The Language of Medicine: Chapter 4 Medical Terminology

apnea

without breathing

anoxia

without oxygen

abnormal

pertaining to away from the rule or order

abductor

muscle that draws a limb away from the body

adductor

muscle that draws a limb towards the body

adrenal glands

endocrine glands above the kidney

anabolism

process of building up proteins in cells

analysis

separation of a substance into various parts

ante cibum

before meals; (a.c.)

anteflexion

bending forward

antepartum

before birth

antibiotic

chemical substance that has the ability to inhibit or destroy foreign organisms in the body

antibody

protein made by white blood cells in response to foreign substances (antigens) in the blood

antigen

foreign substance or toxin (poison) that stimulates the production of an antibody; evokes an immune response

antisepsis

destruction of microorganisms to prevent infection

antitoxin

substance produced against a toxin (poison); an antibody

autoimmune disease

condition in which the immune system (antibodies) attacks normal, healthy cells producing chronic, disabling diseases

bifurcation

branching into two parts

bilateral

pertaining to two or both sides

bradycardia

slow heartbeat

catabolism

cellular process of breaking down complex nutrients to simpler substances; energy is released to do the work for the cell

congenital anomaly

abnormality present at birth; birth defect

connective tissue

tissue that supports and binds other tissues and parts. Examples are bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, and fibrous tissues

contraindication

factor that indicates against the administration of a drug or procedure in the care of a patient

contralateral

affecting the opposite side of a part of the body

dehydration

excessive loss of water

diameter

measurement through the center of a circle (for example the size of the opening of a blood vessel)

diarrhea

frequent passage of loose, watery stools

dialysis

separation of nitrogenous wastes from the blood when the kidneys no longer function; hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis are examples

dyspnea

difficult; painful breathing

dysentery

painful, inflamed intestines commonly caused by bacterial infection

dystrophy

condition of abnormal development

dysplasia

condition of abnormal formation

ectopic pregnancy

pregnancy that is out of place (not in the uterus). a fallopian tube is the most common ectopic site

endocardium

inner lining of the heart

endoscope

instrument to visually examine the interior of the body

endotracheal

pertaining to within the trachea

epithelium

layer of cells covering the external surface of the body and line the hollow tubes within the body

euphoria

exaggerated feeling of well-being; elevated mood, "high"

euthyroid

normal thyroid function

exophthalmos

protrusion of the eyeball; sign of hyperthyroidism

hemiglossectomy

removal (resection) of half of the tongue

hyperglycemia

high levels of sugar in the bloodstream; associated with diabetes mellitus

hyperplasia

condition of increased formation of cells

hypertrophy

increase in size of tissue or an organ due to increase in size of individual cells

hypertension

high blood pressure

hypodermic injection

injection of medication under the skin

hypoglycemia

low/deficient levels of sugar in blood

insomniac

pertaining to without sleep; an insomniac is a person who cannot sleep

incision

process of cutting into the body

infracostal

pertaining to below the ribs

intercostal

pertaining to between the ribs

intravenous

pertaining to within a vein

macrocephaly

condition of a larger than normal head; congenital anomaly

malaise

general feeling of bodily discomfort

malignant

cancerous; harmful

metacarpal bones

hand bones; literally beyond the wrist

metamorphosis

condition of change of shape or form

metastasis

spread of a malignant tumor beyond its original location to a distant site

microscope

instrument to view small objects

microcephaly

condition of smaller than normal head; a congenital anomaly

neonatal

pertaining to a new birth

neoplasm

new growth

pancytopenia

deficiency of all (blood) cells

paralysis

destruction of nerve tissue leading to loss of sensation or motion in a part of the body

parathyroid glands

four endocrine glands on the posterior (dorsal) side of the thyroid gland; secrete parathormone

percutaneous

pertaining to through the skin

pericardium

double-layered membrane surrounding the heart

polymorphonuclear

pertaining to a multi-lobed nucleus (in granulocytic white blood cells)

polyneuritis

inflammation of many nerves

postmortem

after death

postpartum

after birth

precancerous

pertaining to occurring before a malignant condition

prenatal

pertaining to before birth

prodrome

sign or symptom that appears before the onset of a more serious illness. an example: fever that signals the onset of a viral illness

prolapse

sliding forward or downward

prosthesis

artificial substitute for a missing body part

relapse

sliding or falling back; as in return of illness after apparent recovery

remission

return to good health; signs and symptoms of disease are gone

recombinant DNA

insertion of a gene (region of DNA) from one organism into the DNA of another

retroperitoneal

pertaining to behind the peritoneum (membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity)

retroflexion

bending backward

subcutaneous

pertaining to under the skin

suprapubic

pertaining to above the pubic bones

syndactyly

fusion of fingers or toes; congenital anomaly

synthesis

putting together of simple substances to create something new and often more complex

syndrome

signs and symptoms that occur together indicating a particular condition or disorder

symbiosis

close interaction between two organisms living in close association

symmetry

measurement together; similarity of parts as in mirror images of each other

symphysis

bones that grow together separated by a piece of fibrocartilage. the pubic symphysis of the pelvis is an example

tachypnea

abnormal rapid breathing

transfusion

transfer of blood from one person to another

transurethral

pertaining to across or through the urethra

ultrasonography

use of high frequency sound waves to produce a record a picture of an organ or tissue

unilateral

pertaining to one side