Summer 2025 Project- All Terms

abdominocentesis

surgical puncture of abdominal cavity to remove fluid for diagnostic purposes

acute

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

angiography

process of producing an x-ray of the blood vessels after injection of a contrast medium

appendectomy

surgical removal of appendix

What does APPY stand for?

appendectomy

arteriosclerosis

abnormal hardening of the walls of an artery

arthralgia

pain in the joints

-algia

pain, suffering

arteri/o

artery

arthr/o

joint

ather/o

plaque or fatty substance

aden/o

gland

adip/o

fat

anter/o

before, front

abdominal cavity

large space between chest and pelvis containing many digestive organs

adenocarcinoma

malignant tumor that originates in the glands and may spread to other body parts

adenoma

benign tumor that starts in the glands

anaplasia

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

anomaly

a deviation from what is regarded as normal

anterior

situated in the front

aplasia

absence or failure of an organ or tissue to develop or form properly

atresia

congenital absence or narrowing of a normal body opening or passage

adenomalacia

abnormal softening of a gland

adenectomy

surgical removal of a gland

adenosclerosis

abnormal hardening of a gland

adenosis

any disease or condition of a gland

advance directives

documents used to provide guidance about what types of treatment a person may want in case of an unknown future emergency

adenitis

inflammation of a gland

anatomical position

standardized reference position where the person is standing with their feet flat on ground and arms at their sides with palms facing forward

atrophy

decrease in size, function, or number of cells or tissues often due to lack of use

albumin/o

albumin

acetaminophen

analgesic that reduces pain and fever but does not relieve inflammation

What does APAP stand for?

acetaminophen

acupuncture

traditional Chinese medicine practice that involves inserting thin needles into specific points on the body to stimulate energy flow and restore balance to the body

albuminuria

presence of albumin in urine

analgesic

class of drugs that relieve pain without affecting consciousness

antipyretic

medication administered to prevent or reduce fever

arthrocentesis

surgical puncture of the joint space to remove synovial fluid for analysis to determine the cause of pain or swelling in a joint

auscultation

procedure of listening for sounds within the body, usually with a stethoscope

auscult/o

to listen

arterial stick

puncture of an artery usually on the inside of the wrist to obtain arterial blood

arterial blood gas analysis

diagnostic test that measures the levels of CO2, O2, and pH of arterial blood to assess lung function, acid-base balance, and overall metabolic state

acidosis

excessive acid in the body fluids leading to a low pH

alkalosis

excessive bases in the body leading to high pH

ac

before meals

ad lib

as desired

amt

amount

allopathic medicine

conventional medicine practices and systems of health care

alternative medicine

practices and systems of health care other than allopathic approaches

acupressure

traditional Chinese touch therapy involving finger pressure applied to specific areas of the body to restore energy

anthracycline

class of drugs used in cancer chemotherapy

What does ADR stand for?

adverse drug reaction

ankyl/o

bent, crooked, stiff

acetabulum

the hip socket that forms the hip joint by articulating with the ball-shaped head of the femur

allogenic

taken from different individuals of the same species, cells are obtained from a donor

ankylosing spondylitis

a type of arthritis that primarily affects the spine, specifically the joints between the vertebrae

arthrodesis

the surgical fusion of two bones in a joint to stiffen that joint

arthroscopy

visual examination of the internal structure of a joint using an arthroscope

autologous

originating within an individual, describes a treatment where a patient’s own cells are used for therapeutic purposes

avascular necrosis

bone tissue death caused by a lack of blood supply

ATC

around the clock

AAA

apply to affected area

au

both ears

ad

right ear

as

left ear

articular cartilage

connective tissue that covers the surface of bones where they articulate, AKA come together to form joints

articulation

AKA joint, place of union between two or more bones

appendage

a structure that is attached to a larger or more important part of the body

auditory ossicles

the 3 tiny bones in the middle ear known as the malleus, incus, and stapes

acromion

bony prominence located at the top of the shoulder, it is an extension of the scapula

ankylosis

abnormal stiffening and immobility of a joint due to disease or injury

adhesive capsulitis

painful ankylosis of the shoulder caused by adhesions that make the joint thicker and tighter

adhesion

band of scar tissue that connects 2 body surfaces that aren’t usually connected

arthrosclerosis

abnormal hardening of the joints

-ago

diseased condition or state

arthroscopic surgery

extends concept of arthroscopy by not only diagnosing but also treating joint problems

arthroplasty

surgical repair of a damaged joint

all/o, all-

other, different

-ation

process or action of something

aut/o

self, same

abscess

a swollen, inflamed area where pus gathers

abrasion

a wound caused by scraping the skin and subsequently removing the outermost layer of skin