Medical Terminology Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering medical terminology, surgical procedures, conditions, prefixes, and suffixes.

Abdominocentesis

The surgical puncture of the abdominal cavity to remove fluid.

Acute

Describes disease with rapid onset and relatively short duration.

-algia

Suffix meaning pain and suffering.

Angiography

The radiographic study of blood vessels after the injection of a contrast medium.

Appendectomy

Surgical removal of the appendix.

Arteriosclerosis

Abnormal hardening of the walls of an artery or arteries.

Colostomy

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

Dermatologist

A physician who specializes in disorders of the skin.

Diarrhea

The frequent flow of loose or watery stools.

Dys-

Prefix meaning bad, difficult, or painful.

Edema

Swelling caused by an abnormal accumulation of fluid.

Eponym

A disease, structure, operation, or procedure named for the person who discovered it first.

Fissure

A groove or crack-like sore of the skin.

Gastralgia

Pain in the stomach.

Hemorrhage

The loss of a large amount of blood in a short time.

Hyper-

Prefix meaning excessive or increased.

Hypotension

Lower than normal blood pressure.

Inflammation

A localized response to an injury or to the destruction of tissues.

Laceration

A torn or jagged wound or an accidental cut wound.

Malaise

A feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness.

Myelopathy

Any pathologic change or disease in the spinal cord.

Neurography

Suturing together the ends of a severed nerve.

Otorhinolaryngology

The study of the ears, nose, and throat.

-plasty

Suffix meaning surgical repair.

Postnatal

Pertaining to birth.

Prognosis

Prediction of probable course and outcome of a disorder.

Remission

The disappearance of the symptoms of a disease without having achieved a cure.

-rrhaphy

Suffix meaning surgical suturing.

-rrhea

Suffix meaning flow or discharge.

-rrhexis

Suffix meaning rupture.

-stomy

Suffix meaning surgical creation of an artificial opening to the body surface.

Supination

The act of rotating the arm so that the palm of the hand is forward or upward.

Syndrome

A set of the signs and symptoms that occur together as part of a specific disease process.

-tomy

Suffix meaning a surgical incision.

Tonsillitis

An inflammation of the tonsils.

Trauma

Wound or injury.

Triage

Medical screening to determine the priority of treatment.

Viral

Pertaining to a virus.