Chapter 1: Introduction to Medical Terminology

-algia

Pain

-dynia

Pain

-ectomy

Surgical removal; excision

-gram

Record or picture

hyper-

Excessive; above normal

hypo-

Below normal; deficient

-itis

Inflammation

-osis

Abnormal condition; disease; increase (when used with blood cells)

-ostomy

Surgically created opening

pre-

Before

-plasty

Surgical repair

-rrhage

Bursting forth (of blood); excessive bleeding

-rrhaphy

Surgical suturing

-rrhea

Flow; discharge

-sclerosis

Abnormal hardening

abdominocentesis

Surgical puncture of the abdomen to remove fluid

acronym

Word formed from the first letters of a series of words

acute

Sudden onset with a short duration; often severe

angiography

Process of recording or imaging blood vessels

appendectomy

Surgical removal of the appendix

arteriosclerosis

Abnormal hardening of the arteries

arthralgia

Joint pain

colostomy

Surgical creation of an opening from the colon to the outside of the body

cyanosis

Bluish discoloration of the skin caused by inadequate oxygen

dermatologist

Physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of skin disorders

diagnosis

Process of identifying a disease or condition

diarrhea

Frequent passage of loose or watery stools

edema

Swelling caused by excess fluid in tissues

endarterial

Pertaining to within an artery

eponym

Word derived from a person's name

erythrocyte

Red blood cell

fissure

Groove or crack-like sore of the skin

fistula

Abnormal passage connecting two organs or an organ to the body surface

gastralgia

Stomach pain

gastritis

Inflammation of the stomach

gastroenteritis

Inflammation of the stomach and intestines

gastrosis

Any disease of the stomach

hemorrhage

Loss of a large amount of blood in a short time

hepatomegaly

Enlargement of the liver

hypertension

High blood pressure

hypotension

Low blood pressure

infection

Invasion and multiplication of pathogens in the body

inflammation

Protective response of tissues to injury or infection

interstitial

Pertaining to between the parts or spaces of a tissue

intramuscular

Pertaining to within a muscle

laceration

Torn or jagged wound

lesion

Pathologic change or injury to tissue

malaise

General feeling of discomfort or illness

mycosis

Abnormal condition caused by a fungus

myelopathy

Disease of the spinal cord or bone marrow

myopathy

Disease of muscle tissue

natal

Pertaining to birth

neonatology

Medical specialty dealing with newborn infants

neurorrhaphy

Surgical suturing of a nerve

otorhinolaryngology

Medical specialty involving the ear, nose, and throat (ENT)

palpation

Examination by touching or feeling

palpitation

Rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat felt by the patient

pathology

Study of disease

phalanges

Bones of the fingers and toes

poliomyelitis

Inflammation of the gray matter of the spinal cord caused by poliovirus

prognosis

Predicted outcome of a disease

pyoderma

Skin infection containing pus

pyrosis

Heartburn

remission

Temporary disappearance or decrease of disease symptoms

sign

Objective evidence of disease observed by others

supination

Rotation of the forearm so the palm faces upward or forward

suppuration

Formation or discharge of pus

supracostal

Pertaining to above a rib

symptom

Subjective evidence of disease experienced by the patient

syndrome

Group of signs and symptoms occurring together

tenorrhaphy

Surgical suturing of a tendon

tonsillitis

Inflammation of the tonsils

trauma

Physical injury or wound

triage

Process of prioritizing patients based on the severity of their condition

viral

Pertaining to a virus