Medical terms

abdominocentesis

surgical puncture of the abdominal cavity to remove fluid

acronym

a word formed from the initial letter of the major parts of a compound term

acute

condition that has a rapid onset, a severe course, and a relatively short duration.

angiography

process of producing an x-ray, or radiographic study, of the blood vessels after the injection of a contrast medium.

appendectomy

surgical removal of the appendix

arteriosclerosis

abnormal hardening of the walls of an artery or arteries.

arthralgia

pain in a joint or joints

colostomy

surgical creation of an artificial excretory opening between the colon and the body surface.

cyanosis

blue discoloration of the skin caused by lack of adequate oxygen in the blood.

dermatologist

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the skin.

diagnosis

the identification of a disease.

diarrhea

the frequent flow of loose or watery stools.

edema

swelling caused by an abnormal accumulation of fluid in cells, tissues, or cavities of the body.

endarterial

pertaining to the interior or lining of an artery.

eponym

a disease, structure, operation, or procedure named for the person who discovered or described it first.

erythrocyte

a mature RBC

fissure

a groove or crack-like sore of the skin; also normal folds in the contours of the brain

fistula

an abnormal passage, usually between two internal organs or leading from an organ to the surface of the body.

gastralgia

pain in the stomach

gastritis

inflammation of the stomach lining

gastroenteritis

inflammation of the stomach and small intestine

gastrosis

any disease of the stomach

hemorrhage

the loss of a large amount of blood in a short time

hepatomegaly

the abnormal enlargement of the liver

hypertension

higher blood rpessure

hypotension

low blood pressure

infection

invasion of the body by a pathogenic organism

inflammation

a localized response to an injury or to the destruction of tissues.

interstitial

between, but not within, the parts of a tissue.

intramuscular

within the muscle

laceration

a torn or jagged wound or an accidental cut.

lesion

a pathologic change of tissues due to disease or injury.

malaise

a feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness that is often the first indication of an infection or other disease.

mycosis

any abnormal condition or disease caused by a fungus.

myelopathy

any injury, degeneration or disease in the spinal cord.

myopathy

any pathologic change or disease of muscle tissue.

natal

pertaining to birth

neonatology

the study of disorders of the newborn

neurorrhaphy

suturing together the ends of a severed nerve.

otorhinolaryngology

the study of the ears, nose, and larynx (throat)

palpation

an examination technique in which the examiner’s hands are used to feel the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body parts

palpitation

a pounding or racing heart

pathology

the study of all aspects of diseases

phalanges

the bones of the fingers and toes

poliomyelitis

a viral infection of the gray nerve tissue of the spinal cord.

prognosis

a prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disease.

pyoderma

any acute, inflammatory, pus-forming bacterial skin infection such as impetigo.

pyrosis

discomfort due to the regurgitation of stomach acid upward into the esophagus.

remission

the temporary, partial, or complete disappearance of the symptoms of a disease without having achieved a cure.

sign

objective evidence of disease, such as a fever.

supination

the act of rotating the arm so that the palm of the hand is forward or upward.

suppuration

formation of pus

supracostal

above or outside of the ribs

symptom

subjective evidence of a disease, such as pain or a headache.

syndrome

a set of signs and symptoms that occur together as part of a specific disease process.

tenorrhaphy

surgical suturing of a tendon

tonsillitis

the inflammation of the tonsils

trauma

wound or injury

triage

the medical screening of patients to determine their relative priority of need and the proper place of treatment.

viral

pertaining to a virus