Medical Terminology #1

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