MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY FULL

Abscess

localized collection of pus

Acute

New, usually of rapid onset and of concern, opposite of chronic

Adherence

obedience to a rule

Adjunct

another treatment used together with primary treatment

Afebrile

without fever

Agranulocytosis

a deficiency of granulocytes in the blood, causing increased vulnerability to infection.

Alopecia

hair loss

Ambulatory

capable of walking

Amenorrhea

absence of menstruation

Amnesia

loss of memory

Analgesic

medication that reduces or eliminates pain

Anaphylaxis

Severe allergic reaction

Andropause

referred to as male menopause; is marked by the decrease of the male hormone testosterone

Anemia

A condition in which the blood is deficient in red blood cells, in hemoglobin, or in total volume.

Anhedonia

inability to experience pleasure

Aneurysm

an excessive localized enlargement of an artery caused by a weakening of the artery wall.

Angioedema

swelling of the blood vessels

Anorexia

loss of appetite

Anterior

front of the body

Antiemetic

drug that prevents or stops vomiting

Antibiotic

a medicine used to save lives because it destroys harmful bacteria and cures infections

Anti-inflammatory

a drug that reduces inflammation

Antipruritic

a drug that relieves itching

Antipyretic

a drug that relieves fever

Antiseptic

A substance that destroys micro-organisms that carry disease without harming body tissues

antitussive

a drug that prevents coughing

aphagia

inability to swallow

Arrythmia

Abnormal heart rhythm

arthralgia

joint pain

ascites

abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen

aspiration

Breathing fluid, food, vomitus, or an object into the lungs

Asthenia

weakness

ataxia

lack of muscle coordination

atrophy

(n.) the wasting away of a body organ or tissue; any progressive decline or failure; (v.) to waste away

Auscultation

Listening with a stethoscope

Axillary

pertaining to the armpit

bilateral

having two sides

biopsy

the removal of living tissue from the body for diagnostic examination

benign

mild, not cancerous

bronchitis

inflammation of the bronchi

Bradycardia

abnormally slow heartbeat

bradypnea

abnormally slow breathing

Buccal

pertaining to the cheek

cachexia

a condition of physical wasting away due to the loss of weight and muscle mass that occurs in patients with diseases such as advanced cancer or AIDS

Candidiasis

(moniliasis) white, cheesy, curdlike patch on buccal mucosa due to superficial fungal infection

Cardiovascular

pertaining to the heart and blood vessels

catheter

tube for injecting or removing fluids

chronic

Long-standing, constant. Opposite of acute

Comorbidity

The coexistence of two or more disorders.

compliance

Conforming to a request or demand

constriction

compression of a part that causes narrowing (stenosis)

contraceptive

agent that prevents conception

contraindication

a factor in the patient's condition that makes the use of a medication or specific treatment dangerous or ill advised

contusion

bruise, injury

Corticosteroids

anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressive drugs

Crackles

(rales) abnormal, discontinuous, adventitious lung sounds heard on inspiration

Cranial

skull

Cyanotic

Bluish skin color due to lack of Oxygen

cyanosis

A bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes.

delirium

mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement

Dementia

a slowly progressive decline in mental abilities, including memory, thinking, and judgment, that is often accompanied by personality changes

diagnosis

identification of a disease

Diaphoretic

Characterized by profuse sweating.

differential diagnosis

a list of potential diagnoses compiled early in the assessment of the patient

distention

the state or act of extending or being swollen out of shape

Diastolic

occurs when the ventricles are relaxed; the lowest pressure against the walls of an artery

diplopia

the perception of two images of a single object (double vision)

diuretic

agent that increases urine output

diuresis

increased output of urine

dorsalis

any of several arteries situated in and supplying the back of the parts with which they are associated

dose

The amount of substance given at one time.

dyskinesia

the distortion or impairment of voluntary movement such as in a tic or spasm

dysphagia

difficulty swallowing or eating

dystrophy

abnormal development due to faulty nutrition

Dyspnea

difficulty breathing

dysuria

painful urination

edema

Abnormal accumulation of fluid in interstitial spaces of tissues.

effusion

outpouring

Egophony

abnormal change in tone of voice that is heard when auscultating the lungs; the voice sound of "eeeee" during auscultation

ejection fraction

SV/EDV

measurement of the volume percentage of left ventricle contents ejected after each contraction

- how much blood leaves the patient's heart after it contracts

Electrolyte

A substance that dissolves in water to give a solution that conducts electric current

emesis

vomiting

emollient

softener

encephalitis

inflammation of the brain

endocarditis

inflammation of the inner lining of the heart

enema

the placement of a solution into the rectum and colon to empty the lower intestine through bowel activity

enteritis

inflammation of the small intestine

epidural

a type of anesthesia to provide pain relief during labour

epistaxis

nosebleed

erythema

redness of the skin

Etiology

cause of disease

exacerbation

increase in the severity of a disease or its symptoms

exfoliate

to flake or peel off

expectorant

a drug that breaks up mucus and promotes coughing

extraocular

pertaining to outside the eye

Extrapyrimidal symptoms

side effects such as restlessness, involuntary movements, and muscular tension produced by antipsychotic medications

Extravasation

escape of blood from the blood vessel into the tissue

exophthalmos

abnormal protrusion of the eyeball

Exudate

fluid, such as pus, that leaks out of an infected wound

febrile

fever