HTHRHSC 2500: Medical Terminology - Chapters 2, 3, and 4 Study Flashcards

Practice flashcards covering medical terminology key concepts, combining forms, conditions, and procedures from HTHRHSC 2500 Chapters 2, 3, and 4.

What does the combining form aden/o mean?

gland

What does the combining form eti/o mean?

cause of disease

What is the medical definition of anaplasia?

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

What is aplasia?

the defective development of an organ or tissue

What is dysplasia?

the abnormal development or growth of cells, tissues, or organs

What is hyperplasia?

the enlargement of an organ or tissue because of an abnormal increase in the number of cells in the tissues

What is hypertrophy?

a general increase in the bulk of a body part or organ that is due to an increase in the size, not the number, of cells in the tissues

What is hypoplasia?

the incomplete development of an organ or tissue usually due to a deficiency in the number of cells

What is an adenocarcinoma?

a malignant tumor that originates in glandular tissue

What is an adenoma?

a benign tumor that arises in or resembles glandular tissue

What is an iatrogenic illness?

an unfavorable response due to prescribed medical treatment

What is an idiopathic disorder?

an illness without known cause

How are endemic, epidemic, and pandemic defined in epidemiology?

Endemic refers to the ongoing presence of a disease within a population, group, or area; epidemic is a sudden and widespread outbreak of a disease within a specific population group or area; pandemic refers to an outbreak of a disease occurring over a large geographic area, possibly worldwide.

What is phenylketonuria (PKU)?

a genetic disorder where the essential digestive enzyme, phenylalanine hydroxylase, is missing

What is the mesentery?

a fused double layer of the parietal peritoneum that attaches parts of the intestine to the interior of the abdominal wall

What does the term retroperitoneal mean?

located behind the peritoneum

What is peritonitis?

inflammation of the peritoneum

What are fomites?

objects or materials that are likely to carry infection, such as clothes, utensils, and furniture.

What does the combining form ankyl/o mean?

crooked, bent, stiff

What do the suffixes -clasis and -clast mean?

break down

What is the acetabulum?

the hip socket; large circular cavity in each side of the pelvis that articulates with the head of the femur to form the hip joint

What is ankylosing spondylitis?

a form of rheumatoid arthritis that primarily causes inflammation of the joints between the vertebrae

What is arthrodesis?

a surgical procedure to stiffen a joint

What is arthrolysis?

surgical loosening of an ankylosed joint

What is a Baker's cyst?

a fluid-filled sac behind the knee that usually results from a condition such as rheumatoid arthritis triggering the production of excess synovial fluid

What is a Colles' fracture?

a fracture at the lower end of the radius that occurs when a person tries to break a fall by landing on his/her hands

What is a comminuted fracture?

a fracture in which the bone is splintered or crushed

What is crepitation (crepitus)?

the grating sound heard when the ends of a broken bone move together

What is dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA)?

a low-exposure radiographic measurement of the spine and hips to measure bone density

What is Ewing's sarcoma?

a cancer that most often occurs in and around the bones.

What is hallux valgus?

an abnormal enlargement of the joint at the base of the great toe

What is hemarthrosis?

blood within a joint

What is kyphosis?

an abnormal increase in the outward curvature of the thoracic spine as viewed from the side

What is lordosis?

an abnormal increase in the forward curvature of the lumbar spine

What is scoliosis?

an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine

What is lumbago?

pain of the lumbar region of the spine

What is Paget's disease (osteitis deformans)?

a chronic bone disease of unknown cause, characterized by abnormal breakdown of bone tissue followed by abnormal bone formation

What is percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP)?

treatment of osteoporosis-related compression fractures by injecting bone cement to stabilize compression fractures within the spinal column

What is polymyalgia rheumatica?

a geriatric inflammatory disorder of the muscles and joints characterized by pain and stiffness

What is spina bifida?

a congenital defect that occurs during early pregnancy in which the spinal canal fails to close completely around the spinal cord

What is spondylolisthesis?

the forward slipping movement of the body of one of the lower lumbar vertebrae on the vertebra below it

What does the combining form claudicat/o mean?

to limp

What does the suffix -clonus mean?

rapidly alternating involuntary contraction and relaxation of a muscle in response to sudden stretch

What is abduction?

The movement of a limb away from the midline of the body

What is adduction?

Movement of a body part toward the median plane

What is an adhesion?

a band of fibrous tissue that holds structures together abnormally

What is ataxia?

the lack of muscle coordination during voluntary movement

What is bradykinesia?

extreme slowness of movement

What is carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS)?

swelling that creates pressure on the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel

What is a contracture?

the permanent tightening of fascia, muscles, tendons, ligaments, or skin that occurs when normally elastic connective tissues are replaced with nonelastic fibrous tissue

What is electromyography (EMG)?

a diagnostic test that measures the electrical activity within muscles fibers in response to nerve stimulation

What is fibromyalgia?

a debilitating chronic condition characterized by fatigue; muscle, joint, or bone pain; and a wide range of other symptoms

What is intermittent claudication (IC)?

pain in the leg muscles that occurs during exercise and is relieved by rest

What is myasthenia gravis (MG)?

a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the neuromuscular junction and produces serious weakness of voluntary muscles

What is a myocele?

the herniation of muscle substance through a tear in the fascia surrounding it

What is myoclonus?

the sudden, involuntary jerking of a muscle or group of muscles

What is myorrhexis?

the rupture or tearing of a muscle

What is polymyositis (PM)?

muscle disease characterized by the simultaneous inflammation and weakening of voluntary muscles in many parts of the body

What is rhabdomyolysis?

a syndrome that can result from muscle injury in which the death of muscle fibers releases their contents into the bloodstream

What is sarcopenia?

the loss of muscle mass, strength and functions that comes with aging

What is singultus?

myoclonus of the diaphragm that causes the characteristic hiccup sound with each spasm

What is tenodesis?

a surgical procedure that is typically used to treat injuries to the biceps tendon in the shoulder.

What is tenolysis?

the release of a tendon from adhesions

What is torticollis?

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