Medical Terms pt. 2

sign

objective (can be evaluated or measured by the patient or others) evidence of disease or the physical manifestation of injury, illness or disease

symptoms

subjective (can be evaluated or measured only by the patient) evidence of disease or what the patient experiences about the injury

syndrome

a group of symptoms and signs that collectively indicate or characterize a disease, psychological disorder, or other abnormal condition.

acronym

a word formed by combining the initial letters of a multipart name or major parts of a compound term, such as GERD from Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease

abbreviation

a shortened form of a word or phrase used chiefly in writing to represent the complete form, such as AMI. for Acute Myocardial Infraction

eponym

one whose name is or is thought be the source of the name of something such as a disease, structure, operation, or procedure named for the person who discovered it first, for example, Marfan syndrome, Fallopian tube, Rinne Test, Huntington Disease.

acute disease

rapid, severe and relatively short duration

chronic disease

lasting for a long period of time or marked by frequent recurrence, as certain diseases, may be controlled but almost never cured

relapse

a return of a disease or its symptoms after partial recovery from it.

exacerbation

an increase in the severity of the disease or any of its symptoms.

remission

the period during which the symptoms of a disease abate or subside without having achieved a cure

differential diagnosis

the differences between diseases in terms of clinical signs and epidemiological parameters; used as a basis for selecting as a diagnosis the one with the best fit to those seen in the subject. Also known as to rule out (R/O).

sarcoma

a cancerous tumor of fleshy tissue.

malignant

tending to become progressively worse and to result in death; having the properties of anaplasia, invasiveness, and metastasis; said of tumors. You can also simply define it by a cancerous tumor that spreads like fire.

benign

not malignant; not recurrent; favorable for recovery. You can also define it by a non-cancerous tumor that does not spread.

myocardial infarction (MI)

death of the cells of an area of the heart muscle as a result of oxygen deprivation, which in turn is caused by obstruction of the blood supply; commonly referred to as a "heart attack."

cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

an abnormal condition of the brain characterized by occlusion by an embolus, thrombus, or cerebrovascular hemorrhage or vasospasm, resulting in ischemia of the brain tissues normally perfused by the damaged vessels. commonly referred to as a "stroke."

ischemia

a condition in which blood supply is held back from a part of the body.

ilium

one of the bones of each half of the pelvis

ileum

third part of the small intestine

intervertebral

pertaining to lying between two vertebrae

intravertebral

situated or occurring within a vertebral

peritoneum

membrane that surrounds the abdomen and holds the abdominal organs in place

perineum

the area between the anus and the scrotum (or vulva in females)

mucous

pertaining to membrane that secretes mucus

mucus

secretion from mucous membrane

palpation

process of touching and feeling

palpitation

having the heart throb, a feeling that your heart is beating too hard or too fast

albumen

the white of an egg

albumin

protein molecule in the blood

humerus

bone of upper arm

humorous

a general English word that means amusing or fun

humeral

pertaining to bone of upper arm

humoral

pertaining to immunity to infection from antibodies in blood

contraction

normal tensing and shortening of muscle from nerve impulse

contracture

abnormal, fixed position of permanently flexed muscle

reflex

involuntary, automatic response of muscular-nervous pathway

reflux

backward flowing of fluid

ureter

tube that connects kidney to bladder

ureteral

ureteral obstruction, ureteral stent, ureteral catheter

urethra

tube that connects bladder to outside of body

urethral

adjective of urethra

vesical

pertaining to the urinary bladder

vesicle

small fluid-filled blister on skin

prostate

gland that surrounds urethra in males

prostrate

lying in a face-down position

breath

air that flows in and out of lungs

breathe

action of inhaling and exhaling

fissure

groove or crack-like sore of the skin. It also describes normal folds in the contour of the brain

fistula

abnormal passage between two internal organs

Infection

the invasion of the body by a pathogenic organism

inflammation

localized response to an injury or destruction of tissues

laceration

torn, ragged wound

lesion

a pathologic change of the tissues to disease or injury

supination

the act of rotating the arm so that the palm of the hand is forward or upward

suppuration

the formation of discharge or pus

trauma

wound or injury

tumor

a swelling of a part of the body caused by an abnormal growth of tissue

viral

pertaining to a virus

virile

possessing masculine traits

lithotomy

incision to remove the stones from the kidney or an examination position in which the patient is lying on back with the feet and legs raised and supported in stirrups.

calculus

kidney stone or the heel bone

colic

spasm of smooth muscle around ureters and bladder or around intestines

pelvis

funnel-shaped area in kidney or hipbones with sacrum and coccyx

sclera

white of the eye

cyst

filled sac or pouch

pharmacy

a place for dispensing medicine

xiphoid

cartilage attached to the sternum

rhinoplasty

plastic repair of the nose

ptosis

drooping

gnathic

pertaining to the jaw

psychiatrist

specialist in the treatment of the mind

euthanasia

painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable disease

leukocyte

white blood cells

septicemia

systemic infection of the blood by pathogenic microorganisms

amniocentesis

removal of some amniotic fluid by the insertion into the womb of a hollow needle

incision

a cut in the skin during surgery or procedure

electrical

pertaining to electricity

endocrinology

the study and treatment of the disorders of the endocrine system

pericardium

a fibroserous, double-layered membrane surrounding the heart

medical

pertaining to medicine

pharmacology

the study of drugs and their interactions with living systems

hematology

the study of blood

surgical

pertaining to surgery

salpingitis

inflammation of the fallopian tube

pharyngitis

inflammation of the throat

arthralgia

pain in a joint

angioplasty

surgical repair of a blood vessel

meningitis

inflammation of the membranes that surround the brain or the spinal cord

inguinal

pertaining to the junctional region between the abdomen and thigh

cholecystectomy

excision of the gallbladder

esophageal

pertaining to the esophagus

enteritis

inflammation of the small intestine

ophthalmoscope

Instrument used to visually examine the eye

retrogastric

pertaining to behind the stomach

retrohepatic

pertaining to behind the liver

tetany

sustained muscle contraction

psychosis

abnormal condition of the mind

psoriasis

skin disease

diuresis

increased urination