Med Terms A-Z

Abscess

A collection of pus accumulated within the tissue of the body

Acetaminophen

An analgesic medication used to treat pain and fever

Adductor

A muscle that draws a part toward the median line of the body or toward the axis of an extremity

Adenocarcinoma

A malignant tumor formed from glandular structures in epithelial tissue

Alopecia

Partial or complete absence of hair from areas of the body where it normally grows

Ambulance

A vehicle equipped to transport patients in need of emergency care

Amnesia

A partial or total loss of memory

Anemia

The condition of having a lower than normal number of red blood cells or quantity of hemoglobin

Anesthesia

Loss of feeling or awareness, usually artificially induced by the administration of drugs before surgery

Aorta

The main artery of the body supplying oxygenated blood to the circulatory system

Aphasia

Cognitive disorder marked by an impaired ability to express language, written or orally

Aplasia

The failure of an organ or tissue to develop or to function normally

Apnea

Temporary cessation of breathing, especially during sleep

Auscultation

Listening to internal sounds of the body, usually with a stethoscope

Autopsy

A postmortem exam to discover cause of death or extent of disease

Bacteria

Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent organisms or as parasites

Bariatrics

A field of medicine offering treatment to people who are overweight

Benign

Not cancerous

Biopsy

The removal and examination of a sample of tissue from a living body for diagnostic purposes

Bladder

The sac into which urine flows from the kidneys

Blind

Not having the sense of sight

Bones

The substances that from from the skeleton of the body—normally, a person has 206 of these

Bradyarrhythmia

Characterized by an excessively low heart rate, usually below 60 beats per minute

Bronchiectasis

Permanent abnormal widening of the bronchi

Bruit

A sound heard over an artery or vascular channel reflecting turbulence of flow

Bruxism

The habit of grinding and gnashing the teeth

Bunion

An abnormal enlargement of the joint at the base of the big toe

Burn

An injury to tissues caused by contact with heat, steam, chemicals, or electricity

Bypass

An operation in which a new pathway is created for the transport of substances in the body

Calorie

A unit of food energy

Cancer

Abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way, and in some cases metastatsize

Cardiomegaly

Englargement of the heart

Cast

Protective shell that is molded to protect fractured limbs as it heals

Cervix

The lower narrow part of the uterus

Chalazion

A cyst of the eyelids that makes a lubricant which discharges through the opening in the edges of the lids

Chloroform

A clear liquid with a strong smell similar to ether

Chromosome

A carrier of genetic information that’s visible under a microscope

Clavicle

The bone extending from the sternum to the front of the neck to the shoulder

Colitis

Inflammation of the large intestines

Contaminate

To stain, soil or infect

Cough

Rapid expulsion of air from the lungs to clear the airways of fluid, mucus and other material

Crapulent

Relating to excessive drinking of alcohol

Crick

A painful sudden spasmodic stiffness in the muscles of the neck or back

Cyanosis

Bluish color of the skin due to lack of oxygen

Dementia

Significant loss of memory capacity severe enough to interfere with daily life

Dengue

An acute mosquito borne viral illness

Dermatitis

Inflammation of the skin

Diaphragm

The muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen

Diastole

Part of the cardiac cycle when the heart refills with blood following contraction

Diathermy

The use of heat to destroy abnormal cells

Diphallia

Extremely rare congenital abnormality in which a male infant is born with duplication of the penis

Diplopia

Condition of seeing two objects when there is only one

Diuresis

Increased or excessive production of urine

Dorsal

The back of a structure

Duct

A passageway that carries fluid from one place to another

Dyspareunia

Painful intercourse

Dyspnea

Shortness of breath

Dystonia

Involuntary movements and prolonged muscle contractions resulting in twisting body motion, tremors and absolute posture

Dysuria

Painful or difficult urination

Ear

The hearing and equilibrium system of the body

Ectopia

Displacement or malposition of any organ or body part

Ectropian

A condition in which the eyelid is turned outward and away from the eyeball

Eczema

Group of medical conditions that cause the skin to become inflamed or irritated

Edema

Abnormal fluid accumulation in tissues or body cavities

Embolism

Lodging of an embolus, which may be a blood clot, or other undissolved materials in the bloodstream

Emesis

Forceful expulsion of the contents of the stomach through the mouth

Empyema

Presence of pus in a hollow organ or cavity

Ependyma

Thin membrane that lines the ventricles of the brain and central canal of the spinal cord

Epiphysis

The end part of a long bone

Episiotomy

An incision of the posterior vaginal wall to facilitate birth and prevent lacerations

Epistaxis

Bleeding from the nose

Equinovarus

Deformed foot in which the foot is plantarflexed, inverted and adducted

Eructation

Ejection of gas or air through the mouth from the stomach

Erythema

Redness of the skin produced by congestion of the capillaries

Erythrocytes

Another name for red blood cells

Esophagus

The muscular membrane segment between the pharynx and stomach in the upper gastrointestinal tract

Euthanasia

Act or practice of killing or allowing death from natrual causes for reasons of mercy

Extubation

Removal of an endotracheal tube

Eye

Organ of sight

Fahrenheit

Thermometer scale in which freezing point of water is 32 degrees

Fallopian tubes

Tubes on each side of the uterus through which an egg moves from the ovaries to the uterus

Falx

A sickle shaped structure

Fascia

Flat band of the tissue between the skin and covers underlying tissues

Feces

Excrement from the intestines containing unabsorbed acids, waste products, secretions and bacteria of the digestive system

Fecundity

Ability to produce live offspring

Femur

The largest bone in the body

Fetoscopy

Endoscopic exam of the fetus and amniotic cavity through the abdominal or uterine entry

Fever

Body temperature above the 100.4

Fibril

A small fiver, a fine thread

Fibroma

Benign tumor consisting of a mass of connective tissue cells that have a spindle shape

Fingers

Digits of the hand

Flagellum

A whiplike motility appendage present in the surface of the cells

Flatulence

Production or pressure of gas in the gastrointestinal tract

Flu

An acute viral infection involving the respiratory tract

Fluoroscopy

Examination of the tissue and deep structures of the body by x-ray using a fluoroscope or video fluoroscope

Flush

To wash out with a full stream of fluid

Foot

The distal part of the leg

Foreskin

The layered skin fold that covers the head of the penis

Fracture

A break in the bone