Basic Medical Terminology Flashcards
Abrasion
Scrape of the skin due to something abrasive.
Ab- meaning away from
Think: Pulling to top layer of skin “away from” the rest.
Acute
New, usually of rapid onset and of concern, opposite of chronic
Acu/o- meaning sharp; severe; sudden
Think: an acute Illness develops “suddenly” and is “severe”
Ambulate
To walk from place to place
Think: the patient was allowed to “ambulate”, or walk around, her room.
Anterior
Located towards the front of the body
Anter/o- meaning front
Think: if a baby is OA (Occipital Anterior), the back of his head is facing the mother’s front.
Artery
Blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart
Arter/o and Arteri/o- meaning artery
Think: Artery Away (AA)
Benign
Normal, of no danger to health
Think: a benign tumor is “of no danger” and is not cancerous or dangerous.
Bradycardia
Slow heart-rate (HR less than 60bpm)
Brady- meaning slow
Cardi/o- meaning heart
Think: Bradey has a slow heart.
Cardiomegaly
Enlarged heart
Cardi/o- meaning heart
Megaly- meaning enlargement
Think: MEGA heart!!!!!
Cholecystitis
Cho-le-cys-ti-tis
Inflammation of the cholecyst (gallbladder)
Cholecyst- meaning gallbladder
-itis- meaning inflammation
Chronic
Long-standing, constant. Opposite of acute
Chron/o- meaning time
Think: lasting a long time.
COPD
Chronic- meaning long-lasting
Obstructive- meaning causing obstruction
Pulmonary- Pulmon/o- meaning lung
Disease- Impairing normal body function
Lung disease commonly seen in smokers.
Coronary Artery
The artery that supplies heart tissue with blood.
Coron/o- meaning crown or circle
Think: the coronary artery encircles the heart.
Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)
A.k.a. Stroke. Lack of blood supply to the brain causing brain damage.
Cerebr/o- meaning cerebrum (largest part of the brain)
Vascul/o- meaning vessel (blood)
Think: an accident where the vessels do not supply enough blood to the brain and cause damage.
Diaphoresis
Sweating.
Diaphor/o- meaning sweat
-esis- meaning action; condition; state of
Think: The act or condition of sweating. Sweating like a Dog (D for Diaphoresis)
Distal
Farther from the trunk of the body.
dist/o- meaning far; distant
Think: The distal end of the bone is the end farthest from the body.
Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
A blood clot in a deep vein, most often an extremity.
thromb/o- clot
-sis - state of; condition
Dyspnea
Problems with breathing
dys- meaning bad; painful; difficult; abnormal
pnea- meaning breathing
Think: like apnea but instead to stopping breathing, just difficulty breathing.
Dysuria
dis-your-ē-a
Painful urination
dys- meaning bad, painful, difficult, or abnormal
-uria- meaning urination; condition of urine
Ecchymosis
ec-chy-mo-sis
A bruise
ec- meaning out; outside
Think: a bruise is seen on the outside
Edema
Swelling
Emesis
e-me-ses
Vomiting
Epistaxis
Nose bleed
A Greek word meaning “a dripping”
Erythema/ Erythematous
er-y-them-a-tous
Redness/ Red
erythem/o- meaning redness
Febrile
Elevated body temperature, fever, indicative of infection.
febr/i- meaning fever
Grossly
Obviously; a lot; wholly
Think: “wholly” moley! That is a “gross” amount of candy and you can’t hide it.