This site is 100% ad supported. Please add an exception to adblock for this site.

Basic Medical Vocabulary

Terms

undefined, object
copy deck
to draw away form the median plane or from the axial line of a limb.
Abduct
before meals
a.c.
a localized collection of pus buried in tissues, organs, or confined spaces.
Abscess
Immunity resulting from the development of antibodies in response to the presence of an antigen, as from vaccination or exposure to an infectious disease.
Active immunity
as desired, freely
ad lib.
the act of drawing toward the median plane, or drawing the digits toward the axial line of the limb
Adduct
The sticking together of parts to one another, which may occur abnormally; remaining in proximity; a fibrous tissue by which parts abnormally stick together
adhesions
Activities of daily living
ADL
without fever
Afebrile
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
AIDS
Pain
-algia
baldness; absence of hair from skin areas where it is normally present
alopecia
the act of walking
ambulation
a medication that relieves pain
analgesia
a condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, hemoglobin or both.
Anemia
pertaining to or producing anesthesia; an agent that produces anesthesia
anesthetic
aneurysm - a sac formed by localized dilation of an artery or vein, or of the heart.
aneurism
a tumor whose cells tend to form blood or lymph vessels.
angioma
situated in front of in the forward part of an organism.
anterior
preventing blood clotting.
Anticoagulant
preventing or relieving depression; an agent that is used to treat the symptoms of depression.
antidepressant
any substance that is capable, under appropriate conditions, of inducing a specific immune response and of reacting with the products of that response.
Antigen
Relieving or reducing fever; an agent that relieves or reduces fever.
antipyretics
Defect or loss of the power of expression by speech, writing or signs, or of comprehending spoken or written language, because of injury or disease of the brain.
Aphasia
Inflammation of the vermiform appendix.
Appendicitis
Unequal curvature of the refractive surfaces of the eye
astigmatism
Not causing damage or injury.
atraumatic
A wasting away; a diminution in the size of a cell, tissue, organ, or part.
atrophy
The act of listening for sounds within the body, chiefly for ascertaining the condition of the lungs, heart, pleura, abdomen, and other organs, and for the detection of pregnancy.
auscultation
Pertaining to the axilla.
Axillary
Two times a day.
B.i.d.
The presence of bacteria in the blood.
bacteremia
Not malignant; not recurrent; favorable for recovery.
Benign
Having two sides, or pertaining to both sides.
bilateral
Inflammation of the eyelid.
blepharitis
A type of food poisoning caused by a neurotoxin produced by the growth of Clostridium borulinum in improperly canned or preserved foods.
Botulism
Slow
brady-
A large vesicle, greater than 1 cm in circumference, containing fluid.
Bulla
The study of the heart and its functions.
cardiology
Enlargement of the heart.
Cardiomegaly
An opacity of the eye, or in the lens or capsule, that impairs vision or causes blindness.
cataract
complete blood count
CBC
Center for Disease Control
CDC
Headache
cephalgia
A cyst of a tarsal gland.
chalazion
Central Nervous System
CNS
Surgical construction of an artificial excretory opening from the colon.
Colonostomy
An injury resulting from impact with an object; loss of function associated with a blow or fall.
concussion
Present at or existing from the time of birth.
Congenital
Inflammation of the conjunctiva, the membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the exposed surface of the sclera.
conjunctivitis
Cerebral Spinal Fluid
CSF
cerebrovascular accident
CVA
Blueness of the skin and mucous membranes.
cyanosis
Inflammation of the lacrimal sac.
dacryocystitis
To remove foreign material and contaminated or devitalized tissue by sharp dissection.
Debride
A bedsore.
decubitus
Removal of water from a substance; the condition that results from excessive loss of body water.
dehydration
Loss of intellectual function caused by organic brain disease.
dementia
The study of the skin and skin diseases.
Dermatology
The art of distinguishing one disease from another; determination of the nature of the cause of disease.
diagnosis
The act of stretching.
Dilation
The perception of two images of a single object.
diplopia
Far or distant from the origin or point of attachment.
Distal
An abnormal state or condition.
dyscrasia
Difficulty in swallowing.
dysphagia
A small hemorrhagic spot, larger than a petechia, in the skin or mucous membrane forming a nonelevated, round or irregular, blue or purplish patch.
Ecchymosis
excision (surgical removal or cutting out)
-ectomy
An abnormal accumulation of fluid in intercellular spaces in the tissues.
Edema
electroencephalogram
EEG
electrocardiogram
EKG
Vomiting; an act of vomiting.
Emesis
condition of the blood
-emia
The science that studies the endocrine glands and the hormones they produce.
endocrinology
A specialist in epidemiology.
epidemiologist
An eating away; a kind of ulceration or destruction of the surface of a tissue.
Erosion
Redness of the skin produced by congestion of the capillaries.
erythema
A red blood cell. Mature form is a is a nonnucleated, biconcave disk.
erythrocyte
Removal, as of an organ, by cutting.
excision
To remove in scales or layers
exfoliate
Outside the eye.
Extraocular
Pertaining to or characterized by fever.
Febrile
Pertaining to the stomach.
Gastric
The study of the stomach and intestines and associated diseases.
gastroenterology
A group of eye diseases characterized by an increase in intraocular pressure, which causes pathologic changes in the optic disk and typical defects in the field of vision.
glaucoma
Bedtime; hour of sleep
h.s.
Any localized collection of blood, usually clotted, in an organ, tissue, or space.
Hematoma
The formation and development of blood cells.
hematopoiesis
Paralysis of one side of the body.
hemiplegia
Destruction of red blood cells that results in the liberation of hemoglobin.
hemolysis
Protrusion of an organ of part of it through an abnormal opening.
Hernia
beneath or below normal
hypo-
Abnormal decrease in hemoglobin content of erythrocytes
hypochromia
Produced by physician or treatment
Iatrogenic
Occurring without known cause, self originated
Idiopathic
A cut or wound produced by a sharp instrument; the act of cutting
Incision
A localized protective response elicited by injury or destruction of tissues
Inflammation
Examine carefully
inspection
Within eye
intraocular
Situated on , pertaining to, same side
ipsilateral
inflammation
-itis
Yellowishness of skin, sclera, excretions b/c/>bilirubin in blood
jaundice
Sharply elevated, irregularly shaped, progressively enlarging scar from excessive amounts collagen in dermis during CT repair
Keloid
Pertaining to the tears
Lacrimal
Organ of the voice, air passage between lower pharynx and trachea
Larynx
Pertaining to a side, position farther from median plane
Lateral
White blood cell (WBC)
leukocyte
Deficiency in # WBCs
leukocytopenia
stone; calculus
-lith
Lower left quadrant
LLQ
process of loosening, freeing, or destroying
-lysis
Discolored spot on skin not elevated above surface
Macule
Morbid softness or softening of a tissue or part
Malacia
Tending to grow worse and threatening to result in death
Malignant
breast
Mast- or mast(o)
Inflammation of the breast
Mastitis
Middle or midline of body
Medial
enlargement
-megaly
Inflammation of the meninges, the membranes covering the brain and spinal chord; caused by infectious organisms
meningitis
Nearsightedness, rays of light brought into focus in front of retina
Myopia
Pertaining to the nose
Nasal
Death of tissue
necrosis
Treatment of newborn infant
neonatology
Tumor, new and abnormal growth; benign or malignant
neoplasm
Surgical excision of kidney
Nephrectomy
kidney
Nephro-
Specialist in treatment of nervous diseases
neurologist
Disorders in which symptoms are distressing to person, behavior does not violate social norms and no apparent organic cause
neurosis
Originating in hospital
Nosocomial
Nothing by mouth
NPO
Branch surgery deals with management of pregnancy and delivery
obstetrics
Use of productive or creative activity in treatment, rehabilitation of physically or emotionally disabled people
occupational therapy
Obsessive compulsive behavior
OCD
Specialist in study and treatment of tumors
oncologist
vision
-opia
Pertaining to eye
opthalmic
Study of eye and its diseases
opthalmology
Pertaining to oral cavity or mouth
Oral
bone
Osteo-
Surgical formation of a new opening
-ostomy
Pertaining to ear
Otic
Inflammation of ear
Otitis
When necessary
p.r.n.
Act of feeling with hand
palpation
Red, elevated, solid and circumscribed area of skin
Papule
Paralysis of legs and lower part of body
paraplegia
Abnormal touch sensation, i.e. burning stinging, often in absence of external stimulus
Paresthesia
Disease causing agent or microorganism
pathogen
Indicating or caused by some morbid process
pathological
deficiency
-penia
Act of striking part with short, sharp blows as an aid in diagnosing condition of underlying parts by sound obtained
percussion
Serous membrane that lines walls of abdominal and pelvic cavities and invests organs in those cavities
Peritoneum
A pinpoint , non raised, perfectly round, purplish red spot caused by intradermal or submucous hemorrhage
petechiae
Throat; cavity behind nasal cavities, mouth, and larynx
pharynx
speech
-phasia
abnormal fear
-phobia
Abnormal intolerance of light
photophobia
Treatment of physical dysfunction or treatment by use of therapeutic exercise and application of modalities
physical therapy
Surgical repair
-plasty
Promote blood clotting
platelets
By mouth
PO
Back, behind
posterior
To but before or in front of
Prefix
Prediction of probable outcome of disease
prognosis
Lying face downward
Prone
Near to point or origin or attachment
proximal
Pus – pertaining to, consisting of
purulent
Fever or febrile condition
Pyrexia
Four times per day
q.i.d.
Pertaining to rectum
Rectal
Dimminuation or abatement of symptoms of disease
remission
Any disease of retina
Retinopathy
Right upper quadrant
RUQ
Pertaining to blood
sanguinous
Mental disorder of group comprising most major psychotic disorders
schizophrenia
Oily material secreted by sebaceous gland
sebum
Pertaining to the body
Somatic
Immediately
Stat
formation of an opening
-stomy
Accumulation of blood in the subdural space - between the dural matter and arachnoid(delicate membrane enclosing spinal chord and brain)
subdural hematoma
Lying on back/spine
Supine
Stitches, act of stitching; joint in skull
Suture
Junction between two neurons
synapse
A faint; temporary loss of consciousness because of generalized cerebral ischemia
syncope
Three times /day
t.i.d.
fast
tachy-
Fast heartbeat, fast pulse
Tachycardia
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
TENS
Transient ischemic attach
TIA
Ringing of the ears
Tinnitus
incision (cutting into tissue)
-tomy
The windpipe
Trachea
Surgical formation of a new hole in the windpipe
tracheostomy
Pertaining to only one side
unilateral
vessel
Vaso-
Wart; epidermal tumor caused by a pappilovirus
Verruca
Sensation of dizziness; as if person is revolving in space
Vertigo
Small sac containing fluid
Vesicle
Extremely infectious, malignant or poisonous
Virulent

Deck Info

198

permalink