LANGUAGE OF MEDICINE CHAPTER r

carp/o

wrist bones

cis/o

cut

cost/o

rib

cutane/o

skin

dactyl/o

fingers, toes

duct/o

lead, carry

flex/o

bend

furc/o

branching

gloss/o

tongue

glyc/o

sugar

immun/o

protection

morph/o

shape, form

mort/o

death

nat/i

birth

norm/o

rule, order

ox/o

oxygen

pub/o

pubis (pubic bone); anterior portion of the pelvic or hip bone

seps/o

infection

somn/o

sleep

son/o

sound

tens/o

force, strain, stretch

the/o

put, place

thel/o, theli/o

nipple

thyr/o

thyroid gland; shield

top/o

place, position, location

tox/o

poison

trache/o

windpipe, trachea

urethr/o

urethra

apnea

Temporary cessation of breathing

anoxia

Lack of oxygen

abductor

A muscle that draws a limb away from the body

adductor

A muscle that draws a limb toward the body

adrenal glands

Glands located on top of each kidney that secrete hormones including adrenaline

anabolism

The process of building complex substances from simpler ones

urinalysis

Laboratory examination of urine; -lysis means separation

ante cibum

Before meals (a.c.); post cibum (p.c.) means after meals

anteflexion

Bending forward

antepartum

Before childbirth

antibiotic

Substance that destroys or inhibits microorganisms

antibody

Proteins produced against antigens

antigen

Foreign substance that triggers antibody production

antiseptic

Substance that fights infection

antitoxin

Antibody that neutralizes a toxin

autoimmune disease

Condition where the body attacks its own tissues

bifurcation

Splitting into two branches

bilateral

Relating to both sides

bradycardia

Heart rate less than 60 bpm

catabolism

Breakdown of complex substances

congenital anomaly

Irregularity present at birth

connective tissue

Tissue that supports and binds other tissues; includes bone, cartilage, fibrous tissue

contraindication

A reason not to use a treatment

contralateral

Opposite side

dehydration

Loss of water from the body

diarrhea

Frequent, loose stools

dialysis

Separation of waste from blood via machine or peritoneum

dyspnea

Difficulty breathing

dysentery

Severe intestinal infection with diarrhea

dystrophy

Muscular weakness or degeneration

dysplasia

Abnormal development of cells or tissues

ectopic pregnancy

Pregnancy outside the uterus, often in a fallopian tube

endocardium

Inner lining of the heart

endoscope

Instrument to view inside the body

endotracheal tube

Tube placed in trachea for oxygen or anesthesia

epithelium

Layer of cells covering surfaces

euphoria

Feeling of well-being

euthyroid

Normal thyroid function

exophthalmos

Protrusion of the eyeball from thyroid overactivity

hemiglossectomy

Removal of half the tongue

hyperglycemia

High blood sugar

hyperplasia

Increase in number of cells

hypertrophy

Increase in size of individual cells

hypertension

High blood pressure

hypodermic injection

Injection under the skin

hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar

insomniac

Difficulty sleeping

incision

Cut into tissue

infracostal

Under the ribs

intercostal

Muscles between adjacent ribs

intravenous

Into a vein

macrocephaly

Abnormally large head

malaise

Feeling of discomfort

malignant

Cancerous

metacarpal bones

Hand bones beyond the wrist but before the fingers

metamorphosis

Change in form, e.g., larva to adult

metastasis

Spread of cancer from one site to another

microcephaly

Abnormally small head

neonatal

Period from birth to 28 days

neoplasm

New abnormal tissue; may be benign or malignant

pancytopenia

Deficiency of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets

paralysis

Loss of movement on one side or part of the body

parathyroid glands

Glands behind the thyroid that regulate calcium levels

percutaneous

Through the skin

pericardium

Sac around the heart

polymorphonuclear

Cell with many nuclei segments

polyneuritis

Inflammation of multiple nerves

postmortem

After death

postpartum

After childbirth

precancerous

Before becoming cancerous

prenatal

Before birth

prodrome

Early signs of disease before full symptoms