Modules 1-8 Words not built

combining form

word root plus combining vowel separated by a vertical slash

combining vowel

a vowel used between root words and/or suffixes to ease pronunciation of terms. "O" is the most commonly used.

prefix

Attached at the beginning of a word to modify it's meaning. Usually, but not always, indicates a location, time, number, or status.

suffix

attached at the end of a word root to modify it's meaning. Usually, but not always, indicates a procedure, condition, disorder or disease.

word root

core meaning of a word. Usually but not always involves a body part

What language is most medical terminology based upon

Greek, Latin

eponym

a disease, structure, operation, or procedure named for the person who discovered or described it first (Alzheimer's Disease)

acronym

a word composed of the first letters or parts of a name or series of words (laser)

modern language

Terms derived from the English language such as nuclear medicine scanner or complete blood count

epigastric region

abdominal region superior to umbilical region

hypochondriac region

abdominal region lateral to epigastric region

hypogastric region

abdominal region inferior to umbilical region

iliac region

abdominal region lateral to hypogastric region

lumbar region

right and left of umbilical region

umbilical region

abdominal region around the navel (umbilicus)

Fowler Position

semi-sitting position with slight elevation of the knees

lateral recumbent position

lying on a side; right and left precede the term to indicate the patient's side

lithotomy position

lying on back with legs raised and feet in stirrups, hips and knees flexed, thighs abducted and externally rotated

orthopnea position

sitting erect in a chair or sitting upright in bed supported by pillows behind the head and chest

prone

lying on abdomen, facing downward

recumbent position

lying down in any position

Sims position

lying on left side with right knee drawn up and with left arm drawn behind, parallel to the back

supine

lying on back, facing upward

Trendelenburg position

lying on back with body tilted so that the head is lower than the feet

benign

not malignant, non-current, favorable for recovery

carcinoma in situ

cancer in the early stage before invading surrounding tissue

diagnosis

naming or identifying a disease

idiopathic

pertaining to disease of unknown origin

in vitro

within a glass, observable within a test tube

in vivo

within the living body

inflammation

response to injury or destruction of tissue

malignant

tending to become progressively worse, to death, as in cancer

metastases

plural of metastasis

metastasis

transfer or spread of disease to distant site

metastatic

pertaining to transfer or spread of disease to distant site

morbidity

state of being diseased or unwell; incidence of illness in a population

mortality

state of being mortal; incidence of the number of deaths in a population

neoplasm

new growth of abnormal tissue or tumor

prognosis

predicting of probable outcome of disease

deep

situated far below the surface

frontal plane

vertical division into anterior and posterior

midline

imaginary line down the center of the body

midsagittal plane

divides the body into equal right and left halves

sagittal plane

vertical field running through body from front to back, dividing the body into R and L

superficial

situated near the surface

transverse plane

horizontal field dividing the body into upper and lower portions

acute

describing a disease of sudden onset

afebrile

without fever

chronic

describing a persistent or longer-term disease

encapsulated

enclosed in capsule as with benign tumors

exacerbation

increase in the severity of a disease or its symptoms

febrile

having a fever

malaise

general feeling of discomfort

remission

improvement or absence of signs of disease

sign

a symptom that can be detected by others (than the patient); objective in nature

symptom

what is experienced by the patient; subjective in nature

biopsy

removal of living tissue from body - viewed under microscope

chemotherapy

Tx of cancer by using drugs

hospice

provides palliative or supportive care for terminally ill patients and their families

palliative

providing relief but not cure

radiation therapy

TX of cancer using radioactive substance

lethargy

general lack of energy

abrasion

scraping away of the skin

abscess

collection of pus

acne

inflammatory disease of the skin involving the sebaceous glands and hair follicles

alopecia

baldness

bacteria

single-celled microorganisms that reproduce by cell division and may cause infection by invading body tissue

cauterization

destruction of tissue with a hot or cold instrument, electric current, or caustic substance

cellulitis

inflammation of skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by infection, leading to red, swelling, and fever

cicatrix

scar

contusion

bruise

cryosurgery

destruction of tissue by using extreme cold, often by using liquid nitrogen

cyst

a closed sac containing fluid or semisolid materials

débridement

removal of contaminated/dead tissue & foreign matter from open wound

dermabrasion

procedure to remove skin scars with abrasive material, such as sandpaper

diaphoresis

profuse sweating

diaphoretic

pertaining to profuse sweating

ecchymosis

bruising

edema

swelling

erythema

redness

excision

removal by cutting

fissure

slit or cracklike sore in the skin

fungus

organism that feeds by absorbing organic molecules from its surroundings and may cause infection by invading body tissue;

gangrene

death of tissue caused by loss of blood supply followed by bacterial invasion (form of necrosis)

incision

surgical cut or wound produced by a sharp instrument

incision and drainage

surgical cut made to allow the free flow or withdrawal of fluids from a lesion, wound or cavity

infection

invasion of pathogens in body tissue

keloid

overgrowth of scar tissue

laceration

torn, ragged-edged wound

lesion

any pathological change in tissue

MRSA infection

invasion of body tissue by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, a strain of bacteria that has developed resistance to penicillin and other antibiotics.

nevus

mole

nodule

small knot like mass that can be felt by touch

pallor

paleness

petechia

pinpoint skin hemorrhage

pressure ulcer

eroded lesion on the skin caused by prolonged pressure, often occurring in bed ridden patients

pruritus

severe itching

pustule

elevation of skin containing pus

suturing

to stitch edges of a wound surgically

ulcer

eroded sore on the skin or mucous membrane