Medical Terminology

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

Signifies a condition that begins abruptly and is sometimes severe, but the duration is short

Benign

Not cancerous

Biopsy

A small sample of tissue that's 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 or 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

Indicates the presence of cancerous cells

Outpatient

A patient who receives care without being admitted to a hospital

Prognosis

The predicated outcome of disease progression and treatment

Relapse

Return of disease or symptoms after a patient has recovered

Sutures

Stitches, which are 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

A disease that is transmissible from animals to humans

A-, an-

Lack of or without

-ation

Indicates a process

Dys-

Abnormal, difficult, or painful

-ectomy

Surgical removal of something

-ismus

Indicates a spasm or contraction

-itis

Indicates 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 (C1-C7)

DNR

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

ED

Emergency department

ER

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 (Na, K, CL, CO2 are the major four)

NICU

Neonatal intensive care unit, a specialized unit that cares for premature infant

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

Abdomin/o

abdomen

Aden/o

gland

Adren/o

adrenal gland

Angi/o

vessel

Arterio

artery

Arth/o

joint

Broncho

bronchus, bronchi

Celphal/o

head

Chol/o

bile, gall

Chondr/o

cartilage

Colo

colon, large intestine

Cost/o

rib

Crani/o

skull

Cyan/o

blue

Cyst/o

bladder

Cyt/o

cell

Dent/o

teeth

Duoden/o

duodenum (first part of small intestine)

Enter/o

intestine

Fibr/o

fiber, fibrous tissue

Gloss/o

tongue

Gluc/o

glucose, sweetness

Glyc/o

Sugar

Gyn, Gyne, Gyneco

woman

Hepat/o

liver