Key Terms and Diagnostic Tests for Medical Students

A set of practice flashcards covering key medical terms, diagnostic tests, and abbreviations for the cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, and gastrointestinal systems based on lecture notes.

Aneurysm

Localized abnormal dilation of a blood vessel, usual ly an artery.

Angina

Sharp pain in the chest resulting from a decrease in blood supply to the heart muscle.

Asystole

Absence of contractions of the heart.

Atherosclerosis

Hardening of the arteries caused by a col lection of fatty de- posits within the arteries.

Atrial fibrillation

An irregular and often rapid heart rate that increases a patient's risk of stroke.

Auscultation

The act of listening to sounds arising within organs (as the lungs or heart) as an aid to diagnosis and treatment; done with a stethoscope.

Bradycardia

Abnormal ly slow heart rate.

Capillaries

Tiny blood vessels that connect the ends of the smal lest arteries with the beginnings of the smal lest veins.

Cardiomegaly

An abnormal enlargement of the heart.

Claudication

Cramp-like pains resulting from poor circulation in the muscles of the legs; commonly associated with atherosclerosis.

Coronary artery disease

Narrowing of the coronary arteries to the extent that adequate blood supply to the myocardium is prevented.

Diastole

The relaxation period of the heart, alternating with the contrac- tion phase of the heart.

Dyslipidemia

A disorder of lipoprotein metabolism, including lipoprotein overproduction or deficiency.

Edema

Swel ling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body's tissues.

Infarction

Area of dead tissue (necrosis) caused by decreased blood flow to that part of the body.

Ischemia

Decreased supply of oxygenated blood to a body part or organ.

Myocardial infarction

Area of dead tissue in the heart muscle; also known as a heart attack or MI.

Tachycardia

Abnormal rapidity of the heart, usual ly defined as a heart rate over 100 beats per minute.

Cardiac catheterization

A diagnostic procedure in which a catheter is introduced into a large vein or artery, usual ly of an arm or a leg, and is then threaded through the circulatory system to the heart.

Echocardiography

A diagnostic procedure for studying the structure and motion of the heart. It is useful in evaluating structural and functional changes in a variety of heart disorders.

Electrocardiogram

A graphic record of the electrical action of the heart as reflected from various angles to the surface of the skin.

ASCVD

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

CABG

Coronary artery bypass graft.

Apnea

temporary cessation of breathing

Bradypnea

abnormal ly slow breathing

Croup

is an infection of the upper airway, general ly in children, which obstructs breathing and causes a characteristic barking cough

Cyanosis

bluish discoloration of skin due to lack of oxygen

Emphysema

occurs when the air sacs in your lungs are gradual ly destroyed, making you progressively more short of breath. Emphysema is one of several diseases known col lectively as chronic obstruc- tive pulmonary disease

Epistaxis

hemorrhage from the nose; nosebleed

Hemoptysis

spitting up of blood

Hypoxemia

insufficient oxygenation of the blood

Orthopnea

labored breathing that occurs when lying flat and improves when sitting up or standing

Pertussis

an acute upper respiratory infectious disease caused by the bacterium, Bordetel la pertussis; also known as "whooping cough"

Pulmonary edema

excess fluid in the lungs; this fluid col lects in the numerous air sacs in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe

Pulmonary embolism

the obstruction of one or more arteries by a clot that dislodges from another location, and is carried through the venous sys- tem to the vessels of the lung

Rales

abnormal sound heard on auscultation of the chest; crackle

Rhinitis

inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose; resulting in a runny nose, nasal congestion or postnasal drainage

Thoracentesis

involves the extraction of pleural fluid for laboratory analysis or to remove excess pleural fluid or air from the pleural space

$$PaCO_2$$

partial pressure of carbon dioxide

$$PaO_2$$

partial pressure of oxygen

Aldosterone

a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex that regulates sodi- um and potassium balance in the blood

Cortisol

steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex that has anti-inflammatory, glucocorticoid, and sodium-retaining prop- erties

Epinephrine

a hormone secreted by the adrenal gland in response to stress and physical injury

Glucagon

a hormone produced by the alpha cel ls that stimulates the liver to convert glycogen into glucose when blood sugar levels are extremely low

Gluconeogenesis

formation of glucose from excess amino acids, fats, or other noncarbohydrate sources

Glycogenesis

the formation and storage of glycogen from glucose

Glucose

the simplest form of sugar in the body; our major energy fuel for the body.

Goiter

enlargement of the thyroid gland

Hirsutism

excessive growth of hair or the presence of hair in unusual places

Hyperkalemia

elevated blood potassium level

Hypernatremia

elevated blood sodium level

Insulin

hormone produced by the pancreas and released into the bloodstream. Insulin al lows glucose to leave the blood and enter body cel ls.

Ketoacidosis

acidosis due to an accumulation of ketones in the body, result- ing from faulty carbohydrate metabolism

Polydipsia

excessive thirst

Polyphagia

excessive eating/hunger

Polyuria

excessive urination

$$Na$$

sodium

$$Ca$$

calcium

$$K$$

potassium

$$T_3$$

triiodothyronine

$$T_4$$

thyroxine

Amylase

an enzyme that helps to digest carbohydrates. It is produced in the pancreas and the glands that make saliva.

Ascites

abnormal col lection of fluid in the abdomen

Bilirubin

the orange-yel low-brown pigment in bile formed by the break- down of hemoglobin

Cholelithiasis

the presence or formation of gal lstones

Chyme

the liquid like material of partial ly digested food and digestive secretions found in the stomach just before it is released into the duodenum

Cirrhosis

chronic and degenerative disease of the liver due to injury to hepatocytes

Dyspepsia

a vague feeling of epigastric discomfort pertinent after eating; painful digestion

Emesis

vomiting

Gastroesophageal reflux

a backflow of contents of the stomach into the esophagus

Hematemesis

the vomiting of blood

Hepatocyte

liver cel l

Jaundice

yel low discoloration of the skin; a symptom caused by an accu- mulation of bilirubin in the blood

Lavage

the process of washing out a cavity with a stream of liquid; usual ly the bladder, bowel, paranasal sinuses, or stomach

Lipase

an enzyme that aids in digestion of fats

Melena

abnormal, black, tarry stool containing digested blood

Thrush

a fungal infection in the mouth and throat producing sore, curd like patches on the tongue

Xerostomia

salivary glands do not produce enough saliva to keep mouth lubricated; dry mouth

Abdominocentesis

involves insertion of a needle into the abdominal cavity to remove excess fluid

Alanine aminotransferase

(ALT) enzyme present in high concentrations in muscle, liver and brain; high level of ALT indicates necrosis in one of these tissues. Often measured as part of differential diagnosis and tracking of liver disease. (also known as SGPT - serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase)

Aspartate aminotransferase

(AST) enzyme present in high concentrations in muscle, liver and brain; high level of AST indicates necrosis in one of these tissues. (also known as SGOT - serum glutamic- oxaloacetic transaminase)

Alkaline phosphatase

enzyme present in blood and body tissues such as bone and liver; elevated in diseases of bone and liver

EGD

esophagogastroduodenoscopy

GERD

gastroesophageal reflux disease

TPN

total parenteral nutrition