Break commonly used terms into their prefixes, root words and suffixes. Concentrate first on the prefixes and suffixes and their meanings and illustrate this lesson with the addition of different prefixes or suffixes to root words and the resulting words and definitions. For example, the prefix "hyper" is used very commonly in nursing and medicine to mean an excess of, while the prefix "hypo" denotes not enough of something or "under." Combined with the root word "tension" as indicating blood pressure, the student has learned the system of nursing terminology for a word -- hypertension -- that is probably already in their working vocabulary.
As part of the first step's vocabulary emphasis, teach the words that serve as indicators for direction on or in the body. These words may be used within a term added to the root word or may more simply serve as an descriptive adjective. This step includes terms such as "anterior," "posterior," "inferior," "superior," "medial," "lateral," "peripheral" and "central."
Teach the very basics of anatomy of each body system as well as the necessary physiology in the second step. These lessons will also introduce the prefixes and root words generally associated with the body system, such as "cardio" for the heart, "uro" for the urinary system and "myo" when speaking of muscles.
Teach the names of major diseases that affect each body system as the third step. At this point, having learned common prefixes, root words, suffixes and general anatomy, many of the disease names should hold significant clues for the student as to what is being described. Examples include an "inferior myocardial infarction" and "cerebrovascular accident." Demonstrate to students how to puzzle out the meanings of words based on their previous study.