NURS 2112 Ch. 3 Healthcare Terminology

Abduction

Process of carrying away from the midline

Adduction

Process of carrying towards the midline

Analgesics

Reduce pain

Arthroscopy

Visual examination of a joint, accomplished by use of an arthroscope

Circumduction

Process of carrying around; the circular movement of the distal end of a limb around its point of attachment

Compartment syndrome

A potentially serious medical condition that is a result of swelling within the fascia

Contracture

Chronic fixation of a joint in flexion caused by atrophy and shortening of muscle fibers after a long period of disuse

Crepitus

Cracking sound heard in joints

Debridement

Removal of dirt, damaged tissue, or for-eign objects from a wound

Dislocation

A bone that is completely out of its place in a joint

Dorsiflexion

Process of bending back

Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan

A procedure that measures the density of bone at the hip and spine; also called bone mineral density studies.

Electromyography (EMG)

Procedure that records the electrical activity of muscles

Eversion

Process of turning out

Extension

Process of stretching out; increasing the angle of a joint.

Flexion

Process of decreasing the angle of a joint

Fibromyalgia

Disorder characterized by musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, muscle stiffness and spasms, and sleep disturbances

Goniometry

The process of measuring a joint’s ROM

Ileum

Distal part of the small intestine

Ilium

The superior and widest bone of the pelvis

Inversion

Process of turning in

Kyphosis

Extreme posterior curvature of the thoracic area of the spine

Lacrimal

Paired bones at the corner of each eye that cradle the tear ducts

Lordosis

Swayback; exaggerated anterior curve of the lumbar vertebrae

Lumbago

Lower back pain

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Procedure that uses magnetic properties to record detailed information about internal structures

Mandible

Lower jawbone

Maxilla

Upper jawbone

Myalgia

A general term that means muscle pain

Nasal turbinates

Make up part of the interior of the nose

Open reduction

Requires incision of the skin

Orthopedics

The healthcare specialty that deals with the majority of musculoskeletal disorders

Orthopedist

A specialist that deals with the majority of musculoskeletal disorders

Osteoarthritis

Joint disease characterized by degenerative articular cartilage and a wearing down of the bones’ edges at a joint; considered a “wear and tear” disorder

Osteomyelitis

Inflammation and/or infection of the bone and bone marrow

Osteoporosis

Loss of bone mass, which results in the bones being fragile and at risk for fractures

Patella

Kneecap

Phalanx

One of the 14 bones that constitute the fingers of the hand, two in the thumb and three in each of the other four fingers

Plantar flexion

Lowering the foot; pointing the toes away from the shin

Polydactyly

Condition of more than five fingers or toes on each hand or foot

Pronation

Turning the palm downward

Protraction

Process of pulling forward; the forward movement of a muscle

Reduction

Alignment and immobilization of the ends of a broken bone

Rheumatology

A specialty that deals with disorders of connective tissue, including bone and cartilage

Rheumatologist

A specialist that deals with disorders of connective tissue, including bone and cartilage

Retraction

Process of backward pulling; the backward movement of a muscle

Scleroderma

Connective tissue disorder that causes hardening and thickening of the skin

Scoliosis

Lateral S curve of the spine that can cause an individual to lose inches in height

Sprain

A traumatic injury to a joint involving the ligaments

Strain

A lesser injury, usually described as overuse or overstretching of a muscle or tendon

Subluxation

Bone is partially out of the joint

Syndactyly

Condition of the joining of the fingers or toes, giving them a webbed appearance

Supination

Turning the palm upward

Tendinitis

Inflammation of a tendon

Xiphoid process

The sharp point at the most inferior aspect of the sternum

Ab-

Away from

Ad-

Towards

Amphi-

Both

Bi-

Two

Circum-

Around

Dia-

Through, complete

Endo-, end-

Within

Epi-

Above, upon

Ex-, e-

Out

In-

In, not

Inter-

Between

Intra-

Within

Peri-

Surrounding, around

Pro-

Forward, in front of, in favor of

Re-

Back, backward, again

Syn-

Together, joined

-ar, -al, -ic, -ous, -eal

Pertaining to

-blast

Embryonic, immature

-centesis

Surgical puncture

-clasis

Intentional breaking

-clast

Breaking down

-cyte

Cell

-desis

Binding

-listhesis

Slipping

-malacia

Condition of softening

-oid

Resembling, like

-osis

Abnornal condition

-physis

Growth, nature

-plasia

Condition of formation, development

-poiesis

Formation, condition

-sis

State of, condition

-um

Structure, thing, membrane

ORIF

Open Reduction Internal Fixation

CREF

Closed Reduction External Fixation

CR

Closed Reduction

DJD

Degenerative Joint Disease

ROM

Range of motion

THR

Total hip replacement

TKR

Total Knee Replacement