Basic Medical Terms to Describe Disease Conditions

Question 1

Sign

Answer 1

objective evidence of disease, such as a fever

Objective means the sign can be evaluated or measured by patient or others

Question 2

Symptom

Answer 2

subjective evidence of a disease, such as pain or headache

Subjective means that it can be evaluated or measured only by patient

Question 3

Syndrome

Answer 3

set of the signs and symptoms that occur together as part of a specific disease process

Question 4

Diagnosis

Answer 4

identification of a disease, to diagnose is the process of reaching a diagnosis

Question 5

Differential diagnosis

Answer 5

also known as to rule out, is an attempt to determine which one of several diseases can be producing the signs and symptoms that are present

Question 6

Prognosis

Answer 6

prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disorder

Question 7

Acute

Answer 7

condition has rapid onset, a severe course, and a relatively short duration

Question 8

Chronic

Answer 8

condition is of long duration; although some diseases can be controlled, they are rarely cured

Question 9

Remission

Answer 9

the temporary, partial, or complete disappearance of the symptoms of a disease without having achieved a cure

Question 10

Disease

Answer 10

condition in which one or more body parts are not functioning normally. Some diseases are named for their signs and symptoms (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)

Question 11

Eponym

Answer 11

a disease structure, operation or procedure named for the person who discovered or described it first

Question 12

Acronym

Answer 12

word formed the initial letter of the major parts of a compound term