Medical Terminology > Lesson 13 > Flashcards
Lesson 13 Flashcards
Alges/o
Pain
Arthr/o
Joint
Cardi/o
Heart
Ech/o
Sound
Enter/o
Small intestine
Fluor/o
Glowing
Glycos/o
Glucose, sugar
Hem/o
Blood
Hemat/o
Blood
Lapar/o
Abdomen, abdominal wall
Lingu/o
Tongue
Ophthalm/o
Eye
Ot/o
Ear
Pharmac/o
Drugs
Phleb/o
Vein
Py/o
Pus
Pyret/o
Fever
Radi/o
Radiation, X-rays
Son/o
Sound
Steth/o
Chest
Tom/o
To slice
an-
Without
anti-
Against
endo-
Within
hyper-
Increased, high
hypo-
Decreased, low
intra-
Within
par-, para-
Apart from
sub-
Below
trans-
Across, through
ultra-
Beyond, excess
-centesis
Surgical puncture to remove fluids
-crit
To separate
-globin
Protein
-graphy
The process of producing a picture
-ology
Study of
-otomy
Surgical incision
-scope
Instrument for visual examination
-scopy
Visual examination
-uria
Urination, urine
BMP
Basic Metabolic Panel
BP
Blood Pressure
C&S
Culture and Sensitivity
CBC
Complete Blood Count
CT
Computed Tomography
IM
Intramuscular
IV
Intravenous
MRI
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
NSAID
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
OTC
Over The Counter
PET imaging
Positron Emission Tomography
PT
Prothrombin Time
Rx
Prescription
SC, SQ, Subq
Subcutaneous
SPECT imaging
Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography
TENS
Transcutaneous Electronic Nerve Stimulation
UA
Urinalysis
VSS
Vital Signs Stable
Observation
Observation or inspection is the process of obtaining information by observing the patient-their level of consciousness, nutritional status, skin color, posture, gait, asymmetry, mannerisms and personal hygiene.
Focused inspection can be used on a specific body area, such as the hands. Deformities, rashes, lesions, discolorations and swelling can be noted.
Auscultation
Auscultation is the process of listening to body sounds with a stethoscope. It is useful for examining the heart and lungs, as well as the abdomen for bowel sounds. Abnormal sounds in the carotid artery of the neck can be heard on auscultation.
Auscultation is also used to determine a patient’s blood pressure reading. Blood pressure is the force of the blood against the walls of the arteries. The organs of the cardiovascular system (blood, heart, and blood vessels) work together to maintain an adequate flow of blood to the body’s tissues. Adequate blood flow requires enough pressure to push the blood through smaller and smaller arteries, along the capillaries, and back to the heart through the venous system.
A blood pressure reading is obtained by listening for sounds in the brachial artery using a stethoscope and measuring the force of the blood with a sphygmomanometer. The blood pressure reading is recorded with two numbers. The first and higher number is the systolic pressure. This is the pressure in the arteries when the heart beats and pushes blood out to the body. The second and lower number is the diastolic pressure. This is the pressure in the arteries when the heart is resting between beats.
When the blood pressure is recorded, the systolic and diastolic pressures are separated by a slash mark-as in 120/80-and pronounced “one-twenty over eighty.” This is the blood pressure value that is considered normal for adults. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is considered to be a reading of 140/90 or higher.
Palpation
Palpation is an examination of the body using touch and is performed with the use of the fingertips or one or both hands. Palpating a body part can determine things such as size, location, temperature, masses, pulsations, and areas of tenderness. Pulse is measured using palpation.
Percussion
Percussion is tapping the body surfaces and hearing the resulting sounds to determine the presence of air and solid masses affecting internal organs. Percussion is most useful when assessing the condition of the chest and abdomen. There are four terms commonly used to describe percussion sounds:
Tympanic: Drum-like sound found in gas-filled areas of the stomach
Resonant: Hollow sound found in normal lung tissue
Hyper-resonant: Loud, booming sound found in lung diseases, such as emphysema
Dull: Thud-like sound heard over solid organs, such as the liver.
Mensuration
The mensuration method of examination uses the process of measuring. Mensuration is used to record the following:
Height and weight
Length and head circumference of an infant
Height of the uterus to assess fetal growth during pregnancy
Extent of joint motion (flexion and extension)
Size of wounds and skin lesions
Circumference of the calf of the patient’s leg
Sitting Position
In the sitting position, the patient sits on the edge of the exam table. This position is used for a focused exam of the head, neck, back, chest, and extremities.
Supine Position
In the supine position, the patient lies flat on their back, facing up. This position is used for examination and treatment of the front surface of the body.
Prone Position
In the prone position, the patient lies on his or her abdomen. This position is used for examining the back surface of the body, especially the spine and legs.
Lithotomy Position
In the lithotomy position, the patient lies on his or her back with knees bent and feet in stirrups attached to the end of the examining table. This position is used during examination of the female genitalia.
Types of Imaging
Radiology is the medical specialty that uses medical imaging to diagnose and treat diseases within the body. Diagnostic imaging modalities (methods) include:
X-rays CT scans MRIs Ultrasounds Nuclear medicine scans The type of imaging performed depends on the patient's symptoms and the part of the body being examined.
X-rays
An X-ray is a quick, painless test that produces images of the structures inside the body. X-ray beams are absorbed in different amounts depending on the density of the tissues they pass through. Dense tissues, such as bone, show up as white on X-rays. Fat and muscle appear as shades of gray. Air in the lungs shows up as black.
CT Scans
Computerized tomography (CT) uses special X-ray equipment to produce multiple images of structures that cannot be seen with regular X-rays. The CT machine rotates 360 degrees around the patient to obtain cross-sectional images that are processed by a computer and viewed on a monitor.
In some cases, a contrast medium is administered for a better view of internal structures. Common contrast substances are barium sulfate and iodine compounds. Contrast medium can enter the body three ways:
Orally (by swallowing)
Rectally (by enema)
Intravenously (by injection into blood vessel)
MRIs
Magnetic resonance imaging uses no ionizing radiation and is a noninvasive, safe, and painless procedure. MRI uses a powerful magnetic field, radio waves, and a computer to produce images of exceptionally high quality. All body areas can be viewed by MRI, but MRI is the gold standard for diagnosing certain diseases of the brain and spinal cord. In general, MRI creates pictures that can show differences between healthy and unhealthy tissues.
Ultrasounds
Ultrasonography, or ultrasound imaging, uses high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the body’s internal structures. It does not use ionizing radiation, has no known harmful effects, and provides a clear picture of soft tissues that don’t show up well on X-rays.
Sound waves are emitted from a transducer, or probe, that pass through the skin, bounce off the body’s tissues, and are reflected back to the transducer. The image produced is known as a sonogram or echogram.
Nuclear Medicine Scans
Nuclear medicine is a branch of medical imaging that uses small amounts of radioactive substances to diagnose or treat a variety of diseases. Because nuclear medicine procedures are able to pinpoint activity at the molecular level, they offer the potential to identify disease in its earliest stages.
Radioactive substances are administered to the patient either by mouth or by injection. The radioactive compounds, known as radiopharmaceuticals, accumulate in the organ or area of the body being examined. Radioactive emissions are detected by a special camera that produces the pictures.
Common Laboratory Tests
A regular part of the experience when visiting a health facility may be lab testing. Laboratory tests save time, money, and lives by enabling early detection and prevention of disease.
The sophistication of laboratory testing has grown exponentially and continues to develop at breakneck speed. The CDC reports that there are greater than 4,000 laboratory tests available for clinical use.
Purposes of Laboratory Testing
A doctor may have many reasons for ordering a laboratory test. The following are the most common reasons.
Establish a baseline
During a physical exam, tests can be used to check for routine things, such as cholesterol in the blood, to make sure the results are in the healthy normal range. This becomes the patient’s baseline value, which can be compared to future lab testing if an illness occurs.
Preoperative testing
The goals of preoperative testing are to manage the patient’s risks for anesthesia and surgery, reduce the patient’s length of stay after surgery, and return the patient to normal functioning as soon as possible.
Determine a diagnosis
Sometimes a patient’s symptoms, such as fatigue or weight loss, aren’t enough to indicate a diagnosis, and lab tests are required to lead the doctor in a specific direction or at least eliminate other conditions.
Confirm a diagnosis
If the provider is able to diagnose the patient based on findings of a physical examination, laboratory tests can be ordered to confirm that diagnosis. For example, an adult with painful urination and blood in the urine most likely has a urinary tract infection. A quick urinalysis can confirm that diagnosis.
Monitor chronic conditions
Most chronic diseases, such as diabetes, kidney or thyroid disease, require some element of laboratory monitoring, usually on a regular basis. Results of the lab testing may necessitate an adjustment in the patient’s treatment plan.
Determine the effectiveness of treatment
Lab tests can confirm if a patient’s medication is within a therapeutic range, a process called therapeutic drug monitoring. For example, a patient with epilepsy must take an effective amount of anti-seizure medication, and a patient prescribed an anticoagulant (blood thinner) would need regular monitoring to make sure he or she is not at an increased risk for bleeding.
ANA-Antinuclear Antibody
Used for autoimmune disorders, such as lupus
BMP-Basic Metabolic Panel
Group of tests used as a screening tool to check for conditions such as diabetes and kidney disease
CBC-Complete Blood Count
Screens for a variety of diseases, such as anemia, infection, inflammation, bleeding disorder, or cancer
CMP-Comprehensive Metabolic Profile
Group of blood tests that measure blood sugar, electrolyte and fluid balance, kidney and liver function
Electrolytes-Electrolytes are minerals
Detects problems with electrolyte balance (usually sodium and potassium)
ESR-Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
Detects the presence of inflammation
hCG-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
Used to confirm a pregnancy
HbA1c-Hemoglobin A1c
Used to monitor a patient’s diabetes
HDL-C-High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
Determines a patient’s risk of developing heart disease
LDL-C-Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol
Determines a patient’s risk of developing heart disease
Lipid Profile-Lipids are fatty substances
Group of tests that determine the risk of cardiovascular disease
PSA -Prostate Specific Antigen
Screens men for prostate cancer
PT-Prothrombin Time (Pro Time)
Used to monitor how well anticoagulants (blood-thinning medications) are working to prevent blood clots
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the study of drugs-their uses, actions, and adverse effects. Drugs are used in healthcare to cure diseases, slow progression of diseases, and prevent diseases. Pharmacology determines the safety and effectiveness of these drugs.
Preventive
Drugs are used to prevent the occurrence of symptoms, conditions, or diseases.- Plavix is used to prevent blood clots.
Therapeutic
Drugs are used to treat diseases.-Synthroid is used to treat an underactive thyroid.
Diagnostic
Drugs can be used in conjunction with radiological procedures or medical tests to provide evidence of a disease.-Dilating drops enlarge the pupils for eye exams
ac
before meals
pc
after meals
hs
bedtime
qd
every day
qod
every other day
qh
every hour
q4h
every four hours (can replace “4” with other numbers)
bid
twice a day
tid
three times a day
qid
four times a day
NPO
nothing by mouth
po
by mouth
prn
as needed
g
gram
mg
milligram
oz
ounce
