Medical Terminology - Qualifier

angiography

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

diagnosis

Identification of an injury or disease

edema

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

endarterial

pertaining to the interior or lining of an artery

hepatomegaly

enlargement of the liver

infection

Contamination or invasion of body tissue by pathogenic organisms

inflammation

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

interstitial

between but not in, the parts of a tissue

intramuscular

within the muscle

Laceration

jagged wound

Lesion

a pathologic change of the tissues due to disease or injury

Malaise

A sense of unease; depression

Mycosis

any abnormal condition or disease caused by a fungus

Myelopathy

any pathologic change or disease in the spinal cord

Myopathy

Disease of the muscle

natal

pertaining to birth

neonatology

study of newborns

otorhinolaryngology

study of the ears, nose and throat

Palpation

To examine by touch

Prognosis

A prediction of the course of disease

Pyoderma

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

Pyrosis

Heartburn

Remission

improvement or absence of signs of disease

Sign

Objective evidence of disease such as a fever

suppuration

the formation or discharge of pus

Symptom

An indication of a problem

Syndrome

A group of symptoms typical of a particular disease or condition

Trauma

Wound or injury

Triage

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

Adenocarcinoma

A malignant tumor that originates in glandular tissue

anaplasia

a change in the structure of cells and in their orientation to each other

anomaly

deviation from what is normal

aplasia

lack of development

caudal

toward tail

Dysplasia

abnormal development of tissue

endemic

refers to the ongoing presence of a disease within a population, group, area

endocrine glands

glands of the endocrine system that release hormones into the bloodstream

epidemic

A widespread outbreak of an infectious disease

etiology

study of disease

functional disorder

produces symptoms for which no physiological or anatomical cause can be identified

hemophilia

a hereditary disease where blood does not coagulate to stop bleeping

hyperplasia

the enlargement of an organ or tissue because of an abnormal increase in the number of cells in the tissues

iatrogenic illness

an unfavorable response due to prescribed medical treatment

idiopathic disorder

an illness without a known cause

infectious disease

a disease that is caused by a pathogen and that can be spread from one individual to another

Mesentary

a fused double layer of the parietal peritoneum that attaches parts of the intestine to the interior abdominal wall.

nosocomial infection

Hospital aquiered infection

Peritoneum

membrane that lines the abdominal cavity

Phenylketonuria

a genetic disorder in which the essential digestive enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase is missing

retroperitoneal

located behind the peritoneum

Stem Cells

unspecialized cells that are able to renew themselves for long periods of time by cell division

Ventral

Toward the belly

antidiuretic hormone

acts on the kidneys to control the amount of water excreted in the urine

Cortisol

Stress hormone

Cushing Syndrome

caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol

epinephrine

adrenaline, stimulates reaction when injured

exophthalmos

abnormal protrusion of the eyeball

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

secreted by the pituitary gland to stimulate maturation of the egg cell (ovum)

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM)

any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy

Addison's disease

occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormones cortisol or aldosterone

conn's syndrome

a disorder of the adrenal glands due to excessive production of aldosterone

cretinism

A congenital form of hypothyroidism

diabetes insipidus

an uncommon disorder caused by an insufficient production of the antidiuretic hormone ADH or by the inability of the kidneys to respond appropriately to this hormone

diabetes mellitus

a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both

diabetic retinopathy

damage to the retina as a complication of uncontrolled diabetes

gigantism

A condition produced by hyper secretion of growth hormone during early years of life

Ketosis

The body has an abnormal concentration of ketone bodies resulting from excessive fat metabolism

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy

A minimally invasive procedure to surgically remove one or both adrenal glands

Leptin

A hormone produced by adipose cells that acts as a satiety factor in regulating appetite

lutenizing hormone

Secreted by the pituitary gland to promote ovulation

Glucagon

A protein hormone secreted by pancreatic endocrine cells that raises blood glucose levels

Glucose

The form of sugar that circulates in the blood and provides the major source of energy for the body tissues

Graves’ disease

Immune system attacks thyroid and stimulates it to create and excessive amount of thyroid hormones

Gynecomastia

Development of breast tissue in males

Hashimotos disease

An autoimmune disease in which the body’s own antibodies attack and destroy the cells of the thyroid gland

Aldosteronism

An abnormality of electrolyte balance caused by the excessive secretion of aldosterone

Antidiuretic hormone

Hormone produced by the neurosecretory cells in the hypothalamus that stimulates water reabsorption from kidney

Myxedema

Caused by the extreme deficiency of thyroid secretion also known as adult hypothyroidism

Oxytocin

A hormone released by the posterior pituitary that stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth and like ejection during breastfeeding

Proesterone

Found in the ovaries stimulates the development of female sex characteristics; helps regulate the menstrual cycle

Prolactinoma

A benign tumor of the pituitary gland that causes it to produce too much prolactin

Thymosin

Stimulates the maturation of lymphocytes into T cells of the immune system

Thyroxine

Also called thyroid hormone it is produced and secreted by follicle cells in the thyroid gland

Asbestosis

Caused by asbestos particles in the lungs and usually occurs after working with asbestos

Asphyxia

Condition caused by insufficient intake of oxygen

Atelectasis

Collapsed lung

Cheney-Stokes respiration

Pattern of breathing characterized by a gradual increase of depth and sometimes rate to a maximum level, followed by a decrease resulting in apnea

Diphtheria

An acute bacterial infection of the throat and upper respiratory tract

Emphysema

A serious disease that destroys lung tissue and causes breathing difficulties

epistaxis

Nosebleed

Hemoptysis

Coughing up blood

Hemothorax

Blood in the pleural cavity

Petussis

Whooping cough

Pneumoconiosis

Abnormal condition of dust in the lungs

Pneumonia

Inflammation of the lungs

Pneumothorax

Air in the pleural cavity

Thoracentesis

Surgical puncture to remove fluid in the pleural splace

Tuberculosis

An infectious disease that may affect almost all tissues of the body, especially the lungs

Anastomosis

Surgical joining of two ducts, vessels, or bowel segments to allow flow from one to another

Cachexia

A condition of physical wasting away due to the loss of weight and muscle mass that occurs in patients with disease such as advanced cancer or AIDS