Basic Medical Terms Flashcards
Abrasion
scrape of the skin due to something abrasive
Abscess
collection of pus underneath the skin
Antipyretic
medication used to reduce a fever
Acute
new, usually of rapid onset and of concern; opposite of chronic
Afebrile
without fever (Temp. < 100.4)
Anterior
located toward the front of the body
Appendicitis
dangerous infections of the appendix
Auscultation
listening to sounds arising within organs (as the lungs)
Benign
normal, of no danger to health
Bradycardia
slow heart-rate (HR < 60 bpm)
Bronchiolitis
infection of the bronchioles (smaller air-tubes in the lungs)
Bronchitis
infection of the bronchi (upper airway)
Catheter
tube inserted into vessels or body cavities to permit injection or withdrawal of fluids or to keep a passage open
Chronic
long standing, constant. Opposite of acute
Cellulitis
infection of skin cells
Conjunctivitis
infection of the outer layer of the eye
Dialysis
process of removing waste from the blood for people with renal failure
Diaphoresis
sweating
Diffuse
spread out (not localized)
Distal
farther from the trunk of the body
Dyspnea
Difficulty breathing
Dyursia
painful urination
Ecchymosis
a bruise
-ectomy (suffix)
surgical removal (ex. tonsillectomy)
Edemy
swelling
Emesis
vomiting
Epilepsy
seizure disorder
Epistaxis
nose bleed
Erythema/Erythematous
Redness/Red
Exudates (tonsillar)
pus-pockets on the tonsils
Febrile
the state of having a fever (Temp > 100.4)
Grossly
obviously; a lot; wholly
Hematemesis
gross amounts of blood in the vomit
Hematuria
blood in the urine
Hemoptysis
coughing up gross amounts of blood
Hemorrhage
excessive or profuse bleeding
Hepatomegaly
enlarged liver
Hernia
protrusion of an organ through the wall of the cavity that normally contains it
Hyperlipidemia
high cholesterol
Hypertension
high blood pressure
Hypoxia
low oxygen saturation of the body, not enough oxygen in the blood
ICD-10
a system to classify & code diagnosis, symptoms, & procedures
Infarct
area of dead tissue after a lack of blood supply
Inferior
lower on the body, farther from the head
Ischemia
lack of blood supply
-itis (suffix)
inflammation (ex. appendicitis)
Laceration
splitting of the skin due to trauma (a cut due to something sharp)
Lateral
farther from the midline (a line that can be traced from nose to bellybutton)
Lethargic
septic, very sick, about to die
Medial
nearer to the midline
Meningitis
dangerous infection of the outer lining of the brain
Otitis Externa
infection of the outer ear (ear canal)
Otitis Media
infection of the inner ear (behind eardrum)
Melena
black tarry stool
Myalgia
muscular pain “muscle aches”
Pallor
pale skin
Palpation
examine by touch
Palpitation
to beat rapidly, irregularly, or forcibly (usually relating to the heart)
Peritoneal signs
guarding/rebound/rigidity: PE findings indicate a rupture in the abdomen
Pharyngitis
throat infection
Pneumonia
bacterial infection of the lungs
Posterior/Dorsal
rear or backside of the body
Prone
body position of lying flat, face down
Proximal
nearer to the trunk of the body
Pulmonary
relating to the lungs
Purulence/Purulent
pus/pus-like
Rales
crackles; wet cracking noice in lungs
Rhinorrhea
clear and natural discharge “runny nose”
Rhonchi
rattling noise of mucous in the lungs
-scopy (suffix)
viewing w/ a scope (ex. colonoscopy)
Sepsis
dangerous infection of the blood
Sinusitis
infection/inflammation of the nasal sinuses
Small bowel obstruction
physical blockage of the small intestines
Streptococcal Pharyngitis
strep throat
Superior
higher on the body, nearer to the head
Supine
body position lying face up
Syncope
“passing out,” loss of consciousness or fainting
Tachycardia
fast heart rate (HR > 100 bpm)
Trismus
inability to open the jaw due to pain
Tachypnea
increased breathing rate
Ulcerations
blisters or open-sores
Vertigo
room-spinning dizziness (not light-headed)
Wheezing
high pitched sound heard in the lungs with asthmatics or lung disease
