Chapter 15: Medical Terminology for Health Professions

albumin/o

albumin

calc/i

calcium

-centesis

surgical puncture to remove fluid

creatin/o

creatinine

fluor/o

glowing

gylcos/o

glucose, sugar

lapar/o

abdomen, abdominal wall

lingu/o

tongue

-otomy

cutting into

pyret/o

fever

radi/o

radiation

-scope

instrument for viewing

-scopy

visual examination

son/o

sound

ultra-

beyond

acetaminophen

Tylenol

acupuncture

Chinese medical practice of inserting needles into certain areas of the body

adherence

attachment

albuminuria

protein in the urine

analgesic

medication that reduces or eliminates pain

antipyretic

Medication used to reduce a fever

arthrocentesis

surgical puncture of a joint

auscultation

Listening with a stethoscope

bacteriuria

bacteria in the urine

bruit

blowing, swooshing sound heard through a stethoscope when an artery is partially occluded

calciuria

presence of calcium in the urine

computed tomography

an imaging procedure using a computer to cut

contraindication

a factor in the patient's condition that makes the use of a medication or specific treatment dangerous or ill advised

cretinuria

an increased concentration of creatinine in the urine

echocardiography

an ultrasonic diagnostic procedure used to evaluate the structures and motion of the heart

endoscope

an instrument used for visual examination of internal structures

fluoroscopy

visualization of body parts in motion by projecting x-ray images on a luminous fluorescent screen

hematocrit

percentage of blood volume occupied by red blood cells

Hematuria

blood in the urine

hyperthermia

Abnormally high body temperature

hypothermia

abnormally low body temperature

idiosyncratic reaction

An abnormal and unexpected response to a medication, other than an allergic reaction, that is peculiar to an individual patient.

interventional radiology

the use of radiographic imaging to guide a procedure such as a biopsy

intradermal injection

injection placed just below the epidermis

intramuscular injection

an injection into deep muscle tissue, usually of the buttock, thigh, or upper arm

intravenous injection

the administration of medication by injection directly into a vein

ketonuria

ketones in the urine

laprascopy

visual examination of the abdominal cavity

lithotomy position

lying on back with legs raised and feet in stirrups

magnetic resonance imaging

MRI, used to image soft tissue structures such as the interior of complex joints

ophthalmoscope

instrument used to examine the interior of the eye

otoscope

instrument used for visual examination of the ear

palliative

relieving or soothing the symptoms of a disease or disorder without effecting a cure

parenternal

introduced to the body not through the intestine

percussion

a diagnostic procedure designed to determine the density of a body part by the sound produced by tapping the surface with the fingers

perfusion

The passage of fluid to an organ or a tissue

pericardiocentesis

surgical puncture to aspirate fluid from the sac surrounding the heart

phlebotomy

incision into a vein

placebo

something which has a positive mental effect, but no physical effect

positron emission tomography

an imaging technique used to see which brain areas are being activated while performing tasks

prone position

lying face down

proteinuria

protein in the urine

pyuria

pus in the urine

radiolucent

permitting the passage of x-rays

radiopaque

substances that do not permit the passage of x-rays

rales

Crackles; wet crackling noise in lungs

recumbent

reclining; lying down

rhonchi

Rattling noise of mucous in the lungs

Sims' position

lying on left side with right knee drawn up and with left arm drawn behind, parallel to the back

single photon emission computed tomography

a type of nuclear imaging test that produces 3D computer-reconstructed images showing perfusion through tissues and organs

speculum

instrument for opening a body cavity to allow visual inspection

sphygmomanometer

instrument to measure blood pressure

stethoscope

a medical instrument for listening to the sounds generated inside the body

stridor

strained, high-pitched sound heard on inspiration caused by obstruction in the pharynx or larynx

subcutaneous injection

injection into the subcutaneous tissue that lies between the epidermis and the muscle

transdermal

Crossing through the skin

transesophageal echocardiography

an ultrasonic imaging technique that is performed from inside the esophagus to evaluate heart structures

ultrasonography

A noninvasive technique involving the formation of a two-dimensional image used for the examination and measurement of internal body structures and the detection of bodily abnormalities

urinalysis

the examination of urine to determine the presence of abnormal elements