Scribeology Medical Terminology

In a constitutional sense, what terms apply to this sense?

Atraumatic, diaphoresis, febrile, malaise, normocephalic, polydipsia, and polyuria

What does atraumatic refer to?

No evidence of trauma to the body

What does diaphoresis mean?

Excessive sweating

What does febrile mean?

Having a fever

What does malaise mean?

Generalized discomfort or weakness

What does normocephalic mean?

Normal shaped head

What does polydipsia mean?

Excessive thirst

What does polyuria mean?

Excessive urination

What are the four terms used to describe conditions of the eyes?

Conjunctiva, conjunctival injection, diplopia, and nystagmus

What does conjunctiva mean?

Membrane lining of the eyelids and covering of the eyeball

What does conjunctival injection mean?

Redness of the conjunctiva

What does diplopia mean?

Double vision

What does nystagmus mean?

Involuntary rapid movement of the eyes

When referring to the ears, nose, and throat, what does cerumen mean?

Ear wax

When referring to the ears, nose, and throat, what does dentalgia mean?

Dental pain

When referring to the ears, nose, and throat, what does dentition mean?

Indicating condition of teeth

When referring to the ears, nose, and throat, what does dysphagia mean?

Difficulty swallowing

When referring to the ears, nose, and throat, what does epistaxis mean?

Bleeding of the nose

When referring to the ears, nose, and throat, what does hemotympanum mean?

Blood in the middle ear

When referring to the ears, nose, and throat, what does rhinorrhea mean?

Runny nose

When referring to the ears, nose, and throat, what does septal deviation mean?

Displacement of the nasal septum

When referring to the ears, nose, and throat, what does tinnitus mean?

Ringing of the ears

When referring to the ears, nose, and throat, what does trismus mean?

Inability to open jaw

In respiratory terms, what does accessory muscle use refer to?

Visible usage of muscles not normally used to breathe

In respiratory terms, what does bradypnea mean?

Unusually slow breathing

In respiratory terms, what does cyanosis mean?

Skin turning purple or dark blue, typically due to hypoxia

In respiratory terms, what does dyspnea mean?

Shortness of breath

In respiratory terms, what does expiration mean?

Breathing out

In respiratory terms, what does hemoptysis mean?

Coughing up blood

In respiratory terms, what does inspiration mean?

Breathing in

In respiratory terms, what does intubated refer to?

Introduction of tube into hollow organ, such as trachea

In respiratory terms, what does orthopnea refer to?

Difficulty breathing when laying down

In respiratory terms, what does rales mean?

Abnormal sounds heard in lungs

In respiratory terms, what does respiratory distress refer to?

Difficulty breathing

In respiratory terms, what does retraction refer to?

Visible pulling inward of the muscles between the ribs when inhaling

In respiratory terms, what does rhonchi refer to?

Low pitched, rattling, snoring like sounds heard due to partial obstruction of the lungs

In respiratory terms, what does speech dyspnea refer to?

Shortness of breath when speaking

In respiratory terms, what does stridor refer to?

Sound heard when there is an obstruction of the airways

In respiratory terms, what does tachypnea refer to?

Unusually fast breathing

In respiratory terms, what does wheeze refer to?

Difficulty breathing making a whistling sound that results from narrowing of the lumen in respiratory passages

In a cardiovascular sense, what does aneurysm refer to?

Widening of a blood vessel that results in a blood sac

In a cardiovascular setting, what does angina refer to?

Severe, contracting chest pain due to heart tissues not receiving enough blood

In a cardiovascular setting, what does arrythmia refer to?

Abnormal, irregular heartbeat

In a cardiovascular sense, what does bradycardia refer to?

Unusually slow heart rate

In a cardiovascular sense, what does bruit refer to?

A murmur or sound heard in auscultation, indicating narrowing of a vessel

In a cardiovascular sense, what does capillary refill refer to?

The return of color after pressing down on the skin

In a cardiovascular sense, what does costochondritis refer to?

Inflammation of the costal cartilage

In a cardiovascular sense, what does embolism refer to?

Obstruction of blood vessels by a clot of blood or foreign substance

In a cardiovascular sense, what does hemorrhage refer to?

Loss of blood from the body, internally or externally

In a cardiovascular sense, what does hypertension refer to?

Elevated blood pressure

In a cardiovascular sense, what does hypotension refer to?

Low blood pressure

In a cardiovascular sense, what does infarct refer to?

Death of a tissue caused by loss of blood supply

In a cardiovascular sense, what does ischemia refer to?

Localized area of blood restriction

In a cardiovascular sense, what does murmur refer to?

Extra heart sounds

In a cardiovascular sense, what does palpitations refer to?

Awareness of one’s own heartbeat

In a cardiovascular sense, what does pitting mean?

Fluid buildup, typically in the legs, where an indentation is left once pressed

In a cardiovascular sense, what does stenosis mean?

Narrowing of an opening

In a cardiovascular sense, what does tachycardia mean?

Unusually fast heart rate

In a gastrointestinal sense, what does emesis mean?

Vomit

In a gastrointestinal sense, what does hematemesis mean?

Vomit with blood in it

In a gastrointestinal sense, what does hematochezia mean?

Blood in stool

In a gastrointestinal sense, what does hemorrhoid mean?

Swollen and inflamed veins on rectum

In a gastrointestinal sense, what does melena mean?

Black, tarry stool

In a gastrointestinal sense, what does hepatosplenomegaly mean?

Enlargment of the spleen and liver

In a gastrointestinal sense, what does urolithiasis mean?

Kidney stone

In a genitourinary sense, what does cervical mean?

Pertaining to neck or cervix of uterus

In a genitourinary sense, what does dysmenorrhea mean?

Painful menstruationI

In a genitourinary sense, what does dysuria mean?

Painful urination

In a genitourinary sense, what does hematuria mean?

Blood in urine

In a genitourinary sense, what does incontinence mean?

Loss of bladder control

In a genitourinary sense, what does inguinal mean?

Groin region

In a genitourinary sense, what does priapism mean?

Persistent and painful erection, often due to trauma or medication

In a genitourinary sense, what does torsion mean?

Twisting of organ around its own axis

In a genitourinary sense, what does nephrolithiasis mean?

Kidney stones

In a musculoskeletal sense, what does arthralgia mean?

Joint pain

In a musculoskeletal sense, what does crepitus mean?

Cracking or grating sound heard in joints

In a musculoskeletal sense, what does edema mean?

Accumulation of fluid in intersitial spaces

In a musculoskeletal sense, what does myalgia mean?

Muscle pain, and body aches

In a musculoskeletal sense, what is the sacroiliac joint?

Spine meets pelvisI

In a musculoskeletal sense, what does spasm mean?

Sudden, involuntary muscle contraction

In a musculoskeletal sense, what does supple mean?

Flexible neck moving easily during the exam

In an integumentary sense, what does avulsion mean?

Forcible tearing away from part of structure

In an integumentary sense, what does contusion mean?

Trauma resulting in broken blood vessels beneath the skin

In an integumentary sense, what does ecchymosis mean?

Non elevated bruise

In an integumentary sense, waht does erythema mean?

Redness of the skin

In an integumentary sense, what does fluctuance mean?

Capable of being moved, indicating presence of pus or fluid

In an integumentary sense, what does induration mean?

Localized hardening of soft tissue

In an integumentary sense, what does laceration mean?

Cut in skin

In an integumentary sense, what does macular mean?

Flat rash

In an integumentary sense, what does maculopapular rash mean?

Rash characterized by flat red rashes covered in small bumps

In an integumentary sense, what does melanoma mean?

Most deadly type of skin cancer

In an integumentary sense, what does nuchal rigidity refer to?

Neck stiffness

In an integumentary sense, what does pallor refer to?

Paleness of the skin

In an integumentary sense, what does papular refer to?

Solid, raised lesion with distinct bordersI

In an integumentary sense, what does pruritic refer to?

Itchy

In an integumentary sense, what does purulent refer to?

Consisting, containing, or discharging pus

In an integumentary sense, what does sanguineous refer to?

Drainage that is mixture of blood

In a neurological sense, what does alert and oriented refer to?

Measuring mental function by recording person, place, time, and situation

In a neurological sense, what does ambulatory refer to?

Able to walk

In a neurological sense, what does concussion refer to?

Brain injury from a bump, blow, or jolt to head of the body