Final Words Not Built

abduction

movement of drawing away from the middle

ablation

destruction of abnormal or excessive tissue by melting, vaporizing or eroding

abortion

termination of pregnancy by expulsion from uterus of an embryo

abrasion

scraping away of the skin

abruptio placentae

premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall

abscess

collection of pus

acne

inflammatory disease of the skin involving the sebaceous glands and hair follicles

acoustic neuroma

benign tumor within the internal auditory canal growing from the acoustic nerve

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

A disease caused by HIV and interferes with cellular immunity lowering resistance to infection and malignancy.

acute

describing a disease of sudden onset

adduction

movement of drawing toward the middle

adhesion

abnormal growing together of two surfaces that are normally separated

afebrile

without fever

airway

passageway by which air enters and leaves the lungs or mechanical device used to keep the air passageway unobstructed

alignment

placing of portions of a fractured bone into correct anatomical position

allergen

environmental substance capable of producing an immediate hypersensitivity in the body

allergist

physician who studies and treats allergic conditions

allergy

hypersensitivity to a substance

alopecia

baldness

Alzheimer's disease

progressive disease that destroys memory and thinking skills and eventually simple tasks

amblyopia

reduced vision in one eye caused by disease or misuse

ambulate

able to walk, not confined to bed

amputation

removal of a limb or portion of a limb

analgesia

absence of pain

anaphylaxis

a life-threatening reaction to a previously encountered antigen

anastomosis

surgical connection between two normally distinct structures

anemia

reduction in the amount of red blood cells in the blood

aneurysm

ballooning of weakened portion of arterial wall

aneurysmectomy

surgical excision of an aneurysm

angina pectoris

chest pain, frequently radiating to left arm and jaw due to ischemia

anorexia nervosa

eating disorder characterized by a disturbed perception of body image resulting in failure to maintain body weight,

antibiotic

drug that targets microorganisms to kill or halt growth or replication

antibody

substance produced by lymphocytes that inactivates or destroys antigens

anticoagulant

agent that slows down the clotting process

antigen

a substance that triggers an immune response when introduced into the body

Apgar score

system for rapid neonatal assessment at a 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth

apical pulse

using a stethoscope to auscultate the pulse rate at the heart

arrhythmia

any disturbances or abnormality in the normal heart's rhythm

arterial blood gases

test performed on arterial blood to determine levels of O2, CO2 ,and other gases

artificial cardiac pacemaker

battery-powered apparatus implanted under the skin with leads placed on the heart

artificial insemination

introduction of semen into the vagina by artificial means

ascites

abnormal collection of fluid in the peritoneal cavity

asphyxia

deprivation of oxygen for tissue use; suffocation

aspirate

to withdraw fluid or to suction or to draw foreign material into respiratory tract

asthma

respiratory disease characterized by bronchospasms causing paroxysms of shortness of breath

astigmatism

defective curvature of the refractive surface of the eye

asymmetrical

pertaining to both sides being unequal

asymmetry

both sides unequal

ataxia

lack of coordination

atelectasis

collapsed lung or portions of a lung

atrial fibrillation

a cardiac arrhythmia characterized by rapid electrical impulses in atria

atrial fibrillation ablation

procedure in which abnormal cells that trigger atrial fibrillation are destroyed by using a device that heats or freezes the cells

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

brain disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and/or impulsivity that interferes with functioning

auscultation

act of listening to body sounds with a stethoscope

autism

developmental disorder characterized by difficulty with social interaction, communication, and repetitive behavior

autoimmune disease

disease caused by the body's inability to distinguish its own cells from foreign bodies, thus producing antibodies that attack its own tissue

bacteria

single-celled microorganisms that reproduce by cell division and may cause infection by invading body tissue

bariatric surgery

surgical reduction of gastric capacity to treat morbid obesity

barium enema

series of x-ray images taken of the large intestine after a barium enema has been administered

Bell palsy

paralysis of muscles on one side of the face caused by inflammation of facial nerve

benign

not malignant, non-current, favorable for recovery

benign prostatic hyperplasia

non-cancerous excessive development of the prostate gland

biopsy

removal of living tissue from body - viewed under microscope

bipolar disorder

major psychological disorder typified by a disturbance in mood; disorder is manifested by manic and depressive episodes

blood pressure

pressure exerted by blood against the blood vessel walls

blood urea nitrogen

test that measures amount of urea in blood used to determine kidney function; when increased indicates kidney failure

bone marrow biopsy

procedure to obtain a sample of bone marrow usually from the ilium for study

bone marrow transplant

infusion of healthy bone marrow cells to a recipient with matching cells from a donor

breast cancer

malignant tumor of the breast

breech presentation

parturition in which the buttocks, feet, or knees emerge first

bronchoconstrictor

agent causing narrowing of the bronchi

bronchodilator

agent causing the bronchi to widen

bulimia nervosa

eating disorder characterized by uncontrolled binge eating followed by purging

bunion

abnormal enlargement of the joint at the base of the great toe,

calculus

stone

capsule endoscopy

visual examination of a hollow organ with the use of a capsule that is swallowed

carcinoma in situ

cancer in the early stage before invading surrounding tissue

cardiac arrest

sudden cessation of cardiac output & effective circulation which requires CPR

cardiac catheterization

catheter into heart via a blood vessel to determine cardiac disease

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

emergency procedure consisting of artificial ventilation & external cardiac massage

carpal tunnel syndrome

a common painful disorder of the wrist

cataract

clouding of the lens of the eye

catheter

flexible, tube-like device for withdrawing or instilling fluids

cauterization

destruction of tissue with a hot or cold instrument, electric current, or caustic substance

celiac disease

autoimmune disease of malabsorption caused by an immune reaction to gluten which may damage the lining of the small intestine

cellulitis

inflammation of skin and subcutaneous tissue caused by infection, leading to red, swelling, and fever

cephalic presentation

parturition in which any part of the head emerges first

cerebral aneurysm

aneurysm in the thinking part of the brain

cerebral embolism

moving blood clot in the cerebrum

cerebral palsy

condition characterized by lack of muscle control and partial paralysis caused by a brain defect or lesion present at birth or shortly after

cerebrospinal fluid

clear watery fluid that fills the space between the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater

cerebrovascular accident

loss of blood to the brain caused by cerebral thrombus, embolism or hemorrhage (stroke)

cervical cancer

malignant tumor of the cervix

cesarean section

the birth of a baby through an incision in the mother's abdomen and uterus

chalazion

obstruction of an oil gland of the eyelid; also called meibomian cyst

chemotherapy

treatment of cancer by using drugs

chest computed tomography

computerized radiographic images of the chest performed to diagnose tumors, abscesses and pleural effusion

chest radiograph

a radiographic image of the chest used to evaluate the lungs and the heart

chiropractic

therapy that consists of manipulation of the vertebral column

chiropractor

specialist in therapy consiting of manipulation of vertebral column