Medical Terminology – Lecture Vocabulary

22 vocabulary flashcards covering key medical terms from the lecture notes.

Amputation

Surgical removal of all or part of a limb or extremity.

Biopsy

Removal and examination of tissue to diagnose a disease.

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG)

Surgery that eliminates a blockage in an artery supplying the heart.

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

Partial or complete blockage of blood vessels that supply the heart.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

Persistent respiratory disorder that impairs breathing.

Dilation and curettage (D&C)

Surgery in which the cervix is dilated and tissue inside the uterus is scraped for therapeutic purposes.

Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)

A recorded tracing of the heart’s electrical impulses.

Genitourinary (GU)

Relating to the urinary and reproductive organs.

Gynecology

Medical specialty dealing with the female reproductive system.

Hematocrit

Percentage of a blood sample that consists of red blood cells.

Hemoglobin

Red, oxygen-carrying pigment found in red blood cells.

Incision

Surgical wound produced by cutting into tissue.

Myocardial infarction (MI)

Interruption of blood flow to the heart causing heart muscle damage; commonly called a heart attack.

Nasogastric

Pertaining to or extending from the nose to the stomach.

Obstetrics

Medical specialty focused on pregnancy and childbirth.

Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)

Bacterial infection of the female reproductive organs.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

Autoimmune disease causing pain, swelling, and deformity in joints, especially of the hands and feet.

Tonsillectomy

Surgical removal of the tonsils.

Adenoidectomy

Surgical removal of adenoids, small lymphatic tissue masses near the opening to the pharynx.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Highly contagious lung infection that causes necrosis (death) of lung tissue.

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain.

Urinalysis

Diagnostic examination of urine.