LAB 1 - Terms

abscesses

collection of pus in tissues

acidosis

depletion of the alkaline reserve in the body

acute

sudden, poignant illness of short duration but with severe symptoms

addiction

repeated use of any substance or any repetitive behaviors despite clear evidence of increased morbidity due to its long term use

adenitis

inflammation of a gland

adhesion

normal joining of tissues (scar tissue) by a fibrous band usually resulting from injury or surgery

adipose

fatty

adrenal gland

ductless gland at the upper end of the kidney

albumin

protein substance found in animal and vegetable tissues

albuminuria

presence of albumin in the urine

alignment

state of being arrange in a line

alimentary canal

passage leading from the mouth, stomach and intestines to outer opening of rectum

allergy

exaggerated sensitivity of an individual to a substance

alleviate

to lessen or make easier to endure (pain or injury)

alopecia

loss of hair from skin where it normally appears

alveoli

air cells of lungs

ambulatory

patients who can still walk

amenorrhea

absence or abnormal stoppage of menstruation

amnesia

loss of memory

amputation

act of cutting off an extremity or other part of the body

analgesic

anything that relieves pain

anaphylaxis

increased susceptibility or hypersensitivity to a drug following its parenteral or oral administration

anastomosis

joining together of two normally distinct spaces or organs

anemia

state of having deficient quantity or quality of blood

anesthetic

substance that produces loss of feeling or sensation

angina pectoris

paroxysmal thoracic pain

ankylosis

abnormal consolidation of a joint, which prevents motion

anomaly

deviation from normal

anorexia

lack or loss of appetite

anoxia

decrease of oxygen below normal levels in body tissues

anthelmintic

any agent that destroys worms

antibody

specific blood substance that neutralizes foreign bodies

antidote

remedy that will counteract or remove the effect of poison

anti-emetic

any agent that prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting

antipyretic

any agent that relieves or reduces fever

antiseptic

substance that inhibits the growth of microorganisms without necessarily destroying them

antispasmodic

any agent that relieves muscular spasm

antitoxins

substances found in the blood and other body fluids that counteract the harmful effect of toxins or poisons to which they are allied

anuria

total suppression of urine

apathy

indifference or lack of feeling or emotion

apex

the lip, point, or end of anything

aphagia

inability to swallow

abnormal

contrary to the usual structure, position of condition

abrasion

injury resulting from scraping or rubbing off skin

aphasia

inability to express oneself by speech or writing

aphonia

loss of voice

apnea

temporary cessation of breathing

apoplexy

paralysis commonly referred to as stroke resulting from cerebral vascular accident

arrhythmia

absence of rhythm, in relation to abnormality of rhythm of the hear

artery

any one of the vessels through which blood passes from heart to all different parts of the body

arthritis

joint inflammation

articulation

junction between two or more bones of skeleton

ascites

escape of serous fluid into abdominal cavity

aseptic

free from disease germs

asphyxia

suffocation

aspiration

withdrawal of fluid or gas from cavity by means of suction

assimilation

process of changing food into living tissue

asthma

disease marked by difficulty in breathing due to spasmodic contractions of bronchial tubes

ataxia

irregularity of muscle coordination

atonic

lack of normal tone or strength

atresia

closing or congenital absence of normal anatomic opening

atrophy

decrease in size or wasting away of cell, tissue or organ

audiometer

instrument used to test acuity of hearing

aura

subjective sensation experienced by a person prior to seizure such as epileptic attack

aural

pertaining to the ear

auscultation

act of listening to sounds within the body to determine abnormal conditions

bacteremia

presence of bacteria in blood

benign

abnormal growth that is stable, treatable, and not life-threatening

billiary

pertains to bile, liver, gall bladder and associate duct

biopsy

process of removal of a piece of body tissue for diagnostic examination, usually microscopic

blood pressure

pressure of blood on the elastic walls of arteries

bradycardia

abnormally slow heart action resulting to decreased heart rate

Bright’s disease

kidney disease accompanied by albumin in the urine

bronchitis

inflammation of broncial tubes

bronchoscope

lighted instrument used for examination of the interior of the bronchi

buccal

pertains to cheek or mouth

cachexia

state of weakness of emaciation

calculus

abnormal concretion, usually composed of mineral salts, occuring within the body

callosity

hardening and thickening of skin

cancer

exceedingly harmful, usually rapid growth of body cells

carcinoma

also known as cancer

cardiac

pertains to the heart

cardiograph

instrument for recording the action of the heart

carrier

individual who harbors in the body the specific organisms of a disease without manifesting its symptoms and act as a distributor or transmitter of the infection

cartilage

bristle of white elastic substance attached to bone surfaces at the joints

cast

appliance to render immovable displaced or injured parts

cathartic

drug that stimulates the evacuation of intestinal waste; purgative

causalgia

burning pain that may accompany nerve injury

cavity

a hollow space within the body within one of its organs

cell

protoplasmic building unit of living matter

cephalic

pertains to the head

cerumen

earwax

cervical

pertains to the neck or cervix of any substance

chancre

primary lesions of syphilis

chemotherapy

use of chemical agents to treat disease

cholestasis

stoppage of bile flow

chorea

(Saint Vitus dance) nerve disease characterized by involuntary muscular jerking movements

chyle

fluid consisting of lymph and emulsified fats as the result of digestion in the intestine

chyme

thick grayish liquid that is the result of digestion in the stomach

ciliated

a structure that provides a fringe of hair-like processes