ScribeAmerica Terms

Abrasion

Scrape of the skin due to something abrasive

Abscess

Collection of pus underneath the skin

Antipyretic

Medication used to reduce a fever; 3 types over the counter: Salicylates (aspirin)

Acute

New

Afebrile

Without a fever; temperature less than 100.4°F

Anterior

Located towards the front of the body

Appendicitis

Dangerous infection of the appendix

Auscultation

Listening to sounds arising within organs (as the lungs)

Benign

Normal' of no danger to health

Bradycardia

Slow heart-rate of less than 60bpm

Bronchitis

Infection of the bronchi (upper airway)

Bronchiolitis

Infection of the bronchioles (smaller air-tubes in the lungs)

Catheter

Tube inserted into vessels or body cavities to permit injection or withdrawal of fluids or to keep a passage open

Chronic

Long-standing or constant; opposite of acute

Cellulitis

Infection of skin cells

Conjunctivitis

Infection of outer layer of the eye

Dialysis

Process for removing waste from the blood for people with renal failure

Diaphoresis

Sweating

Diffuse

Spread out; not localized

Distal

Farther from the trunk of the body/root of the limb

Dyspnea

Difficulty breathing

Dysuria

Painful urination

Ecchymosis

A bruise

-ectomy (suffix)

Surgical removal (i.e. tonsillectomy)

Edema

Swelling

Epilepsy

Seizure disorder

Epistaxis

Nose bleed

Erythema/Erythematous

Redness/Red

Exudates (tonsillar)

Pus-pockets on the tonsils

Febrile

The state of having a fever; temperature more than 100.4°F

Grossly

Obviously; a lot; wholly

Hematemesis

Gross amounts of blood in the vomit

Hematuria

Blood in the urine

Hemoptysis

Coughing up gross amounts of blood

Hemorrhage

Excessive or profuse bleeding

Hepatomegaly

Enlarged liver

Hernia

Protrusion of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it

Hyperlipidemia

High cholesterol

Hypertension

High blood pressure

Hypotension

Low blood pressure

Hypoxia

Low oxygen saturation of the body; not enough oxygen in the blood

ICD-10

A system to classify and code diagnoses

Infarct

Area of dead tissue after a lack of blood supply

Inferior

Lower on the body; farther from the head

Ischemia

Lack of blood supply

-itis (suffix)

Inflammation (i.e. appendicitis)

Laceration

Splitting of the skin due to trauma; a cut

Lateral

Farther from the midline

Lethargic

Septic; very sick; about to die

Medial

Nearer to the midline

Meningitis

Dangerous infection of the outer lining of the brain

Otitis Externa

Infection of the outer ear (ear canal)

Otitis Media

Infection of the inner ear (behind the eardrum)

Melena

Black

Myalgia

Muscular pain; muscle "aches"

Pallor

Pale skin

Palpation

Examine by touch

Palpitation

To beat rapidly

Peritoneal signs

Guarding/Rebound/Rigidity; physical exam findings indicate a rupture in the abdomen

Pharyngitis

Throat infection

Pneumonia

Bacterial infection of the lungs

Posterior/Dorsal

Rear or backside of the body

Prone

Body position lying flat; face down

Proximal

Nearer to the trunk of the body

Pulmonary

Relating to the lungs

Purulence/Purulent

Pus/Pus-like

Rales

Crackles; wet crackling noise in lungs

Rhinorrhea

Clear nasal discharge; "runny nose"

Rhonchi

Rattling noise of mucous in the lungs

-scopy (suffix)

Viewing with a scope (i.e. colonoscopy)

Sepsis

Dangerous infection of the blood

Sinusitis

Infection/inflammation of the nasal sinuses

Small Bowel Obstruction

Physical blockage of the small intestine

Streptococcal Pharyngitis

Strep throat

Superior

Higher on the body; nearer to the head

Supine

Body position lying face up

Syncope

Loss of consciousness or fainting; "passing out"

Tachycardia

Fast heart rate of more than 100bpm

Tachypnea

Increased breathing rate

Trismus

Inability to open jaw due to pain

Ulcerations

Blisters or open-sores

Vertigo

Room-spinning dizziness; not light-headed

Wheezing

High pitched sound heard in the lungs with asthmatics or lung disease

Abd

Abdomen // Abdominal

Abx

Antibiotics

A fib

Atrial fibrillation

AOM

Acute otitis media (new ear infection)

A/P

assessment & plan

ASA

Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)

BID

twice daily

Bilat LE

bilateral lower extremities

BM

Bowel movement

BP

Blood pressure

c (with line over top)

with

CA

Cancer // Carcinoma

CABG

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

CAD

Coronary Artery Disease

CBC

Complete Blood Count (bloodworm to look for infection or anemia)

CHF

Congestive Heart Failure

CP

Chest pain