Medical Language: Immerse Yourself – Chapter 2: Health Care Today (Vocabulary Cards)

These vocabulary flashcards cover the major terms and concepts introduced in Chapter 2, providing definitions for body planes, directions, cavities, disease categories, clinical terminology, healthcare professionals, care settings, examination techniques, and electronic health records.

Health

A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being (WHO).

Anatomy

The study of the structures of the human body.

Physiology

The study of the functions of body structures.

Cell

The smallest independently functioning structure in the body.

Tissue

A group of similar cells that perform a common function.

Organ

A structure formed by several tissues that performs a specific task.

Body system

Organs that work together to carry out major body functions.

Anatomical position

Standing erect, head and eyes forward, arms at sides with palms forward, legs straight, toes forward.

Sagittal plane

Imaginary plane dividing the body into right and left portions.

Coronal (frontal) plane

Plane dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.

Transverse plane

Plane dividing the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.

Medial

Moving toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Moving away from the body’s midline.

Anterior (ventral)

Toward the front of the body.

Posterior (dorsal)

Toward the back of the body.

Posteroanterior (PA)

X-ray beam travels from back to front through the body.

Anteroposterior (AP)

X-ray beam travels from front to back through the body.

Superior

Located above or toward the head.

Inferior

Located below or toward the feet.

Cephalad

Moving toward the head.

Caudad

Moving toward the tailbone.

Distal

Moving away from the trunk toward the fingers or toes.

Proximal

Moving from the fingers or toes toward the trunk.

External (superficial)

On or near the surface of the body or an organ.

Internal (deep)

Located within or far from the surface of the body or an organ.

Cranial cavity

Hollow space inside the skull housing the brain.

Spinal cavity

Canal within the vertebral column containing the spinal cord.

Thoracic cavity

Chest cavity containing lungs and heart.

Abdominal cavity

Upper portion of the abdominopelvic cavity containing digestive organs.

Pelvic cavity

Lower abdominopelvic space containing urinary and reproductive organs.

Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)

Upper-right section of the abdomen; contains most of the liver.

Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)

Upper-left abdominal section; houses the stomach.

Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)

Lower-right abdominal area; site of appendiceal pain.

Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)

Lower-left abdominal area opposite the RLQ.

Disease

Any change in normal structure or function of the body.

Etiology

The cause or origin of a disease or disorder.

Disorder

A disturbance of action or function in the body.

Preventive medicine

Health care focused on maintaining health and preventing disease.

Congenital disease

Condition present at birth due to fetal abnormality or birth process.

Degenerative disease

Progressive destruction of cells due to aging or disease.

Environmental disease

Illness resulting from exposure to external substances.

Genetic disease

Condition caused by gene or chromosome mutation during fetal development.

Hereditary disease

Disorder passed to offspring via defective parental gene.

Hospital-acquired infection

Disease contracted within the hospital environment; nosocomial infection.

Iatrogenic disease

Condition caused by medical treatment or medication.

Idiopathic disease

Illness with no identifiable cause.

Infectious disease

Disorder produced by a pathogen such as a bacterium or virus.

Neoplastic disease

Illness involving growth of benign or malignant masses.

Nutritional disease

Condition resulting from lack of or inability to use nutrients.

Symptom

Any deviation from health experienced or felt by the patient.

Sign

Objective evidence of disease observed or measured by others.

Acute condition

Sudden onset, severe intensity of signs or symptoms.

Subacute condition

Less severe symptoms than acute; intermediate in duration.

Chronic condition

Illness lasting three months or longer.

Exacerbation

Sudden worsening of disease symptoms or signs.

Remission

Period during which disease signs and symptoms disappear.

Relapse

Return of original disease symptoms after improvement.

Sequela

Residual complication that remains after a disease has resolved.

Symptomatology

Complete clinical picture of a patient’s signs and symptoms.

Asymptomatic

Having a disease but exhibiting no noticeable signs or symptoms.

Syndrome

Characteristic set of signs and symptoms occurring together.

Therapeutic treatment

Intervention that makes disease signs and symptoms disappear.

Refractory disease

Condition that does not respond to treatment; resistant.

Recuperation

Complete recovery returning the patient to normal health.

Terminal illness

Disease from which recovery is not possible and leads to death.

Physician

MD or DO who diagnoses and treats diseases; leads the healthcare team.

Primary Care Physician (PCP)

Doctor specializing in family practice or pediatrics who provides first-contact care.

Attending physician

Physician responsible for inpatient care, admissions, and discharges in a hospital.

Physician extender

Healthcare professional (PA, NP, CNM, CRNA) performing some physician duties under supervision.

Nurse

Licensed professional who combines medical science with compassionate care, carries out treatments, and documents in the EHR.

Allied health professional

Therapist, technologist, technician, dietitian, or similar provider supporting patients and nurses.

Hospital

Facility providing medical or surgical care to acutely ill patients for more than 24 hours.

Inpatient

A patient admitted to and staying in the hospital.

Clinic

Facility offering healthcare for one patient type or disease category.

Outpatient clinic

Hospital-based or nearby center where patients receive care without overnight stay.

Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC)

Facility where minor surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis.

Long-term care facility

Residential center for older adults or disabled individuals requiring ongoing assistance.

Home health agency

Service providing healthcare to patients in their homes.

Hospice

Facility or service delivering palliative care to patients with less than six months to live.

Physical examination

Hands-on assessment of a patient’s body by a healthcare provider.

Inspection

Visual examination of external surfaces and cavities.

Palpation

Use of fingers to feel organs, masses, tenderness, or pain.

Auscultation

Listening to body sounds with a stethoscope.

Percussion

Tapping over body cavities to assess underlying structures.

Vital signs

Temperature, pulse, respiration (TPR), and blood pressure (BP).

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Computerized system for documenting and storing patient care information.

History & Physical (H & P)

Comprehensive admission document containing patient history and physical exam findings.

Discharge Summary (DS)

Hospital report summarizing patient’s stay, treatments, and follow-up plan.

Chief Complaint (CC)

Primary symptom or reason a patient seeks medical care.

History of Present Illness (HPI)

Detailed narrative of the onset, duration, and severity of the patient’s current problem.

Past Medical History (PMH)

Record of prior illnesses, surgeries, and hospitalizations.

Review of Systems (ROS)

System-by-system checklist of symptoms reported by the patient.

Diagnosis (Dx)

Identification of a disease based on history, physical exam, and tests.

Disposition

Plan for patient care after an encounter—discharge, admit, or follow-up.