Med Term - Unit 1 - Chapters 1-4

abate

to lessen, ease, decrease, or cease. Used to note the lessening of pain or the decrease in severity of symptoms

abdominal cavity

the space below the diaphram

abdominopelvic cavity

the combination of the abdominal and pelvic cavities. Divided into 9 regions

abnormal

pertaining to away from the normal or rule. A condition that is considered to be not normal

abrasion

process of scraping away from a surface

abscess

localized collection of pus, which may occur in any part of the body

Abulatory

condition of being able to walk, not confined to bed

acute -

sudden, sharp, severe; used to describe a disease that has a sudden onset, severe symptoms, and a short course

adhesion

literally means a process of being stuck together

afebrile

literally means pertaining to without fever; the patient's temperature would be within a normal range of 98.6F

afferent

carrying impulses toward a center

anatomical position

body is erect, head facing forward, arms by the sides with palms to the front

anesthetize

to induce a loss of feeling or sensation with the adminstration of an anesthetic

anicteric

term used to describe a condition that is without signs of jaundice

anterior

in front of or before, the front side of the body

antidote

substance given to counteract poisons and their effects

antipyretic

pertaining to an agent that is used to lower an elevated body temp

antiseptic

pertaining to an agent that works against sepsis; a technique or product used to prevent or limit infections

antitussive

pertaining to an agent that works against coughing

apathy

condition in which one lacks feelings and emotions and is indifferent

arousal

pertaining to a state of alertness or consciousness

arrest

to stop, inhibit, restrain. A condition of being stopped, such as occurs in cardiac arrest when cardiac output and effective circulation stop

asepsis

without decay; sterile, free from all living microorganisms

asymmetrical

unequal in size or shape. without proportion of the body or parts of the body

axillary

pertaining to the armpit

bifurcation

the process of having two forks or two branches or two divisions; the point of forking

biopsy

surgical removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination' used to determine a diagnosis of cancer or other disease processes in the body

blood and lymphatic system

transportation and immunity - transports O2 and CO2, chemical substances and cells that act to protect the body from foreign substances

cachexia

condition of ill health, malnutrition, and wasting. It may occur in chronic diseases such as cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis

cardiac muscle

also an involuntary muscle and is specialized form of striated tissue found only in the heart

cardiovascular system

transportation and immunity: transports oxygen and carbon dioxide, delivers nutrients and hormones, and removes waste products

caudal

pertaining to the tail; inferior in position

cavity

a hollow space containing body organs

cell membrane

protects the cell

centigrade

unit measure of temperature with a boiling point at 100 and a freezing of 0

centrioles

play an important role in cell reproduction

cephalic

pertaining to the head; superior in position

chemical elements

made up of atoms, which can be classified on the basis of their atomic number into groups called elements

chemotherapy

the use of chemical agents in the treatment of disease, specifically drugs used in cancer therapy

chronic

pertaining to time, denotes a disease with little change or of slow progression

cilia

hairlike processes that project from epithelial cells

comatose

literally means pertaining to a state of deep sleep; total lack of consciousness

concentration

in psychology, the process of being able to bring to the center one thought and focus on it, while excluding other thoughts

connective tissue

forms the supporting network for the organs of the body, sheaths the muscles, and connects muscles to bones and bones to joints

coronal or frontal plane

any plane that divides the body at right angles to the midsagittal plane

cranial cavity

the space in the skull containing the brain

cytoplasm

provides storage and work areas for the cell

decompensation

failure of a system

diagnosis

the process of identifying a disease or disorder, which is generally determine through the use of scientific and skillful methods of knowledge

diaphoresis

to carry through sweat glands; profuse sweating

digestive system

distribution and elimination - digestion, absorption, and elimination

disease

a pathological condition of the body that presents with a series of symptoms, signs, and laboratory finds peculiar to it

disinfectant

chemical substance that can be applied to objects to destroy pathogenic microorganisms

distal

away from the point of attachment or far from the point of origin

dorsal or posterior cavity

contains structures of the nervous system and is subdivided into the cranial and spinal cavity

efferent

carrying impulses away from a center

element

a substance that cannot be broken down by chemical means into any other substance

empathy

the ability to sense intellectually and emotionally the feelings of another person

endocrine system

communication and control: the glands of the endocrine system produce hormones, chemical messengers, that provide for communication and control over various parts of the body

endoplasmic reticulum

carries proteins and other substances through the cytoplasm

enucleate

literally means to remove the kernel of. It is used to describe the removal of the eyeball surgically or to remove a cataract surgically. It also means to remove a part or a mass entirely

epidemic

pertaining to upon the people; the rapid, widespread occurrence of an infectious disease that can be spread by any pathological organism transmitted by and to humans, birds, insects

epigastric

region over the stomach

epithelial tissue

appears as sheetlike arrangements of cells

epithelium

structure that covers the interna land external organs of the body and the lining of the vessels, body cavities, glands, and organs

etiology

study of the cause of disease

excision

process of cutting out, surgical removal

exogenous

pertaining to originating outside the body or an organ of the body or produced from external causes, such as a disease caused by a bacterial or viral agent foreign to the body

extraocular

pertaining to outside the eye, as used in describing the extraocular eye muscles.

febrile

pertaining to fever, a sustained body temperature about 98.6

flagellum

tail of the sperm that enables the sperm to swim or move toward the ovum

genome

the complete set of genes and chromosomes tucked inside each of the body's trillions of cells

golgi apparatus

chemically processes the molecules from the endoplasmic reticulum and then packages them into vesicles

grandiose

pertaining to a feeling of greatness

gynecoid

literally means to resemble a female

heterogenous

literally means pertaining to a different formation

hyperactive

nature or quality of excessive activity; this can refer to the entire organism or to a particular entity. It may also describe an individual who exhibits constant overactivity

hypogastric

lower middle region below the naval

hypoplasia

underdevelopment of a tissue, organ, or body

illness

state of being sick

incision

process of cutting into

infection

process whereby a pathogenic microorganism invades the body, reproduces, multiples, and causes disease

inferior

below or in a downward direction; move toward the feet or tail

insomnia

condition of not being able to sleep

integumentary system

protective membrane, temperature regulator, and sensory receptor

intercellular junctions

pertaining to the microscopic space between cells that are important in assisting the transfer of small molecules across capillary walls

intraoperative

occurring during a surgical operation or procedure

irregular

pertaining to not being regular

Jaundice

yellowish discoloration of the skin, whites of the eyes, mucous membranes, and body fluids

latent

lying hidden, quiet, not active

lateral

to the side, away from the middle

left hypochondriac

upper left region at the level of the ninth rib cartilage

left iliac (inguinal)

left lower lateral region

left lower quadrant

contains part of the small and large intestines, left ovary, left fallopian tube, left ureter

left lumbar

left middle lateral region

left upper quadrant

contains the left lobe of the liver, stomach, spleen, part of the pancreas, and part of the small and large intestines

lumen

space within an artery, vein, intestine, or tube. It is also the hollow core of a hypodermic needle, which forms an oval-shaped opening when exposed at the beveled

lysosomes

contain enzymes that can digest food compounds

macroscopic

pertaining to objects large enough to be examined by the naked eye

malaise

a general feeling of discomfort, uneasiness; often felt by a patient who has a chronic disease