Chapter 3: Diagnostic, Therapeutic, and Surgical Terms

Diagnostic, Therpeutic, and Surgical Terms

diagnosis

the identification of a disease or condition by a scientific evaluation of physical signs, symptoms, history, tests, and procedures

prognosis

the predicted outcome of a disease

signs

definitive evidence of an illness or disordered function

symptoms

subjective evidence as perceived by the patient, such as pain

radiologic studies

relate to the use of radiant energy

dilatation

also dilation, the condition of being stretched or dilated beyond the normal dimensions/the process of being dilated

\-algia, -dynia

pain

\-ectasia, -ectasis

dilatation or stretching of a structure or part

\-edema

swelling

\-emesis

to vomit, vomiting

\-malacia

soft, softening

\-megaly

enlargement

\-oid

(forms adjectives and nouns) resembling

\-penia

deficiency

\-rrhage, -rrhagia

excessive bleeding or hemorrhage

\-rrhea

flow or discharge

\-rrhexis

rupture

\-spasm

twitching, cramp

\-stasis

stopping, controlling (suffix)

\-gram

a record

\-graph

instrument used to record

\-graphy

process of recording

\-meter

instrument used to measure

\-scope

instrument used for viewing

\-scopy

visual examination

emesis

the material expelled in vomiting

edema

the presence of abnormally large amounts of fluid in the tissues, resulting in swelling

blephar(o)

eyelid

blepharedema

swelling of the eyelid

elephantiasis

a parasitic disease generally seen in the tropics, which includes excessive swelling caused by bstruction of the lymphatic vessels by the parasites

malacia

softening

opthalmomalacia

abnormal softening of the eye

stasis

stopping or controlling (term)

blepharospasm

twitching of the eyelid

oste(o)

bone

osteoid

descriptive of something that resembles bone

cardiomegaly

enlarged heart

ophthalmalgia

painful eye

ophthalmodynia

painful eye, same as ophthalmalgia

ophthalmorrhagia

hemorrhage from the eye

otalgia

pain in the ear/earache

otodynia

earache, same as otalgia

otorrhea

discharge from the ear

electrocardiography

the process of recording the electrical impulses of the heart \[diagnostic procedure\]

electrocardiogram

a record of tracing of the elctrical impulses of the heart (ECG or EKG)

electr(o)

electricity

electrocardiograph

the instrument used in electrocardiography

otoscopy

an examination of the outer ear, including the eardrum

otoscope

the lighted instrument used in otoscopy

ophthalmoscope

used in examination of the interior of the eye

ophthalmoscopy

examination of the interior of the eye

endoscope

an illuminated optic instrument for the visualization of the interior of a body cavity or organ \[ex: gastroscope, colonoscope\]

endoscopy

a visual inspection of a cavity of the body by means of an endoscope

catheter

a hollow flexible tube that can be inserted into a cavity of the body to withdraw or to instill fluids, perform tests, or visualize a vessel or cavity

catheterization

the introduction of a catheter

catheterize

to introduce a catheter within the body

cannula

same as a catheter - common types: venous (for administration of fluids or medicine or obtaining blood samples) or nasal (for delivery of oxygen or gas mixture during anesthesia)

calcipenia

deficiency of calcium

pulse

rhythmic expansion of an artery that occurs as the heart beats

respiration rate

number of breaths per minute

therm(o)

heat

body temperature

the level of heat produced and sustained by the body processes

thermometer

an instrument for measuring temperature

oral

pertaining to the mouth

rectal thermometer

inserted in the rectum, temperatures are typically higher than that of oral temps

tympanic thermometers

measure temperature under the arm

axillary thermometers

under arm thermometer, special ones available for newborns

axill(o)

armpit

blood pressure

the pressure exerted by the circulating volume of blood on the walls of the arteries and veins and on the chambers of the heart

steth(o)

chest

stethoscope

placed on the chest to listen to heart sounds, particularly closing of the heart valves. also used to hear sounds of breathing and intestinal action, and to take BP

physical examination

(PE) an investigation of the body to determine its state of health

inspection

the examiner uses the eyes to observe a patient

palpation

the examiner feels the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain bod parts with the hands

percussion

the examiner taps the body with the fingertips or fist to evaluate the size, borders, and consistency of internal organs and to determine the amount of fluid in a body cavity

auscultation

the examiner listens for sounds within the body to evaluate the heart, blood vessels, lungs, intestines, or other organs or to detect the fetal heart sound in pregnant women. most commonly performed with a stethoscope

ambulation

the act of walking

ambulant

a person who is able to walk

ambulatory

describes someone who is able to walk

ech(o), son(o)

sound

electr(o)

electricity

fluor(o)

emitting or reflecting light

radi(o)

radiant energy

tom(o)

to cut

ultra-

excessive

radiograph

an x-ray image

computed axial tomography

CAT scan, former name for CT scan

echography

sonography, ultrasonography, ultrasound

contrast imaging

the use of radiopaque materials to make internal organs visible on x-ray images

fluoroscopy

a method of viewing x-ray images in real time so that motion can be seen. radiography provides a permanent record of the image at a particular moment in time.

fluoroscope

used in fluoroscopy - projects an x-ray image on a moniter.

computed tomography

CT scan - produces an image of a detailed cross-section of tissue similar to what one would see if the body or body part were actually cut into sections. painless/non-invasive

tomogram

produced from a CT scan

positron emission tomography

(PET) a type of computerized radiographic technique using radioactive substances to examine the metabolic activity of various body structures, such as the brain

radiopharmaceuticals

administered to a patient orally, into the vein, or by breathe (vapor form) in nueclear medicine. Computerized scanners (gamma cameras) detect the radioactivity emitted by the patient and map its location to form an image of the organ or system

pharmaceuticals

medicinal drugs

magnetic resonance imaging

(MRI) noninvasive technique for visualizing internal structures and creates images based on the magnetic properties of chemical elements within the body rather than using ionizing raditation such as x-rays. better distinguishes between soft structures.

sonography

the process of imaging deep structures of the body by sending and receiving high-frequency sound waves that are reflected back as echoes from tissue interfaces. very safe.

algesi(o)

sensitivity to pain

chem(o)

chemical