LOOK-ALIKE, SOUND-ALIKE TERMS AND WORD PARTS Flashcards
What does “arteri/o-“ mean?
means artery. Endarterial (end-ar-TEE- ree-al) means pertaining to the interior or lining of an artery (end- means within, arteri means artery, and -al means pertaining to).
What does “ather/o-“ mean?
means plaque or fatty substance. An ather- oma (ath-er-OH-mah) is a fatty deposit within the wall of an artery (ather means fatty substance, and -oma means tumor).
What does “arthr/o-“ mean?
means joint. Arthralgia (ar-THRAL-jee-ah) means pain in a joint or joints (arthr means joint, and -algia means pain).
What does “-ectomy” mean?
means surgical removal. An appendectomy (ap-en-DECK-toh-mee) is the surgical removal of the appendix (append means appendix, and -ectomy means surgical removal).
What does “-ostomy” mean?
means the surgical creation of an artificial opening to the body surface. A colostomy (koh-LAHS- toh-mee) is the surgical creation of an artificial excretory opening between the colon and the body surface (col means colon, and -ostomy means the surgical creation of an artificial opening).
What does “-otomy” mean?
means cutting or a surgical incision. A colotomy (koh-LOT-oh-mee) is a surgical incision into the colon (col means colon, and -otomy means a surgical incision).
What does “fissure” mean?
a groove or crack-like sore of the skin (see Chapter 12). This term also describes normal folds in the contours of the brain.
What does “fistula” mean?
an abnormal passage, usu- ally 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.
What does “ileum” mean?
the last and longest portion of the small intestine. Memory aid: ileum is spelled with an e as in intestine.
What does “ilium” mean?
part of the hip bone. Memory aid: ilium is spelled with an i as in hip. (Figure 1.11)
What does “malaise” mean?
a feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness that is often the first indication of an infection or other disease.
What does “exudate” mean?
fluid, such as pus, that leaks out of an infected wound.
What does “laceration” mean?
a torn or jagged wound or an accidental cut wound.
What does “lesion” mean?
a pathologic change of the tissues due to disease or injury.
What does “mucous” mean?
the specialized membranes that line the body cavities.
What does “mucus” mean?
the name of the fluid secreted by these mucous membranes.
What does “myc/o” mean?
any abnormal condition or disease caused by a fungus (myc means fungus, and -osis means abnormal condition or disease).
What does “myel/o-“ mean?
bone marrow or spinal cord. The term myelopathy (my-eh-LOP-ah-thee) describes any pathologic change or disease in the spinal cord (myel/o means spinal cord or bone marrow, and -pathy means disease).
What does “my/o-“ mean?
means muscle. The term myopathy (my-OP- ah-thee) describes any pathologic change or disease of muscle tissue (my/o means muscle, and -pathy means disease).
What does “-ologist” mean?
means specialist. A dermatologist (der-mah- TOL-oh-jist) is a physician who specializes in diag- nosing and treating disorders of the skin (dermat means skin, and -ologist means specialist).
What does “-ology” mean?
means the study of. Neonatology (nee-oh-nay- TOL-oh-jee) is the study of disorders of the newborn (neo- means new, nat means birth, and -ology means study of).
What does “palpation” mean?
an examination tech-nique in which the examiner’s hands are used to feel the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body parts.
What does “palpitation” mean?
is a pounding or racing heart.
What does “pyel/o-“ mean?
means renal pelvis, which is part of the kidney. Pyelitis (pye-eh-LYE-tis) is an inflammation of the renal pelvis (pyel means renal pelvis, and -itis means inflammation).
