ScribeAmerica Basic Medical Terminology

Abrasion

Scrape of the skin due to something abrasive

Abscess

Collection of pus underneath the skin

Adenoidectomy

Surgery to remove adenoids

Antipyretic

Medication used to reduce a fever

Acute

New, usually of rapid onset and concern, opposite of chronic

Afebrile

Without a fever (Temperature ≤ 100.4)

Anterior

Located towards the front of the body

Appendicitis

Dangerous infection of the appendix

Benign

Normal, of no danger to health

Bilious

The color of bile (bright neon green)

Bradycardia

Slow heart-rate

Bronchitis

Infection of the bronchi (upper airway)

Bronchiolitis

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

Chronic

Long-standing, constant. Opposite of acute

Cellulitis

Infection of skin cells

Conjunctivitis

Infection of the outer layer of the eye (can be viral, bacterial, or allergic)

Contusion

An injury where the skin is not broken; a bruise

Currant Jelly Stool

A mix of blood/mucous in the stool, consistency of jelly

Cyanosis

Turning blue in the face

Diaphoresis

Sweating

Distal

Farther from the trunk of the body

Dorsal

Top aspect of a human body part (ex dorsal foot = top of foot)

Dyspnea

Difficulty breathing

Dysuria

Painful urination

Ecchymosis

A bruise

Edema

Swelling

Emesis

Vomiting

Epistaxis

Nose bleed

Erythema/Erythematous

Redness/Red

Exudates (tonsillar)

Pus-pockets on the tonsils

Febrile

The state of having a fever (Temperature of more than 100.4)

Grossly

Obviously; a lot; wholly

Hematemesis

Gross amounts of blood in the vomit

Hematoma

A localized collection of blood outside the blood vessels; type of bruise

Hematuria

Blood in the urine

Hemoptysis

Coughing up gross amounts of blood

Hemorrhage

Excessive or profuse bleeding

Hepatomegaly

Enlarged liver

Hypertension

High blood pressure

Hypotension

Low blood pressure

Hypoxia

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

Inferior

Lower on the body, farther from the head

Ischemia

Lack of blood supply

Laceration

Splitting of the skin due to trauma (a cut due to something sharp)

Lateral

Farther from the midline (a line that can be traced from nose to belly-button)

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 inner ear (behind the eardrum)

Melena

Black tarry stool

Myalgia

Muscular pain, "body aches"

Pallor

Pale skin

Peritoneal signs

Guarding/Rebound/Rigidity: PE findings indicating a rupture in the abdomen

Petechiae

Small red or purple spot on the body caused by a minor hemorrhage (broken capillary blood vessels)

PE tubes

Tubes placed in the tympanic membrane to help drain fluid from behind the ear drum in kids with chronic ear infections or chronic fluid on the ears

Pharyngitis

Throat infection

Pneumonia

Bacterial infection of the lungs

Posterior

Rear or back side of the body

Prone

Body position lying flat, face down

Proximal

Nearer to the trunk of the body

Purpura

Red or purple discolorations on the skin that do not blanch when applying pressure (caused by bleeding under the skin)

Purulence /Purulent

Pus/Pus-like

Rales

Crackles; wet crackling noise in lungs (often sign of pneumonia)

Rhinorrhea

Nasal discharge, "runny nose"

Rhonchi

Rattling noise of mucous in the lungs

Sepsis

Dangerous infection of the blood

Sinusitis

Infection/inflammation of the nasal sinuses

Small Bowel Obstruction

Physical blockage of the small intestines

Streptococcal Pharyngitis

Strep throat

Superior

Higher on the body, nearer to the head

Supine

Body position lying face up

Syncope

"Passing out", loss of consciousness or fainting

Tachycardia

Fast heart rate

Tonsillectomy

Surgery to remove tonsils

Trismus

Inability to open the jaw

Tachypnea

Increased breathing rate

Ulcerations

Blisters or open-sores

Wheezing

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

↓

Down, Below, Less, Decrease, Lower

↑

Up, Above, More, Increase, Higher

>

Greater Than

<

Less Than

~

Approximately

∆

Change

ā

Before

Abd

Abdomen, Abdominal

Abx

Antibiotics

AMS

Altered Mental Status

AMA

Against Medical Advice

ASA

Aspirin

BID

Twice Daily

BLE

Bilateral Lower Extremities

BM

Bowel Movement

BP

Blood Pressure

c

With

CA

Cancer, Carcinoma

CAD

Coronary Artery Disease

CBC

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

CHF

Congestive Heart Failure