Medical Terminology Chapter 1 Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering medical term analysis and definitions from Chapter 1, Exercise 1.

abiosis

absence of life

acanthocytosis

having acanthocytes in the blood (acanthocytes are abnormal erythrocytes that appear to be covered with thorns).

acephalia

congenital absence of the head.

allostery

1. In bacteria, alteration of a regulatory site on a protein that changes its shape and activity. 2. In enzymology, the ability of a factor to bind to a site on an enzyme other than its substrate-binding site and cause a change in the conformation of the enzyme and its ability to catalyze a chemical reaction.

alogia

Inability to speak.

analgesic

relieving pain.

angiology

the study of blood vessels and lymphatics.

antibiosis

An association or relationship between two organisms in which one is harmful to the other.

anticytotoxin

something that opposes the action of a cytotoxin (an antibody or toxin that attacks the cells of a particular organ).

apraxia

1) Inability to perform purposive movements although there is no sensory or motor impairment; 2) Inability to use objects properly.

arthritides

inflamed joints

arthritis

inflammation of the joints, often accompanied by pain

arthrology

the scientific study of joints.

arthrosclerosis

stiffening or hardening of the joints, esp. in the aged.

biologist

a specialist in biology (the science of life and living things).

bradycardia

abnormally slow heartbeat

cardioangiology

the science of the heart and blood vessels.

dysostosis

Defective ossification (formation or replacement of bone).

ectostosis

formation of bone beneath the periosteum (the fibrous membrane that forms the covering of bones).

encephalolith

a calculus of the brain.

endarteritis

Infection or inflammation of the lining of a blood vessel.

endosteum

the membrane lining the marrow cavity of a bone

endotoxin

a toxin present inside a bacterial cell that is released when it disintegrates

epinephrine

$C_9H_{13}NO_3$; a catecholamine produced by the adrenal gland, secreted when the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated. In the physiological response to stress, it is responsible for maintaining blood pressure and cardiac output, keeping airways open wide, and raising blood sugar levels.

epicranium

the soft tissue covering the cranium

erythrocyte

a mature red blood cell

erythroleukemia

A variant of acute myelogenous leukemia with anemia, bizarre red blood cell morphology, erythroid hyperplasia in the bone marrow, and occasionally hepatosplenomegaly. The leukocyte count may be extremely high or quite low.

erythrosis

A reddish-purple discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes in polycythemia.

exocardia

a congenitally abnormal position of the heart.

exotoxin

a toxin released by a living bacterial cell into its surrounding

hemicrania

unilateral head pain, usually migraine; a malformation in which only one half of the skull is developed.

hypalgesia

a lessened sensitivity to pain

hyperalgesia

an excessive sensitivity to pain/opposite of hypalgesia.

hyperostosis

an abnormal growth of osseous tissue.

leukotoxin

a toxin that destroys leukocytes

lithiasis

presence of stones in the body

mesocardia

location of the heart in the midline of the thorax. This position is normal in the fetal stage, but a malposition after birth

nephrolithiasis

the presence of calculi (stones) in the kidney

nephrosclerosis

hardening of the connective tissue of the kidneys

neuritis

inflammation of a nerve

osteometry

measurement of bones and their relationships within the skeleton

osteosclerosis

an abnormal increase in thickening and density of bone

ostosis

osteogenesis (formation and development of bone taking place in connective tissue or in cartilage)

periocyte

a stem cell that may give rise to smooth muscle cells; often found around capillaries.

perinephric

located or occurring around the kidney

scleromalacia

a softening of the sclera (outer layer of the eyeball made of fibrous connective tissue)

sclerosis

a hardening or induration of an organ or tissue, especially that due to excessive growth of fibrous tissue

stenotic

pertaining to the constriction or narrowing of a passage or orifice.

stereology

the study of three-dimensional aspects of objects

synosteology

the branch of medical science concerned with joints and articulations

tachycardiac

a person afflicted with an abnormally rapid heart rate, greater than $100$ beats per minute in adults.