Medical Language and Health Care Today - Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards generated from Chapter 1 of Medical Language (Fifth Edition) covering word parts, anatomical terms, planes, directions, disease categories, and examination techniques.

Etymology

The study of word origins.

Prefix

An optional word beginning that modifies or clarifies the medical meaning of a combining form, consisting of a single letter or group of letters ending with a hyphen.

Combining Form

The foundation of a medical word that gives it its main meaning, written with a root, forward slash, combining vowel (usually o), and hyphen.

Suffix

A word part at the end of most medical words that modifies or clarifies the meaning of the combining form and begins with a hyphen.

cost/o-

Combining form meaning rib.

cyan/o-

Combining form meaning blue.

enter/o-

Combining form meaning intestine.

hepat/o-

Combining form meaning liver.

lapar/o-

Combining form meaning abdomen.

leuk/o-

Combining form meaning blood.

arthr/o-

Combining form meaning joint.

cardi/o-

Combining form meaning heart.

derm/o-

Combining form meaning skin.

gastr/o-

Combining form meaning stomach.

mamm/o-

Combining form meaning breast.

nas/o-

Combining form meaning nose.

-megaly

Suffix meaning enlargement.

-oma

Suffix meaning mass; tumor.

-osis

Suffix meaning abnormal condition.

-pathy

Suffix meaning disease.

-ectomy

Suffix meaning surgical removal.

-gram

Suffix meaning picture; record.

-graphy

Suffix meaning process of recording.

-metry

Suffix meaning process of measuring.

-scope

Suffix meaning instrument used to examine.

-scopy

Suffix meaning process of using an instrument to examine.

-tomy

Suffix meaning process of cutting or making an incision.

-iatry

Suffix meaning medical treatment.

-ics

Suffix meaning knowledge; practice.

-ist

Suffix meaning person who specializes in; thing that specializes in.

-logy

Suffix meaning study of.

epi-

Prefix meaning above; upon.

inter-

Prefix meaning between.

intra-

Prefix meaning within.

peri-

Prefix meaning around.

post-

Prefix meaning after; behind.

pre-

Prefix meaning before; in front of.

sub-

Prefix meaning below or under; less than.

trans-

Prefix meaning across; through.

brady-

Prefix meaning slow.

tachy-

Prefix meaning fast.

dys-

Prefix meaning abnormal; difficult; painful.

Anatomical Position

The standard position in which the body is standing erect with head up, eyes looking forward, arms at sides with palms facing forward, and legs straight with toes pointing forward.

Coronal Plane

An imaginary flat surface that divides the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections; also called the frontal plane.

Sagittal Plane

An imaginary flat surface that divides the body into right and left sections.

Transverse Plane

An imaginary flat surface that divides the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) sections.

Medial

Directional term meaning moving toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Directional term meaning moving away from the midline of the body.

Cephalad

Directional term meaning moving toward the head; also called superior.

Caudad

Directional term meaning moving toward the tailbone; also called inferior.

Distal

Directional term meaning moving away from the trunk of the body toward the fingers or toes.

Proximal

Directional term meaning moving away from the fingers or toes toward the trunk.

External

Location term referring to an outer part of the body or an organ; also called superficial.

Internal

Location term referring to inside the body or an organ; also called deep.

Body Cavity

A hollow space surrounded by bones or muscles that support and protect the structures inside.

Etiology

The cause or origin of a disease or disorder.

Preventive Medicine

Health care that focuses on maintaining health and preventing disease.

Congenital Disease

A disease caused by a fetal abnormality or abnormal process during gestation or birth.

Degenerative Disease

A disease caused by progressive destruction of cells due to disease or the aging process.

Iatrogenic Disease

A disease caused by medicine or treatment received by the patient.

Idiopathic Disease

A disease having no identifiable cause.

Symptom

Any deviation from health that is experienced or felt by the patient.

Sign

A symptom that can be seen or detected by others.

Acute

Describing symptoms and signs that are sudden in nature and severe in intensity.

Chronic

Describing symptoms and signs that continue for three months or longer.

Symptomatology

The clinical picture of all of a patient's symptoms and signs.

Exacerbation

A sudden worsening of a disease's symptoms or signs.

Remission

A temporary improvement of symptoms and signs even though the disease has not been cured.

Relapse

The return of the original symptoms or signs of a disease; also called recurrence.

Sequela

A complication that remains after the original disease has resolved.

Syndrome

A set of symptoms and signs associated with and characteristic of a particular disease.

Inspection

A physical examination technique involving visual examination.

Palpation

A physical examination technique using the fingers to feel masses and organs and detect tenderness and pain.

Auscultation

A physical examination technique using a stethoscope to listen to body sounds.

Percussion

A physical examination technique involving tapping over body cavities to hear what sounds are produced.