2026 Spring: GPS Medical Terminology

A/An-

Without, none

Ad-

Toward

Ab-

Away

Sub-

Beneath

Dys-

Painful, difficult

Acute

A sudden and relatively severe onset of a disease or disease symptoms that then subside within a short period of time and may resolve completely

Asymptomatic

Without symptoms

Benign

Not harmful, nonmalignant (not cancerous)

Chronic

A slow progression of a condition that persists over a long period of time

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing

Dyspnea

Difficulty breathing

Extremity

The outermost part of the body, such as an arm or foot

Exacerbation

The relapse of a chronic condition

Febrile

Have or showing the symptoms of a fever

Subcutaneous

Located beneath the skin

Endo-

Inside

Brady-

Slow

-ologist

An expert in a branch of science

Epi-

Upper, above

Tachy-

Fast

Anaphylaxis

An extreme immune response to an allergen that can be potentially fatal

Apnea

Temporary stopping of breathing

Bradypnea

An abnormally slow rate of breathing

Embolism

The occlusion of blood flow by a blood clot

Epistaxis

Bleeding from the nose

Etiology

The cause of a specific disorder or disease

Idiopathic

Of unknown cause

Pulmonologist

A provider who specializes in the respiratory system

Rhinoplasty

A surgical procedure that reshapes the nose

Tachypnea

An abnormally high respiratory rate

Pulmon/o

Lung

Angi/o-

Blood Vessel

Di-

Both, two

Hyper-

Excessive, above, more than

Hypo-

Deficient, below, less than

-penia

Deficiency

Sclerosis

Hardening

Vaso-

Pertaining to blood vessel

Arrhythmia

An irregular rate or rhythm of your heart beat

Blood Pressure

Measurement of the pressure of blood on the walls of the arteries dependent on the action of the heart

Diastole

The stage in the cardiac cycle during which the ventricles are relaxed and filling with blood

Fibrillation

An uncontrollable twitching of muscle fibers of the heart

Hypertension

Elevated blood pressure

Ischemia

Decrease or lack of blood supply to an organ or part due to a constriction or obstruction of the blood vessel

Systole

The stage of the cardiac cycle during with the ventricles contract

Tachycardia

An accelerated heart rate

Vasoconstriction

The narrowing of blood vessels

Vasodilation

The enlargement of blood vessels

Bi-

Both

-plasia

Formation of cels or tissue

Derm-

Skin

Heme-

Relating to blood

-trophy

Development, growth

Abrasion

A wound caused by rubbing or scraping the skin or mucous membrane

Abscess

An accumulation of pus within the tissues of the body as a result of the body’s defense against infection

Biopsy

Removal of a portion of tissue for further examination for diagnostic purposes

Dysplasia

Abnormal growth or development of an organ or tissue

Ecchymosis

The rupture of blood vessels under the skin; bruising

Edema

Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the body tissues or body cavities causing swelling or distention of the affected parts

Epidermis

Outer, thicker layer of skin

Erythema

Skin redness

Hematoma

A collection of blood in a tissue that clots and then becomes encapsulated by connective tissue

Jaundice

Also known as icterus; it is the yellow of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes due to an accumulation of bilirubin

-oma

Tumor

My/o

Muscle

Chondr/o

Cartilage

Arthr/o

Joint

Circum

Round, around

-itis

Inflammation

Ambulatory

Ability to walk

Atrophy

Degeneration or wasting away of tissue

Bursitis

Painful swelling on the bursa that is located in the joint

Chondroma

A noncancerous tumor made of cartilage

Hypertrophy

Increase and growth of muscle cells

Lumbar

The area of the back that is located between the lowest ribs and the pelvis

Myalgia

Muscle pain

Myositis

Inflammation of the muscle characterized by pain, tenderness, and occasional spasm

Myotonia

Temporary muscle spasm

Osteosclerosis

An increase in bone density

Olig/o-

Scant, less than normal

Cysto-

Bladder

Pyelo-

Renal collecting

-uria

Urine

Nephro-

Kidney

Cystitis

Bladder infection

Cystoscopy

A procedure where a doctor looks inside the bladder and urethra

Glycuresis

Glucose in the urine

Hydronephrosis

An abnormal condition that causes a backup of urine into the kidney

Nephritis

Kidney infection

Oliguria

Production of an abnormally small amount of urine

Polyuria

Frequent urination

Uresis

Urination

Uremia

Urea in the blood

Urologist

A urinary system specialist