AHMS 144 Medical Terminology Final Study Set

abdominocentesis

puncture of the abdomen

abdominoplasty

surgical reconstruction of the abdomen

abortifacient

drug or device that causes the termination of a pregnancy

abortion

termination of a pregnancy

abrasion

scraping away of skin

abruptio placentae

separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus

abscess

a localized collection of pus in the body

achondroplasia

a defect in the formation of cartilage

acidemia

abnormal acidity of the blood

acne vulgaris

common acne; an inflammation of the skin follicles

acoustic neuroma

a tumor on the acoustic nerve

acromegaly

abnormal enlargement of the extremities

acrophobia

fear of heights

actinic dermatitis

inflammation of the kin caused by sun exposure

actinic keratosis

horny skin condition caused by sun exposure

adenalgia

pain in a gland

adenectomy

removal of a gland

adenitis

inflammation of a gland

adenocarcinoma

cancerous tumor of a gland

adenocarcinoma of the breast

glandular tumor in the breast

adenoidectomy

removal of the adenoids

adenoma

glandular tumor

adenomegaly

abnormal enlargement of a gland

adenopathy

gland disease

adenosis

gland condition

adipocele

hernia filled with fatty tissue

adrenal adenoma

tumor of the adrenal gland

adrenal insufficiency

condition in which the adrenal glands underproduce necessary hormones

adrenal virilism

development of male secondary sexual characteristics caused by excessive secretion of the adrenal gland

adrenalectomy

removal of the adrenal gland

adrenaline

hormone secreted by the adrenal gland

adrenalitis

inflammation of the adrenal gland

adrenarche

beginning of adrenal secretion (at puberty)

adrenocortical carcinoma

cancerous tumor originating in the cortex of the adrenal gland

adrenocortical insufficiency

condition in which the adrenal cortex underproduces necessary hormones

adrenocorticotropic hormone

hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that stimulates the cortex of the adrenal gland

adrenomegaly

abnormal enlargement of the adrenal gland

aerodontalgia

tooth pain caused by exposure to air

aerotitis

inflammation of the ear caused by air

afferent nerve

a nerve that carries impulses toward the central nervous system

agnosia

inability to comprehend

agoraphobia

fear of outdoor spaces

akinetopsia

inability to see objects in motion

albinism

lack of pigment in skin causing the patient to look white

albino

a person afflicted with albinism

albuminuria

protein in the urine

alkalemia

abnormal alkalinity of the blood

allograft

tissue or organ graft taken from a donor of the same species

alopecia

baldness

amastia

absence of breasts

ambiopia

double vision

amblyopia

decreased vision; lazy eye

amenorrhea

no menstruation

amniocentesis

surgical puncture of the amnion

amniorrhea

discharge of amniotic fluid

amniorrhexis

rupture of the amniotic sac

amnioscope

instrument for examining the amnion

amnioscopy

procedure for examining the amnion

amniotomy

incision into the amnion

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

a degenerative disease of the central nervous system causing loss of muscle control

Lou Gehrig’s disease

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

anal fistula

abnormal opening between the rectum and the exterior perianal skin

anastomosis

creation of an opening; a surgical procedure connecting two previously unconnected hollow tubes

anesthesiologist

doctor who specializes in anesthesiology

anesthetic

drug that causes loss of sensation

aneurysm

bulge in a blood vessel

aneurysmectomy

surgical removal of an aneurysm

angina pectoris

oppressive pain in the chest caused by irregular blood flow to the heart

angiocarditis

inflammation of the heart vessel

angioedema

swelling of the blood vessels

angiogenesis

development of blood vessels

angiogram

record of the blood vessels

angiography

procedure to describe the blood vessels

angiolith

stone forming in the wall of a blood vessel

angioma

blood vessel tumor

angioplasty

surgical reconstruction of a vessel

angiopoiesis

formation of blood vessels

angiorrhaphy

suture of a vessel

angiosclerosis

hardening of a blood vessel

angioscope

device for looking into a blood vessel

anhidrosis

lack of sweating

aniridia

absence of an iris

anisocytosis

condition characterized by a great inequality in the size of red blood cells

ankylosing spondylitis

a stiffening inflammation of the vertebrae

ankylosis

joint stiffness

anophony

sound from the anus

anoplasty

surgical reconstruction of the anus

anorchidism

absence of a testicle

anorexia

an eating disorder characterized by the patient’s restricting food or refusing to eat

anosigmoidoscopy

procedure for looking at the anus and sigmoid colon

anosmia

lack of a sense of smell

antacid

agent that neutralized acid

antepartum

time before birth

antianginal

a drug that prevents or relieves the symptoms of angina pectoris

antiarrhythmic

a drug that opposes an irregular heartbeat

antiarthritic

a drug that opposes joint inflammation

antibiotic

a drug that destroys or opposes the growth of microorganisms

antibody

substance produced by the body in response to an antigen

anticoagulant

drug that prevents the coagulation of blood

anticonvulsant

drug that opposes convulsions