Vocab Terms: Abate - Epidemic

Medical Terminology for Healthcare Professionals 10/e

abate

to lessen, ease, decrease, or cease. Used to note the lessening of pain or the decrease in severity of symptoms.

ab-

norm

-al

p: away from

r: rule

s: pertaining to

abnormal

pertaining to away from the norm or rule. A condition that is considered to be not normal.

abscess

localized collection of pus, which may occur in any part of the body

acute

sudden, sharp, severe; used to describe a disease that has a sudden onset, severe symptoms, and a short course

adhes

-ion

r: stuck to

s: process

afferent

carrying impulses toward a center

ambulatory

condition of being able to walk, not confined to bed.

antidote

substance given to counteract poisons and their effects

anti-

pyret

-ic

p: against

r: fever

s: pertaining to

antipyretic

pertaining to an agent that is used to lower an elevated body temperature (fever)

anti-

sept

-ic

p: against

r: putrefaction

s: pertaining to

antiseptic

pertaining to an agent that works against sepsis

anti

tuss

-ive

p: against

r: cough

s: nature of, quality of

antitussive

pertaining to an agent that works against coughing

apathy

condition in which one lacks feelings and emotions and is indifferent

a-

-sepsis

p: without

s: decay

asepsis

without decay; sterile, free from all living microorganisms

axill

-ary

r: armpit

s: pertaining to

axillary (ax)

pertaining to the armpit

bi(o)

-opsy

cf: life

s: to view

biopsy (Bx)

surgical removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination

cac-

-hexia

p: bad

s: conditiom

cachexia

condition of ill health, malnutrition, and wasting, it may occur in chronic diseases

centi-

-grade

p: one hundred, one hundredth

s: a step

centigrade (C)

literally means having 100 steps or degrees

centi-

-meter

p: one hundred, one hundredth

s: measure

centimeter (cm)

unit of measurement in the metric system

chem/o

-therapy

cf: chemical

s: therapy

chemotherapy

the use of chemical agents in the treatment of disease,

chronic

pertaining to time; denotes a disease with little change or of slow progression

chronic is opposite of

acute

dia-

-gnosis

p: through

s: knowledge

diagnosis (Dx)

the process of identifying a disease or disorder, which is generally determined through the use of scientific and skillful methods of knowledge

dia-

-phoresis

p: through

s: to carry

diaphoresis

to carry through sweat glands; profuse sweating

disease

literally means lack of ease;

dis-

infect

-ant

p: apart

r: to infect

s: forming

disinfectant

chemical substance that can be applied to objects to destroy pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria

efferent

carrying impulses away from a center

empathy

the ability to sense intellectually and emotionally the feelings of another person

epi-

dem

-ic

p: upon

r: people

s: pertaining to

epidemic

pertaining to upon the people; the rapid, widespread occurrence of an infectious disease that can be spread by any pathological organism