TERMINOLOGY III

This collection of flashcards covers essential medical terminology related to physiology, anatomy, and clinical conditions, designed to aid in understanding and memorization for examinations.

Aerobic

Growing only in the presence of oxygen.

Ambient

Natural atmospheric environment.

Angiogram

Special type of x-ray that visualizes the blood vessels.

Apneusis

Condition marked by maintained inspiratory activity.

Asystole

Cessation of ventricular contraction of the heart.

Benign

Not malignant; not recurrent; favorable for recovery.

Bronchiectasis

Chronic dilation of the bronchi or bronchioles marked by fetid breath and paroxysmal coughing with the expectoration of mucopurulent matter.

Cardiac tamponade

Acute compression of the heart due to effusion of the fluid into the pericardium or to the collection of blood in the pericardium from rupture of the heart or a coronary vessel.

Congestive heart failure

Failure of the heart to maintain an adequate output, resulting in diminished blood flow to the tissues and congestion in the pulmonary and/or systemic circulation.

Cyanosis

Any bluish discoloration of the skin; associated with blood oxygen deficiency.

Distal

Away from the point of origin; downstream.

Dyspnea

Difficult or labored breathing.

Empyema

Accumulation of pus in a cavity of the body, especially the chest.

Exudate

Fluid that accumulates as a result of inflammation.

Heart failure

Sudden fatal cessation of the heart's action; the clinical condition resulting from inability of the myocardium of the ventricles to maintain an adequate flow of blood to all the tissues of the body.

Heparin

Macopoly sacharide acid in various tissues; abundant in the liver. Medication that prolongs the clotting time of blood.

Hypercapnia

Excess of carbon dioxide in the blood.

Hypoxia

Deficiency of oxygen in the tissues.

Ion

An atom or group of atoms that has acquired an electric charge through a gain or loss of an electron or electrons.

Manometer

Instrument for measuring the pressure.

Orthopnea

Inability to breathe unless in an upright position.

Perfusion

Blood flow.

Pleura

Serous membrane that invests the lungs and lining of the thoracic cavity and encloses the potential space; the pleural cavity.

Polycythemia

Excess of red corpuscles in the blood seen in chronic cardiac or pulmonary disease patients due to arterial oxygen unsaturation.

Pulmonary circulation

That carrying the blood from the right ventricle to the lungs and returning oxygenated blood to the left atrium of the heart.

Radiolucent

Allowing for the passage of X-rays.

Resonance

Prolongation and intensification of sound produced by the transmission of its vibrations to a cavity, especially a sound elicited by percussion.

Shunt

Bypass; a direct communication between the arterial and venous circulation or perfusion of unventilated alveoli.

Stenosis

Narrowing or construction, especially of lumen or orifice.

Syndrome

Group of signs or symptoms that, when considered together, characterize a disease.

Tachypnea

Abnormally rapid rate of breathing.

Vapor

A gas, especially the gaseous form of a substance that at ordinary temperatures can be converted to a liquid.

Ventilate

Movement of gas into and out of the lungs.

Vital signs

Living signs, such as temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure.