Medical Transcription Case 3 Glossary

Acute hepatic failure

The sudden onset of liver failure

advanced cardiac life support 

a set of interventions for urgent treatment of cardiac arrest; these interventions include medications, CPR, and defibrillation (delivery of electrical energy with defibrillator)

Alveolitis

Inflammation of alveoli (air sacs in the lung)

Amphoric

A hollow sound resulting from percussion over a lung cavity

ancillary

supplementary

Asystolic

Absence of a heartbeat

Atrial fibrillation

Rapid, irregular contractions of the atria (upper chambers of the heart)

Atrial flutter

Rapid contractions of the atria, more regular than fibrillation

Axial sections

Referring to the parts of the brain examined by CT scan, which done in sections throughout the center of the brain

Axillary

Pertaining to the armpit

Basal ganglia calcifications

Deposits of calcium in basal ganglia

• (groups of nerve cells in the brain)

Bilateral

Occurring on both sides

Bleb

An abnormal air-filled sac in emphysematous

Bronchoscopy

Examination of the bronchi through a bronchoscope

Brushings

To obtain cell samples using a brush; this material can be sent for histologic or cytologic evaluation

Carina

A ridgelike structure where the trachea divides into the left and right main stem bronchi

Cavitary lesions

Abnormal tissue areas containing cavities

Cerebral edema

Excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain substance that causes swelling

Code Blue

Medical jargon meaning a patient's heartbeat and/or respirations have ceased, calling for immediate resuscitation procedures (CPR)

Congestion

Swelling of blood vessels due to engorgement with blood

Cords

Referring to the vocal cords

Cortical atrophy

Death of cells in the cerebral cortex

Coumadin 

brand name for warfarin sodium, an anticoagulant drug

CT Scan

A procedure in which x-ray images are analyzed and combined by a computer to yield views representing thin slices of the part examined

Dialysis catheter

Tubular instrument inserted into a major vein in order to filter the blood of impurities

Echocardiogram

An image produced by recording an echo obtained from beams of ultrasonic waves directed through the chest wall and bouncing back from the heart (cardio)

Effusion

The escape of fluid into a body part or tissue

Ejection fraction

The proportion of the volume of blood in the ventricles at the end of diastole that is ejected during systole

EKG leads

Conductors connected to an electrocardiograph (EKG) machine

Embolectomy

Surgical removal of a blood clot (embolus) from a blood vessel

Endobronchial

within the bronchi

Epiglottis

The lidlike cartilaginous structure that folds back over the opening of the windpipe during swallowing, which prevents food from entering the lungs

ET tube

a tube inserted into the trachea (windpipe) to assist in ventilating the patient

Etiology

Cause or origin of a disease or disorder

Fungemia

The presence of a fungal growth in the blood stream

Glottis

The opening between the vocal cords and the larynx

Hemoccult

Trade name for a test to discover occult (hidden) blood in the stool

Hemodialysis

The removal of waste substances from the blood by means of a hemodialyzer

Hemoptysis

The expectoration or spitting up of blood or blood-stained sputum

hepatosplenomegaly

Enlargement of the liver and spleen

High-flow oxygen

Oxygen administered to a patient via highest setting on the oxygen machine

Hilar

Pertaining to the depression, notch, or opening where the vessels and nerves enter an organ

HPI

history of present illness

Hydrocephalus

An increase in the volume of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the cerebrum

Hypokinesia

Abnormally decreased motor function or activity

hypoxic 

(adj.) pertaining to deficient oxygenation of the tissues

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Hardening of the pulmonary (lung) structures of either unknown or spontaneous origin

Infiltrate

To penetrate small openings of a tissue or substance

INR

international normalized ratio; one of the clotting studies performed along with PT (prothrombin time) and PTT (partial thromboplastin time)

Intravenous

Within or through a vein

Intravenous contrast

Material inserted into a vein that allows differences in tissues to be delineated

Intubated

The condition of having a tube inserted into a body canal or hollow organ

Intubation

The insertion of a tube into a body canal or hollow organ

Klebsiella pneumoniae

One etiologic agent of acute bacterial pneumonia

Lesion

a traumatic break in tissue or a pathologic loss of function of a part of the body

Low-flow oxygen

Oxygen administered to a patient via the lowest setting on the oxygen machine

Malaise

A vague feeling of bodily discomfort

Mechanical ventilation

Ventilation (breathing) supported or provided by a machine

Mediastinal

Pertaining to the membranous partition separating the lungs or the two pleural sacs

MVA

motor vehicle accident

Myocardial infarction

Gross necrosis of the myocardium due to lack of blood supply to the area (heart attack)

nasoduodenal feeding tube

tube that goes through the nose and down through the esophagus and stomach to sit at the first part of the intestine; the patient is fed nutritional supplementation through the tube

Nephrologist

A specialist in the study of the kidney

Open-lung biopsy

Taking a small sample of apparently diseased tissue in surgery while the lungs are exposed

Palpitation

Rapid or irregular heartbeat, primarily used in the plural form

Parenchymal

Pertaining to the essential elements of an organ

Pleural

Pertaining to the serous membrane that covers the lungs and lining of the thoracic cavity

Prothrombin time

A test for coagulation factors of the blood

Pseudocords

False cords

Pulmonary

Pertaining to the lungs

Pulmonary vascular congestion

Engorgement of pulmonary vessels occurring in cardiac disease, infections, and certain bodily injuries

rhonchi

sounds with a musical pitch (heard on auscultation) in bronchial tubes due to inflammation, spasm of muscle, or presence of mucus; used most commonly in the plural form

Septicemia

Toxins in the blood, also called blood poisoning

S1, S2, S3, S4

first, second, third, and fourth heart sounds; may be heard while listening to the heart via stethoscope; S1 and S2 are normal sounds, S3 and S4 are not normally heard

Sputum

Material coughed up from the lower respiratory tract

Subarachnoid hemorrhages

Hemorrhages (bursting forth of blood) at or between the arachnoid and pia mater of the brain

Supraventricular cardiac arrhythmias

Irregularity in the rhythm of the heart starting from a focus above the ventricles

tachycardia

(noun) rapid heart rhythm of greater than 100 beats per minute; fast heart beat

Thorax

Chest

Thrombosis

Formation or presence of a thrombus or blood clot

Tuberculosis

An infectious disease of the lungs

Ventricles

Lower chambers of the heart

Versed

brand name nonbarbiturate drug given intravenously (either before or during surgery) to produce sedation and amnesia

Xylocaine

brand name for lidocaine, a topical anesthetic drug