ScribeAmerica - Basic Medical Terminology

Abrasion

Scrape of the skin due to something abrasive

Acute

New, usually of rapid onset and of concern, opposite of chronic

Anterior

Located towards the front of the body

Benign

Normal, of no danger to health

Bradycardia

Slow heart-rate (HR less than 60bpm)

Cardiomegaly

Enlarged Heart

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the cholecyst (gallbladder)

Chronic

Long-standing, constant. Opposite of acute

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, lung Dz commonly seen in smokers

Coronary artery

The artery that supplies heart tissue with blood

Cerebrovascular Accident CVA

a.k.a. "Stroke" Lack of blood supply to the brain causing brain damage

Diaphoresis

Sweating

Distal

Farther from the trunk of the body

Deep Venous Thrombosis DVT

A blood clot in a deep vein, most often an extremity

Dyspnea

Problems with breathing

Dysuria

Painful urination

Ecchymosis

A bruise

Edema

Swelling

Emesis

Vomiting

Epistaxis

Nose bleed

Erythema

Redness

Grossly

Obviously; a lot; wholly

Hematemesis

Very large amounts of blood in the vomit

Hematuria

Very large amounts of blood in the urine

Hemoptysis

Coughing up large amounts of blood

Hemorrhage

Excessive or profuse bleeding

Hepatomegaly

Enlarged liver

Hypertension

High blood pressure

Hypotension

Low blood pressure

Hypoxia

Low oxygen saturation of the body, not enough oxygen in the blood

Infarct

Area of dead tissue after a lack of blood supply

Inferior

Lower on the body, farther from the head

Ischemia

Lack of blood supply

Laceration

Splitting of the skin due to trauma (a cut due to something sharp)

Medial

Nearer to the midline

Melena

Black tarry stool

Mydocardial Infarction MI

Death of cardiac muscle due to ischemia

Myalgia

Muscular pain, "muscle aches"

Oriented x3

Oriented to person, place, and time

Pallor

Pale skin

Pulmonary Embolism PE

Blocking of a pulmonary artery due to a blood clot

Posterior or Dorsal

Rear or backside of the body

Proximal

Nearer to the trunk of the body

Purulent

Pus-like

Rales

Crackles; wet crackling noise in the lungs

Rhinorrhea

Clear nasal discharge, "runny nose"

Rhonchi

Rattling noise of mucous in the lungs

Sepsis

Dangerous infection of the blood

STEMI

ST elevation MI, real-time ongoing death of heart tissue due to ischemia

Superior

Higher on the body, nearer to the head

Supine

Body position lying face up

Syncope

"Passing out", loss of consciousness or fainting

Tachycardia

Fast heart rate (HR greater than 100bpm)

Tachypnea

Increased breathing rate

Transient Ischemic Attack TIA

Minor stroke; where neurological function is regained quickly with time

Vertigo

Condition of dizziness, "room spinning"

Wheezing

High pitched sound heard in the lungs with asthmatics or lung disease