Medical Terminology and Clinical Concepts

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering medical roots, prefixes, suffixes, clinical abbreviations, and diagnostic terminology.

Anticoagulant

A substance or medication that prevents, delays, or reduces the clotting of blood.

Antigen

Any substance, such as a toxin or foreign organism, that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies.

Ascities

The abnormal accumulation of fluid within the peritoneal cavity of the abdomen.

Bulla

A large fluid-filled vesicle or blister on the skin, typically greater than 5 mm in diameter.

Catatonia

A neuropsychiatric syndrome characterized by unresponsiveness, stupor, immobility, or mutism.

Chambers of the Heart

The four internal cavities of the heart: the right atrium and right ventricle (right side, directing blood to the lungs), and the left atrium and left ventricle (left side, directing blood to systemic circulation).

Coronal Plane

A vertical anatomical plane dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections; also known as the frontal plane.

Dementia

A progressive, chronic decline in cognitive function and memory that interferes with daily life activities.

Diabetes Mellitus

A metabolic disorder marked by chronic hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis

An acute, life-threatening metabolic complication of diabetes characterized by severe hyperglycemia, metabolic acidosis, and accumulation of ketone bodies.

Dyslexia

A learning disorder involving difficulty reading, decoding written words, and recognizing phonological structures.

Ecchymosis

A purplish, flat patch or skin discoloration caused by the extravasation of blood into subcutaneous tissues; commonly known as a bruise.

Enuresis

Involuntary discharge of urine, typically referring to bedwetting during sleep.

Anesthetics (General, Regional, Local, Topical)

Agents that produce loss of sensation: general (induces total unconsciousness), regional (blocks sensation in a specific nerve distribution or body section), local (numbs a small, circumscribed area), and topical (applied directly to skin or mucous membranes).

Hematocrit

The percentage of the total blood volume that consists of red blood cells.

Hemorrhage

Excessive, profuse, or uncontrolled bleeding from ruptured blood vessels.

Hemostatic

An agent, device, or physiological process that arrests bleeding or stops blood flow.

Idiopathic

Pertaining to a disease, condition, or symptom that arises spontaneously or has an unknown cause.

Incontinence

The inability to voluntarily control excretory functions, resulting in involuntary leakage of urine or feces.

Lateral

Directional term denoting toward the side or away from the midline of the body.

Macule

A flat, circumscribed, distinct area of skin discoloration without elevation or depression.

Medial

Directional term denoting toward the midline or middle of the body.

Menarche

The first occurrence of menstruation in a female, marking a key milestone of puberty.

Nystagmus

Involuntary, rhythmic, and rapid oscillatory movements of one or both eyes.

Occlusion

The complete or partial closure, obstruction, or blockage of a blood vessel or hollow organ lumen.

Papule

A small, solid, elevated inflammatory skin lesion less than 1 cm in diameter.

Petechia

A tiny, pinpoint, non-raised red or purple spot on the skin caused by minor hemorrhage from capillaries.

Prone

Anatomical position describing a person lying horizontally flat with the chest and abdomen facing downward.

Reflux

The backward, return, or retrograde flow of a fluid or bodily substance within a canal or organ.

Sagittal Plane

A vertical anatomical plane dividing the body longitudinally into right and left portions.

Sphygmomanometer

A diagnostic medical instrument used to measure arterial blood pressure.

Splenectopy

Abnormal displacement, ectopic mobility, or wandering of the spleen away from its normal anatomical position.

Stroke (Types)

Acute neurological impairment resulting from interrupted blood supply to the brain, categorized primarily into ischemic stroke (blood vessel blockage) and hemorrhagic stroke (ruptured blood vessel).

Supine

Anatomical position describing a person lying horizontally on the back with the face and abdomen pointing upward.

Thelarche

The initiation of female breast development, typically signifying the earliest physical change of puberty.

Thrombolytic

A therapeutic agent or drug capable of dissolving or breaking up blood clots.

Thrombus

A stationary blood clot formed in situ within the vascular lumen or heart cavity.

Transverse Plane

A horizontal anatomical plane dividing the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.

Vesicle

A small, circumscribed, elevated skin blister containing clear fluid, usually less than 5 mm in diameter.

Adrenal Insufficiency

A condition in which the adrenal cortex fails to produce sufficient quantities of steroid hormones, primarily cortisol.

Antibody

A protective immunoglobulin synthesized by plasma cells in response to an antigen to identify and neutralize pathogens.

CABG

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft; a surgical revascularization procedure that reroutes blood around occluded coronary arteries.

TIA

Transient Ischemic Attack; a temporary focal episode of neurological dysfunction caused by vascular insufficiency without acute tissue infarction.

PKD

Polycystic Kidney Disease; a genetic disorder characterized by the development of multiple fluid-filled cysts within renal tissue.

LASIK

Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis; a refractive surgical procedure that uses an excimer laser to reshape the cornea.

IVC

Inferior Vena Cava; the large systemic vein returning deoxygenated blood from the abdomen and lower extremities to the right atrium.

SVC

Superior Vena Cava; the large systemic vein returning deoxygenated blood from the head, neck, upper limbs, and thorax to the right atrium.

AD

Auris dextra; medical abbreviation denoting the right ear.

AU

Auris unitas or aures unitate; medical abbreviation denoting both ears.

OS

Oculus sinister; medical abbreviation denoting the left eye.

OU

Oculi uterque; medical abbreviation denoting both eyes.

BID

Bis in die; pharmacological abbreviation meaning twice a day.

TID

Ter in die; pharmacological abbreviation meaning three times a day.

FBS

Fasting Blood Sugar; a diagnostic laboratory test evaluating serum glucose concentration after a period without food intake.

N&V

Clinical abbreviation denoting nausea and vomiting.

UTI

Urinary Tract Infection; a bacterial or microbial infection affecting any structure of the urinary system.

dys-

Prefix denoting painful, difficult, abnormal, or impaired.

eu-

Prefix denoting good, normal, or healthy.

pan-

Prefix denoting all, entire, or widespread.

-centesis

Suffix denoting a surgical puncture to aspirate or withdraw fluid.

-clasia

Suffix denoting surgical breaking, crushing, or intentional fracture.

-desis

Suffix denoting surgical fixation, fusion, or binding together.

-ectomy

Suffix denoting surgical removal, excision, or cutting out.

-lysis

Suffix denoting breakdown, dissolution, destruction, or separation.

-malacia

Suffix denoting abnormal softening of tissues.

-poiesis

Suffix denoting formation, production, or generation.

-ptosis

Suffix denoting drooping, prolapse, or downward displacement.

-rrhaphy

Suffix denoting surgical suturing or repairing.

-rrhexis

Suffix denoting rupture or tearing.

-stomy

Suffix denoting the surgical creation of an artificial opening or stoma.

-tripsy

Suffix denoting the crushing or fragmentation of a calculus or stone.

kal/o

Combining form denoting potassium.

natr/o

Combining form denoting sodium.

ather/o

Combining form denoting fatty plaque or lipid buildup.

chole/o

Combining form denoting bile or gall.

colp/o

Combining form denoting the vagina.

hyster/o

Combining form denoting the uterus or womb.

lapra/o

Combining form denoting the abdomen or abdominal wall.

myring/o

Combining form denoting the tympanic membrane (eardrum).

oophor/o

Combining form denoting the ovary.

salping/o

Combining form denoting the fallopian tube or auditory tube.

presby/o

Combining form denoting old age.

steat/o

Combining form denoting fat or sebum.

xanth/o

Combining form denoting yellow.

pachy/o

Combining form denoting thick or thickened.