LAB 4 - Terms

parasites

plants or animals that live upon or within another organism

parenteral

not through the alimentary canal, i.e. by intravenous injection

paresis

slight or incomplete paralysis

parietal

pertains to walls of a cavity

paroxysm

sudden periodic attack or recurrence of symptoms of disease

parturition

act of giving birth to a child

passive

submissive or not produced by active birth

patella

the kneecap

patency

condition of being freely open

pediatrics

branch of medicine concerned with children’s diseases

pellagra

deficiency disease or syndrome caused by lack of niacin

percussion

tapping a part of the body with short, sharp blows to elicit sounds or vibrations that aid in diagnosis

pericardium

double membrane that envelops the heart

periosteum

tough, fibrous membrane surrounding a bone

peripheral

to the outward part or surface

physical

pertains to the body

placebo

inactive or non-medicinal substance given in place of a medication to gratify a patient without his knowledge of its actual physiologic therapeutic value

placenta

organ developed in the uterus to which the embryo is attached via umbilical cord and from which it receives its nourishment

podiatrist

diagnoses and treats foot disorders

poliomyelitis

acute viral disease involving the spinal cord (infantile paralysis)

pollinosis

allergic body reaction to air-borne pollen

polycythemia

abnormal increase in number of erythrocytes in blood; erythrocytosis

polydipsia

excessive thirst

polymenorrhea

abnormally frequent menstruation

polyp

small protruding growth on a pedicle extending from mucous membrane

polyphagia

abnormal craving of all kinds of food

polyuria

excessive urination

postpartum

after childbirth / delivery

poultice

soft, moist hot mass applied to skin

presbyopia

farsightedness associated with impairment of vision due to aging process

prenatal

existing or occurring before birth

process

prominence or projection, as of the end of a bone

protoscope

instrument used for inspecting the rectum

prognosis

judging in advance the probable duration, course and termination of disease

prophylaxis

prevention of disease

prosthesis

replacement of missing part by an artificial substitute

prostration

extreme exhaustion

prothrombin

substance thought to exist in blood, can be changed to thrombin

pruritus

intense itching

psychiatrist

physician who specializes in treatment of disorders of the psyche or mind

psychology

science that deals with mental processes and their effects upon behavior

psychosis

mental disturbance in which there is personality disintegration and escape into reality

ptosis

drooping or sagging of an organ or part from normal position

puncture

hole made by pointed objected

purulent

consisting or secreting pus

pus

yellowish secretion formed in certain kinds of inflammation, consisting of albuminous substances, a thin fluid and leukocytes or their remains

pustule

small elevation of skin filled with pus or lymph

pyelitis

inflammation of pelvis of the kidney

pyemia

presence of pus forming organisms in blood

pylorus

opening of stomach into duodenal portion of intestines

pyogenic

producing pus

pyrosis

burning sensation in stomach and esophagus (heartburn)

pyuria

presence of pus in urine

quadriplegia

paralysis of all four extremities

quarantine

period of detention or isolation as a result of suspected contagion of a communicable disease

quickening

first movements of fetus felt in pregnancy usually occurring from 16^th to 18^th week

radiate

to diverge or spread from common central point

radium

metallic element that gives off rays used in treating malignancies

rash

superficial eruption of skin

reaction

action in response to some influence or force

rectum

distal portion of large intestine between sigmoid colon and anal canal

recumbent

lying down

recuperate

recover health or gain strength after illness

recurrence

return of symptoms after remission

reflex

automatic response to given stimulus

regurgitation

return of food from stomach soon after eating, without ordinary efforts of vomiting

rehabilitation

restoration of an ill or injured patient to self-sufficiency or to gainful employment at his highest attainable skill in the shortest possible time

relapse

recurrence of former symptoms during convalescence

remission

lessening in severity or subsiding the symptoms of an illness

resection

excision of a portion of an organ or structure such as bone

resistance

power of the body to overcome the ill effects of injurious agents, such as pathogenic microorganisms, poisons or irritants

retention

holding or keeping within the body matter that is usually expelled (retention of urine)

rheumatology

study of diseases of muscle, tendon, join, bones or nerves

rhinitis

inflammation of mucous membrane lining the nasal cavity

ricketts

disease due to vitamin D deficiency in diet

rigor mortis

stiffening of muscles after death

sac

bag-like organ or structure; pouch

sacrum

triangular bone of the lower spine

sarcoma

type of tumor, often malignant, composed of substance like embryonic connective tissue

saturated

solution in which no more of a substance can be dissolved

scoliosis

lateral curvature of normally straight vertical line of spine

scurvy

nutritional disease caused by insufficient amount of fruits and vegetables in diet

sebaceous

pertains to sebum

seborrhea

increase in secretion of sebaceous glands

sebum

oily, fatty secretion from sebaceous glands

sedative

allaying activity and excitement

segmentation

division into smaller parts (zygote)

senility

progressive feebleness of the body and mind generally associated with aging

septicemia

systemic disease produced by pathogenic bacteria in blood

septum

dividing wall between two cavities

sera

clear portion of blood; plural form of serum

serum

clear liquid that separates from blood after clotting

shock

depression of body functions due to failure of circulation

sinus

sac or cavity in any organ or tissue

smear

specimen for microscopic study made by spreading infected material on glass slide

soluble

capable of being dissolved

somatic

pertains to the body

somnambulism

sleep walking

sordes

foul, dark matter that collects around teeth and lips in low feveres

spasm

sudden muscular contraction