Basic Clinical Skills - Medical Terminology

Abate

To lessen, ease, decrease, or cease

• Used to note the lessening of pain or the decrease in severity of symptoms

Abnormal

Pertaining to away from the norm or rule

• A condition that is considered to be not normal

Abscess

Localized collection of pus, which may occur in any part of the body

Acute

Sudden, sharp, severe

• Used to describe a disease that has a sudden onset, sever symptoms, and a short course

Adhesion

Literally means a process of being stuck together

Afferent

Carrying impulses toward a center

Ambulatory

Condition of being able to walk, not confined to bed

Antidote

Substance given to counteract poisons and their effects

Antipyretic

Pertaining to an agent that is used to lower an elevated body temperature (fever)

Antiseptic

Pertaining to an agent that works against sepsis

• A technique or product used to prevent or limit infections

Antitussive

Pertaining to an agent that works against coughing

Apathy

Condition in which one lacks feelings and emotions and is indifferent

Asepsis

Without decay

• Sterile, free from all living microorganisms

Axillary

Pertaining to the armpit

Biopsy (Bx)

Surgical removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination

• Used to determine a diagnosis of disease processes in the body

Cachexia

Condition of ill health, malnutrition, and wasting

• May occur in chronic diseases like cancer or pulmonary tuberculosis

Centigrade

Literally means having 100 steps or degrees

• Unit of temperature measurement with a boiling point at 100 degrees and freezing point at 0 degrees

Centimeter

One hundredth of a meter

Chemotherapy

The use of chemical agents in the treatment of disease, specifically drugs used in cancer therapy

Chronic

Pertaining to time

• Denotes a disease with little change or of slow progression

Diagnosis (Dx)

Process of identifying a disease or disorder which is determined through the use of scientific and skillful methods of knowledge

Diaphoresis

To carry through sweat glands

• Profuse sweating

Disease

A disruption of normal functioning of the body by a process that can congenital or infectious, or the failure of normal activity to maintain and sustain health

Disinfectant

Chemical substance that can be applied to objects to destroy pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria

Efferent

Carrying impulses away from a center

Empathy

The ability to sense intellectually and emotionally the feelings of another person

Epidemic

The rapid, widespread occurrence of an infectious disease that can be spread by any pathological organism transmitted by and to humans, birds, insects, and other living things

• Can be used to describe any problem that has grown out of control

Etiology

Study of the cause(s) of disease

Excision

Process of cutting out, surgical removal

Febrile

Pertaining to fever, a sustained body temperature above 98.6°F

Heterogenous

Literally means pertaining to a different formation; composed of unlike substances

Illness

State of being sick

Incision

Process of cutting into

Macroscopic

Pertaining to objects large enough to be examined by the naked eye

Malaise

A general feeling of discomfort or uneasiness

Malformation

Literally means a process of being badly shaped, deformed

• A structural defect that fails to form normal shape and therefore can affect the function

Malignant

Literally means formation of a bad kind

• Growing worse, harmful, cancerous

Maximal

Pertaining to the greatest possible quantity, number or degree

Microorganism

Small living organisms that are not visible to the naked eye

Microscope

Scientific instrument designed to view small objects that are not visible to the naked eye

• With its magnification, we can see cells and even tiny structures within cells

Minimal

Pertaining to the least possible quantity, number, or degree

Morbidity

State of being diseased

• Refers to the disease rate or number of cases of a particular disease in a given age range, gender, or occupation, or other relevant population-based grouping

Mortality

Refers to the death rate reflected by the population in a given region, age range, or other relevant statistical grouping

Multiform

Occurring in or having many shapes

• An object that has more than one defined shape

Necrosis

Abnormal condition of tissue death

Oncology

Literally means the study of tumors

• Medical specialty that studies the etiology, characteristics, treatments of cancer

Pallor

Paleness, a l

Palmar

Pertaining to the palm of the hand

Paracentesis

Surgical puncture of a body cavity for fluid removal

Pathogenic

Pertaining to producing disease

Prognosis

Literally means a state of foreknowledge

• Prediction of the course of a disease and the recovery rate of the affected person

Prophylactic

Pertaining to preventing or protecting against disease or pregnancy

Pyrogenic

Pertaining to the production of heat (a fever)

Radiology

Study of x-rays and other imaging modalities that use x-rays

Rapport

Relationship of understanding between 2 individuals, especially between patient and physician

Sequela

The late or residual effect after the acute phase of an illness or injury has ended

• EX.: deafness after treatment with an ototoxic drug

Syndrome

A group of signs and symptoms occurring together that characterize a specific disease or pathological condition

Triage

A system of prioritizing and classifying patient injuries to determine priority of need and treatment

Abrasion

Process of scraping away from a surface, such as skin or teeth, by friction

Anesthetize

To induce a loss of feeling or sensation with the administration of an anesthetic agent

Asymmetrical

Unequal in size or shape

Bilateral

Pertaining to 2 sides

Comatose

Literally means pertaining to a state of deep sleep

• Total lack of consciousness

Gynecoid

Literally means to resemble a female

Hyperactive

Nature or quality of excessive activity

Hypoplasia

Underdevelopment of a tissue, organ, or body

Infection

Process whereby a pathogenic (disease-producing) microorganism invades the body, reproduces, multiplies, and causes disease

Insomnia

Condition of not being able to sleep

Intravenous

Pertaining to within a vein

Latent

Lying hidden; quiet, not active

Lumen

Space within an artery, vein, intestine, or tube

• it is also the hollow core of a hypodermic needle, which forms an ovalshaped opening when exposed at the beveled (flat, slanted surface) point

Palpate

To use the hands or fingers to examine by touch; to feel

Patent

Wide open; freely open

Pericardial

Pertaining to the pericardium (a fibrous sac surrounding the heart)

Polydactyly

Pertaining to having more than the normal number of fingers and toes

Premenstrual

Pertaining to the number of days before the discharge of the menses

Steroid

applies to any one of a large group of substances chemically related to sterols

Superinfection

An infection following a previous infection produced by an overgrowth of a resistant strain of bacteria, fungi, or yeast

• It can occur as an adverse effect of antibiotic usage or overusage

Trauma

Physical injury or wound caused by external force, violence, or a toxic substance

Turgor

Generally refers to the expected resiliency of the skin caused by the outward pressure of the cells and interstitial fluid

Unconscious

An abnormal state in which the person is not aware of his or her environment

Abdomen

Abdomin/o

Ankle

tars/o

Arm

Brach/i, brachi/o

Back

poster/o

Bones

oste/o

breast

mast/o, mamm/o

Cheek

bucc/o

Chest

thorac/o

Ear

aur/i, ot/o

elbow

cubit/o, olecran/o

Eye

ophthalm/o, ocul/o, opt/o

finger

dactyl/o

foot

pod/o

gums

gingiv/o

hand

chir/o

head

cephal/o

heart

cardi/o

hip

isch/i

leg

crur/o