NUR 1118 Medical Terminology Definitions

Adventitious sounds

Abnormal sounds

Aerobic

Uses or requires oxygen

Afebrile

without fever

Alopecia

baldness or hair loss

Anaerobic

does not use or require oxygen

Anesthesia

loss of bodily sensation with or without loss of consciousness

Antipyretics

Drugs that reduce fever

Anthropometry

the science dealing with the measurement of the human body to determine differences in individuals or groups

Aphasia

loss of speech due to injury or illness

Atherosclerosis

condition in which fatty deposits called plaque build up on the inner walls of the arteries

Auscultation

listening to sounds within the body (usually with a stethoscope)

Bradycardia

abnormally slow heartbeat

Bruit

An abnormal blowing or swishing sound heard on auscultation of an artery or an organ.

Cholecystitis

inflammation of the gall bladder

Cirrhosis

Chronic degenerative disease of the liver, chronic disease charaterized by degeneration of liver tissue most oftern caused by alcoholism or a nutritional deficiency

Conjunctivitis

inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye

Cyanosis

a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes

Cytolysis

the bursting of a cell

Dermis

Second (middle) layer of skin, holding blood vessels, nerve endings, sweat glands, and hair follicles

Dementia

a slowly progressive decline in mental abilities, including memory, thinking, and judgment, that is often accompanied by personality changes

Diaphoresis

profuse sweating

Distention

the act of expanding by pressure from within

Dysphagia

difficulty swallowing

Dysrhythmia

abnormal heart rhythm/brain waves

Edentulous

without teeth

Edema

swelling caused by excess fluid in the body tissues

Essential amino acids

Amino acids that are needed, but cannot be made by the body; they must be eatin in foods

Epidermis

outer layer of skin

Erythema

redness of the skin / inflamation

Eupnea

normal breathing - quiet breathing 12-20/min

Exostosis

abnormal benign growth on the surface of a bone

Febrile

fever, having a fever - elevated body temp

Gag Reflex

normal reflex consisting of retching - touching soft palet or posterior pharynx

Geriatric

branch of medicine pertaining to the elderly

Gerontology

the study of aging and the elderly process

Halitosis

bad breath

Hemorrhoids

Swollen, painful rectal veins; often a result of constipation

Hepatitis

inflammation of the liver

Hernia

rupture in smooth muscle tissue through which a bodily structure protrudes

Hirsutism

excessive distribution of body hair, especially in women - masculine distribution pattern

Hydrocephalus

an abnormal condition in which cerebrospinal fluid collects in the ventricles of the brain

Hemiparesis

weakness on one side of the body

Hemiplegia

paralysis of one side of the body

Hypersomnolence

Excessive sleepiness.

Hypertension

high blood pressure

Hyperthermia

high body temperature

Hypoxia

Lack of oxygen, deficiency of oxygen in tissues

Hypothermia

Abnormally low body temperature - below 95

Indurated

hardened

Inspection

a visual examination

Integument

Skin or covering

Jaundice

yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes caused by an accumulation of bile pigment (bilirubin) in the blood

Ketoacidosis

presence of an abnormal amount of ketone bodies in the blood and urine indicating an abnormal utilization of carbohydrates as seen in uncontrolled diabetes and starvation

Kyphosis

exaggerated posterior curvature of the thoracic spine (hunchback)

Leukocytosis

abnormal increase of white blood cells, abnormally large increase in the number of white blood cells

Leukoplakia

white, thickened patches on mucous membrane tissue of the tongue or cheek - slightly raised

Lithotomy

a surgical incision for the removal of a stone from the bladder - stirrup position

Lordosis

abnormal anterior curvature of the lumbar spine (sway-back condition)

Malabsorption

abnormal absorption of nutrients from the digestive tract

Melanoma

Skin cancer

Menopause

the time in a woman's life in which the menstrual cycle ends

Metabolism

the organic processes (in a cell or organism) that are necessary for life - distribution of nutrients in the blood after digestion

Metacarpal

any bone of the hand between the wrist and fingers - middle part of the hand - I-V

Murmurs

sounds created by abnormal, turbulent flow of blood in the heart, abnormal heart sounds - gentle blowing, fluttering or humming sound.

Natural Immunity

An individual's own genetic ability to fight off disease

Nosocomial

hospital acquired infection

Necrotic

dead or dying tissue - in response to disease or injury

Normal floras

Microorganisms including bacteria, protozoa, and fungi that are found on or in specific areas of the body.- to compete w/ disease producing microorganisms & provide natural immunity against certain infections.

Nystagmus

involuntary, rapid movement of eyeball

Orthopneic

Sitting upright, bending over resting elbows on table. Very helpful with breathing problems - body position that helps pt breathe comfortably.

Palate

The roof of the mouth - (uraniscus) between oral/nasal cavities

Palpation

to examine by touch

Passive Immunity

short term immunity in which antibodies against a disease are acquired naturally (as through the placenta to an unborn child) or artificially (as by injection of antiserum) - not perm & not as long as active immunity.

Pathogen

A microorganism capable of producing disease

Perfusion

pumping a liquid into an organ or tissue (especially by way of blood vessels) - meds for isolated part of body is introduced via the blood stream.

Peristalsis

the process of wave-like muscle contractions of the alimentary tract that moves food along

Peritonitis

inflammation of the peritoneum (membrane lining the abdominal cavity and surrounding the organs within it)- most commonly by rupture of appendix.

Petechiae

Small, pinpoint, purplish hemorrhagic spots on the skin which are flush with surface

Pulse deficit

the difference between the apical and radial pulse rates

Pigmentation

coloration of the skin

Polyps

Tumors that grow on skin, resembling mushrooms. which bleed easily, and some have the tendency to become malignant.

Posterior

Towards the back

Presbycusis

hearing loss due to aging

Presbyopia

farsightedness resulting from a reduced ability to focus caused by loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens with age - cannot see close up

Prognosis

a prediction of the course of a disease

Prominences

projections or protrusions

Purulent

producing or containing pus

Sanguineous

bloody

Scoliosis

abnormal lateral curvature of the spine

Serous

Having the appearance of a thin, watery fluid (serum)

Septicemia

blood poisoning

Sims

lying on L side, w top leg flexed & placed in front of other leg. rectal or vagina exam

Stenosis

abnormal narrowing of an opening or passageway in a body structure

Striae

stretch marks

Syncope

fainting or sudden loss of consciousness caused by lack of blood supply to the cerebrum - caused by transient cerebral hypoxia

Tachycardia

rapid heart rate - \>100/min

Turgor

Elasticity of the skin

Varicosities

abnormal dilations of a vein or group of veins. - (varicose vein)

Ventilation

the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation - the molecular exchange of oxygen & carbon dioxide w/in body's tissues.

Virulence

extreme harmfulness (as the capacity of a microorganism to cause disease)