Medical Terms Study guide

Abrasion

A cut or scrape that typically isn't serious

Abscess

A tender, fluid-filled pocket that forms in tissue, usually due to infection

Acute

A short condition that begins abruptly and is sometimes severe

Benign

Not cancerous.

Biopsy

A small tissue sample taken for testing

Chronic

Signifies a recurring, persistent condition like heart disease.

Contusion

A bruise.

Defibrillator

A medical device that uses electric shocks to restore normal heartbeat.

Edema

Swelling caused by fluid accumulation.

Embolism

An arterial blockage, often caused by a blood clot.

Epidermis

The outer layer of the skin.

Fracture

Broken bone/cartilage

Gland

An organ or tissue that produces and secretes fluids that serve a specific function.

Hypertension

High blood pressure.

Inpatient

A patient who requires hospitalization.

Intravenous

Indicates medication or fluid that's delivered by vein.

Malignant

Presence of cancerous cells.

Outpatient

A patient who receives care w/o being admitted to a hospital.

Prognosis

The predicated outcome of disease progression and treatment.

Relapse

Return of disease/symptoms after a patient has recovered.

Sutures

Stitches used to join tissues together as they heal

Transplant

The removal of an organ or tissue from one body that is implanted into another.

Vaccine

A substance that stimulates antibody production to provide immunity against disease.

Zoonotic disease

Transmissible disease from animals to humans

A-, an-

Lack of/without.

-ation

Indicates a process.

Dys-

Abnormal, difficult, or painful.

-ectomy

Surgical removal of something.

-ismus

Indicates a spasm or contraction.

-itis

Signifies inflammation.

-lysis

Decomposition, destruction, or breaking down.

Macro-

Large in size.

Melan/o-

Black or dark in color.

Micro-

Small in size.

-ology

The study of a particular concentration.

-osis

Indicates something that is abnormal.

-otomy

To cut into.

-pathy

Disease or disease process.

-plasty

Surgical repair.

Poly-

Many.

Pseudo-

False or deceptive, usually in regard to appearance.

Retro-

Behind or backward.

Cardi/o

Related to the heart.

Derm/a/o, dermat/o

Pertaining to the skin.

Encephal/o

Related to the brain.

Gastr/o

Related to the stomach.

Hemat/o

Pertaining to blood.

My/o

Related to muscle.

Oste/o

Related to bone.

Pulmon/o

Refers to the lungs.

Rhin/o

Related to the nose.

Sclerosis

Hard or hardening.

Stasis

Slowing or stopping the flow of a bodily fluid.

Therm/o

Indicates heat.

ALS

Advanced life support.

Bl wk

Blood work.

BMI

Body mass index, a measure of body fat based on height and weight.

BP

Blood pressure.

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a life-saving technique that's also called mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

C-spine

Cervical spine.

DNR

Do not resuscitate, a medical order indicating providers should not perform CPR.

ED/ER

Emergency department or emergency room.

EKG

Electrocardiogram, a way of monitoring the heart and testing for problems.

HDL-C

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol, often called 'good' cholesterol.

HR

Heart rate, expressed as beats per minute.

LDL-C

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, often called 'bad' cholesterol.

Lytes

Electrolytes.

NICU

Neonatal intensive care unit, a specialized unit that cares for premature infants.

OR

Operating room where surgeries are performed.

Pre-op

Preoperative.

Psych

Refers to psychiatry or the psychiatric ward.

PT

Physical therapy, a type of treatment to help patients move and feel better.

Rx

Prescription, usually for medication but can also signify another treatment.

Stat

Immediately.

Anterior (ventral)

At/toward the front of the body

Distal

part farthest from the center or from point of attachment

lateral

away from the midline or from the side of the body part

Posterior (dorsal)

at/toward the back of the body

Proximal

part nearest to the center/point of origin

Activities of daily living (ADL)

activities usually done during a normal day in a person's life

assist device

any item used by the person/staff to promote patient's function/safety

ex of assist devices

handrails, grab bars transfer lifts, canes walkers, wheelchairs, eating devices, etc

atrophy

decrease in size or the wasting away of tissue

Call Light

part of the cell system that allows the person to signal the nurses' station for help

care plan

written guide abt the person's care providing staff w/ approaches to reach their goals

Cognitive Function

involves memory, thinking, reasoning, ability to understand, judgment, and behavior

contracture

the lack of joint mobility caused by abnormal shortening of a muscle

dementia

loss of cognitive and social function caused by changes in the brain; loss of cognitive function

dysphagia

difficulty (dys) swallowing (phagia)

dyspnea

difficult/painful breathing

fowler position

a semisitting position; the head of the raised between 45/60 degrees

incontinenece

not being able to control bladder/bowls

pressure injury

localized injury to skin and/or tissue usually over a bony part

prone position

lying on the abdomen with the head turned to one side

semi-Fowler position

the head of the bed is raised 30 degrees and/or the knee portion is raised 15 degrees

supine

lying on the back, face up

Vital Signs

temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure

voiding

urinating

a-, an-

without, not, lack of

ab-

away from