Medical Terminology Study Guide (All Units)

A comprehensive set of practice flashcards covering key concepts, terms, and abbreviations from Units 1 through 11 of the Medical Terminology study guide.

What is military time and how is it used in healthcare?

A 24-hour clock format used in health care; AM/PM are not used.

What is 12:01 PM in military time?

1201

Which symbol represents 'Right' in the medical symbols list?

®

Which symbol represents 'Not/None/Null' in the medical symbols list?

∅

Name the major functions of the skeletal system.

Protection; storage of minerals and some fat; support; blood cell formation (bone marrow produces blood cells).

What are the three layers of the heart?

Epicardium, myocardium, endocardium.

Where is the heart located?

In the mediastinal cavity between the lungs.

What are the upper and lower chambers of the heart called?

Atria (upper) and ventricles (lower).

What is systolic blood pressure?

Pressure during ventricular contraction.

What is diastolic blood pressure?

Pressure during ventricular relaxation.

Name the four major functions of the digestive system.

Ingestion, digestion, absorption, elimination.

What is a bolus?

Ball-like mixture of food and saliva formed in the mouth.

What is chyme?

A pulpy substance formed when food mixes with gastric juices in the stomach.

What is peristalsis?

Involuntary rhythmic contractions that move contents through the GI tract.

Where does most chemical digestion occur in the small intestine?

Duodenum.

Which blood type is the universal recipient?

AB.

Which blood type is the universal donor?

O.

What does NKDA stand for?

No known drug allergies.

What does ER/ED stand for?

Emergency room/emergency department.

What does hs stand for in medical abbreviations?

Half strength; bedtime.

What does PRN mean?

As needed.

What does CPR stand for?

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

What does Rx stand for?

Prescription; treatment.

What does HPI stand for?

History of present illness.

What does R/O stand for?

Rule out.

What do S/S stand for?

Signs and symptoms.

What does s/p stand for?

Status post (previous disease condition).

What do D/C or d/c stand for?

Discharge; discontinue.

In ophthalmology, what does OD stand for?

Right eye.

In ophthalmology, what does OS stand for?

Left eye.

What does OU stand for?

Both eyes.

What does PERRLA stand for?

Pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation.

What does V/S or VS stand for?

Vital signs.

What does BP stand for?

Blood pressure.

What does mmHg stand for?

Millimeters of mercury (pressure).

What is an ECG/EKG?

Electrocardiogram; record of the heart's electrical activity.

What does CXR stand for?

Chest X-ray.

What does CBC stand for?

Complete Blood Count.

What does H&H stand for in lab results?

Hematocrit and Hemoglobin.

What does BMP stand for?

Basic metabolic panel.

What does CMP stand for?

Comprehensive metabolic panel.

What does ROM stand for in therapy terms?

Range of motion.

What does bid mean in dosing?

Twice a day.

What does tid mean in dosing?

Three times a day.

What does qid mean in dosing?

Four times a day.

What does mL stand for?

Milliliter.

What does cc stand for?

Cubic centimeter (milliliter).

What does Gtt stand for?

Drops.

What is the meaning of the prefix a-/an-?

Not, without.

What does the prefix peri- mean?

Around, surrounding.

What does neur/o mean?

Nerve.

What does crani/o mean?

Skull.

What does cardi/o mean?

Heart.

What does bronchi/o mean?

Bronchioles (small subdivisions of the bronchus) or bronchus in general.

What does gastr/o mean?

Stomach.

What does hepatic/o (hepat/o) mean?

Liver.

What is the function of the liver in digestion?

Produces bile that digests fats.

What organ stores bile?

Gallbladder.

Which cranial nerve is the Optic nerve responsible for vision?

Cranial Nerve II (Optic nerve).

Which cranial nerve controls facial expressions and taste for the anterior two-thirds of the tongue?

Cranial Nerve VII (Facial nerve).

What is the function of the bronchi/bronchioles?

Air passageways; conduct air to the lungs.

What is alveoli’s function?

Gas exchange (air sacs in lungs).

Which nerve is responsible for hearing and balance?

Cranial Nerve VIII (Vestibulocochlear).

Which gland secretes melatonin?

Pineal gland.

Which gland secretes insulin and glucagon?

Pancreas.

What does the thyroid gland regulate?

Metabolic rate and many body functions; requires iodine.

What hormone does the parathyroid gland regulate and how?

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) raises blood calcium by stimulating bone resorption.

Which organ produces TSH-regulating hormones?

Hypothalamus (via releasing/inhibiting hormones affecting the pituitary).

What is the functional unit of the kidney?

Nephron.

What is the organ that stores urine?

Bladder.

What is glomerular filtration in the kidney?

Filtration of blood to form filtrate in the glomerulus.

Which organ makes bile that breaks apart fats?

Liver.

What is the difference between proximal and distal in anatomy?

Proximal: closer to the origin/attachment; Distal: farther from the origin/attachment.

What does anterior (ventral) mean?

Front of the body.

What does posterior (dorsal) mean?

Back of the body.

What does medial mean?

Toward the body's midline.

What does lateral mean?

Away from the midline; toward the side.

What does superior mean?

Above; toward the head.

What does inferior mean?

Below; away from the head.

What does the prefix 'hypo-' mean?

Below; below normal; deficient.

What does the prefix 'hyper-' mean?

Above; above normal; excessive.

What does the suffix '-itis' indicate?

Inflammation of.

What does the suffix '-logy' indicate?

Study of.

What does the suffix '-oma' indicate?

Tumor; mass.

What is the term for the four major functions of the digestive system?

Ingestion, digestion, absorption, elimination.

What is the five characteristics of melanoma (ABCDE)?

A: Asymmetry; B: Border irregularity; C: Color variation; D: Diameter > pencil eraser; E: Evolution over time.

What is anemia?

A condition where there is a deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin.

What is the difference between 'basal cell carcinoma' and 'squamous cell carcinoma' in skin cancer?

Basal cell carcinoma is generally less dangerous and often appears as translucent patches; squamous cell carcinoma is more serious and may present as scaly red patches or nodules.

What does CAD stand for in cardiovascular terms?

Coronary artery disease.

What does MI stand for?

Myocardial infarction (heart attack).

What does COPD stand for?

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

What does DM stand for?

Diabetes mellitus.

What does HA stand for?

Headache.

What does the suffix '-ectomy' mean?

Excision or removal.

What does the suffix '-itis' mean?

Inflammation.

What is meant by 'scoliosis'?

Sideways curvature of the spine.

What does 'ankylosis' mean?

Fusion of bones; abnormal stiffness of a joint.

What does 'osteoporosis' mean?

Bones become brittle and fragile due to bone loss.

What does 'myasthenia gravis' involve?

Lack of communication between nerves and muscles leading to weakness.

What does 'hemophilia' involve?

Blood doesn’t clot normally; usually inherited.