Chapter 1: Introduction to Medical Terminology Flashcards
-algia
pain, suffering
-dynia
pain
-ectomy
surgical removal, cutting out
-gram
picture or record
hyper-
excessive, increased
hypo
deficient, decreased
-itis
inflammation
-osis
abnormal condition, disease
-ostomy
the surgical creation of an artificial opening to the body surface
pre-
before, in front of
-plasty
surgical repair
-rrhage
bleeding, abnormal excessive fluid discharge
-rrhaphy
surgical suturing
rrhea
flow or discharge
-sclerosis
abnormal hardening
abdominocentesis
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
condition that has a rapid onset, a severe course and a relatively short duration
angiography
process of producing an x-ray, or radiographic study of the blood vessels after the injection of a contrast medium
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
surgical creation of an artificial excretory opening between the colon and the body surface.
cyanosis
blue discoloration of the skin caused by 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 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.
erythrocyte
a mature red blood cell.
fissure
a groove or crack-like sore of the skin; also 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.
gastralgia
pain in the stomach.
gastroenteritis
inflammation of the stomach and small intestine.
gastritis
inflammation of the stomach lining.
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.
infection
invasion of the body by a pathogenic organism.
inflammation
a localized response to an injury or to the destruction of tissues.
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 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 injury, degeneration or disease in the spinal cord.
myopathy
any pathologic change or disease of muscle tissue.
natal
pertaining to birth.
neonatology
the 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 such as impetigo.
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 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.
tenorrhaphy
surgical suturing of a tendon.
tonsillitis
inflammation of the tonsils.
trauma
wound or injury.
triage
the medical screening of patients to determine their relative priority of need and the proper place of treatment.
viral
pertaining to a virus.
