Chapter 1: Medical Terms

module 1

abdominocentesis (ab-dom-ih-noh-sen-TEE-sis)

a surgical puncture of the abdominal cavity to aspirate fluid

acronym (ACK-roh-nim)

a word formed from the initial letter of the major parts of a compound term.

acute

condition that has a rapid onset, a severe course, and a relatively short duration.

angiography (an-jee-OG-rah-fee)

process of producing an x-ray, or radiographic study, of blood vessels after the injection of a contrast medium to make these blood vessels visible.

appendectomy (ap-en-DECK-toh-mee)

surgical removal of the appendix

arteriosclerosis (ar-tee-ree-oh-skleh-ROH-sis)

abnormal hardening of the walls of an artery or arteries.

arthralgia (ar-THRAL-jee-ah)

pain in a joint or joints.

colostomy (koh-LAHS-toh-mee)

The surgical creation of an artificial excretory opening between the colon and the body surface.

cyanosis (sigh-ah-NOH-sis)

Blue discoloration of the skin caused by a lack of adequate oxygen in the blood.

dermatologist (der-mah-TOL-oh-jist)

A physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the skin.

diagnosis (dye-ag-NOH-sis)

The identification of a disease.

diarrhea (dye-ah-REE-ah)

The frequent flow of loose or watery stools.

edema (eh-DEE-mah)

Swelling caused by excess fluid in body tissues.

endarterial (end-ar-TEE-ree-al)

Pertaining to the interior or lining of an artery.

eponym (EP-oh-nim)

A disease, structure, operation, or procedure named for the person who discovered or described it first.

erythrocyte (eh-RITH-roh-sight)

A mature red blood cell.

fissure (FISH-ur)

A groove or cracklike sore of the skin; also a normal fold in the contours of the brain.

fistula (FIS-chuh-lah)

An abnormal passage, usually between two internal organs or leading from an organ to the surface of the body.

gastralgia (gas-TRAL-jee-ah)

Pain in the stomach.

gastritis (gas-TRY-tis)

Inflammation of the stomach.

gastroenteritis (gas-troh-en-ter-EYE-tis)

Inflammation of the stomach and small intestine.

gastrosis (gas-TROH-sis)

Any abnormal condition or disease of the stomach.

hemorrhage (HEM-or-idj)

The loss of a large amount of blood in a short time.

hepatomegaly (hep-ah-toh-MEG-ah-lee)

Abnormal enlargement of the liver.

hypertension (high-per-TEN-shun)

Higher-than-normal blood pressure.

hypotension (high-poh-TEN-shun)

Lower-than-normal blood pressure.

infection (in-FECK-shun)

Invasion of the body by a pathogenic organism.

inflammation (in-flah-MAY-shun)

A localized response to an injury or destruction of tissues that is characterized by heat, redness, swelling, and pain.

interstitial (in-ter-STISH-al)

Between, but not within, the parts of a tissue.

intramuscular (in-trah-MUS-kyou-lar)

Within the muscle.

laceration (lass-er-AY-shun)

A torn, jagged wound or an accidental cut wound.

lesion (LEE-zhun)

A pathologic change of the tissues due to disease or injury.

malaise (mah-LAYZ)

A feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness that is often the first indication of an infection or other disease.

mycosis (my-KOH-sis)

Any abnormal condition or disease caused by a fungus.

myelopathy (my-eh-LOP-ah-thee)

Any pathologic change or disease in the spinal cord.

myopathy (my-OP-ah-thee)

Any pathologic change or disease of muscle tissue.

myorrhexis (my-oh-RECK-sis)

The rupture of a muscle.

natal (NAY-tal)

Pertaining to birth.

neonatology (nee-oh-nay-TOL-oh-jee)

Study of disorders of the newborn.

neurorrhaphy (new-ROR-ah-fee)

Suturing together the ends of a severed nerve.

otorhinolaryngology (oh-toh-rye-noh-lar-in-GOL-oh-jee)

Study of the ears, nose, and throat.

palpation (pal-PAY-shun)

An examination technique in which the examiner's hands are used to feel the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body parts.

palpitation (pal-pih-TAY-shun)

A pounding or racing heart.

pathology (pah-THOL-oh-jee)

The study of all aspects of diseases.

phalanges (fah-LAN-jeez)

The bones of the fingers and toes.

poliomyelitis (poh-lee-oh-my-eh-LYE-tis)

A viral infection of the gray nerve tissue of the spinal cord.

prognosis (prog-NOH-sis)

A prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disease.

pyoderma (pye-oh-DER-mah)

Any acute, inflammatory, pus-forming bacterial skin infection.

pyrosis (pye-ROH-sis)

Discomfort due to the regurgitation of stomach acid upward into the esophagus.

remission

The temporary, partial, or complete disappearance of the symptoms of a disease without having achieved a cure.

sign

Objective evidence of disease, such as a fever.

supination (soo-pih-NAY-shun)

The act of rotating the arm so that the palm of the hand is forward or upward.

suppuration (sup-you-RAY-shun)

The formation or discharge of pus.

supracostal (sue-prah-KOS-tal)

Above or outside the ribs.

symptom (SIMP-tum)

Subjective evidence of a disease, such as pain or a headache.

syndrome (SIN-drohm)

A set of the signs and symptoms that occur together as part of a specific disease process.

tonsillitis (ton-sih-LYE-tis)

Inflammation of the tonsils.

trauma (TRAW-mah)

Wound or injury.

triage (tree-AHZH)

Medical screening of patients to determine their relative priority of need and the proper place of treatment.

viral (VYE-ral)

Pertaining to a virus.