Anatomical Terms and General Medical Terminology Flashcards
Abduction
Movement of a body part away from the midline
Adduction
Movement of a body part toward the midline
Anatomical Position
The erect position of the body with arms at the side and palms of the hands facing forward
Anterior (Ventral)
Nearer to the front
Bilateral
Paired structures having right and left members
Contralateral
Occurring on the opposite side of the body
Deep
Farther from the surface
Depressor
A muscle whose contraction pulls down the part of the body to which it is attached
Distal
Farther from the trunk or site of attachment
Dorsal
Situated toward the back of the body; also back of hand and top of foot
Dorsiflexion
Backward flexion or bending (hand/foot)
Extension
The straightening of a body part
External
Situated outside; exterior (refers to wall of cavity or hollow form)
Evert
To turn outward
Flexion
Bending or angulation of a body part
Frontal (Coronal)
Vertical planes that pass through the body at right angles to the median plane; divide the body into anterior and posterior parts
Inferior
Nearer to the feet
Internal
Inside (refers to wall of cavity or hollow form)
Invert
To turn inward
Ipsilateral
Occurring on the same side of the body
Lateral
Farther from the median plane
Levator
A muscle whose contraction raises the part of the body to which it is attached
Medial
Nearer to the median plane
Midline
Divides body into a right and left side
Palmar
Palmar surface of hand
**Plantar
Sole side of foot
**Plantar Flexion
Foot movement when toes flex down
pointing your toes
Posterior
Nearer to the back
Pronator
Medial rotation of the forearm and hand so that the palm faces posteriorly
Prone
Body lying face down (chest down and back up)
Proximal
Nearer to the trunk or site of attachment
**Supine
Body lying face up (chest up and back down)
Superior
Nearer to the head
Transverse (Horizontal)
Horizontal planes that pass through the body at right angles to long axis; divides body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) parts
Volar
Relating to the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot
**Afebrile
Without fever
Ambulation
To walk (with a cane/walker)
Aneurysm
An excessive localized enlargement of an artery caused by a weakening of the artery wall
Antiemetic
Medication used to relieve nausea and vomiting
Antipyretics
Medication used to reduce fever
Arrhythmia
An abnormal heart rhythm (AKA cardiac dysrhythmia)
Artery
A blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood away from the heart
Arthralgia
Pain in a joint
Articulation
Connection between bones
Atelectasis
Partial or total collapse of the lungs
Avulsion
The action of pulling or tearing away (as in a skin avulsion)
Axilla
Armpit
Benign
A tumor that is not dangerous and does not spread
Bruit
An abnormal murmur or sound heard through a stethoscope
Cardiomegaly
Abnormal enlargement of the heart
Cephalgia
A headache
Cerumen
Earwax
Debridement
Removal of foreign matter or dead tissue from a wound
Dentition
The teeth in situ or in the dental arch
**Diaphoresis
Excessive sweating
Downcodes
A reduction of reimbursement for medical services when
documentation is missing in a medical chart
Dysmenorrhea
Painful menstruation
Dyspareunia
Painful intercourse
Dyspepsia
Indigestion
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing
Dyspnea
Difficulty breathing
**Dysuria
Painful urination
Edema
Swelling of body tissues due to an excessive accumulation of fluid in connective tissue or a serous cavity
Edentulous
Without teeth
Effusion
Escape of fluid into a cavity
Emaciate
To become extremely thin or lean; wasting
Embolism
Obstruction of a blood vessel by a clot of blood or foreign substance
**Emesis
Vomiting
**Epistaxis
Bleeding from the nose
Febrile
With fever
**Gait
Manner of walking
Gingiva
Gums
Gravid
Pregnant
Hematemesis
Vomiting of blood
**Hematochezia
Bright red bloody stools
Hematoma
Swelling of blood which occurs in an organ or tissue resulting from ruptured blood vessels
**Hematuria
Blood in the urine
**Hemoptysis
Coughing up blood
Hemothorax
The accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity
Hypotension
Persistently low arterial blood pressure
**Incontinence
Inability to control bowel movements or urine
Infarct
Tissue death resulting from failure of blood supply
Inguinal
Pertaining to the groin region
Ischemia
An inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body
Joint
Articulation or junction between two or more bones or cartilage
Keloid
Scar formation consisting of dense tissue
Lacrimal
To do with tears
Lethargy
Fatigue/exhaustion
Ligament
Fibrous tissue, binding bones together
Lingual
Belonging to the tongue
Lymphadenopathy
Enlargement of a lymph node
Malaise
Generalized feeling of discomfort or weakness
Malignant
A tumor that can invade/destroy local tissues and spread to other parts of the body
Malleolus
Projections on either side of the ankle joint from the lower leg bones (tibia/fibula)
Melena
Black, tarry-like stool
Missed Ancillary
When a test or procedure is performed on a patient, but it is not documented in the medical chart to allow for generation of a bill
Myalgia
Muscular pain
**Myocardial Infarction
Heart attack
Nares
Nostrils
Neuralgia
Sharp pain along the course of a nerve or several nerves
Occiput
Back part of the skull
Odynophagia
Painful swallowing
Olecranon
Large bony projection of the ulna forming the elbow joint
Orthopnea
Shortness of breath while lying down flat
Os
Mouth; orifice
Palpable
Able to be touched or felt
Palpitations
A noticeably rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat
Para
Woman who has given birth to one or more viable offspring; the number of viable offspring born by a woman
Paresthesia
Abnormal tactile sensation often described as creeping, burning, tingling, or numbness
Photophobia
Extreme sensitivity to light
Pleurisy
Inflammation of the pleural lining of lung which causes pain when taking a deep breath
Polydipsia
Excessive thirst
Polyuria
Excessive urination
**Pruritis
Itchiness
Purulent
Consisting of pus
Rhinorrhea
Thin, watery discharge from the nose
Sciatic
Pertaining to the ischium or hip
Shaft
Long, slender portion of bone
Sputum
Any mixed matter with saliva that is expectorated through the mouth
Stellate
Star-shaped; radiating from a center
Stenosis
Narrowing of a body opening or passage
**Syncope
Passing out or fainting (near syncope is almost fainting)
Tinnitus
Ringing in the ears
Torsion
The twisting of a bodily organ on its own axis (e.g. ovary, testicle)
Transient
Passing quickly into and out of existence (temporary condition)
Vein
Vessel carrying deoxygenated blood to the heart (excluding pulmonary veins)
**Vertigo
Dizziness, often described as the room spinning
Waxing and Waning
Constant symptom that increased and decreases in severity (such as pain)