Medical Terminology

Aneurysm

Dilation of an artery or presence of blood-containing tumor connected directly to the opening of the artery

Angioplasty

Procedure where a blood vessel is reconstructed

Arrhythmia

An irregular heartbeat

Auscultation

Listening to the sounds made by the body structures to aid in diagnosis

Bradycardia

Abnormally slow heartbeat

Cardiomegaly

Englargement of the heart

Cardiomyopathy

Disease of the heart muscle

Coronary

Used to denote the heart

Electrocardiogram

Graphic record of the heart’s action currents

Embolism

Blood clot

ischemia

lack of blood in an area of the body due to the obstruction of blood supply

myocarditis

inflammation of the heart muscle

necrosis

pathologic death of one or more cells

stenosis

narrowing of a lumen

tachycardia

abnormally rapid heart rate

vasoconstriction

narrowing of the blood vessels

vasodilation

opening of the blood vessels

diaphoresis

profuse sweating

edema

accumulation of an excessive amount of fluid in cells, tissues, or serous cavities

hypertrophy

general increase in bulk or size of a part or organ, not due to tumor formation

urticaria

hives

antitussive

an agent that relieves/suppresses cough

apnea

the absence of breathing

asphyxia

deficiency or lack of exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide during ventilation

aspiration

the drawing of foreign substance (ie gastric contents) into the respiratory tract during inhalation

bronchitis

inflammation of the bronchial tubes

bronchodilator

an agent that causes widening of bronchi and bronchioles

bronchospasm

spasmodic contraction of the smooth muscle of the bronchi

coryza/rhinitis

inflammation of the mucus membrane of the nose

dyspnea

shortness of breath; subjective difficulty in breathing

expectorant

an agent that loosens and clears mucus and phlegm from the respiratory tract

hemoptysis

coughing up blood from the respiratory tract

nebulizer

drug delivery device used to change medication from a liquid to a mist to be inhaled into the lungs

rhinorrhea

excessive discharge of mucus from the nose

Stridor

a high pitched, noisy respiration, indicative of respiratory obstruction

wheeze

to breathe noisily and with difficulty usually with a whistling sound

hyperglycemia

excess glucose in the bloodstream

hypoglycemia

a deficiency of glucose in the bloodstream

polyuria

excessive excretion of urine

polyphagia

excessive hunger

polydipsia

excessive thirst

proteinuria

presence of protein in the urine

nephropathy

disease of the kidney

retinopathy

disease of the eye microvasculature

neuropathy

disease of the nerves

microalbuminuria

small amounts of albumin in the urine

neutropenia

abnormally low number of neutrophils in the blood

polycythemia

increase in the number of red blood cells in the blood

immunocompromised

deficiency in the immunologic response to disease, irradiation or drugs

antineoplastic

referring to an agent used to destroy or retard the growth of cancer cells

benign

referring to a tumor that is not malignant and does not spread to distant sites in the body

carcinogen

any substance that causes cancer

cytotoxic

referring to a drug that damages or destroys specific cells, used to treat various types of cancer

lymphadenopathy

any disease of the lymph glands

malignant

describing a tumor that invades and destroys the tissue in which it originates and can spread to other sites in the body via the bloodstream and lymphatic system

monoclonal

derived from a single cell, having identical molecules

myelosuppression

decrease in blood cell production by the bone marrow

neoplasm

new and abnormal growth; any benign or malignant tumor

thrombocytopenia

decrease in number of platelets in the blood

emesis

forced vomiting

emetic

chemical agent which induces vomiting

palliative care

providing temporary relief from symptoms of a disease, not a cure

dysuria

difficult or painful urination

arthralgia

severe pain in a joint

fibromyalgia

muscular pain stemming from fibrous tissue

hyperkinesia

excessive motility or muscular action

hypotonia

a condition in which there is a loss of muscular activity

myopathy

any abnormal condition or disease of the muscular tissues

rigor

rigidity or chill

bacteremia

presence of bacteria in the blood

cellulitis

inflammation of both the skin and subcutaneous tissue

ototoxicity

property of having a toxic action upon the organs of hearing

bacteriuria

presence of bacteria in the urine

cystitis

inflammation of the urinary bladder

pyelonephritis

inflammation of the kidney and pelvis due to local bacterial infection

urinalysis

laboratory analysis of the urine

nephritis

inflammation of the kidney

affect

emotional feeling, tone, and mood attached to a thought, including its external manifestations

catatonic

a syndrome characterized by muscular rigidity and mental stupor

psychosomatic

relating to or involving both the mind and body; especially physical symptoms which are produced, at least in part, in response to psychic stimuli

psychotropic

referring to drugs that are capable of affecting the mind (mood-altering drugs)

accomodation

adjustment of the eye for seeing at various distances

ageusia

loss of the sense of taste

amblyopia

vision in one eye does not develop fully during early childhood (aka lazy eye)

anosmia

absence of sense of smell

diplopia

double vision

glossodynia

burning or pain of the tongue

gustation

sense of taste

miotic

an agent that causes contraction of the pupil

mydriatic

an agent that dilates the pupil

olfaction

sense of smell

ototoxicity

property of having a toxic action upon the organs of hearing

tinnitus

ringing in the ears

vertigo

a subjective or objective sensation of irregular or spinning motion