Final Exam Review (Vocab)

Apnea

The absence of spontaneous respiration.

Ureterorraphy

A surgical procedure that involves suturing, or stitching, the ureter.

Thyroxine

One of the two primary thyroid hormones regulate the rate of metabolism and affect the growth and rate of function of many other body systems.

Tympanoplasty

Surgical correction of a hole in the eardrum, either to cure chronic inflammation or to restore function.

Amblyopia

Dimness of vision or the partial loss of sight, especially in one eye, without detectable disease of the eye.

Placebo

An inactive substance that is given for its suggestive effects.

Astigmatism

A condition in which the eye does not focus properly because of uneven curvatures of the cornea.

Herpes Labialis

A viral infection causing small, painful blisters on the lips, mouth, and sometimes the throat.

Croup

An acute respiratory infection in children and infants characterized by obstruction of the larynx, hoarseness, and swelling around the vocal cords resulting in a barking cough and stridor.

Fistula

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

Capillary Hemangioma

A soft, raised, pink, or red vascular birthmark.

Cyst

An abnormal sac containing fluid, gas, or a semisolid material.

Meningitis

Inflammation of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord.

Hematochezia

The presence of bright red blood in the stool.

Palpation

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

Colposcopy

Direct visual examination of the tissues of the cervix, vagina, and vulva.

Nephrons

The microscopic functional units of each kidney. It is here that urine is produced through the processes of filtration, reabsorption, and secretion.

Endothelium

The tissue which forms a single layer of cells lining various organs and cavities of the body, especially the blood vessels, heart, and lymphatic vessels.

Speculum

An instrument used to enlarge the opening of any canal or cavity to facilitate inspection of its interior.

Mastoplexy

Surgery to affix sagging breasts in a more elevated position.

Ischemic Stroke

Brain damage that occurs when the flow of blood to the brain is blocked by the narrowing or blockage of an artery.

Diabetes Insipidus

A condition caused by insufficient production of the antidiuretic hormone or by the inability of the kidneys to respond to this hormone.

Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate

A blood test based on the speed with which the red blood cells separate from the plasma and settle to the bottom of a specialized test tube.

Aneurysm

A localized weak spot or ballon-like enlargement of the wall of an artery.

Vesicovaginal Fistula

An abnormal opening between the bladder and vagina.

Necrotizing Fasciitis

A rare, severe infection caused by group A strep bacteria.

Anaplasia

A change in the structure of cells and in their orientation to each other.

Gout

A type of arthritis characterized by deposits of urate crystals in the joints.

Acromegaly

Abnormal enlargement of the extremities caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone after puberty.

Ptosis

Drooping of the upper eyelid that is usually due to paralysis.

Varicella

A highly contagious infection caused by the herpesvirus Varicella zoster; also known as chickenpox.

Ileum

The third portion of the small intestine (between jejunum and cecum).

Adhesion

A band of fibrous tissue that holds structures together abnormally.

Alopecia

The partial or complete loss of hair, most commonly on the scalp.

Vulvodynia

A painful syndrome of unknown cause characterized by chronic burning, pain during sexual intercourse, itching, or stinging irritation of the vulva.

Preeclampsia

A complication of pregnancy characterized by hypertension, edema, and proteinuria.

Tendon

A strong fibrous tissue that connects muscles to bones.

Debridement

The removal of dirt, foreign objects, damaged tissue, and cellular debris from a wound to prevent infection and to promote healing.

Lordosis

An abnormal increase in the forward curvature of the lumbar spine.

Positron Emission Tomography

An imaging technique that combines tomography with radionuclide tracers to produce enhanced images of selected body organs or areas.

Ergonomics

The study of the human factors that affect the design and operation of tools and the work environment.

Hyperesthesia

A condition of abnormal and excessive sensitivity to touch, pain, or other sensory stimuli.

Nullipara

A woman who has never borne a viable child.

Hypercapnia

Abnormal buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood.

Nocturnal Enuresis

Urinary incontinence during sleep.

Dura Mater

The thick, tough, outermost membrane of the meninges.

Esophageal Varices

Enlarged and swollen veins at the lower end of the esophagus.

Pyrosis

A burning sensation caused by the return of acidic stomach contents into the esophagus.

Singultus

Myoclonus of the diaphragm that causes the characteristic hiccup sound with each spasm.

Myocardial Infarction

The occlusion of one or more coronary arteries caused by plaque buildup.

Periomenopause

The phase between regular menstrual periods and no periods at all.

Glucagon

The hormone secreted by the alpha cells of the pancreatic islets in response to low levels of glucose in the bloodstream.

Cryptorchidism

A development defect in which one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum.

Hyperopia

A vision defect in which light rays focus beyond the retina; also known as farsightedness

Mitral Valve Prolapse

The backward leaking of blood that occurs when the mitral valve does not close tightly.

Nephrolysis

Surgical freeing of a kidney from adhesions.

Amenorrhea

The abnormal absence of menstrual periods for 90 days or more.

Syphilis

A sexually transmitted disease that is caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.

Megalobastic

A blood disorder characterized by anemia in which red blood cells are larger than normal.

Asphyxia

The loss of consciousness that occurs when the body cannot get the oxygen it needs to function.

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder usually associated with gallstones.

Quadriplegia

Paralysis of all four extremities.

Erythroderma

Abnormal redness of the entire skin surface.

Teletherapy

Precisely targeted radiation therapy administered at a distance from the body.

Hypercalcemia

Abnormally high concentrations of calcium circulating in the blood.

Melena

The passage of black, tarry, and foul-smelling stools.

Rickettsia

A small bacterium that lives in lice, fleas, ticks, and mites.

Ataxia

The lack of muscle coordination during voluntary movement.

Torticollis

A stiff neck due to spasmodic contraction of the neck muscles that pull the head toward the affected side.

Anuria

The absence of urine formation by the kidneys.

Pancreatic Islets

Clusters of specialized cells within the pancreas responsible for producing and secreting hormones that regulate blood sugar levels.

Bulimia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by frequent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting.

Addison’s Disease

A condition that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol or aldosterone.

Delusion

A false personal belief that is maintained despite obvious proof or evidence to the contrary.

Borborygmus

The rumbling noise caused by the movement of gas in the intestine.

Sprain

An injury to a joint, such as ankle, knee, or wrist, that usually involves a wrenched or torn ligament.

Intradermal

Something situated, occurring, or done within or between the layers of the skin.

Placenta Previa

Abnormal implantation of the placenta in the lower portion of the uterus.

Iatrogenic Illness

An unfavorable response due to prescribed medical treatment.

Acetabulum

The large circular activity in each side of the pelvis that articulates with the head of the femur to form the hip joint.

Azoospermia

The absence of sperm in the semen.

Cirrhosis

A chronic degenerative disease of the liver characterized by scarring.

Infectious Myringitis

A contagious inflammation that causes painful blisters on the eardrum.

Polyphagia

Excessive hunger.

Localized Allergic Response

Redness, itching, and burning where the skin has come into contact with an allergen.

Epidemic

A sudden and widespread outbreak of a disease within a specific population group or area.

Chlamydia

A sexually transmitted disease caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.

Pyothorax

The presence of pus in the pleural cavity between the layers of the pleural membrane.

Priapism

A painful erection that lasts four hours or more but is not accompanied by sexual excitement.

Tachycardia

An abnormally rapid resting heartbeat usually at a rate of more than a 100 beats per minute.

Atrophy

Weakness or wearing away of body tissues and structures.

Myopathy

Any pathological change or disease of muscle tissue.

Pediculosis

An infestation with lice.

Arthrocentesis

Surgical puncture of the joint space to remove synovial fluid for analysis.

Actinic Keratosis

A precancerous skin growth that occurs on sun-damaged skin.

Rhytidectomy

Surgical removal of excess skin and fat from the face to eliminate wrinkles.

Cerebrum

The largest and uppermost portion of the brain.

Orthostatic Hypotension

Low blood pressure that occurs upon standing up.

Osteosarcoma

A hard-tissue sarcoma that usually involves the upper shaft of long bones, pelvis, or knee.

Colostomy

Surgical creation of an artificial excretory opening between the colon and the body surface.