Medical Terminology and Health Concepts Glossary

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering terms, definitions, anatomy, pathophysiology, pharmacology, and clinical concepts from the lecture glossary notes.

abrasion

an injury where your skin rubs off; also known as a scrape.

abscess

a collection of pus that has built up within the tissue of the body and is the sign of an infection.

acquired immunity

the body's ability to defend itself against a specific agent; also called active immunity. There are two types: humoral and cell-mediated.

humoral immunity

the body's major defense against bacteria. When the body produces antibodies that combine with and eliminate the antigen (or foreign substance).

cell-mediated immunity

an action by the T-cells that provide protection against viruses, fungi, parasites, some bacteria, and neoplasms.

active immunity

immunity that develops when exposure to an antigen triggers the immune system to make antibodies to that disease.

acute disease

a disease or condition with a sudden onset, rapid progression, and often short duration, typically requiring urgent or immediate care.

advance directive

a legal document dealing with health care decisions.

agent

a microbe or microorganism that causes an infectious disease.

allergen

any substance that can trigger an exaggerated or mistaken response from the immune system.

allergy

a hypersensitive immune response to a usually harmless substance called an allergen.

alogia

inability to speak due to a mental condition; also a symptom of dementia.

alopecia

absence or loss of hair, especially on the head.

amygdala

almond-shaped section of the brain used to form emotional reactions.

analegesic

drug or other agent used to relieve pain.

anaphylactic shock

a complication of anaphylaxis that occurs when the blood pressure drops dangerously low; many times, immediate countermeasures such as an injection of epinephrine or CPR are required.

anaphylaxis

an acute, life-threatening hypersensitivity disorder defined as a generalized, rapidly evolving, multi-systemic allergic reaction. Without treatment, it can lead to death.

anemia

a condition characterized by a deficiency in the number of or quality of red blood cells to carry oxygen throughout the body.

aneurysm

abnormal, sac-like bulge in the wall of an artery, a vein, or the heart.

angina

a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. A symptom of coronary artery disease.

anorexia

loss of appetite for food.

anoxia

absence of oxygen.

antibodies

also known as immunoglobulins. Blood proteins that attack antigens.

anticoagulants

a medication also known as a "blood thinner".

antigen

any substance recognized as foreign by the immune system and that can cause an immune response.

anus

ring of muscles that leads to the outer opening of the rectum.

aphasia

loss/ impairment of the ability to communicate through speech, writing, or signs due to dysfunction of the brain.

apnea

inability to breathe.

arrhythmia

irregular heartbeat caused when the electrical signals that tell the heart to beat do not work properly.

arteries

blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body's tissues and organs.

arthritis

general term for disabling diseases of the musculoskeletal system that causes pain, inflammation, or damage to the joints.

asymptomatic

term that describes diseases that have no symptoms.

aterioles

small blood vessels that branches off from an artery and carries oxygenated blood to capillaries.

arteriosclerosis

the hardening of the arteries from any cause.

atherosclerosis

the hardening of the arteries from plaque building up inside of them.

autoimmune diseases

diseases in which the immune system attacks healthy cells by mistake, while at the same time, T-cells fail to keep the immune system healthy.

bacteria

living single-cell organisms that grow and reproduce outside the human body.

B-cells and T-cells

lymphocytes that are created in bone marrow.

bile

fluids made in the liver that has acids for melting fats.

bilirubin

compound in blood plasma produced by the breakdown of hemoglobin following the normal or pathological destruction of red blood cells and is collected by the liver to produce bile.

biopsy

abnormal tissue removed during surgery for examination.

blood pressure

amount of pressure applied by the blood to the walls of the arteries.

blood vessels

hollow tubes that carry and circulate blood throughout the body.

bradycardia

heart rate of less than $60\,\text{beats per minute}$.

bruise

an internal blood clot.

bypass surgery

procedure in which pieces of veins or arteries are taken from the legs and sewn into the arteries of the heart to bring blood past a blockage and increase blood flow to the heart.

capillaries

the smallest branching blood vessels.

carcinogen

cancer-causing agent or substance.

cardiac arrest

known as sudden cardiac arrest; a condition where the heart suddenly stops beating.

carriers

hosts that do not show any outward signs or symptoms of a disease but are still capable of transmitting it.

cellulitis

common skin infection caused by staph or strep bacteria.

chain of infection

a term used to describe how an infectious disease is transmitted from one person to the next.

chancre

firm, red, ulcerated sore. A chancre is the primary indication of syphilis.

cholesterol

a waxy, fat-like substance (lipid) that the body produces and needs for functions like creating cell membranes, hormones, and Vitamin D.

chronic disease

also known as chronic condition; a disease or condition that begins slowly and lasts anywhere from $3\,\text{months}$ to a year or longer, has no cure, limits what a person can do, and requires ongoing care.

cirrhosis

scarring of the liver.

clot

small "plug" made up of platelets and proteins known as clotting factors, which surrounds and covers an injured blood vessel.

coagulation

the process of clotting.

cognition

the mental process of thinking, learning, remembering, being aware of surroundings, and using judgment.

colectomy

surgical removal of all or a portion of the colon.

communicable disease

also known as contagious disease; an infectious disease that is readily transmitted from one person to another either directly or indirectly.

concussion

form of traumatic brain injury that results in a short loss of consciousness.

contusion

swollen brain tissue mixed with blood from broken blood vessels.

congential disorders

caused by a genetic defect and that occurs at birth.

convulsion

uncontrolled, violent shaking of the body due to muscle contractions and relaxations.

cormorbidity

the simultaneous presence of two or more distinct medical conditions in an individual.

coronary arteries

the major blood vessels that supply blood to your heart.

cystectomy

a surgical procedure in which the bladder is removed from the body.

cysts

a closed, sac-like pocket of tissue that can form anywhere in the body. It may be filled with pus, air, fluid, or other material such as hair and teeth.

deep vein thrombosis

a blood clot in a vein deep inside the body, usually in the leg veins.

defibrillator

device that sends an electrical impulse to the heart to stop arrhythmia.

degenerative disease

disease that causes a progressive decline in the function of tissues, organs, or body structure.

dehydration

severe loss of water and salts needed for normal body functions.

delirium

a disorder of thinking and memory.

dementia

a loss of brain function that happens with certain diseases and can affect memory, thinking, language, judgment, and behavior.

dermatitis

inflammation of the skin, characterized by symptoms such as redness, itching, dryness, and scaling.

diagnosis

identification of the nature and cause of a disease.

diastole

relaxation of the heart's ventricles to allow in blood from the atria.

diastolic blood pressure

the blood pressure when the heart is filling up with blood (e.g. the "bottom" number in blood pressure readings).

disability

the inability to perform and participate in socially defined activities and roles expected of a person within a social or a physical environment.

disablement

the transition over time from health to disability.

disease

an abnormal condition in physiological and biological factors or an abnormal homeostatic state.

disorder

functional disturbance that can be categorized into mental, physical, genetic, emotional, and behavioral.

diuretic

drug or agent that promotes the secretion of urine.

DNR orders

do not resuscitate orders; instructions not to use CPR if breathing or heartbeat stops.

dysphagia

difficulty swallowing or inability to swallow.

dysplasia

alteration in size, shape, and organization of mature cells.

edema

excessive accumulation of fluid in bodily tissues.

electrolytes

ionized salts present in blood and tissue fluids and within cells. They are essential to the normal functioning of all cells and are involved in all metabolic processess.

embolism

obstruction of a blood vessel by foreign substances or a blood clot.

encephalitis

infection of the brain, often caused by viral infections.

endocarditis

infection that causes inflammation in the heart's inner lining.

enteropathy

any disease of the intestines.

epilepsy

a brain disorder that causes recurring, unprovoked seizures.

epinephrine

adrenaline.

epithelial tissue

a thin layer of tissue that covers organs, glands, and other structures within the body.

estrogen

female hormone.

etiology

the cause of a disease.

fibromyalgia

condition that causes muscle pain throughout the body as well as fatigue.

flares

sudden and severe symptoms.