MT Ch 1

intro to medical terminology

-algia

pain, suffering

-dynia

pain

-ectomy

surgical removal, cutting out

-gram

picture or record

hyper-

excessive, increased

hypo-

deficient, decreased

-itis

inflammation

-osis

abnormal condition, disease

-ostomy

the surgical creation of an artificial opening to the body surface

pre-

before, in front of

-plasty

surgical repair

-rrhage

bleeding, abnormal excessive fluid discharge

-rrhaphy

surgical suturing

-rrhea

flow or discharge

-sclerosis

abnormal hardening

abdominocentesis

medical procedure where a small needle is inserted into the abdominal cavity to withdraw free fluid

acute

condition that has a rapid onset, a severe course, and a relatively short duration.

angiography

process of producing an x-ray, or radiographic study, of blood vessels after the injection of a contrast medium to make these blood vessels visible.

appendectomy

surgical removal of the appendix

arteriosclerosis

abnormal hardening of the walls of an artery or arteries

arthralgia

pain in a joint

colostomy

a surgical procedure that brings a portion of the large intestine (colon) out through an opening in the abdominal wall

cyanosis

blue discoloration of the skin caused by lack of adequate oxygen in the blood

dermatologist

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the skin.

diagnosis

the identification of a disease

diarrhea

the frequent flow of loose or watery stools.

edema

swelling caused by an abnormal accumulation of fluid in cells, tissues, or cavities of the body.

endarterial

pertaining to the interior or lining of an artery.

eponym

a disease, structure, operation, or procedure named for the person who discovered or described it first.

erythrocyte

a mature red blood cell.

fissure

a groove or crack-like sore of the skin; this term also describes normal folds in the contours of the brain.

fistula

an abnormal passage, usually between two internal organs or leading from an organ to the surface of the body.

gastralgia

also known as a stomachache, means pain in the stomach.

gastritis

inflammation

gastroenteritis

inflammation of the stomach and small intestine.

gastrosis

any disease of the stomach.

hemorrhage

the loss of a large amount of blood in a short time.

hepatomegaly

abnormal enlargement of the liver.

hypertension

higher-than-normal blood pressure.

hypotension

lower-than-normal blood pressure.

infection

invasion of the body by a pathogenic (disease-producing) organism.

inflammation

a localized response to an injury or to the destruction of tissues.

interstitial

between, but not within, the parts of a tissue.

intramuscular

within the muscle.

laceration

a torn or jagged wound or an accidental cut.

lesion

a pathologic change of the tissues due to disease or injury.

malaise

word of French origin referring to a feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness that is often the first indication of an infection or other disease.

mycosis

any abnormal condition or disease caused by a fungus.

myelopathy

any injury, degeneration or disease in the spinal cord.

myopathy

any pathologic change or disease of muscle tissue.

natal

pertaining to birth

neonatology

the study of disorders of the newborn.

neurorrhaphy

suturing together the ends of a severed nerve.

otorhinolaryngology

study of the ears, nose, and throat.

palpation

an examination technique in which the examiner’s hands are used to feel the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body parts.

palpitation

a pounding or racing heart.

pathology

the study of all aspects of diseases.

phalanges

the bones of the fingers and toes.

poliomyelitis

a viral infection of the gray nerve tissue of the spinal cord.

prognosis

a prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disease.

pyoderma

any acute, inflammatory, pus-forming bacterial skin infection such as impetigo.

pyrosis

also known as heartburn, is discomfort due to the regurgitation of stomach acid upward into the esophagus.

remission

the temporary, partial, or complete disappearance of the symptoms of a disease without having achieved a cure.

sign

objective evidence of disease, such as a fever.

supination

the act of rotating the arm so that the palm of the hand is forward or upward.

suppuration

the formation of pus.

supracostal

above or outside the ribs.

symptom

subjective evidence of a disease, such as pain or a headache.

syndrome

a set of signs and symptoms that occur together as part of a specific disease process.

tenorrhaphy

surgical suturing of a tendon.

tonsillitis

inflammation of tonsils

trauma

wound or injury.

triage

the medical screening of patients to determine their relative priority of need and the proper place of treatment.

viral

pertaining to a virus

-megaly

enlargment

-malacia

abnormal softening

-necrosis

tissue death

-stenosis

abnormal narrowing

eu-

good, normal, well, or easy

dys

bad, difficulut, or painful