Medical Terminology List - Term 1 (PY1)

Abscess

A trapped pocket of pus caused by infection (usually warm, swollen, and painful)

Acute

A condition that begins suddenly and lasts a short time.

Adherence

Whether a patient follows the prescribed treatment plan properly

Adjunct

An additional treatment used together with the main therapy to improve outcomes

Afebrile

Having no fever (i.e. normal body temperature)

Agranulocytosis

Dangerously low neutrophils, causing high risk of severe infection.

Alopecia

Partial or complete hair loss.

Ambulatory

The ability to walk and move around (i.e. not bed ridden)

Amenorrhea

Absence of menstrual periods (pregnancy, hormonal issues, stress, etc.).

Amnesia

Loss of memory (either partial or complete)

Analgesic

Pain reduction or pain elimination drug.

Anaphylaxis

Rapid, life-threatening allergic reaction causing airway swelling, hypotension, and shock.

Andropause

Age-related decline in testosterone in males, similar to menopause.

Anemia

Low red blood cells or hemoglobin, causing fatigue, pallor, and shortness of breath.

Anhedonia

Loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable life activities.

Aneurysm

Bulging/weakening of the blood vessel wall due to widening of the vessel wall.

Angioedema

Swelling of the deeper layers of the skin, caused by a build-up of fluid.

Anorexia

Loss of appetite; reduced desire to eat.

Anterior

Located at the front of the body.

Antiemetic

Drug that prevents or treats nausea and vomiting.

Antibiotic

Medication that kills or slows growth of bacteria.

Anti-inflammatory

Reduces inflammation, swelling, and pain.

Antipruritic

Relieves itching.

Antipyretic

Reduces fever.

Antiseptic

Agent applied to skin to inhibit or reduce microbial growth.

Antitussive

Suppresses cough reflex.

Aphagia

Inability to swallow.

Arrhythmia

Abnormal heart rhythm—too fast, too slow, or irregular.

Arthralgia

Joint pain.

Ascites

Fluid accumulation in the abdomen, usually due to liver disease.

Aspiration

Accidental inhalation of food, fluid, or secretions into the airway/lungs.

Asthenia

Generalized weakness or lack of strength.

Ataxia

Loss of coordination and balance; unsteady movements.

Atrophy

Wasting or shrinking of tissue/muscle.

Auscultation

Listening to internal sounds (heart, lungs) with a stethoscope.

Axillary

Relating to the armpit.

Bilateral

Occurring on both sides of the body.

Biopsy

Removal of a small tissue sample for microscopic examination.

Benign

Non-cancerous; does not invade or spread.

Bronchitis

Inflammation of the bronchial airways, usually causing cough and mucus.

Bradycardia

Abnormally slow heart rate (<60 bpm).

Bradypnea

Abnormally slow breathing rate.

Buccal

Inside the cheek; route of drug administration.

Cachexia

Severe weight loss (due to muscle mass loss) from chronic illness (e.g., cancer).

Candidiasis

Yeast infection caused by Candida species.

Cardiovascular

Relating to the heart and blood vessels.

Catheter

A flexible tube used to drain or deliver fluids.

Chronic

Long-standing condition (usually >3 months).

Comorbidity

Having two or more health conditions at the same time.

Compliance

How well a patient follows medical instructions.

Constriction

Narrowing of a passage or blood vessel.

Contraceptive

Prevents pregnancy.

Contraindication

When a drug or procedure should NOT be used because harm may occur (due to underlying condition or other med usage)

Contusion

Bruising (medical term)

Corticosteroids

Drugs that reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system.

Crackles

Abnormal lung sounds due to fluid in small airways (ex. heard in pneumonia)

Cranial

Relating to the skull.

Cyanotic

Bluish discoloration of skin/mucosa due to low oxygen levels.

Cyanosis

Low or inadequate oxygen leading to blue lips and skin

Delirium

Acute, fluctuating confusion with impaired attention.

Dementia

Chronic progressive decline in memory, thinking, and functioning.

Diagnosis

Identification of a disease or condition.

Diaphoretic

Excessively sweaty.

Differential diagnosis

List of possible conditions that could explain the patient's symptoms.

Distention

Enlargement or swelling of an area

Diastolic

Lower number in BP; pressure when the heart relaxes.

Diplopia

Double vision.

Diuretic

Drug that increases urine production.

Diuresis

Increased urine output.

Dorsalis

Relating to the back or top of a structure

Dose

Specific amount of a medication given at one time.

Dyskinesia

Involuntary, abnormal movements (often from antipsychotics or Parkinson meds).

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing.

Dystrophy

Progressive degeneration of tissue, especially muscle.

Dyspnea

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing.

Dysuria

Painful urination.

Edema

Swelling caused by fluid accumulation in tissues.

Effusion

Fluid collection in a body cavity (pleural, pericardial, joint).

Egophony

A change in lung sounds as heard via auscultation.

Ejection fraction

% of blood pumped out of left ventricle with each heartbeat; measure of function.

Electrolyte

Minerals that regulate nerve, muscle, and fluid balance (e.g., Na⁺, K⁺).

Emesis

Vomiting.

Emollient

Moisturizing agent that softens and protects the skin.

Encephalitis

Inflammation of the brain, usually viral.

Endocarditis

Infection of the heart's inner lining or valves.

Enema

A procedure that involves inserting liquid into the rectum to flush out the bowel.

Enteritis

Inflammation of the intestines.

Epidural

Injection into the space around the spinal cord (analgesia).

Epistaxis

Nosebleed.

Erythema

Redness of the skin from increased blood flow.

Etiology

The underlying cause of a disease.

Exacerbation

Worsening of a chronic condition (e.g., COPD flare).

Exfoliate

To shed or peel the outer layer of skin.

Expectorant

Medication that helps loosen and expel mucus.

Extraocular

Outside of or around the eyeball.

Extrapyramidal symptoms

Drug-induced movement disorders (tremor, rigidity, akathisia, dystonia).

Extravasation

Leakage of IV fluid or drug into surrounding tissue.

Exophthalmos

Bulging eyes, often seen in hyperthyroidism.

Exudate

Protein-rich inflammatory fluid leaking from tissues.

Febrile

Having a fever.