Chapter 3 general terminology Flashcards
1
Q
remission
A
A lessening of disease symptoms, the period during which such lessening occurs
2
Q
septicemia
A
Presence of pathogenic bacteria in the blood, blood poisoning
3
Q
systemic
A
Pertaining to the whole body
4
Q
abscess
A
a localized collections of pus
5
Q
adhesion
A
A uniting of two surfaces or parts that may normally be separated
6
Q
anaplasia
A
Lack of normal differentiation, as shown by cancer cells
7
Q
ascites
A
Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity
8
Q
cellulitis
A
A spreading inflammation of tissue
9
Q
effusion
A
Escape of fluid into a cavity or other body part
10
Q
exudate
A
Material that escapes from blood vessels as a result of tissue injury
11
Q
fissure
A
A groove or split
12
Q
fistula
A
An abnormal passage between two organs or from an organ to the surface of the body
13
Q
gangrene
A
Death of tissue, usually caused by lack of blood supply; may be associated with bacterial infection and decomposition
14
Q
hyperplasia
A
Excessive growth of normal cells in normal arrangement
15
Q
hypertrophy
A
An increase in the size of an organ without increase in the number of cells; may result from an increase in activity, as in muscles
16
Q
induration
A
Hardening, an abnormally hard spot or place
17
Q
metaplasia
A
Conversion of cells to a form that is not normal for that tissue (prefix meta- means “change”)
18
Q
polyp
A
A tumor attached by a thin stalk
19
Q
purulent
A
Forming or containing pus
20
Q
suppuration
A
Pus formation
21
Q
AF
A
acid fast
22
Q
CA
A
cancer
23
Q
CIS
A
carcinoma in situ
24
Q
FUO
A
fever of unknown origin
25
Gm+
gram positive
26
Gm-
gram negative
27
MDR
multidrug resistant
28
MRSA
Methicillin-resistant S. aureus
29
Staph
Staphylococcus
30
Strep
Streptococcus
31
VRSA
Vancomycin-resistant S. aureus
32
Palpation
touching the surface of the body with the hands or fingers
33
Percussion
tapping the body to evaluate tissue according to the sounds produced
34
Auscultation
listening to body sounds with a stethoscope
35
anesthesia
Loss of the ability to feel pain, as by administration of a drug
36
auscultation
aws-kul-TA-shun
Listening for sounds within the body, usually within the chest or abdomen
37
biopsy
BI-op-se
Removal of a small amount of tissue for microscopic examination
38
cautery
KAW-ter-e
Destruction of tissue by a damaging agent, such as a harmful chemical, heat, or electric current (electrocautery); cauterization
39
chemotherapy
ke-mo-THER-ah-pe
Use of chemicals to treat disease; the term is often applied specifically to the treatment of cancer with chemicals
40
diagnosis
di-ag-NO-sis
The process of determining the cause and nature of an illness
41
endoscope
EN-do-skope
An instrument for examining the inside of an organ or cavity through a body opening or small incision; most endoscopes use fiber optics for viewing
42
excision
ek-SIZH-un
Removal by cutting (suffix: -ectomy)
43
fixation
fik-SA-shun
Holding or fastening a structure in a firm position (suffix: -pexy)
44
-ectomy
Removal by cutting
45
grading
GRA-ding
A method for evaluating a tumor based on microscopic examination of the cells
46
immunotherapy
im-u-no-THER-ah-pe
Treatment that involves stimulation or suppression of the immune system, either specifically or nonspecifically
47
incision
in-SIZH-un
A cut, as for surgery; also the act of cutting (suffix: -tomy)
48
laser
LA-zer
A device that transforms light into a beam of intense heat and power; used for surgery and diagnosis
49
ophthalmoscope
of-THAL-mo-skope
An instrument for examining the interior of the eye
50
otoscope
O-to-skope
Instrument used to examine the ears
51
palliative therapy
PAL-e-ah-tiv
Providing relief but not cure; a treatment that provides such relief
52
prognosis
prog-NO-sis
Prediction of a disease’s course and outcome
53
radiography
ra-de-OG-rah-fe
Use of x-rays passed through the body to make a visual record (radiograph) of internal structures either on specially sensitized film or digitally; roentgenography (rent-geh-NOG-rah-fe)
54
sign
sine
Objective evidence of disease that can be observed or tested; examples are fever, rash, high blood pressure, and blood or urine abnormalities; an objective symptom
55
sphygmomanometer
sfig-mo-mah-NOM-eh-ter
Blood pressure apparatus or blood pressure cuff; pressure is read in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) when the heart is contracting (systolic pressure) and when the heart is relaxing (diastolic pressure) and is reported as systolic/diastolic
56
staging
STA-jing
The process of classifying malignant tumors for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis
57
suture
SU-chur
To unite parts by stitching them together; also the thread or other material used in that process or the seam formed by surgical stitching (suffix: -rhaphy)
58
symptom
SIMP-tum
Any evidence of disease; sometimes limited to subjective evidence of disease as experienced by the individual, such as pain, dizziness, and weakness
59
therapy
THER-ah-pe
Treatment, intervention
60
vital signs
VI-tal
Measurements that reflect basic functions necessary to maintain life
61
biofeedback
bi-o-FEDE-bak
A method for learning control of involuntary physiologic responses by using electronic devices to monitor bodily changes and feeding this information back to a person
62
chiropractic
ki-ro-PRAK-tik
A science that stresses the condition of the nervous system in diagnosis and treatment of disease; often, the spine is manipulated to correct misalignment; most patients consult for musculoskeletal pain and headaches (from Greek cheir, meaning “hand”)
63
holistic health care
ho-LIS-tik
Practice of treating a person as a whole entity with physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs; it stresses comprehensive care, involvement in one’s own care, and the maintenance of good health rather than the treatment of disease
64
homeopathy
ho-me-OP-ah-the
A philosophy of treating disease by administering drugs in highly diluted form along with promoting healthy life habits and a healthy environment (from home/o, meaning “same,” and path/o, meaning “disease”)
65
massage
ma-SAHJ
Manipulation of the body or portion of the body to calm, relieve tension, increase circulation, and stimulate muscles
66
meditation
med-ih-TA-shun
Process of clearing the mind by concentrating on the inner self while controlling breathing and perhaps repeating a word or phrase (mantra)
67
naturopathy
na-chur-OP-ah-the
A therapeutic philosophy of helping people heal themselves by developing healthy lifestyles; naturopaths may use some of the methods of conventional medicine (from nature and path/o, meaning “disease”)
68
osteopathy
os-te-OP-ah-the
A system of therapy based on the theory that the body can overcome disease when it has normal structure, a favorable environment, and proper nutrition; osteopaths use standard medical practices for diagnosis and treatment but stress the identification and correction of faulty body structure (from oste/o, meaning “bone,” and path/o, meaning “disease”)
