med term Flashcards
acute
An illness or injury characterized by rapid onset, severe symptoms, and short duration; may require medical care.
autoimmune
Abnormal condition in which the immune system produces antibodies against (attacks) its own tissues. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
benign
Nonrecurring; nonmalignant. Used to describe noncancerous tumors (growths) in which the patient has a good chance of survival.
chronic
An illness or injury characterized by long duration and slow progression; for example, congestive heart failure.
congenital
A condition that is present at birth and may be the result of either genetic or environmental factors; cerebral palsy, for example.
convalescence
A period of gradual recovery after illness or injury.
debilitating
Having a weakening or fatiguing effect.
endemic
A disease that is ongoing and restricted to a specific population, group, or area of land.
endogenous
An injury or condition that originates within the body; for example, circulatory disorders, diabetes, and immune system disorders.
epidemic
A sudden, widespread outbreak of a disease within a population, group, or area of land.
exogenous
An injury or condition that originates outside the body; for example, trauma, chemical injury, or infection by an airborne pathogen.
genetic
inherited
hypersensitivity
Condition in which the body’s immune system has an exaggerated response to an antigen, a substance that is harmful or perceived by the body to be harmful; allergy.
iatrogenic
An infection or disease that arises as a complication of medical or surgical intervention. Radiation and chemotherapy, for example, commonly produce the iatrogenic effects of nausea, vomiting, hair loss, and anemia.
idiopathic
A disease that has an unknown etiology (cause).
immunological
Pertaining to a reaction between an antigen and an antibody, a protein that the body makes in response to an antigen.
infectious
Capable of causing an infection.
inflammatory
Marked by inflammation (redness, heat, fever, and swelling) or caused by inflammation.
ischemic
A condition or disease caused by a temporary deficiency in blood flow to an organ or tissue; for example, an ischemic stroke.
malise
A feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness.
malignant
Used to describe cancers that tend to spread, get progressively worse, and become life threatening.
metabolic
A disorder that interferes with normal metabolism, the chemical processes involved in converting food to energy and in sustaining life; diabetes, for example.
metastasis
Beyond standing still (spread of cancer beyond its borders).
neoplastic
A new, abnormal growth that may be cancerous or noncancerous.
nosocomial
An infection acquired in a hospital setting that was not present upon admission. Pneumonia is a common nosocomial infection.
nutritional
Relating to chemical processes in the body that occur after ingesting (eating) food.
opportunistic
A pathogen that normally does not cause a disease unless the immune system is in a weakened state. People with AIDS, for example, are highly susceptible to opportunistic infections.
pandemic
A disease that spreads over most of the world. COVID-19 is one recent example of a pandemic.
prophylaxis
for prevention
syndrome
A set of signs or symptoms that occur together as part of a disease process.
terminal
A disease for which there are treatments, but no cure; fatal (certain malignant cancers, for example).
observation
looking and asking questions to gather data
manifestation
a disease presents itself
signs
observed and noted by a healthcare professional, can be noted
symptomes
NOT measurable pain,nausea,fatigue,weakness
patient history
written description of symptoms in a patients medical records
inspection
observation of one or more area of the body
auscultation
using a stethoscope to listen to sounds of the body
palpation
application of pressure to asses areas of the body
percussion
tapping areas on the surface of the body to asses organ size
diagnostic testing
use of lab x-rays and other test to help diagnose disease or illness
olfaction
use of smell to detect abnormalities
diagnosis
id of a health condition
prognosis
prediction of the possible outcome for disease or condition
