Exam 1: Medical Terminology

Aerobic

the presence of air or oxygen.

Agonist

to enhance an expected response.

Anaerobic

the absence of air or oxygen.

Aniscoria

a condition characterized by unequal pupil size.

Antagonist

to inhibit or counteract the effects of other drugs or undesired effects.

Aphasia

inability or difficulty in speaking.

Apnea

the cessation of spontaneous respirations.

Ascites

abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen.

Atrophy

shrinkage of a cell or muscle.

Aura

sensation (may be visual, smell, taste, etc.) that may precede a migraine or seizure.

Blebs

collection of air between the lung and visceral pleura that can result in spontaneous pneumothorax.

Brachial

artery found in the upper arm, used for pulse checks in pediatric patients.

Cartilage

smooth and firm connective tissue.

Cell

basic unit of life.

Cilia

small, hair-like structures.

Coma

deep state of unconsciousness, unarousable.

Confabulation

made up stories to fill in gaps of lost memory.

Congenital

present at birth.

Contrecoup

occurs at a site opposite of the side of impact.

Crepitus

a grating sound or sensation often caused by bone on bone rubbing, or with inflammation in joints.

Dehydration

an excessive loss of water or fluids from the body.

Dermatomes

specific area that is supplied by a single spinal nerve.

Dysarthria

poor articulation of speech. Often due to affected muscles used in speaking.

Dyskinesia

disorder related to involuntary muscle movements.

Dysplasia

abnormal growth of a cell.

Dysphagia

difficulty in swallowing (stroke/anaphylaxis)

Dysuria

difficult or painful urination

Edema

excess fluid in the interstitial spaces.

Epidemic

a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time.

Erythrocytes

red blood cells.

Fascia

connective tissue that surrounds or separates muscles.

Gait

walking or moving on foot.

Gestation

period from fertilization of ovum to birth of fetus.

Hematuria

blood in the urine.

Hemiparesis

one-sided weakness; often seen in those with CVA’s.

Hemolysis

breakdown of red blood cells.

Hemophilia

hereditary bleeding disorders due to missing factors for proper blood coagulation.

Hemoptysis

coughing up blood.

Host

an animal or human with exposure to an infectious agent.

Idiopathic

unknown cause.

Incontinence

inability to control bowel or bladder function.

Infarction

death of tissue from lack of oxygen.

Inferior

down/bottom, toward the feet.

Jejunum

part of the small intestine.

Joule

measurement of electrical energy.

Kyphosis

abnormal curvature of the spine, increased convexity as viewed laterally.

Lactate

found in cells during metabolism, byproduct of lactic acid.

Laryngitis

inflammation of the larynx.

Malaise

general weakness.

Mania

a mood disorder characterized by hyperactivity, agitation, excitement and occasional violent and self-destructive behavior.

Melena

black, tarry stools containing digested blood.

Myalgia

muscle pain.

Necrosis

death of a cell or a group of cells as the result of disease, ischemia, or injury.

Nucleus

controlling body of a cell.

Nystagmus

involuntary jerking actions of the eyes.

Oliguria

diminished ability to create or pass urine.

Osmosis

the diffusion of solvent (water) through a membrane from a less concentrated solution to a more concentrated solution.

Ostomy

a surgical opening that creates a hole from the inside of the body to the outside.

Ovum

a female egg or egg cell.

Paresthesia

sensation of numbness tingling or “pins and needles.”

Pathogen

a cause of a disease.

Phobia

anxiety disorder characterized by an obsessive, irrational, and intense fear of a specific object or activity.

Photophobia

a sensitivity to light that is abnormal.

Plasma

the fluid part of blood.

Platelets

fragments of cells that are responsible for initiating the clotting process.

Polyuria

excessive urination.

Priapism

a painful and persistent erection.

Quadriplegia

weakness or paralysis of all four extremities and the trunk. Often occurs after a high-level cervical spine fracture.

Referred pain

pain felt at a site away from its origin.

Rhonchi

abnormal, course, rattling respiratory sounds, usually caused by secretions in the bronchial airways or muscular spasm/constriction.

Sclera

the white outer layer of the eyeball.

Slander

false statements about a person.

Stridor

high-pitched musical sound caused by an obstruction in the trachea or larynx.

Stroke volume

volume (amount in milliliters) of blood ejected from one ventricle in a single heartbeat. Normal range is 60 – 100 with average being 70mL.

Subluxation

a partial dislocation.

Surfactant

substance that reduces the surface tension of the pulmonary fluids.

Tendons

bands of connective tissue that connect muscle to bone.

Tidal volume

volume (or amount) of air inspired or expired in a single breath.

Tort

personal harm or injury caused by civil versus criminal wrongs.

Uremia

excess of urea and other nitrogen based wastes in the blood.

Urticaria

hives.

Ventilation

mechanical movement of air into and out of the lungs.

Vesicants

an agent that causes blistering.

Virulence

the harmfulness of a disease or poison.

Wheals

small areas of swelling that result from an allergic reaction. Similar to hives (urticaria).

Xiphoid process

smallest of three parts of the sternum. Articulates caudally with the body of the sternum and laterally with the seventh rib. Can fracture with inappropriate hand placement during CPR.

Zygote

a fertilized ovum (egg).