Chapter 1 Flashcards
-algia
pain, suffering
dys-
bad, difficult, or painful
-ectomy
surgical removal, cutting out
hyper-
excessive, increased
hypo-
deficient, decreased
-itis
inflammation
-osis
abnormal condition, disease
-ostomy
the surgical creation of an artificial opening to the body surface
-otomy
cutting, surgical incision eg. episiotomy
-plasty
surgical repair
-rrhage
bleeding, abnormal excessive fluid discharge
-rrhaphy
surgical suturing
-rrhea
flow or discharge
-rrhexis
rupture
-sclerosis
abnormal hardening
-centesis
a surgical puncture to remove fluid for diagnostic purposes or to remove excess fluid
cyan/o
blue
erythr/o
red
leuk/o
white
melan/o
black
poli/o
gray
-megaly
enlargement
-malacia
abnormal softening
abdominocentesis
The surgical puncture of the abdominal cavity to remove fluid.
acronym
A word formed from the initial letter of the major parts of a compound term
Acute
An acute condition has a rapid onset, a severe course, and a relatively short duration.
angiography
The process of producing a radiographic (x-ray) study of blood vessels after the injection of a contrast medium to make these blood vessels visible.
angiogram
The resulting film that is produced by angiography.
appendectomy
The surgical removal of the appendix.
arteriomalacia
The abnormal softening of the walls of an artery or arteries.
arterionecrosis
The tissue death of an artery or arteries.
arteriosclerosis
The abnormal hardening of the walls of an artery or arteries.
arteriostenosis
The abnormal narrowing of an artery or arteries.
Arthroscopy
The visual examination of the internal structure of a joint.
arthralgia
Pain in a joint or joints.
cardiac
An adjective that means pertaining to the heart.
chronic
A chronic condition is of long duration. Although such diseases can be controlled, they are rarely cured.
colostomy
The surgical creation of an artificial excretory opening between the colon and the body surface.
cranium
The portion of the skull that encloses the brain.
cyanosis
A blue discoloration of the skin caused by a lack of adequate oxygen in the blood.
dermatologist
A physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the skin.
diagnosis (DX)
The identification of a disease.
differential diagnosis (D/DX)
Also known as a rule out (R/O), is an attempt to determine which one of the several possible diseases is causing the signs and symptoms that are present.
Diarrhea
The frequent flow of loose or watery stools.
Edema
Swelling caused by an abnormal accumulation of fluid in cells, tissues, or cavities of the body.
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. Eg. Alois Alzheimer.
Erythrocyte
A mature red blood cell.
Eupnea
Easy or normal breathing
fissure
A groove or crack-like sore of the skin. This term also describes normal folds 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. A fistula may be due to surgery, injury, or the draining of an abscess.
gastralgia & gastrodynia
Pain in the stomach.
gastritis
An inflammation of the stomach.
Gastrosis
Any disease of the stomach.
hemorrhage
The loss of a large amount of blood in a short time.
hepatomegaly
Abnormal enlargement of the liver.
hypertension
Higher than normal blood pressure.
Hypotension
Lower than normal blood pressure.
Ileum
The last and longest portion of the small intestine. Memory aid: ileum is spelled with an e as in intestine.
Ilium
Part of the hip bone. Memory aid: ilium is spelled with an I as in hip.
infection
The invasion of the body by a pathogenic (disease-producing) organism. The infection can remain localized (near the point of entry) or can by systemic (affecting the entire body).
Inflammation
A localized response to an injury or to the destruction of tissues. The key indicators of inflammation are erythema (redness), hyperthermia (heat), edema (swelling), and pain. These are caused by extra blood flowing into the area as part of the healing process.
interstitial
Between, but not within, the parts of a tissue.
intramuscular
Within the muscle.
Laceration
A torn or jagged wound or an accidental cut.
lesion
A pathologic change of the tissues due to disease or injury.
leukocyte
A white blood cell.
malaise
A word of French origin referring to a feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness that is often the first indication of an infection or other disease.
melanosis
Any condition of unusual deposits of black pigment in body tissues or organs.
mycosis
Any abnormal condition or disease caused by a fungus.
Myopathy
Any pathologic change or disease of muscle tissue
myoplasty
The surgical repair of a muscle wound.
myorrhexis
The rupture of a muscle.
natal
pertaining to birth.
neonatology
The study of disorders of the newborn.
Neurorraphy
Suturing together the ends of a severed nerve.
neuroplasty
Surgical repair of a nerve.
otorhinolaryngology
The 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.
perinatal
The time and events surrounding birth.
phalanges
The bones of the fingers and toes.
poliomyelitis
A viral infection of the gray nerve tissue of the spinal cord.
postnatal
The time and events after birth.
prenatal
The time and events before birth.
prognosis
A prediction of the probably course and outcome of a disease (plural, pronoses)
pyoderma
Any acute, inflammatory, pus-forming bacterial skin infection such as impetigo.
pyrosis
Also known as heartburn, is 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.
subcostal
Below a rib or ribs.
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 signs and symptoms that occur together as part of a specific disease process.
tonsillitis
An inflammation of the tonsils.
trauma
Wound or injury. These are types of injuries that might occur in an accident, shooting, natural disaster, or fire.
triage
The medical screening of patients to determine their relative priority of need and the proper place of treatment.
viral
Pertaining to a virus.
myelopathy
Any pathologic change or disease in the spinal cord.
