IPHY 2400 - Chapter 1 - Intro to Medical Terms

Etymology

the study of word origins

-ation

being; having; process

-ion

action; condition

-ia

condition; state; thing

-ism

disease from a specific cause

-itis

infection of; inflammation

-megaly

enlargement

-oma

mass; tumor

-osis

abnormal condition

-pathy

disease

-ectomy

surgical removal

-gram

picture; record

-graphy

process of recording

-metry

process of measuring

-scope

instrument for visual examination

-tomy

process of cutting into; incision

-iatry

medical treatment

-ics

knowledge; practice

-ist

one who specializes in

-logy

study of

-ac

cardiac; heart

-al

intestinal; intestine

-ar

muscular; muscle

-ary

urinary; urine

-ic

pelvic; pelvis

-ine

uterine; uterus

-ive

digestive; food breakdown

-ous

venous; vein

epi-

above; upon

inter-

between

intra-

within

peri-

around

post

after; behind

pre-

before; in front of

sub-

below or under; less than

trans-

across; through

quadri-

four

tachy-

fast

tri-

three

an-

not; without

anti-

against

dys-

abnormal; difficult; painful

re-

repeating; unable; backwards

Frontal / Coronal Plane

divides to anterior and posterior (front and back)

Sagittal Plane

divides body into left and right

Transverse Plane

divides into superior and inferior (top and bottom)

Medial

towards midline from sides

Lateral

away from midline towards sides

Anterior

towards front of body

Posterior

towards back of body

Superior

towards the head; up (head and trunk)

Inferior

away from the head; down (head an trunk)

Distal

away from trunk towards fingers or toes (limbs)

Proximal

towards trunk (limbs)

Superficial

external or outer park of body or

Dermatology

integumentary system; dermatologist

Gastroenterology

gastrointestinal system; gastroenterologist

Pulmonology

respiratory system; pulmonologist

Cardiology

cardiovascular system; cardiologist

Hematology

blood; hematologist

Immunology

immune system; immunologist

Orthopedics

skeletal and muscular systems; orthopedist

Neurology

nervous system; neurologist

Urology

urinary system; urologist

Male reproductive medicine

male genitourinary system; male reproductive specialist

Gynecology

female reproductive system; gynecologist

Obstetrics

pregnancy and childbirth; obstetrician

Endocrinology

endocrine system; endocrinologist

Ophthalmology

eyes, lacrimal glands, and related structures; ophthalmologist

Otolaryngolgy

ears, nose, sinuses, throat, and larynx; otolaryngologist

Disease

change in normal structure or function of body

Disorder

disturbance of action or function

Congenital disease

fetal abnormality or abnormal process during gestation or birth

Degenerative disease

progressive destruction of cells due to disease or the aging process

Environmental disease

disease caused by the conditions of the surroundings (toxins, particles in the air, water or soil)

Genetic disease

mutation in genes or chromosomes during fetal development

Hereditary disease

a disease caused by defective genes inherited by child from one or both parents

Nosocomial infection

exposure to disease in hospital environment

Iatrogenic disease

a condition that is caused by a medical treatment

Idiopathic disease

a disease that develops without a known or apparent cause

Infectious disease

A disease that is caused by a pathogen and that can be spread from one individual to another.

Neoplastic disease

Diseases that result in new, abnormal tissue growth

Nutritional disease

Disease caused by lack of nutritious food, too little food, or an inability to utilize the food that is eaten

Symptom

health deviation felt by patient

Sign

symptom detectable by others

Acute

sudden in nature and severity

Subacute

less severe in intensity

Chronic

three month + symptoms

Symptomology

clinical picture of all symptoms and signs

Asymptomatic

someone who has a disease but no symptoms or signs

Syndrome

a set of symptoms and signs associated with a disease

Exacerbation

sudden worsening in the severity of symptoms or signs

Remission

the temporary, partial, or complete disappearance of the symptoms of a disease without having achieved a cure

Relapse / recurrence

return of the original symptoms and signs of the disease

Sequela

a disorder or condition usually resulting from a previous disease or injury

Physical exam (PE)

asks:

history of present illness (HPI)

medical history (MH)

surgical history

family history (FH)

social history (SH)

drug allergies

Inspection

visual examination

Palpitation

using fingers to feel masses or organs for pain

Auscultation

listening with a stethoscope

Percussion

tapping on a surface to determine the difference in the density of the underlying structure via sound