Medical Terminology
Aerobic
the presence of air or oxygen
Agonist
to enhance an expected response
Anaerobic
the absence of air or oxygen
Aniscoria
a condition characterized by unequal pupil size
Antagonist
to inhibit or counteract the effects of other drugs or undesired effects
Anion
an ion with a negative charge
Aphasia
inability or difficulty in speaking
Apnea
the cessation of spontaneous respirations
Ascites
abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
Ataxia
failure of muscle coordination
Atrophy
shrinkage of a cell or muscle
Aura
sensation (may be visual, smell, taste, etc.) that may precede a migraine or seizure
Benign
nonmalignant, often not problematic
Bile
secreted by the liver, stored in gallbladder
Blebs
collection of air between the lung and visceral pleura that can result in spontaneous pneumothorax
Bruit
an abnormal sound or murmur due to a narrowing of the vessel
Bursa
a sac containing synovial fluid that helps ease friction between tendons and bone
Carcinogens
cancer-causing agents
Cartilage
smooth and firm connective tissue
Cation
an ion with a positive charge
Cell
basic unit of life
Cerumen
ear wax found in external ear canal
Chyme
mass of partially digested food passed from stomach to the duodenum
Cilia
small, hair-like structures
Coma
deep state of unconsciousness, unarousable
Confabulation
made up stories to fill in gaps of lost memory
Congenital
present at birth
Contrecoup
occurs at a site opposite of the side of impact
Crepitus
a grating sound or sensation often caused by bone on bone rubbing, or with inflammation in joints
Dehydration
an excessive loss of water or fluids from the body.
Demarcation
line or visible mark between living and necrotic tissues.
Dendrites
found at the end of neurons, allows propagation of message towards cell body.
Dentalgia
is a toothache
Dermatomes
specific area that is supplied by a single spinal nerve
Dysarthria
poor articulation of speech. Often due to affected muscles used in speaking
Dyskinesia
disorder related to involuntary muscle movements
Dysplasia
abnormal growth of a cell
Dysphagia
difficulty in swallowing
Dysuria
difficult or painful urination
Edema
excess fluid in the interstitial spaces
Epidemic
a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time
Erythrocytes
red blood cells
Facilitated diffusion
a carrier-mediated process moving substances from areas of high concentration to low concentration
Fascia
connective tissue that surrounds or separates muscles
Fecalith
fecal impaction in the colon
Fibrinogen
blood protein used in clotting cascade
Frailty
characterized by exhaustion, slowed performance, weakness, weight loss, low physical activity, often seen in the elderly
Gait
walking or moving on foot
Ganglia
a group of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system
Gestation
period from fertilization of ovum to birth of fetus
Globulins
simple proteins classified by their size, mobility, and solution
Glomerulus
mass of capillaries found at the beginning of each nephron
Hematuria
blood in the urine.
Hemiparesis
one-sided weakness; often seen in those with CVA’s.
Hemolysis
breakdown of red blood cells.
Hemophilia
hereditary bleeding disorders due to missing factors for proper blood coagulation.
Hemoptysis
coughing up blood.
Host
an animal or human with exposure to an infectious agent.
Hydrocele
a fluid-filled sac along the spermatic cord.
Hymen
a mucous membrane covering the vaginal outlet.
Hyperemia
increased blood flow to an organ.
Hyperopia
distant vision is clear, but near vision is often blurry (farsightedness).
Hyperplasia
excessive increase in the number of cells.
Idiopathic
unknown cause.
Idiosyncrasy
an abnormal response to a drug.
Incontinence
inability to control bowel or bladder function.
Infarction
death of tissue from lack of oxygen.
Inferior
down/bottom, toward the feet.
Infiltration
how fluids pass into tissues.
Jejunum
part of the small intestine.
Joule
measurement of electrical energy.
Keloid
excessive scar tissue that goes beyond the original border.
Kyphosis
abnormal curvature of the spine, increased convexity as viewed laterally.
Lactate
found in cells during metabolism, byproduct of lactic acid.
Laryngitis
inflammation of the larynx.
Lobules
small lobes.
Luxation
a complete dislocation.
Malaise
general weakness.
Malignant
cancerous, has ability to metastasize or spread.
Mania
a mood disorder characterized by hyperactivity, agitation, excitement and occasional violent and self-destructive behavior.
Melena
black, tarry stools containing digested blood.
Metastasis
movement or spreading of cancer cells from location to another.
Myalgia
muscle pain
Necrosis
death of a cell or a group of cells as the result of disease, ischemia, or injury.
Neoplasia
new and abnormal growth that may be malignant or benign.
Nephron
the structural and functional unit of the kidney.
Nocturia
excessive urination at night.
Nucleus
controlling body of a cell.
Nystagmus
involuntary jerking actions of the eyes.
Oliguria
diminished ability to create or pass urine.
Orchitis
inflammation of the testicle that may be painful.
Osmolality
osmotic pressure of a solution.
Osmosis
the diffusion of solvent (water) through a membrane from a less concentrated solution to a more concentrated solution.
Ostomy
a surgical opening that creates a hole from the inside of the body to the outside.
Ovum
a female egg or egg cell.
Parenteral
any medication route other than the oral route
Paresthesia
sensation of numbness tingling or “pins and needles”
Pathogen
a cause of a disease
Phobia
anxiety disorder characterized by an obsessive, irrational, and intense fear of a specific object or activity