Chapter 1: Introduction to Med Term (words) Flashcards
abdominocentsis (ab-dom-ih-noh-sen-TEE-sis)
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.
appendectomy
Surgical removal of the appendix.
arteriosclerosis
Abnormal hardening of the walls of an artery or arteries.
arthralgia (ar-THRAL-jee-ah)
Pain in a joint or joints.
colostomy (koh-LAHS-toh-mee)
The surgical creation of an artificial excretory opening between the colon and the body surface.
cyanosis
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
The identification of a disease.
diarrhea
The frequent flow of loose or watery stools.
edema
Swelling caused by excess fluid 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.
gastralgia (gas-TRAL-jee-ah)
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.
hepatomegaly (hep-ah-toh-MEG-ah-lee)
Abnormal enlargement of the liver.
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 (in-ter-STISH-al)
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 (mah-LAYZ)
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 (my-eh-LOP-ah-thee)
Any pathologic change or disease in the spinal cord.
myopathy (my-OP-ah-thee)
Any pathologic change or disease of muscle tissue.
myorrhexis (my-oh-RECK-sis)
The rupture of a muscle.
