Medical Jargon Flashcards
abandonment
Termination of the physician-patient relationship unilaterally by the physician under circumstances that require continuing medical care, without giving the patient reasonable time to secure the service of another physician or when alternative sources for medical care are unavailable.
abarticular
Not affecting, or far from, a joint.
abasia
Inability to walk due to impaired motor coordination
abdomen
The part of the body when between the thorax and pelvis; contains the viscera
abdominal
Pertaining to the abdomen
abdominoplasty
Removal of loose skin and subcutaneous tissue from the abdominal wall
abdominoposterior
Denoting a position of the fetus in the uterus in which its abdomen is turned toward the mother’s back
abdominoscopy
a procedure for examining the contents of the peritoneum in which an electrically illuminated tubular device is passed through a trocar into the abdominal cavity.
abdominovaginal
Relating to the abdomen and vagina
abdominovesical
Relating to the abdomen and urinary bladder
abducens
Denoting the sixth cranial nerve
abducent
Denoting structures that serve to abduct a part
abductor
A structure, such as a muscle, that draws a part away from an axis of the body; opposite of adductor
aberrant
Deviating from the normal or expected course, as a duct taking an unusual direction
aberration
- A deviation from the normal 2. Unequal refraction of light rays passing through a lens, resulting in the formation of an imperfect image. 3. (chromosomal) A departure from the normal number of chromosomes or chromosome strcture; e.g., in Down syndrome there are 47 chromosomes, in Turner syndrome there are 45
abetalipoproteinemia
An autosomal recessive inherited disorder marked by pigmentary degeneration of the retina, presence of large numbers of acanthocytes in the blood, and absence of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) in the plasma; may be associated with excessive fat in the feces and progressive neurologic disease.
ability
- The physical or mental competence to function. 2. (impaired urinary concentrating) Inability to concentrate solutes in the urine; charcteristic of disease affecting the inner portion of the kidney (e.g., pyelonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, sickle cell disease).
abiotrophy
General term denoting degenerative changes of tissues due to genetic causes.
abirritant
- Relieving irritation. 2. A substance having this property
ablate
To remove
ablation
- Detachment 2. Removal or eradication by surgery or freezing
ablepharia, ablepharon
Congenital absence of th eyelids, partial or total
abluent
A substance that has cleansing properites
ablution
The act of cleansing
ablutomania
Abnormal concern with cleanliness
abnormal
Not normal; departing from the usual postion, structure or condition
ABO blood group
International classification of human blood types according to their compatibility in transfusion; typed as A, B, AB, or O
aboral
Distant from or opposite to the mouth
abort
- To expel or remove the products of conception before the fetus reaches the age of viability 2. To arrest the usual course of a disease 3. To cause cessation of development
abortient
An abortification
abortificient
Anything that produces abortion
abortion
- Expulsion or extraction of all or any part of the products of conception (placenta, membranes, and embryo or fetus) before the end of 20 complete weeks (139) days of gestation calculated from the first day of the last normal mesntrual period or a fetal weight of less than 500g 2.The arrest of any process/
abortion (complete)
Expulsion of fetus (or embryo), placenta, and membranes, ending with cessation of both pain and copious bleeding
abortion (elective)
Induced abortion performed at the request of the pregnant woman, but not due to impaired maternal health or fetal disease and before fetal viability is reached.
abortion (eugenic)
See therapeutic abortion
abortion (habitual)
A sequence of three or more spontaneuos abortions occuring consecutively before 20 weeks of gestation, with the fetus weighting less than 500g; may be due to fetal or maternal factors (e.g., genetic error, hormonal abnormalities, anatomic anomalies of reproductive tract, infection, systemic disease, immunologic factos). Sometimes causes are unknown.
abortion (incomplete)
Abortion in which some of the products of conception (usually a portion of the placenta) reamin within the uterus, causing profuse uterine bleeding
abortion (induced)
Intentionally caused abortion; may be therapeutic or nontherapeutic
abortion (inevitable)
Bleeding of intrauterine origin before the 20 completed weeks of gestation with continuous and progressive dilatation of the cervix
abortion (missed)
Death of an embryo or fetus before the completion of the 20 weeks of gestaion with retention of all products of conception for several weeks;manifested by absence of fetal heartbeat, regression of breast changes, decreased uterine size, and weight loss
abortion (partial-birth)
(PBA) Common term for termination of a late pregnancy with a breech presentation. Labor is induce by evacuating the cranial contents with a suction catheter, then compressing the cranium. See also dilatation and evacuation (D and E).
abortion (recidive)
The occurrence of two consecutive spontaneous abortion before 20 weeks of gestation, with fetus weighing less than 500g.
abortion (septic)
Infected abortion accompanied by life-threatning dissemination of microorganisms and toxic substances throughout the maternal blood circulation; marked by a malodorous discharge, pelvic and abdominal pain, suprapubic tenderness, and peritonitis.
abortion (spontanous)
Abortion resulting from natural causes, without deliberate mechanical or medicinal interference, and occuring before the fetus can survive outside the uterus. Also called miscarriage.
abortion (therapeutic)
Abortion performed before the time of fetal viability for medical or psychiatric reasons.
abortion (threatened)
Slight or heavier bloody vaginal discharge, occuring during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy, with or without cramplike pain and low backache, without expulsion of the products of conception, and without dilatation of the cervix.
abortive
- Causing abortion 2. Cutting short, arresting; said of a disease 3. Failing to reach completion; partially developed
abrachia
Absence of arms
abrade
To rub or wear away the external layer by friction, as to scrape away the epidermis from a part; to excoriate
abrasion
- A superficial injury, in which the skin or mucous membrane is scraped away 2. The process of wearing down of a tooth by friction; usuallt to excessive wear such as that caused by the use of an abrasive dentifrice
abreaction
A form of psychotherapy, called catharsis by Freud, in which emotional release is attained by recalling a forgotten (repressed), painful experience.
abruptio placentae
Premature separation of the normally implanted placenta from its uterine attachment after 20 week gestation. Also called placental abruption; accidental hemorrhage
abruption
A tearing away; detachment
abscess
Localized accumulation of pus.
abscess (alveolar)
Absecess in a tooth socket usually caused by bacteria spreading from dental caries; causes severe throbbing pain and swelling.
abscess (amebic)
One occuring as a complication of amebic dysentry, usually in the liver, and containing a brown pasty fluid.
abscess (canalicular)
Absecess connected to a milk (lactiferous) duct within a breast, causing a purulent discharge from the nipple
abscess (chronic)
A long-standing collection of pus without inflammation
abscess (extradural)
Abscess situated between the skull and the outer covering of the brain (dura mater)
abscess (gingival)
A localized, painful, inflammatory lesion of the gingivia, usually arising from a peridontal pocket
abscess (gummatous)
Abcess formed subsequent to the softening and breaking down of a gumma, the characteristic tumor of tertiary syphilis.
abscess (mammary)
Single or multiple abscesses of the breast susbstance, affecting usually one breast; most commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, or occasionally by streptococci. Organisms gain entry through cracks in the nipple, most frequently during lactation, or in skin conditions such as eczema. Destroyed breast tissue may be replaced by fibrous tissue with resulting nipple retraction, which may be mistaken for a tumor.
abscess (metatastic)
Secondary abscess caused by organisms carried in the bloodstream from a primary abscess
abscess (pelvic)
An abscess located in the pelvic cavity, usually in the rectouterine pouch, often occuring as a complication of abdominal or pelvic inflammatory disease
abscess (periapical)
An abscess occuring in the alveoulus near the apex of a tooth root, usually due to death of the tooth pulp
abscess (peritonsillar)
Acute suppuerative inflammation of the tonsils and surrounding tissues.
abscess (psoas)
One occuring in the sheath of the psoas muscle secondary to tuberculosis of the lower spine or to regional enteritis. Also called iliac abscess
abscess (pulp)
One within the pulp cavity of a tooth
abscess (stitch)
An abscess around a suture
abscess (subdiaphragmatic)
An abscess between the diaphragm and the liver or between the diaphragm and the spleen and stomach. Also called subphrenic abscess
