Medical Terminology study

Listening with a stethoscope

auscultation

the normal state

baseline

The diseases that a physician is considering as the reason for the pt's sx

differential diagnosis

excessive or profuse bleeding

hemorrhage

High BP (typically >140/90)

Hypertension

Low BP (typically <100/65)

hypotension

area of dead tissue following prolonged ischemia

infarct

Localized lack of blood supply to an area

ischemia

foul smelling

Malodorous

physically touching

Palpate/palpable

Breaking open of a body structure

rupture

Dangerous infection of the blood with pathological microorganisms or their toxins

sepsis

A forcible pulling away of a part or structure

avulsion

A crackling or grating sound

crepitus

escape of a fluid into a cavity

effusion

tumor consisting of blood vessels

Hemangioma

Normal; of no danger to health

benign

star shaped; radiating from center

stellate

new onset (less than 3 months)

acute

exacerbation of a chronic issue

acute on chronic

Long-standing (greater than 3 months)

chronic

Sx are always present but change in severity

fluctuating

Sx will completely resolve at

times, but continue to return

intermittent

Gone, no longer existing

resolved

Resolving spontaneously after onset

transient

Draws away from midline

abduction

draws toward the midline

adduction

able to move about, not confined to a bed, walk

ambulatory

To stand erect with arms at the sides and the palms turned forward

anatomical position

Situated in front of or directed toward the front

anterior

arm pit

axilla

Pertaining to the neck of the cervix of the uterus

cervical

spread out over a wide area

diffuse

farther from the limb root

distal

backward bending of the hand or foot

dorsiflexion

turned outward

everted

straightening out

extension

bending or angulation

flexion

closer to the feet

inferior

farther from the midline

lateral

nearer to the midline

medial

divides body into left and right

midline

palm side of the hand

palmar or volar

sole of the foot

plantar

rear or back

posterior or dorsal

that which turns palm of hand downward

pronate

Body position lying face down with forearms and hands turned palm side down

prone

close to the limb root

proximal

Pertaining to the radial (lateral) side of the arm

radial aspect

shallow; near the surface

superficial

involving multiple skin levels; deep

subcutaneous

closer to the head

superior

To turn the palm upwards

supinate

body position lying face up

supine

right angles to long axis; divides the body into upper and lower parts

transverse plane

Pertaining to the ulna (medial) side of the arm

ulnar aspect

without a fever

afebrile

looking around, awake, attentive

alert

state of a pt's body, usually pertaining to obesity

body habitus

Aggressively uncooperative

combative

extremely thing and malnourished, wasting

emaciated

with fever

febrile

when an infant or baby is not able to stop crying from comfort

inconsolable

poor self-hygiene

disheveled

normal external head inspection

atraumatic/normocephalic

Bruising behind the ears

Battle signs

swelling due to allergic reaction

angioedema

Forehead and anterior top of scalp

frontal

infection of the meninges, the membranes that contain the brain and spinal cord

meningitis

posterior part of the skull

occipital

Location across the posterior sides of the scalp

parietal

location across the anterior sides of the scalp

temporal

bruising around the eyes

raccoon eyes

The outer lining of the eye and eyelid

conjunctiva

transparent frontal aspect of the eye

cornea

orange dye used to find corneal abrasions

Fluorescein

involuntary eye movements

nystagmus

light sensitivity

photophobia

Dense fibrous, opaque outer coat enclosing the eyeball

sclera

yellowing of the sclera

scleral icterus

blood in the white part of the eye

subconjunctival hemorrhage

external portion of the ear

auricle

earwax

cerumen

ear ache

otalgia

ringing of the ear

tinnitus

redness

erythema

swelling

edema

brusing

ecchymosis

itching sensation

pruritus

puss-like

purulent

fast heart rate >100 bpm

tachycardia

Slow heart rate < 60 bpm

bradycardia

fast breathing rate

tachypnea

slow breathing rate

bradypnea

nose bleed

epistaxis

clear nasal discharge

rhinorrhea

discharge that is coughed up

sputum

localized ballooning of a vessel

aneurysm

Whooshing sound heard during auscultation

bruit

a cut

laceration