Summer Medical Terminology Guide

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering fundamental medical terminology, body structures, clinical procedures, suffixes, prefixes, and combining forms from the Summer Medical Terminology Guide.

Cystoscopy

Visual examination of the urinary bladder.

Prognosis

Anticipated course of illness or injury.

Neuralgia

Nerve pain.

Thrombosis

Formation of blood clots that block blood flow.

Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar.

Hyperglycemia

High blood sugar.

Laparotomy

Incision into the abdomen.

Sarcoma

Cancer of connective tissue.

Pituitary gland

Endocrine gland located at the base of the brain.

Ligament

Connective tissue between your bones.

Hemoglobin

Protein in red blood cells carrying oxygen.

Computed tomography scan (CT)

Type of x-ray that shows cross sections of the body.

Uremia

Blood condition resulting from renal failure.

Ischemia

Condition in which blood is held back from an organ.

Myoma

A benign tumor of the muscle.

Myocardial infarction

Heart attack.

Amniocentesis

A medical test done during pregnancy.

Tonsillectomy

Removal of pharyngeal lymph tissue.

Antibody

A Y-shaped protein made by white blood cells.

Antigen

Foreign substance that makes the immune system react.

Bradycardia

Term for slow heartbeat.

Congenital anomaly

An irregularity or birth defect that occurs at birth.

Adrenal glands

Endocrine glands located above the kidneys.

Syndrome

Signs and symptoms that come with disease.

Ultrasonography

Medical imaging test using high frequency sound to "see" inside the body.

Prolapse

Condition where an organ slips out of its normal place.

Endocrinologist

A specialist who treats glandular disorders.

Ophthalmologist

A doctor that treats eye disorders.

Radiation oncologist

A doctor who uses high energy radiation to treat patients.

Thoracic surgeon

Surgeon who specializes in surgical operations on organs inside the chest or thorax.

Geriatrician

Doctor who specializes in treating the elderly.

Iatrogenic

An illness caused by a medical exam or treatment (produced during treatment).

Nephrostomy

Creation of an opening in the kidney.

Gastrectomy

Surgical removal of the stomach.

Electroencephalogram

Recording of electrical activity of the brain.

Platelet

Tiny cell fragments in blood that stop bleeding.

Anterior

Toward the front of the body.

Coccyx

The tailbone.

Urethra

Tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body.

Acute

Begins suddenly and lasts shortly.

Mammoplasty

Surgical repair of the breasts.

Hysterectomy

Surgical removal of the uterus.

Neonatal

Refers to the first month of life.

Subdural hematoma

Medical condition where blood gathers between the skull and brain surface.

Nosocomial infection

Hospital-acquired infection; an illness a patient gets while receiving medical care.

Rheumatologist

Specialist in diagnosing and treating autoimmune diseases and diseases of joints, muscles, and bones.

Pathologist

One who studies disease.

Urologist

Specialist in the urinary tract.

Gastroenteritis

Inflammation of the stomach and small intestines.

Anemia

Deficiency of hemoglobin in the red blood cells.

Ophthalmoscope

Instrument used to visually examine the eye.

Laparoscopy

Visual examination of the abdomen using an endoscope.

Pleuritis

Inflammation of the pleura.

Diaphragm

Muscle used for breathing.

Craniotomy

Incision into the skull.

Tracheotomy

Incision into the trachea; creation of a surgical opening.

Cholecystectomy

Gallbladder resection or surgical removal.

Chemotherapy

Use of chemicals to treat disease.

Atherosclerosis

Buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries.

Apnea

Absence of breathing.

Atrophy

Decrease in cell size.

Periosteum

The membrane surrounding the bone shaft.

Retroperitoneal space

Area in the upper back where the kidneys are located.

Hematuria

Presence of blood in the urine.

Anesthesiologist

A doctor who administers drugs during surgery.

Psychiatrist

Medical doctor who treats mental disorders.

Inpatient care

Formal admission to a hospital to stay overnight for a day or days.

Outpatient care

Care given for less than a day.

Oophor/o

Combining form meaning ovary.

Salping/o

Combining form meaning fallopian tube.

Myel/o

Combining form meaning spinal cord or bone marrow.

Isch/o

Combining form meaning to hold back.

-centesis

Suffix meaning surgical puncture to remove fluid.

-stomy

Suffix meaning new opening.

-sclerosis

Suffix meaning hardening.

-rrhage

Suffix meaning excessive discharge of blood.

-lysis

Suffix meaning separation, breakdown.

Dys-

Prefix meaning painful.

Tachy-

Prefix meaning fast.

Retro-

Prefix meaning behind.