Words to Know

Chapter 5 Intro Medical Terminology

acne vulgaris

a skin condition characterized by inflammation of sebaceous glands and producing pimples.

alimentary canal

the intestinal tract, from the esophagus to the rectum, and accessory organs.

alopecia

the loss of hair; baldness.

ascites

an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen.

atria

the upper chambers of the heart.

atrium

cardiac auricle; the upper chamber of the heart.

bicuspid

heart valve between the left atrium and left ventricle, also known as the mitral valve.

bolus

a mass of masticated food ready to be swallowed.

cell

structural and functional unit of all living organisms; sometimes called the building block of life.

cervicitis

an inflammation of the cervix of the uterus.

cholecystolithiasis

an abnormal presence of stones in the gallbladder.

chyme

the mixture of partially digested food and digestive secretions found in the stomach and small intestines during digestion of a meal.

combining forms

in medical terminology, the word root with a combining form vowel (usually an “o”) that aids in making the word pronounceable, particularly when adding a suffix that begins with a consonant.

cryptorchidism

failure of the testicles to descend into the scrotum.

cusps

a sharp point or apex.

dermatology

the study of the skin and its diseases.

dialysis

removal of the products of urine from the blood by passage of the solutes through a membrane.

diaphragm

(1) the muscle of breathing that separates the thorax from the abdomen (Ch 5); (2) divides the anterior cavity into an upper and a lower cavity (Ch 6).

digestive

pertaining to digestion/

erythrocytes

a red blood cell (RBC).

external

the outermost part of the body.

feces

stool, bowel movement.

femoral

pertaining to the artery that lies adjacent to the femur.

femur

the thigh bone of the leg.

gastrointestinal (GI) system

also called the digestive tract, alimentary canal, or gut, the system of organs within multicellular animals that takes in food, digests it to extract energy and nutrients, and expels the remaining waste.

histologist

a person engaged in the study of the microscopic structure of tissue.

human organism

the collective higher individual resulting from the organization of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems.

hyperglycemia

increase of blood sugar, as in diabetes.

inferior vena cava

the large vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower half of the body into the heart.

integumentary system

the largest organ system by surface area, comprising skin, hair, nails, and sweat glands and their products (sweat and mucus). It distinguishes, separates, and protects. The name derives from the Latin integumentum, which means “a covering.”

internal

the innermost part(s) of the body.

jaundice

a yellowish discoloration of the sclera and skin due to the presence of bile pigments in the blood.

leukocytes

a white blood cell.

medial

pertaining to the middle or midline.

micturition

the passing of urine.

mitral

the valve in the heart between the chambers of the left side, also known as the bicuspid.

nephrons

the structural and functional unit of the kidney.

neurons

a nerve cell.

ophthalmologist

a physician specializing in the diseases and disorders of the eye.

plural

the form of a term that indicates more than one.

pneumonitis

an inflammation of the lungs, also known as pneumonia.

polyneuralgia

pain in many nerves.

prefix

a word component added to the beginning of a word root or combining form that typically modifies the remaining part of the term.

pyelonephritis

inflammation of the kidney, pelvis, and nephrons

septum

a membranous wall dividing two cavities, as within the heart or the nose.

singular

the form of a term that indicates the presence of only one.

suffix

an addition to the end of a term that changes the grammatical function of the term.

superior

above or higher than

superior vena cava

large but short vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the upper half of the body to the heart’s right atrium.

thorax

the chest; the body cavity enclosed by the ribs and containing the heart and lungs.

tissue

a collection of similar cells and fibers forming a structure in the body.

tricuspid

a valve in the right side of the heart, between the chambers; literally means three cusps or leaflets.

ventricles

(1) one of the two lower chambers of the heart (Ch 5, 13); (2) also used in reference to cavities within the brain (Ch 7).

viscera

internal organs.

word roots

a component of a medical term that does not have a combining form vowel attached.