Medical Terminology & Military Time

Inspection

Observation of one or more areas of the body

Auscultation

Using a stethoscope to listen to the sounds of the body

Palpation

Application of pressure to assess for abnormalities

Percussion

Tapping areas on the surface of the body to assess organ size and whether it is fluid or air-filled

Olfaction

Use of smell to detect abnormalities

Diagnostic Testing

Use of lab, x-rays, and other tests or procedures to help diagnose disease

Diagnosis

Identification of a health condition

Prognosis

Forecast or prediction of the probable outcome of the disease or condition

Observation

Looking at and asking questions to gather data

Manifestation

The ways in which a disease presents itself

Signs

(OBJECTIVE) Observed and noted by healthcare professional. Can be measured: Temp/BP/RR/HR Edema

Symptoms

(SUBJECTIVE) NOT measurable- pain/nausea/fatigue/weakness

Patient History

Written description of symptoms in a patient's record

Acute

Comes on quickly and is of short duration (ex: influenza)

Chronic

Slow onset and usually lifelong (High BP, Multiple Sclerosis, Diabetes Mellitus Type II)

Benign

Not cancerous- good chance of survival

Malignant

Term for cancers that tend to spread, get progressively worse and could be life-threatening

Neoplastic

New abnormal growth- could be cancerous or noncancerous

Terminal

Term for a disease for which there are treatments but no cure

Autoimmune

A disease that occurs when the body reacts to its tissue the way it would react to a foreign antigen

Congenital

A condition that is present at birth and may be the result of either genetic or environmental factors; ex: cerebral palsy

Genetic

Inherited or passed on from one's parents

Endemic

A disease that is ongoing and restricted to a certain population, group, or area of land. Ex: Malaria, Common Cold, Swine Flu

Epidemic

Sudden, widespread outbreak of disease within a population, group, or area of land

Pandemic

When a particular disease affects the global population

Etiology

Cause of disease

Iatrogenic

Illness related to medical examination or treatment

Idiopathic

Any disease with an unknown cause

Ischemic

When blood flow is restricted to a part of the body, that part is said to be ischemic

Nosocomial

Hospital-acquired infection

Opportunistic

Infections that occur more often or are more severe in patients with weakened immune systems

Military Time

Used in medicine to prevent errors with AM and PM times. Based on a 24-hour clock.