Medical Terminology 11: Ch. 1- Introduction to Medical Terminology

-algia

pain, painful condition

dys-

bad, painful, difficult

-ectomy

surgical removal, cutting out

hyper-

excessive, increased

hypo-

deficient, decreased

-itis

inflammation

-osis

abnormal condition, disease

-ostomy

the surgical creation of an artificial opening to the body surface

-otomy

cutting into, surgical incision

-plasty

surgical repair

-rrhage

bleeding, abnormal excessive fluid discharge

-rrhaphy

surgical suturing

-rrhea

flow, discharge

-rrhexis

rupture

-sclerosis

abnormal hardening

abdominocentesis

the surgical puncture of the abdominal cavity to remove fluid

acronym

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

acute

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

angiography

the process of producing a radiographic study of the blood vessels after the injection of a contrast medium to make the blood vessels visible.

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

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

cyanosis

a bluish discoloration of the skin resulting from poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood.

dermatologist

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

diagnosis

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 red blood cell

fissure

a groove or crack-like sore of the skin

fistula

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

gastralgia

stomach pain

gastritis

inflammation of the stomach

gasteroenteritits

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

abnormal enlargement of the liver

hypertension

higher than normal blood pressure

hypotension

lower than normal blood pressure

infection

invasion of the body by a pathogenic organism

inflammation

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

intersittial

between, but not within, the parts of a tissue

intramuscular

within the muscle

laceration

a torn or jagged wound or an accidental cut wound

lesion

a pathologic change of the 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 pathologic change or disease in the spinal cord

myopathy

any pathologic change or disease of muscle tissue

myorrhexis

rupture of a muscle

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 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

pounding or racing heart

pathology

study of disease

phalanges

bones of the fingers and toes

poliomyelitis

a viral infection of the gray matter of the spinal cord

prognosis

a prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disorder

pyoderma

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

pyrosis

heartburn; 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

the formation or discharge of pus

supracostal

above or outside 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

tonsillitis

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