Surgery Exam Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the historical, clinical, and procedural foundations of surgery based on the lecture transcript.

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895)

Known as the father of microbiology.

Joseph Lister (1827-1912)

Postulated the principles of clean operations and the use of carbolic acid as an antiseptic.

Bergmann and Schimmelbusch

Introduced high temperature and pressure to kill microbes in surgery.

Karl Landsteiner

Identified blood types in 1900, which allowed for blood transfusions to occur.

William Morton

Introduced ether as an anesthetic in 1846 in Boston.

Wilhelm Roentgen

First used x-rays in 1895, bringing a new era of imaging to the scientific world.

Hippocrates

Recognized as the father of medicine within ancient Greek history ($100-600$ BC).

C. Aurelius

Author of a medicine book in the Roman Empire who described the signs of inflammation.

Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564)

A 16th-century anatomist.

William Harvey (1574-1657)

Author of "De motu cordis" regarding the motion of the heart.

Asepsis

Literally meaning "no putrefaction"; the practice of complete exclusion of harmful microbes to prevent infection using physical methods (sterilization).

Antisepsis

Meaning "against putrefaction"; the prevention or treatment of infection by inhibiting germ growth using chemical substances (disinfection).

Ethylene oxide

A gas used for sterilization for 12 hours, typically for equipment made of plastics.

Bactericidal agent

An antimicrobial agent that kills organisms.

Bacteriostatic agent

An antimicrobial agent that stops the growth of organisms, relying on host defenses for elimination.

Radical operation

An operation aimed at the removal of tumor tissue with healthy margins and infected lymph nodes.

Palliative operation

An operation intended to improve body function rather than provide a cure, such as an ileotransverso anastomosis.

Puncture

The penetration into vessels, cavities, hollow organs, or parenchymatous (solid) organs for diagnostic or curative purposes.

Sengstaken-Blakemore tube

A device inserted through the mouth or nose to manage GI hemorrhage due to esophageal varices.

Tomy

The cutting of the wall and opening along an anatomical cavity or organ (e.g., thoracotomy, gastrotomy).

Stomy

The creation of an artificial opening in an organ, such as a colostomy or ileostomy.

Trepanation

A surgical procedure in which a bone cavity (such as the cranium or medullary channel) is opened.

Resection

The surgical removal of part of an organ to create healthy margins.

Autograft

Tissue transplanted from one part of the body to another in the same individual.

Allograft

An organ or tissue transplant from a genetically non-identical member of the same species.

Isograft

A tissue transplant between individuals who are genetically identical, resulting in no rejection.

Xenograft

A transplant from one species to another, such as a porcine heart valve.

Morel-Lavallee syndrome

A blunt trauma where a tangential force causes the rupture of skin and subcutaneous fat, creating a cavity filled with lymph and blood.

Healing by primary intention

Wound healing without complications where fibrin fibers protection leads to linear healing; occurs when there is no contamination or necrosis.

Incised wound (vulnus scissum)

A wound caused by a sharp-edged object with smooth edges and walls, usually healing by primary intention.

Contused wound (vulnus contusum)

A wound caused by a blow with a heavy, solid object, characterized by irregular shapes and mass necrosis.

Gun-shot wound (vulnus sclopetarium)

A wound characterized by three zones: destruction, immediate traumatic necrosis, and molecular concussion (local stupor).

Rule of Nines

A method to estimate total surface area burnt: Head/Neck ($9\%$), Upper extremity ($9\%$), Anterior torso ($18\%$), Posterior torso ($18\%$), Anus/perineum ($1\%$).

Parkland formula

A formula used to estimate the amount of fluid required for IV infusion based on the proportion of the burn area.

Frostnip

The mildest form of cold injury characterized by pain, pallor, and numbness; it is reversible with rewarming and involves no tissue loss.

Kauwenhoven’s factors

Factors determining the severity of electrical injury: current type, voltage/ampere, duration, body resistance, and current pathway.

Liquefaction necrosis

A type of severe injury produced by bases (alkalis) causing protein enzymatic lysis and tissue liquification.

Hematoma

A localized mass of extravasated blood confined within an organ or tissue.

Petechiae

Small hemorrhagic spots.

Adelmann’s method

A temporary hemostasis method involving the maximal flexure (bending) of a limb.

Tripsion

The definitive mechanical hemostasis method consisting of the crushing of vessels.

Abscess

A localized infection resulting in a cavity filled with purulent exudate covered by a granulation membrane.

Phlegmon

A non-localized (diffuse) acute or chronic infection where purulent exudate spreads through the tissue.

Furuncle (boil)

An acute pyogenic infection in a hair follicle affecting the sebaceous gland and surrounding tissue, often caused by Staphylococcus.

Osteomyelitis

Inflammation of the bone marrow and adjacent bone.

Panaritium

A collective term for acute purulent infections of the fingers or arm.

Paronychia

Inflammation of the soft tissue around the nail, often from a torn hangnail or cuticle.

Lymphangitis

Acute or chronic inflammation of the lymph vessels, often presenting as a red-colored net.

Sepsis

An immune response to infection triggering excessive inflammation (cytokine storm) followed by decreased immune function.

SIRS

Systemic Inflammatory Response System; an inflammatory state of the whole body without a proven infection source.

Minimum Alveolar Concentration (MAC)

The alveolar concentration of an inhaled anesthetic that prevents movement in $50\%$ of patients in response to a stimulus.

Shock

Circulatory insufficiency or failure resulting from decreased blood perfusion and inability to meet metabolic oxygen demands.

Tetanospasmin

The toxin produced by Clostridium tetani that interferes with muscle contractions.

Fistula

An abnormal connection or pathological canal between two epithelialized surfaces (e.g., organ, vessel, or intestine).

Dysplasia

Abnormal tissue development with cytological changes that is considered a precancer process (e.g., CIN).

Metaplasia

The substitution of one type of adult tissue for another in response to cellular insult.

TNM System

A staging system for malignant tumors: T (Tumor size/location $0-4$), N (Node involvement $0-3$), and M (Metastasis $0-1$).

McBurney’s point

A location on the right spina iliaca anterior superior used to palpate for tenderness in acute appendicitis.

Volvulus

A twisting of a loop of intestine that causes an intestinal obstruction.

Invagination

A condition where part of the bowel telescopes into another section.