medical terminology terms

abdominocentesis (ab-DAWM-ih-noh-sin-TEE-sis)

puncture of the abdomen (usually for the purpose of withdrawing fluid)

abdominoplasty (ab-DAW-min-oh-PLAS-tee)

surgical reconstruction of the abdomen

abortifacient (ah-BORT-ih-FAY-shent)

drug or device that causes the termination of a pregnancy

abortion (ah-BOR-shun)

termination of pregnancy

abrasion (ah-BRAY-zhun)

a scraping away of skin

abruptio placentae (ah-BRUP-shee-oh plah-SENT-ee

separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus

abscess (AB-ses

a localized collection of pus in the body

achondroplasia (AY-KAWN-droh-PLAY-zhee-ah

a defect in the formation of cartilage

acidemia (AS-ih-DEE-mee-ah

abnormal acidity of the blood

acne vulgaris (AK-nee vul-GAR-is

common acne; an inflammation of the skin follicles

acoustic neuroma (ah-KOOS-tik nir-OH-mah

a tumor on the acoustic nerve

acromegaly (AK-roh-MEG-ah-lee

abnormal enlargement of the extremities

acrophobia (AK-roh-FOH-bee-ah

fear of heights

actinic dermatitis (ak-TIN-ik DER-mah-TAI-tis

inflammation of the skin caused by sun exposure

actinic keratosis (ak-TIN-ik KER-ah-TOH-sis

horny skin condition caused by sun exposure

adenalgia (AD-en-AL-jah

pain in a gland

adenectomy (AD-en-EK-toh-mee

removal of a gland

adenitis (AD-eh-NAIT-is

inflammation of a gland

adenocarcinoma (AD-en-oh-KAR-sin-OH-mah

cancerous tumor of a gland

adenocarcinoma of the breast (AD-en-oh-KAR-sin-OH-mah

glandular tumor in the breast

adenoidectomy (AD-eh-NOY-DEK-toh-mee

removal of the adenoids

adenoma (AD-en-OH-mah

glandular tumor

adenomegaly (AD-en-oh-MEG-ah-lee

abnormal enlargement of a gland

adenopathy (AD-en-AWP-aoh-thee

gland disease

adenosis (AD-eh-NOH-sis

gland condition

adipocele (AD-ih-poh-SEEL

hernia filled with fatty tissue

adrenal adenoma (ad-REE-nal AD-en-OH-mah

tumor of the adrenal gland

adrenal insufficiency (ah-DREE-nal IN-suh-FISH-en-see

condition in which the adrenal glands underproduce necessary hormones

adrenal virilism (a-DREE-nal VIR-il-izm

development of male secondary sexual characteristics caused by excessive secretion of the adrenal gland

adrenalectomy (ah-DREE-nal-EK-toh-mee

removal of the adrenal gland

adrenaline (ah-DREN-ah-lin

hormone secreted by the adrenal gland (from Latin; see also epinephrine)

adrenalitis (ah-DREE-nah-LAI-tis

inflammation of the adrenal gland

adrenarche (AD-re-NAR-kee

beginning of adrenal secretion (at puberty)

adrenocortical carcinoma (ah-DREE-noh-KORT-ih-kal KAR-sin-OH-mah

cancerous tumor originating in the cortex of the adrenal gland

adrenocortical insufficiency (ah-DREE-noh-KORT-ih-kal IN-suh-FISH-en-see

condition in which the adrenal cortex underproduces necessary hormones

adrenocorticohyperplasia (ah-DREE-noh-KORT-ih-koh-HAI-per-PLAY-zhah

overdevelopment of the cortex of the adrenal gland

adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH

(ah-DREH-noh-KOR-tih-koh-TROH-pik HOR-mohn

adrenomegaly (ah-DREN-oh-MEG-ah-lee

abnormal enlargement of the adrenal gland

aerodontalgia (ER-oh-dawn-TAL-jah

tooth pain caused by exposure to air

aerotitis (AIR-oh-TAIT-is

inflammation of the ear caused by air

afferent nerve (AF-eh-rent NIRV

a nerve that carries impulses toward the central nervous system

agnosia (AG-noh-zhah

inability to comprehend

agoraphobia (ah-GOR-ah-FOH-bee-ah

fear of outdoor spaces

akinetopsia (ah-KEE-nah-TOP-see-ah

the inability to see objects in motion

albinism (AL-bih-nizm

lack of pigment in skin causing the patient to look white

albino (al-BAY-noh

a person afflicted with albinism

albuminuria (al-byoo-mih-NOO-ree-ah

protein in the urine

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alkalemia (AL-kah-LEE-mee-ah

abnormal alkalinity (opposite of acidity

allograft (AL-oh-GRAFT

see homograft

alopecia (AL-oh-PEE-shah

baldness

amastia (ah-MAS-tee-ah

absence of breasts

ambiopia (AM-bee-OH-pee-ah

double vision

amblyopia (AM-blee-OH-ee-ah

decreased vision (when it occurs in one eye, it is referred to as lazy eye)

amenorrhea (AH-MEN-oh-REE-ah

no menstruation

amniocentesis (AM-nee-oh-sen-TEE-sis

surgical puncture of the amnion

amniorrhea (AM-nee-oh-REE-ah

discharge of amniotic fluid

amniorrhexis (AM-nee-oh-REK-sis

rupture of the amniotic sac

amnioscope (AM-nee-oh-SKOHP

instrument for examining the amnion

amnioscopy (AM-nee-AW-skoh-pee

procedure for examining the amnion

amniotomy (AM-nee-AWT-oh-mee

incision into the amnion

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS

(a-MAI-aw-TROH-fik LAT-er-al skleh-ROH-sis

anal fistula (AYN-al FIS-choo-lah

abnormal opening between the rectum and the exterior perianal skin

analgesic (AN-al-JEE-zik

a drug that relieves pain

anastomosis (ah-NAS-toh-moh-sis

creation of an opening; a surgical procedure connecting two previously unconnected hollow tubes

anemia (ah-NEE-mee-ah

reduction of red blood cells noticed by the patient by weakness and fatigue

anesthesiologist (AN-es-THEE-zee-AWL-ah-jist

doctor who specializes in anesthesiology

anesthetic (AN-es-THET-ik

a drug that causes loss of sensation

aneurysm (AN-yoo-rizm

bulge in a blood vessel

aneurysmectomy (AN-yoo-riz-MEK-toh-mee

surgical removal of an aneurysm

angina pectoris (an-JAI-nah PEK-tor-is

oppressive pain in the chest caused by irregular blood flow to the heart

angiocarditis (AN-jee-oh-kar-DAI-tis

inflammation of the heart vessels

angioedema (AN-jee-oh-eh-DEE-mah

swelling of the blood vessels

angiogenesis (AN-jee-oh-JIN-eh-sis

development of blood vessels

angiogram (AN-jee-oh-GRAM

record of the blood vessels

angiography (AN-jee-AWG-rah-fee

procedure to describe the blood vessels

angiolith (AN-jee-oh-LITH

stone forming in the wall of a blood vessel

angioma (AN-jee-OH-mah

blood vessel tumor

angioplasty (AN-jee-oh-PLAS-tee

surgical reconstruction of a vessel

angiopoiesis (AN-jee-oh-poh-EE-sis

formation of blood vessels

angiorrhaphy (AN-jee-OR-ah-fee

suture of a vessel

angiosclerosis (AN-jee-oh-skleh-ROH-sis

hardening of a blood vessel

angioscope (AN-jee-oh-SKOWP

device for looking into a blood vessel

anhidrosis (AN-hai-DROH-sis

lack of sweating

aniridia (AN-ih-RID-ee-ah

absence of an iris

anisocytosis (AN-AI-soh-SAI-toh-sis

condition characterized by a great inequality in the size of red blood cells

ankylosing spondylitis (ANG-kih-LOH-sing spawn-dih-LAI-tis

a stiffening inflammation of the vertebrae

ankylosis (ANG-kih-LOH-sis

joint stiffness

anophony (an-AWF-oh-nee

sound from the anus

anoplasty (ah-noh-PLAS-tee

surgical reconstruction of the anus

anorchidism (ah-NOR-kih-dizm

absence of a testicle

anorexia (AN-oh-REK-se-ah

an eating disorder characterized by the patient’s restricting food or refusing to eat

anosigmoidoscopy (AY-noh-SIG-MOI-DAWS-koh-pee

procedure for looking at the anus and sigmoid colon

anosmia (an-AWZ-mee-ah

lack of a sense of smell

antacid (ant-AS-id

agent that neutralizes acid

antepartum (AN-tee-PART-tum

time before birth

antianginal (ANT-ee-AN-jin-al

a drug that prevents or relieves the symptoms of angina pectoris

antiarrhythmic (ANT-ee-ah-RITH-mik

a drug that opposes an irregular heartbeat

antiarthritic (ANT-ee-ar-THRIT-ik

a drug that opposes joint inflammation

antibiotic (ANT-ai-bai-OH-tik

a drug that destroys or opposes the growth of microorganisms