Pathology and Medical Terminology Review

Flashcards covering definitions of disorders, conditions, and procedures across neurological, reproductive, skeletal, endocrine, dermatological, and lymphatic systems.

Meningitis

An infection of the cerebrospinal fluid, which is the fluid surrounding the spinal cord and brain, usually caused by a virus or bacterium.

Hydrocephalus

A condition in which the cerebrospinal fluid fails to be properly drained or absorbed, causing the ventricles of the brain to fill with cerebrospinal fluid.

Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain.

Epilepsy

A recurrent degenerative disorder of the nervous system marked by repetitive abnormal electrical discharges within the brain known as seizures, characterized by sudden convulsions and seizures or altered consciousness.

Parkinson’s disease

A chronic nervous disease characterized by a fine, slowly spreading tremor, muscular weakness and rigidity, and a peculiar gait, caused by diminished levels of dopamine in the brain.

Stroke

Condition occurring in the blood vessels of the brain when a blood vessel bursts causing a loss of blood flow to tissues, resulting in death of brain tissue; also known as apoplexy, transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), or cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs).

Concussion

A traumatic injury to the head resulting in temporary loss of consciousness, paralysis, vomiting, and seizures.

Contusions

Traumatic injuries to the head that are more serious than concussions because they include hemorrhaging into the brain tissue.

Epidural hematoma

A traumatic accumulation of blood between the skull and the dural membrane, most frequently due to rupture of a meningeal artery.

Acute subdural hematoma

A rapidly clotting blood collection below the inner layer of the dura, but external to the brain and arachnoid membrane.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)

Inflammation of the female upper genital tract, especially the fallopian tubes, which can affect the endometrium, fallopian tubes, ovaries, uterine wall, uterine serosa, broad ligaments, and pelvic peritoneum.

Endometritis

Inflammation of the endometrium.

Salpingitis

Inflammation of the fallopian tubes.

Oophoritis

Inflammation of the ovaries.

Myometritis

Inflammation of the uterine wall.

Parametritis

Inflammation of the uterine serosa and broad ligaments.

Ectopic pregnancy

The implantation of the fertilized ovum in a site other than the normal one in the uterine cavity.

Pre-eclampsia

A serious condition that occurs during pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure, weight gain, and protein in the urine.

Eclampsia

The occurrence of seizures during pregnancy, which cannot be attributed to another cause, occurring after the 20th week of gestation.

Squamous cell carcinoma (cervical)

The most common primary category of cervical cancer, developing from flat cells covering the outer surface of the cervix at the top of the vagina.

Adenocarcinoma (cervical)

A primary category of cervical cancer that develops from the glandular cells lining the cervical canal.

Ovarian cysts

Sacs filled with fluids that develop on or within the ovary.

Subcutaneous mastectomy

Type of mastectomy involving the removal of the entire breast leaving the nipple and areola.

Total (simple) mastectomy

Type of mastectomy involving removal of the entire breast, but not the axillary lymph nodes.

Modified radical mastectomy

Type of mastectomy involving removal of the entire breast and most of the axillary lymph nodes.

Radical mastectomy

Type of mastectomy involving removal of the pectoralis muscles, breast, and axillary lymph nodes.

Orchitis

An acute inflammatory reaction in the testicle, occurring in boys under the age of ten as a result of the mumps virus.

Hydrocele

A collection of edematous fluid in the scrotum, occurring as serous fluid accumulation resulting from a defect or irritation of the tunica vaginalis or spermatic cord.

Cryptorchism

The failure of the testis to descend from its intra-abdominal location into the scrotum.

Orchiopexy

A procedure used to treat cryptorchism in which the testicle is sutured into place in the scrotum.

Inguinal hernia

A condition in which part of the intestine bulges through a weakened area of muscles in the inguinal canal in the groin.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia

The abnormal growth of prostate cells that is not cancerous.

Osteoporosis

Loss of bone mass occurring throughout the skeleton, resulting in a predisposition to bone fracture, caused by aging and loss of protective estrogen effects.

Osteomyelitis

An inflammatory disorder of bone and bone marrow resulting from pyogenic bacteria.

Osteomalacia

A disease marked by softening of the bones due to faulty calcification in adulthood.

Rickets

A disease of infants and young children caused by deficiency of vitamin D and resulting in defective bone growth.

Rheumatoid arthritis

An inflammation of the lining of the joints or internal organs.

Osteoarthritis

Also known as degenerative joint disease; one of the most common types of arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis

An inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis, a chronic skin and nail disease.

Achondroplasia

A genetic disorder of bone growth caused either through inheritance or genetic mutation resulting in dwarfism, accompanied by deformed joints and poor muscle tone.

Osteosarcoma

Also known as osteogenic sarcoma, the most common type of cancer that develops in bone.

Type I Diabetes Mellitus

Insulin-dependent diabetes.

Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes.

Acromegaly

Hyperfunction of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland after ossification has been completed, resulting in elongation and enlargement of extremity bones and head bones.

Giantism

A condition resulting from overstimulation of the pituitary gland producing an excess amount of growth hormone during growth years.

Dwarfism (pituitary)

A condition resulting when the pituitary fails to secrete sufficient amounts of growth hormone during growth years, stunting growth.

Diabetes insipidus

An uncommon condition resulting from the inability of the kidneys to conserve water.

Cretinism

A hypothyroid condition of infants and children caused by iodine deficiency in the diet, characterized by arrested physical and mental development, bone dystrophy, and lowered basal metabolism.

Graves’ disease

An autoimmune disorder in which antibodies are produced that stimulate growth of the thyroid gland.

Addison’s disease

A rare endocrine disorder occurring when the adrenal glands fail to produce enough cortisol or aldosterone, characterized by a bronze skin color.

Cushing’s syndrome

An iatrogenic disorder of the adrenal glands due to chronic glucocorticoid hormone therapy.

Goiter

Excessive growth of the thyroid gland due to a lack of iodine in the diet.

Chvostek’s sign

A diagnostic test for parathyroid disorders where a twitching of the muscles of the mouth, nose, or eyelids is evoked by tapping the facial nerve.

Trousseau’s sign

A diagnostic test for parathyroid disorders where inflating a blood pressure cuff above systolic pressure for over two minutes causes spasms of the wrist.

Abscess

A localized collection of pus walled off by a membrane formed by macrophages in any body part.

Chancre

A hard, primary ulcer due to syphilis infection appearing approximately two to three weeks after infection.

Gumma

A rubberlike skin lesion present during the tertiary stage of syphilis.

Seborrheic dermatitis

Also known as seborrhea; a disorder of the sebaceous glands of the scalp, face, and trunk in which the scalp and hair are fragile.

Eczema

A general term for inflammatory skin conditions characterized by dry, red, extremely itchy patches on the skin that may ooze an inflammatory exudate.

Vitiligo

An idiopathic disorder in which melanocytes stop producing pigment and are destroyed, resulting in white patchy spots on the affected part.

Bedsores

Technically known as decubitus ulcers; preventable pressure sores beginning as mild pink discoloration at the site of pressure.

Lymphangitis

An inflammatory disorder of the lymph vessels, characterized by local and systemic pain.

Lymphadenopathy

The enlargement of lymph nodes.

What is hyperparathyroidism?

Hyperparathyroidism is a condition in which the parathyroid glands overproduce hormones.

What is hypoparathyroidism?

Hypoparathyroidism is a condition in which the parathyroid glands underproduce hormones.