Medical Terminology - Unit 2 Abbreviations, Etiology and Specialties + Vocabulary Related to Disease and Healthcare

AP

anteroposterior

LPN

licensed practical nurse

ASC

ambulatory surgery center

LUQ

left upper quadrant (of the abdomen)

CNM

certified nurse midwife

LVN

licensed vocational nurse

CRNA

certified registered nurse anesthetist

M.D.

Doctor of Medicine

CV

cardiovascular

D.C.

Doctor of Chiropractic Medicine

OB

obstetrics

D.D.S.

Doctor of Dental Surgery

OB/GYN

obstetrics and gynecology

D.O.

Doctor of Osteopathy or Osteopathic Medicine

O.D.

Doctor of Optometry

D.P.M.

Doctor of Podiatry or Podiatric Medicine

PA

physician's assistant; posteroanterior

Dr.

doctor

PCP

primary care physician

DX, DX

diagnosis

PE

physical examination

ED

emergency department

Pharm.D.

Doctor of Pharmacy

ENT

ears, nose, and throat

PT

physical therapist; physical therapy

ER

emergency room

A&P

anatomy and physiology

GI

gastrointestinal

GYN

gynecology

ICU

intensive care unit

H&P

history and physical (examination)

Hx

history

SX, Sx

symptoms

LLQ

left lower quadrant (of the abdomen)

RLQ

right lower quadrant (of the abdomen)

RUQ

right upper quadrant (of the abdomen)

SNF

nursing facility (pronounced "sniff")

Nuerology

scientific study of the nervous system and its diseases

Urology

study of the urinary system

Male Reproductive Medicine

Medical specialty related to the male reproductive system

Gynecology and Obstetrics (OBG/YN)

study of female reproductive organs, pregnancy, labor and childbirth

Endocrinology

study of the endocrine system (glands in the body that produce hormones)

Ophthalmology

study of the eye

Otolaryngology

study of the ear, nose, and throat

Congenital Disease

present at birth and resulting from genetic or environmental factors

Degenerative Disease

Body parts having progressively less function (chronic conditions)

Environmental Disease

disease caused by the conditions of the surroundings (toxins, particles in the air, water or soil)

Genetic Disease

a disease caused by a mutation in someone's DNA

Heretic Disease

A disease inherited from ones parents

Idiopathic Disease

a disease that develops without a known or apparent cause

Infectious disease

A disease that is caused by a pathogen and that can be spread from one individual to another.

Neoplastic disease

Diseases that result in new, abnormal tissue growth (cancer)

Nutritional disease

Disease caused by lack of nutritious food, too little food, or an inability to utilize the food that is eaten

acute

Symptoms and signs that occur suddenly and are severe in nature

allied health professionals

Healthcare professionals who support the work of physicians and perform specific services ordered by the physician. Allied health professionals include nurses, technologists, technicians, therapists, and others.

ambulatory surgery center (ASC)

Facility where minor surgical procedures are performed. The patient is an outpatient who arrives in time for the surgery and does not stay overnight.

ancill/o-

accessory; servant

ancillary department

Department that provides services to support the medical and surgical care given in a hospital. Examples: Radiology department, physical therapy department, dietary department, emergency department, clinical laboratory, and pharmacy.

asymptomatic

Showing no symptoms or signs of disease

physic/o-

body

symptomat/o-

collection of symptoms

attending physician

Physician on the medical staff of a hospital who admits patients, directs their care, and discharges them

auscultation

Using a stethoscope to listen to the heart, lungs, or intestines

auscult/o-

listening

chron/o-

time

chronic

Symptoms or signs that continue for 3 months or longer

congenit/o-

present at birth

clinic

An ambulatory facility that provides healthcare services, often for just one type of patient or one type of disease. Example: Well-baby clinic for newborns. Clinic patients are known as outpatients and the facility is an outpatient clinic.

congenital

Disease caused by an abnormality in fetal development or an abnormal process that occurs during gestation or birth. Examples: Cleft lip, cerebral palsy

gener/o-

creation; production

degenerative

Disease caused by progressive destruction of cells due to disease or the aging process. Examples: Multiple sclerosis, hearing loss, arthritis

gnos/o-

knowledge

diagnosis

A determination based on knowledge about the cause of the patient's symptoms and signs

disability

Permanent inability to perform certain activities or function in a given way

discharge

Release from the hospital of a patient who no longer needs hospital-level care. The patient can be discharged to home or transferred to another healthcare facility.

disease

Any change in the normal structure or function of the body

environmental

Disease caused by exposure to substances in the environment. Examples: Smoke, pollen, sun rays, etc.

etiology

The cause or origin of a disease

eti/o-

cause of disease

exacerb/o-

increase; provoke

exacerbation

Sudden worsening in the severity of symptoms or signs

gene/o-

gene

genetic

Disease caused by a spontaneous mutation in a person's own gene or chromosome during fetal development. Example: Down syndrome

heredit/o-

genetic inheritances

hereditary

An inherited recessive defective gene, passed to the child from a parent. Who carries the defective gene but does not have the disease.

Heredit/o

genetic inheritance

Hereditary

An inherited recessive defective gene, passed to the child from a parent who carries the defective gene but does not have the disease. Examples: Cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease

home health agency

Agency that provides nursing and non-nursing services to patients in their homes. These patients are known as clients.

hospice

Facility for patients who have a terminal illness and require palliative supportive care, counseling, and emotional support for themselves and their families. Hospice care can also be provided in the patient's home.

palliat/o

reduce the severity

hospital

Healthcare facility that provides care for acutely ill medical and surgical patients for longer than 24 hours. The patient being treated is an inpatient. The patient is admitted, occupies a bed in the hospital, and is discharged.

iatrogenic

Disease caused by medicine or treatment given to the patient. Examples: Wrong drug given to a patient; surgery on the wrong part.

idi/o

individual; unknown

idiopathic

Disease having no identifiable or confirmed cause. Example: Sudden infant death syndrome.

infect/o

disease within

communic/o

impart; transmit

infectious

Disease caused by a pathogen. A communicable disease is an infectious disease that is transmitted by direct or indirect contact with an infected person, animal, or insect. Examples: Gonorrhea, rabies, tuberculosis.

inpatient

A patient in a hospital.

inspect/o

looking at

inspection

Using the eyes or an instrument to examine the body.