Chapter 1 Flashcards
abdominocentesis
The surgical puncture of the abdominal cavity to remove fluid for diagnostic purposes
acronym
A word formed from the initial letters of the major parts of a compound term
acute
A condition that has a rapid onset, a severe course, and a relatively short duration
angiography
radiographic study of the blood vessels
appendectomy
Surgical removal of the appendix
arteriosclerosis
Abnormal hardening of the walls of an artery or arteries
arthralgia
Pain in a joint or joints
colostomy
The surgical creation of an artificial excretory opening between the colon and the body surface
cyanosis
A bluish discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes caused by a lack of adequate oxygen in the blood
dermatologist
A physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the skin
diagnosis
The identification of a disease
diarrhea
The frequent flow of loose or watery stools
edema
Excessive fluid accumulation in body tissues
endarterial
Pertaining to the interior or lining of an artery
eponym
A disease, structure, operation, or procedure named for the person who discovered or described it first
erythrocyte
A mature red blood cell
fissure
A groove or cracklike sore of the skin; also a normal fold in the contours of the brain
fistula
An abnormal passage, usually between two internal organs or leading from an organ to the surface of the body
gastralgia
pain in the stomach
gastritis
inflammation of the stomach
gastroenteritis
inflammation of the stomach and small intestine
gastrosis
any abnormal condition or disease of the stomach
hemorrhage
The loss of a large amount of blood in a short time.
heptomegaly
The loss of a large amount of blood in a short time.
hypertension
Higher-than-normal blood pressure.
hypotension
Lower-than-normal blood pressure.
infection
invasion of the body by a pathogenic organism.
inflammation
A localized response to an injury or destruction of tissues that is characterized by heat, redness, swelling, and pain.
interstitial
Between, but not within, the parts of a tissue.
intramuscular
within the muscle
laceration
A torn, jagged wound or an accidental cut wound.
lesion
A pathologic change of the tissues due to disease or injury.
malaise
A feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness that is often the first indication of an infection or other disease
mycosis
Any abnormal condition or disease caused by a fungus.
myelopathy
Any pathologic change or disease in the spinal cord.
myopathy
Any pathologic change or disease of muscle tissue.
myorrhexis
The rupture of a muscle
natal
pertaining to birth
neonatology
Study of disorders of the newborn
neurorrhaphy
Suturing together the ends of a severed nerve.
otorhinolaryngology
Study of the ears, nose, and throat.
palpation
An examination technique in which the examiner’s hands are used to feel the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body parts.
palpitation
A pounding or racing heart.
pathology
The study of all aspects of diseases.
phalanges
The bones of the fingers and toes.
poliomyelitis
A viral infection of the gray nerve tissue of the spinal cord.
prognosis
A prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disease.
pyoderma
Any acute, inflammatory, pus-forming bacterial skin infection.
pyrosis
Discomfort due to the regurgitation of stomach acid upward into the esophagus.
remission
The temporary, partial, or complete disappearance of the symptoms of a disease without having achieved a cure.
sign
Objective evidence of disease, such as a fever.
supination
The act of rotating the arm so that the palm of the hand is forward or upward.
suppuration
The formation or discharge of pus.
supracostal
Above or outside the ribs.
symptom
Subjective evidence of a disease, such as pain or a headache.
syndrome
A set of the signs and symptoms that occur together as part of a specific disease process.
tonsillitis
Inflammation of the tonsils.
trauma
Wound or injury.
triage
Medical screening of patients to determine their relative priority of need and the proper place of treatment.
viral
pertaining to a virus
