Medical Terminology (Abscess-Hypokalemia)

Abscess

A collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body

Acute

A condition that has a sudden onset and a short duration

Adherence

The extent to which a person's behaviour corresponds with taking a medicine optimally

Adjunct

Something added to another treatment to improve its effectiveness

Afebrile

Without fever

Agranulocytosis

Severe drop in white blood cells, increasing infection risk

Alopecia 

Hair loss

Ambulatory

Able to walk; outpatient care

Amenorrhea 

Absence of menstrual periods

Amnesia

Loss of memory

Analgesic 

Pain relieving medication

Anaphylaxis

Severe allergic reaction

Andropause

Male menopause, age-related decline in male hormones

Anemia

Low red blood cells or hemoglobin

Anhedonia

Inability to feel pleasure

Aneurysm

Abnormal bulging of a blood vessel wall

Angioedema 

Rapid swelling under the skin or mucosa

Anorexia 

Loss of appetite 

Anterior

Front of the body or body part

Antiemetic

Prevents or relieves nausea/vomiting

Antibiotic

Drug that kills or inhibits bacteria

Anti-inflammatory 

Reduces inflammation

Antipruritic

Relives itching

Antipyretic 

Reduces fever

Antiseptic

Prevents infections by inhibiting microorganisms

Antitussive

Cough suppressant

Aphagia

Inability to swallow 

Arrhythmia

Irregular heart rhythm

Arthralgia

Joint pain

Ascites

Fluid buildup in the abdomen

Aspiration

Inhalation of flood/fluid into the airway OR removal of fluid with suction

Asthenia

Generalized weakness

Ataxia

Loss of muscle coordination

Atrophy

Wasting or shrinking of tissue

Auscultation

Listening to body sounds using a stethoscope

Axillary

Relating to the armpit

Bilateral

Involving both sides of the body

Biopsy

Removal of tissue for examination

Benign

Non-cancerous; not harmful

Bronchitis

Inflammation of the bronchi

Bradycardia

Slow heart rate

Bradypnea

Slow breathing

Buccal

Relating to the cheek

Cachexia

Severe weight and muscle loss due to chronic illness

Candidiasis

Infection caused by yeast

Cardiovascular

Related to the heart and blood vessels

Catheter 

Tube inserted to drain or deliver fluids

Chronic

Long-lasting condition

Comorbidity 

Co-existing medical conditions

Compliance

Following a prescribed treatment plan

Constriction

Narrowing or tightening

Contraceptive

Prevents pregnancy

Contraindication

Condition or circumstance that indicates a certain therapy should not be used

Contusion

Bruise

Corticosteroids

Anti-inflammatory steroid medications

Crackles

Abnormal lung sounds (fluid in airways)

Cranial

Related to the skull

Cyanotic

Bluish skin from lack of oxygen

Cyanosis

Bluish discolouration due to low oxygen

Delirium

Sudden confusion and reduced awareness

Dementia 

Progressive loss of memory and cognitive function

Diagnosis

Identification of a disease

Diaphoretic 

Sweating heavily 

Differential diagnosis

Distinguishing a disease or condition from others that present with similar signs and symptoms or a list of possible causes for symptoms

Distention

Swelling or enlargement

Diastolic

Lower number in blood pressure; heart relaxation phase

Diplopia

Double vision

Diuretic 

Drug that increases urine output 

Diuresis

Increased urine production

Dorsalis

Relating to the back/dorsal side

Dose

Amount of medication given

Dyskinesia 

Abnormal, involuntary movements

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing

Dystrophy 

Degeneration of tissues, often muscle

Dyspnea

Shortness of breath

Dysuria

Painful urination

Edema

Swelling from fluid buildup

Effusion

Fluid accumulation in a cavity

Egophony

Abnormal voice or sound over lungs

Ejection fraction

Percentage of blood pumped from the heart per beat

Electrolyte

Minerals that regulate fluid and nerve balance

Emesis

Vomiting

Emollient

Moisturizing substance

Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain

Endocarditis

Inflammation of the heart’s inner lining

Enema

Fluid injected into rectum for cleansing or medication

Enteritis

Inflammation of the intestines

Epidural

Injection into the space around the spinal cord

Epistaxis

Nosebleed

Erythema 

Redness of skin

Etiology

Cause of a disease

Exacerbation

Worsening of a condition

Exfoliate

Shed or remove skin cells

Expectorant 

Helps cough up mucus

Extraocular

Outside the eyeball

Extrapyramidal symptoms 

Movement disorders caused by certain medications

Extravasation

Leakage of IV fluid/medication into tissues

Exophthalmos

Bulging eyes

Exudate 

Fluid from inflammation or infection

Febrile

Having fever