physiology content were also removed accordingly. The skeletal and muscular systems are combined into a single chapter. Separate chapter sections were created for structural terms and word parts, diseases and disorders, and medical, surgical & viewing terms and abbreviations. The word lists in these sections were also expanded from the original text. Individual chapters were divided and modularized on Pressbooks to reduce the need to scroll and to allow students to leave and return to the text as they need without losing their place in the text. When possible, images were replaced with images that provided a more diverse representation of people. The term “gender” was changed to “sex” (see the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School Inclusive Language Guidelines for more details on this decision). A short comparison of the male and female pelvic bones was added to inform the learner of the distinction between the two since the male skeleton is often presented as the universal form when it is not.

Type of Material:

  • Open (Access) Textbook
Recommended Uses:

  • In-class instruction (lecture support and activities)
  • Homework assignments (reinforcement exercises)
  • Self-paced study (independent learners)
  • Team-based learning (group study and discussions)
  • Blended learning (combination of online and face-to-face instruction)
Technical Requirements:

  • Internet Access
  • Web browser
  • May download or read online
Identify Major Learning Goals:

After engaging with this material, learners will be able to:

  1. Analyze, build, and define medical terms correctly using knowledge of word parts
  2. Demonstrate proper pronunciation and spelling of medical terminology
  3. Utilize medical terminology on body systems
  4. Decipher medical terms and abbreviations related to health professions
  5. Select correct medical terms and basic medical terms to facilitate communication in the medical setting
  •  Every chapter/unit provides learning objectives and an assessment at the end. 
Target Student Population:

  • High school students in dual enrollment healthcare courses
  • This material is intended for medical and allied health students, healthcare practitioners, educators, and individuals preparing for certifications or seeking foundational knowledge in medical sciences.
  • College Lower Division, College Upper Division
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

  • Basic familiarity with high school-level biology and English language proficiency is recommended for optimal comprehension.
  • No prior medical knowledge is required, making the resource accessible to beginners while providing depth for advanced users.
  • Basic computer skills

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The core concepts are well defined and grounded in the health sciences discipline.
  • The practice section is found at the end of each chapter, and feedback is provided immediately. 
  • Scientific sources are cited in the text.
  • The material demonstrates clarity in instructions, accuracy in content, flexibility in application across educational and professional settings, and sufficient research support to reinforce the learning goals effectively.
  • Images used represent diversity.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The resource effectively identifies learning objectives and prerequisite knowledge, reinforces concepts through examples and exercises, supports diverse learning methods, and integrates seamlessly into educational programs, maximizing its potential for fostering student success.
  • It is very interactive to foster focus in students to apply what they have learned in the engaging exercises at the end of each chapter.
  • Progression is logical throughout the Medical Terminology book.
  • Terms are well defined.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:

  • This text was easy to download and navigate due to consistent formatting.   
  • The site worked well and was easily navigated. 
  • The textbook was clearly laid out with links to individual chapters and topics.
  • Images included alt text. The chapters also included detailed image descriptions that were well written, which is a strength of this textbook.
  • Text is selectable.
  • Headings were set up hierarchically for screen readers.
  • Videos included closed captioning.
Other Issues and Comments:

Congratulations on this outstanding and inclusive OER textbook! 

  • Some interactive H5P elements may not work in the static downloaded version, requiring access to the online source for full functionality.
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