Chapter 3 Disease and Treatment Enrichment Terms

acid-fast stain

A laboratory staining procedure used mainly to identify the tuberculosis (TB) organism

communicable

capable of passing from one person to another, such as an infectious disease

endemic

Occurring at a low level but continuously in a given region, such as the common cold

epidemic

Affecting many people in a given region at the same time; a disease that breaks out in a large proportion of a population at a given time

exacerbation

Worsening of disease; increase in severity of a disease or its symptoms

iatrogenic

Caused by the effects of treatment (from Greek root iatro-, meaning “physician”)

idiopathic

Having no known cause (root idio means “self-originating”)

in situ

Localized, noninvasive (literally “in position”); said of tumors that do not spread, such as carcinoma in situ (CIS)

normal flora

The microorganisms that normally live on or in the body. These organisms are generally harmless, and often are beneficial, but they can cause disease under special circumstances, such as injury or failure of the immune system

nosocomial

Describing an infection acquired in a hospital (root nos/o means “disease,” and comial refers to a hospital). Such infections can be a serious problem, especially if they are resistant to antibiotics; for example, there are now strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA), which cause troublesome infections in hospital settings

opportunistic

Describing an infection that occurs because of a host's poor or altered condition

pandemic

Describing a disease that is prevalent throughout an entire region or the world. AIDS is now pandemic in certain regions of the world

remission

A lessening of disease symptoms; the period during which such lessening occurs

septicemia

Presence of pathogenic bacteria in the blood; blood poisoning

systemic

Pertaining to the whole body

abscess

A localized collection of pus

adhesion

A uniting of two surfaces or parts that may normally be separated

anaplasia

Lack of normal differentiation, as shown by cancer cells

ascites

Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity

cellulitis

A spreading inflammation of tissue

effusion

Escape of fluid into a cavity or other body part

exudate

Material that escapes from blood vessels as a result of tissue injury

fissure

A groove or split

fistula

An abnormal passage between two organs or from an organ to the surface of the body

gangrene

Death of tissue, usually caused by lack of blood supply; may be associated with bacterial infection and decomposition

hyperplasia

Excessive growth of normal cells in normal arrangement

hypertrophy

An increase in size of an organ without increase in the number of cells; may result from an increase in activity, as in muscles

induration

Hardening; an abnormally hard spot or place

metaplasia

Conversion of cells to a form that is not normal for that tissue (prefix meta- means “change”)

polyp

A tumor attached by a thin stalk

purulent

Forming or containing pus

suppuration

Pus formation

clubbing

Enlargement of the ends of the fingers and toes because of soft-tissue growth of the nails; seen in a variety of diseases, especially lung and heart diseases

colic

Acute abdominal pain associated with smooth-muscle spasms

cyanosis

Bluish discoloration of the skin due to lack of oxygen

diaphoresis

profuse sweating

malaise

A feeling of discomfort or uneasiness, often indicative of infection

nocturnal

Pertaining to or occurring at night (noct/i, nyct/o = night)

pallor

Paleness; lack of color

prodrome

A symptom indicating an approaching disease

sequela

A lasting effect of a disease (plural, sequelae)

syncope

A temporary loss of consciousness because of inadequate blood flow to the brain; fainting

alpha-fetoprotein (AFP)

A fetal protein that appears in the blood of adults with certain types of cancer

bruit

A sound, usually abnormal, heard in auscultation

facies

The expression or appearance of the face

febrile

Pertaining to fever

nuclear medicine

The branch of medicine concerned with the use of radioactive substances (radionuclides) for diagnosis, therapy, and research

radiology

The branch of medicine that uses radiation, such as x-rays, in the diagnosis and treatment of disease; a specialist in this field is a radiologist

radionuclide

A substance that gives off radiation; used for diagnosis and treatment; also called radioisotope or radiopharmaceutical

speculum

An instrument for examining a canal

syndrome

A group of signs and symptoms that together characterize a disease condition

catheter

A thin tube that can be passed into the body; used to remove fluids from or introduce fluids into a body cavity

clysis

The introduction of fluid into the body, other than orally, as into the rectum or abdominal cavity; also refers to the solution thus used

irrigation

Flushing of a tube, cavity, or area with a fluid

lavage

The washing out of a cavity; irrigation

normal saline (NS)

A salt (NaCl) solution compatible with living cells; also called physiologic saline solution (PSS)

paracentesis

Puncture of a cavity for removal of fluid

prophylaxis

Prevention of disease

drain

Device for allowing matter to escape from a wound or cavity; common types include Penrose (cigarette), T-tube, Jackson-Pratt (J-P), and Hemovac

ligature

A tie or bandage; the process of binding or tying (also called ligation)

resection

Partial excision of a structure

stapling

In surgery, the joining of tissue by using wire staples that are pushed through the tissue and then bent

surgeon

One who specializes in surgery