Med Term EMT

A(n)-

Without

Aero-

Relating to air or gas

Angio-

Relating to blood vessels

Ante-

Before or in front of

Anti-

Against; counteracting

Atrio(a)-

Relating to the atria (upper chambers of the heart)

Bi-

Two or both

Brady-

Slow

Bronchi-

Relating to the bronchi (airways of the lungs)

Capno-

Relating to carbon dioxide

Centi-

One hundredth (1/100)

Cephalo-

Relating to the head

Cerebro-

Relating to the brain

Chemo-

Relating to chemical substances

Cranio-

Relating to the skull

Cyano-

Blue; relating to cyanosis or cyanide

De-

Removal

Di-

Two or double

Dys-

Difficult

Endo-

Within or inside

Erythro-

Red; relating to red blood cells

Ex-

Out of

Gastro-

Relating to the stomach

Hema-

Relating to blood

Hemo-

Relating to blood

Hyper-

Above normal

Hypo-

Below normal

Immuno-

Relating to the immune system

In-

Not

Inter-

Between

Intra-

Within or inside

Keto-

Relating to ketone bodies (byproducts of fat breakdown)

Kilo-

One thousand

Leuko-

White; relating to white blood cells

Media-

Middle or central

Mono-

One or single

Musculo-

Relating to muscle

Myo-

Relating to muscle

Naso-

Relating to the nose

Neuro-

Relating to nerves or the nervous system

Normo-

Normal or within normal range

Oro-

Relating to the mouth

Ortho-

Straight

Osteo-

Relating to bone

Oxy-

Relating to oxygen

Pan-

All or entire

Pneu-

Relating to air

Pneumo-

Relating to the lungs or air

Pre-

Before or in front of

Pulmo-

Relating to the lungs

Sino-

Relating to a sinus or hollow cavity

Sub-

Below

Tachy-

Fast or rapid

Tri-

Three

-algia

Pain

-carbia

Relating to CO2 levels in the blood

-cardia

Relating to the heart or heart rate

-costal

Relating to the ribs

-demic

Relating to a population or people

-ectomy

Surgical removal of

-glycemia

Blood sugar level

-itis

Inflammation of

-ography

Process of recording or imaging

-ologist

A specialist or expert in a particular field

-ometry

Process of measuring

-optysis

Coughing up or spitting

-oscopy

Visual examination using a scope

-oxia

Relating to oxygen levels

-pathy

Disease or disorder of

-pnea

Relating to breathing

-trophy

Nourishment or development

Acid

A substance that donates hydrogen ions; lowers pH below 7.35

Acidosis

A state in which blood pH falls below 7.35 — too much acid in the blood

Acidotic

Describing a patient or condition in a state of acidosis with pH below 7.35

Alkali

A base; a substance that accepts hydrogen ions and raises pH above 7.45

Alkalosis

A state in which blood pH rises above 7.45 — too much base in the blood

Alkalotic

Describing a patient or condition in a state of alkalosis with pH above 7.45

CO

Carbon monoxide — odorless

CO2

Carbon dioxide — the waste gas produced by cellular metabolism; exhaled by the lungs

O2

Oxygen — the gas required by cells for metabolism; delivered to the blood via the lungs

Urea

A waste product of protein breakdown filtered out of the blood by the kidneys

Uric

Relating to uric acid

Aerosol

A fine mist of liquid particles suspended in air used to deliver inhaled medications

Agonal

Irregular gasping breaths that occur near or just after death; not effective breathing

Alveoli

Tiny air sacs at the end of the bronchioles where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged with the blood

Apnea

Complete absence of breathing

Aspirate

To inhale foreign material into the lungs; or to suction material from the airway

Atelectasis

Collapse of one or more areas of the lung where alveoli deflate and stop exchanging gas

Bronchiole(s)

The smallest airways in the lungs made of smooth muscle that lead from the bronchi to the alveoli

Bronchus

One of the two large airways that branch off from the trachea into each lung

Carina

The point where the trachea splits into the right and left mainstem bronchi

Compliance

The ease with which the lungs expand; low compliance means stiff hard-to-inflate lungs

CPAP

noninvasive device that forces open alveoli and pushes fluid back into circulation; used for respiratory distress

Diffusion

Passive movement of gases from an area of high concentration to low concentration

Epiglottis

The flap of cartilage that covers the larynx during swallowing to prevent food from entering the airway

Eupnea

Normal easy breathing at a regular rate and depth

Exhalation

The passive act of breathing out — diaphragm relaxes

Glottis

The opening between the vocal cords in the larynx; the narrowest part of the upper airway

Inhalation

The active muscular act of breathing in — diaphragm contracts creating negative pressure that draws air into the lungs

Laryngeal

Relating to the larynx (voice box)