how to deal with learning all the medical terms?

[ThePhilster]

When I look up spleen for example, in its definition there are then 10 words I'd again have to look up. Then I'm pretty sure when I look up those words, there'd be yet again more words to look up. So how do you effectively deal with this? I want to be a better student.

[Bound2cBSN]

Focus on prefixes, roots, and suffixes. Then make your flash cards and practice, practice, practice.

[Cuddleswithpuddles]

I like bound2cBSN's advice. Instead of having to learn and lookup new words, try to break them down to their components. That will at least give you a clue of what the words are referring to.

Consider that your medical dictionary needs to be changed. If you don't find a satisfactory answer after looking up a word as simple as spleen, maybe this dictionary is not for you.

I firmly believe that learning difficulties are often not with the learner but the resources he or she uses. Hold your head high, have confidence that you can do this and find what works.

[Saysfaa]

Like everything else: the more you know about something, the easier it is to understand more about it. It will get better.

I found googling "physiology" along with the word (and the ten words in the definition) very helpful. Some sites will be too simple and some too detailed but that kind of variety is actually helpful, you can push yourself with the detailed sites and reinforce your understanding with the simple ones.

[guinnysmom]

Wikipedia! Wiki "Alzheimers", for example, and you are instantly linked to terms like, dementia, plaque versus brain tangles, apraxia, paraphasias, agnosia, and apoptosis. I wouldn't use Wiki for any research, but when you are just trying to get a great view of the bigger picture, I LOVE using that site....

[Cortisol]

I am a Medical Terminology co-instructor, and I definitely agree with the previous post that says to focus on the roots, prefixes, and suffixes of a word. This is the best method to use when you are on the floor and aren't able to readily access a dictionary or database.

While I'd tend to shy away from wiki, I have to admit that it can be a great way to get a quick definition!

I'd almost always recommend understanding the term in everyday language before reading an indepth, technical, medical explanation.