Medical Terminology

Aerobic

the presence of air or oxygen

agonist

to enhance an expected response

aniscoria

a condition characterized by unequal pupil size

antagonist

to inhibit or counteract the effects of other drugs or undesired effects

aphasia

inability or difficulty in speaking

apnea

the cessation of spontaneous respirations

ascites

abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen

atrophy

shrinkage of a cell or muscle

aura

sensation that may precede a migraine or seizure

blebs

collection of air between the lung and visceral pleura that can result in spontaneous pneumothorax

brachial

artery found in the upper arm, used for pulse checks in pediatric patients

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cartilage

smooth and firm connective tissue

cell

basic unit of life

cilia

small hair-like structures

coma

deep state of unconsciousness, unarousable

confabulation

made up stories to fill in gaps of lost memory

congenital

present at birth

contrecoup

occurs at a site opposite of the side of impact

crepitus

a grating sound or sensation often caused by bone on bone rubbing, or with inflammation in joints

dehydration

an excessive loss of water or fluids from the body

dermatomes

specific area that is supplied by a single spinal nerve

dysarthria

poor articulation of speech. often due to affected muscles used in speaking

dyskinesia

disorder related to involuntary muscle movement

dysplasia

abnormal growth of a cell

dysphagia

difficulty in swallowing

dysuria

difficult or painful urination

edema

excess fluid in the interstitial spaces

epidemic

a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time

erythrocytes

red blood cells

fascia

connective tissue that surrounds or separates muscles

gait

walking or moving on foot

gestation

period from fertilization of ovum to birth of fetus

hematuria

blood in the urine

hemiparesis

one-sided weakness; often seen in those with CVA’s

hemolysis

breakdown of red blood cells

hemophilia

hereditary bleeding disorders due to missing factors for proper blood coagulation

hemoptysis

coughing up blood

host

an animal or human with exposure to an infectious agent

idiopathic

unknown cause

incontinence

inability to control bowel or bladder function

infarction

death of tissue from lack of oxygen

inferior

down/bottom, toward the feet

jejunum

part of the small intestine

joule

measurement of electrical energy

kyphosis

abnormal curvature of the spine, increased convexity as viewed laterally

lactate

found in cells during metabolism, byproduct of lactic acid

laryngitis

inflammation of the larynx

malaise

general weakness

mania

a mood disorder characterized by hyperactivity, agitation, excitement and occasional violent and self-destructive behavior

melena

black, tarry stools containing digested blood

myalgia

muscle pain

necrosis

death of a cell or a group of cells as the result of disease, ischemia, or injury

nucleus

controlling body of a cell

nystagmus

involuntary jerking actions of the eyes

oliguria

diminished ability to create or pass urine

osmosis

the diffusion of solvent through a membrane from less concentrated solution a more concentrated solution

ostomy

a surgical opening that creates a hole from inside of the body to the outside

ovum

a female egg or egg cell

paresthesia

sensation of numbing tingling or “pins and needles”

pathogen

a cause of a disease

phobia

anxiety disorder characterized by an obsessive, irrational, and intense fear of a specific object or activity.

photophobia

a sensitivity to light that is abnormal

plasma

the fluid part of blood

platelets

fragments of cells that are responsible for initiating the clotting process

polyuria

excessive urination

priapism

a painful and persistent erection

quadriplegia

weakness or paralysis of all four extremities and the trunk. often occurs after a high-level cervical spin fracture

referred pain

pain felt at a site away from its origin

rhonchi

abnormal, course, rattling respiratory sounds, usually caused by secretions in the bronchial airways or muscular spasm/constriction

sclera

the white outer layer of the eyeball

slander

false statements about a person

stridor

high-pitched musical sound caused by an obstruction in the trachea or larynx

stroke volume

volume of blood ejected from one ventricle in a single heartbeat. Normal range is 60-100 with average being 70mL

subluxation

a partial dislocation

surfactant

substance that reduces the surface tension of the pulmonary fluids

tendons

bands of connective tissue that connect muscle to bone

tidal volume

volume of air inspired or expired in a single breath

tort

personal harm or injury caused by civil versus criminal wrongs

uremia

excess of urea and other nitrogen based wastes in the blood

urticaria

hives

ventilation

mechanical movement of air into and out of the lungs

vesicants

an agent that causes blistering

virulence

the harmfulness of a disease or poison

wheals

small areas of swelling that result from an allergic reaction. similar to hives

xiphoid process

smallest of three parts of the sternum. articulates caudally with the body of the sternum and laterally with the seventh rib. can fracture with inappropriate hand placement during CPR

zygote

a fertilized ovum

dead space

amount of air that is not available for gas exchange; moved in ventilation but does reach alveoli

hypoxia

low oxygen levels in the cells

hypoxemia

low oxygen levels in the arterial blood

perfusion

the circulation of blood through the lung tissues (alveoli)

diffusion

the process of gas exchange

crackles (rales)

fine, bubbling sound hear on auscultation of the lung. produced by air entering the distal airways and alveoli that contain serous secretions

rhonchi

abnormal, coarse, rattling respiratory sounds, usually caused by secretions in the bronchial airways

stridor

abnormal, high-pitched, musical sound caused by an upper airway obstruction (subglottic)

wheezing

form of rhonchi, characterized by a high pitched, musical quality. produced in the lower airways (bronchioles)

eupnea

normal respirations

tachypnea

increased (fast) respirations

bradypnea

decreased (slow) respirations

apnea

no respirations

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

series of diseases that causes obstruction in the airway and respiration