Medical Terminology Flashcards
Fowler’s Position
Sitting position with the back of the exam table raised to a 90⁰ angle
Semi-Fowler’s Position
Seated leaning against the back of a table that has been raised to a 45⁰ angle
Generally used when a Pt has trouble breathing.
Sims’ position (lateral)
Laying on left side with the left leg slightly flexed and the right leg flexed at a 90⁰ angle.
Exams involve: rectum examination, rectal instillation (enema)
Knee-chest Position
Prone and bent at the waist resting on the knees with the arms above the head.
Exams: Gynecological, rectum, spinal adjustments
Jack-knife Position
Lying over and exam table that is lifted in the middle.
Exam: rectal or instrumental (flexible sigmoidoscopy)
Lithotomy Position
Lying flat on the table with buttocks at the end of the table and feet resting in stirrups.
Exam: female pelvic exam
Dorsal Recumbent Position
Lying flay on the back with knees bent.
Exam: catheterizations, genital examination of younger children
Alternative to supine if pt has backpain
Prone Position
Lying flat on the abdomen with the arms above the head.
Exam: back of body, bottoms of feet
Supine Position
Lying flat in the back with arms down to the side.
Exams: front of body, CPR
Trendelenburg Position
Legs elevated above the head to for the circulation to vital organs.
Exam: Shock, Hypotension, Hypertension
abd (ABBR)
Abdomen
ABGs (ABBR)
Arterial blood gases
ac (ABBR)
Before meals
ACLS (ABBR)
Advanced cardiac life support
ad lib (ABBR)
As desired
ADHD (ABBR)
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
AKA (ABBR)
Above knee amputation
AMA (ABBR)
Against medical advice
ASA (ABBR)
Aspirin
ASAP (ABBR)
As soon as possible
BE (ABBR)
Barium enema
BKA (ABBR)
Below the knee amputation
BM (ABBR)
Bowel movement
BMI (ABBR)
Body mass index
BP (ABBR)
Blood pressure
BPH (ABBR)
Benign prostatic hypertrophy
BPM (ABBR)
Beat per minute
BRP (ABBR)
Bathroom privileges
BSA (ABBR)
Body surface area
BUN (ABBR)
Blood urea nitrogen
bx (ABBR)
Biopsy
C (ABBR)
Celcius
C&S (ABBR)
Culture and sensitivity
ca (ABBR)
Calcium, Cancer
CABG (ABBR.)
Coronary artery bypass graft
CAD (ABBR.)
Coronary artery disease
CBC (ABBR.)
Complete blood (cell) count
CC (ABBR.)
Chief complaint
CDC (ABBR.)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
cm (ABBR.)
Centimeter
CNS (ABBR.)
Central nervous system
CP (ABBR.)
Chest pain
CPR (ABBR.)
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
c/o (ABBR.)
Complains of
COPD (ABBR.)
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
csf (ABBR.)
Cerebrospinal fluid
CT (ABBR.)
Computed tomography
cv (ABBR.)
Cardiovascular
CVA (ABBR.)
Cerebrovascular accident (Stroke)
CXR (ABBR.)
Chest x-ray
d (ABBR.)
Day
D&C (ABBR.)
Dilation and curettage
D/C, dc (ABBR.)
Discharge, discontinue
DM (ABBR.)
Diabetes mellitus
DNR (ABBR.)
Do not resuscitate
DOB (ABBR.)
Date of birth
DTap (ABBR.)
Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine
dx (ABBR.)
Diagnosis
ECG, EKG (ABBR.)
Electrocardiogram
ED (ABBR.)
Emergency department
EEG (ABBR.)
Electroencephalogram
ENT (ABBR.)
Ear, nose, throat
F (ABBR.)
Fahrenheit
FBS, FBG (ABBR.)
Fasting blood sugar/glucose
f/u (ABBR.)
Follow-up
FUO
Fever of unknown origin
Fx (ABBR.)
Fracture
GI (ABBR.)
Gastrointestinal
GTT (ABBR.)
Glucose tolerance test
GU (ABBR.)
Genitourinary
h, hr (ABBR.)
Hour
H²0 (ABBR.)
Water
Hct (ABBR.)
Hematocrit
HEENT (ABBR.)
Head, ears, eyes, nose, throat
HF (ABBR.)
Heart failure
Hgb (ABBR.)
Hemoglobin
HIV (ABBR.)
Human immunodeficiency virus
HPV (ABBR.)
Human papillomavirus
Htn, HTN (ABBR.)
Hypertension
hx (ABBR.)
History
I&D (ABBR.)
Incision and drainage
I&O (ABBR.)
Intake amd output
ICU (ABBR.)
Intensive care unit
IUD (ABBR.)
Intrauterine device
K (ABBR.)
Potassium
KUB (ABBR.)
Kidney, ureters, bladder
L (ABBR.)
Liter
lb (ABBR.)
Pound
LLE (ABBR.)
Left lower extremity
LLL (ABBR.)
Left lower lobe
LLQ (ABBR.)
Lower left quadrant
LMP (ABBR.)
Last menstrual period
LUE (ABBR.)
Left upper extremity
LUQ (ABBR.)
Left upper quadrant
mg/dL (ABBR.)
Milligrams per deciliter.
MI (ABBR.)
Myocardial infarction
mL (ABBR.)
Milliliters
MM (ABBR.)
Mucous membrane
MM Hg (ABBR.)
Millimeters of mercury
MRI (ABBR.)
Magnetic resonance imaging
MS (ABBR.)
Multiple sclerosis
N/V (ABBR.)
Nausea/vomiting
NB (ABBR.)
Newborn
NG (ABBR.)
Nasogastric
NKA (ABBR.)
No known allergies
NPO (ABBR.)
Nothing by mouth
NS (ABBR.)
Normal saline
NSAID (ABBR.)
Nonsteriodal anti-inflammatory drug
O² (ABBR.)
Oxygen
OB (ABBR.)
Obstetrics
OC (ABBR.)
Oral contraceptive
OUB (ABBR.)
Out of bed
OP (ABBR.)
Outpatient
OT (ABBR.)
Occupation therapy
OTC (ABBR.)
Over the counter
PA (ABBR.)
Physicians assistant
pc (ABBR.)
After meals
PID (ABBR.)
Pelvic inflammatory disease
PMS (ABBR.)
Premenstrual syndrome
PO (ABBR.)
By mouth
PRN (ABBR.)
As needed
PT (ABBR.)
Physical therapy
pt (ABBR.)
Patient
RA (ABBR.)
Rheumatoid arthritis
RBC (ABBR.)
Red blood count
RLE (ABBR.)
Right lower extremity (leg)
RLL (ABBR.)
Right lower lobe
RLQ (ABBR.)
Right lower quadrant
R/O (ABBR.)
Rule out
ROM (ABBR.)
Range of motion
RT (ABBR.)
Respiratory therapist
RUE (ABBR.)
Right upper extremity (right arm)
RUQ (ABBR.)
Right upper Quadrant
Rx (ABBR.)
Prescription
SOB (ABBR.)
Shortness of breath
STAT (ABBR.)
Immediately
STI (ABBR.)
Sexually transmitted infection
sx (ABBR.)
Symptoms
T&A (ABBR.)
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
TB (ABBR.)
Tuberculosis
TIA (ABBR.)
Transient ischemic attack
Tx (ABBR.)
Treatment
UA (ABBR.)
Urinalysis
URI (ABBR.)
Upper respiratory infection
UTI (ABBR.)
Urinary tract infection
VS (ABBR.)
Vital signs
WBC (ABBR.)
White blood count
WNL (ABBR.)
Within normal limits
YO, y/o (ABBR.)
Years old
Aden (word root)
Gland
Pancreat (word root)
Pancreas
thyr (word root)
Thyroid
Hem, hemat (word root)
Blood
Phleb (word root)
Vein
Thromb (word root)
Clot
Arthr (word root)
Joint
Brachi (word root)
Arm
Cervic (word root)
Neck
Chondr (word root)
Cartilage
Cost (word root)
Rib
Crani (word root)
Skull
Dactyl (word root)
Finger, toe
Fibr (word root)
Connective tissue
my (word root)
Muscle
Oste (word root)
Bone
Pod (word root)
Foot
Sacr (word root)
Sacrum (lower backbone)
Ten, tendin (word root)
Tendon
Vertebr (word root)
Vertebra
Abdomin (word root)
Abdomen
an (word root)
Anus
Appendic (word root)
Appendix
Bil, chol (word root)
Bile, gall
Col (word root)
Colon (large intestine)
Dent (word root)
Teeth
enter (word root)
Intestines
Esophag (word root)
Esophagus
Gastr (word root)
Stomach
Gingiv (word root)
Gums
Gloss (word root)
Tongue
Hepat (word root)
Liver
Icter (word root)
Jaundice
Ile (word root)
Ileum (small intestine)
Lapar (word root)
Abdominal wall
Lingu (word root)
Tongue
Peps (word root)
Digestion
Phag (word root)
Eating, swallowing
Proct (word root)
Rectum
Splen (word root)
Spleen
Stomat (word root)
Mouth
Andr (word root)
Men
Colp (word root)
Vagina
Cyst (word root)
Bladder
Gravid (word root)
Pregnant
Gynec (word root)
Woman
Hyster (word root)
Uterus (womb)
Mamm, mast (word root)
Breast
Metr (word root)
Uterus
Nephr (word root)
Kidney
ov (word root)
Ovum (egg)
Oophor (word root)
Ovary
Orchid (word root)
Testicles
Prostat (word root)
Prostate gland
Pyel (word root)
Pelvis of the kidney
Ren (word root)
Renal (kidney)
Salping (word root)
Fallopian tube
Ureter fallopian tube
Ureters
Ur (word root)
Urinary
Vesic (word root)
Bladder
Bronch (word root)
Bronchial
Laryng (word root)
Larynx (voice box)
Nas (word root)
Nose
Pleur (word root)
Pleura
Pneum, pneumon (word root)
Lungs, air
Pulmon (word root)
Lung
Rhin (word root)
Nose
Steth (word root)
Chest
Thorac (word root)
Thorax (chest)
Trache (word root)
Trachea (airway, windpipe)
Derm, dermat (word root)
Skin
Hidr (word root)
Sweat
Trich (word root)
Hair
Onych (word root)
Nail
Xer (word root)
Dry
Angi (word root)
Vessel
Ateri, arter (word root)
Artery
Cardi (word root)
Heart
Vas (word root)
Vessel
Ven (word root)
Vein
Blephar (word root)
Eyelid
Cephal (word root)
Head
Cerebr (word root)
Cerebrum (part of the brain)
Encephal (word root)
Brain
Esthesi (word root)
Sensation
Irid, ir (word root)
Iris
Mening, meningi (word root)
Membranes, meninges
Myring (word root)
Eardrum, tympanic membrane
Neur (word root)
Nerves
Ocular, opthalm (word root)
Eye
Ot (word root)
Ear
Adip (word root)
Fat
Bi/o (word root)
Life
Carcin (word root)
Cancer
Cry/o (word root)
Cold
Dors (word root)
Back portion of body
Gluc, glyc (word root)
Sugar
Herni (word root)
Hernia
Hist (word root)
Tissue
Hydr (word root)
Water
Lact (word root)
Milk
Later (word root)
Side
Lip (word root)
Fat
Lith/o (word root)
Stone
Med, medi (word root)
Middle
Narc (word root)
Numbness, stupor, sleep
Necr (word root)
Death
Onc (word root)
Tumor
Path (word root)
Disease
Ped (word root)
Child
Psych (word root)
Mind
Py (word root)
Pus
Pyr (word root)
Fever, heat
Septic (word root)
Infection
Therm (word root)
Heat
A-, an- (prefix)
Without
Ab- (prefix)
Away, from
Ad- (prefix)
Toward
Ambi- (prefix)
Both
Ante- (prefix)
Before
Anti- (prefix)
Against
Auto- (prefix)
Self
Bi- (prefix)
Two, twice, double
Brady- (prefix)
Slow
Circum- (prefix)
Around
Contra- (prefix)
Against
De- (prefix)
Down
Dys- (prefix)
Painful, abnormal, difficult, bad
Endo- (prefix)
Within, inside
Epi- (prefix)
Above, on
Eu- (prefix)
Normal, good
Ex, extra-, exo- (prefix)
Outside of
Hemi- (prefix)
Half
Hyper- (prefix)
Above, excessive, increased
Hypo- (prefix)
Below, decreased, insufficient
Infra- (prefix)
Below, under
Inter- (prefix)
Between, among
Levo- (prefix)
To the left
Macro- (prefix)
Large
Mal- (prefix)
Bad
Mega- (prefix)
Exceptionally large
Meso- (prefix)
Middle
Meta- (prefix)
Over, Beyond
Micro- (prefix)
Small
Mono- (prefix)
One
Multi- (prefix)
Many
Neo- (prefix)
New
Nulli- (prefix)
None
Peri- (prefix)
Around, surrounding
Poly- (prefix)
Many
Post- (prefix)
After, behind
Pre-, pro- (prefix)
Before, in front of
Presby- (prefix)
Older age
Primi- (prefix)
First
Pseudo- (prefix)
False
Quadri- (prefix)
Four
Retro- (prefix)
Behind, in back of
Sten- (prefix)
Narrowed
Sub- (prefix)
Under
Super-, supra- (prefix)
Above, excess
Sym-, syn- (prefix)
Together, with
Tachy- (prefix)
Fast
Trans- (prefix)
Across
Tri- (prefix)
Three
Ultra- (prefix)
Beyond, excess
Uni- (prefix)
One
-age (suffix)
Related to
-cidal, -cide (suffix)
Pertaining to kill
-form (suffix)
Shape
-fuge (suffix)
Driving away
-iatry, -iatrist (suffix)
Healing by provider, healer
-ical (suffix)
Pertaining to
-ion (suffix)
Process
-logy, -logist (suffix)
Study of, one who studies
-ole (suffix)
Little, small
-opia (suffix)
Vision
-phylaxis (suffix)
Protection, prevention
-pnea (suffix)
Breathing
-therapy (suffix)
Treatment
-uria (suffix)
Urine
-centesis (suffix)
Surgical puncture
-cise (suffix)
Cut, remove
-clasis (suffix)
Break down
-desis (suffix)
Stabilization, binding
-ectomy (suffix)
Removal, excision
-gram (suffix)
To record
-graph (suffix)
Instrument for recording
-graphy (suffix)
Process of recording
-lepsy (suffix)
Seizure, convulsion
-lysis (suffix)
Destruction, separation
-meter (suffix)
Device for measuring
-metry (suffix)
Process of measuring
-pexy (suffix)
Surgical fixation, to put in place
-plasty (suffix)
Surgical repair, reformation
-scopy (suffix)
Visual examination
-spasm (suffix)
Involuntary twitch, contraction
-stasis (suffix)
Stopping, controlling
-stomy (suffix)
New opening
-tomy (suffix)
Incision
-tripsy (suffix)
Crushing
-algia (suffix)
Pain
-asthenia (suffix)
Weakness
-cele (suffix)
Swelling, harniation
-dynia (suffix)
Pain
-ectasis (suffix)
Dilation, widening, expansion
-emesis (suffix)
Vomiting
-emia (suffix)
Blood condition
-gen (suffix)
Producing
-ia, -ism (suffix)
Condition
-iasis (suffix)
Presence of, formation of
-itis (suffix)
Inflammation, infection
-malacia (suffix)
Weakening of, softening of
-mania (suffix)
Obsessive preoccupation
-megaly (suffix)
Enlargement
-oid (suffix)
Seeming like
-ole (suffix)
Small
-oma (suffix)
Tumor
-osis (suffix)
Condition, usually abnormal
-pathy (suffix)
Disorder, disease
-penia (suffix)
Deficiency, decrease
-phagia (suffix)
Eating, swallowing
-phasia (suffix)
Speech
-phobia (suffix)
Fear
-plasia (suffix)
Formation of
-plegia (suffix)
Paralysis
-ptosis (suffix)
Prolapse sagging, drooping, falling
-rrhage (suffix)
Bursting forth, excessive flow of blood
-rrhea (suffix)
Discharge, flow
-rrhexis (suffix)
Rupture
-sclerosis (suffix)
Hardening condition
-trophy (suffix)
Development, nourishment
Ecto-, exp- (prefix)
Outside
Intra- (prefix)
Inside
Ipsi- (prefix)
Same, equal
Para- (prefix)
Near, beside
Anterior (positional/directional)
Front
Bilateral (positional/directional)
Pertaining to both sides
Caudal (positional/directional)
Tail (coccygeal area)
Dextro (positional/directional)
Right
Distal (positional/directional)
Farther away from
Eversion (positional/directional)
Turning outward or inside out
Extension (positional/directional)
Bringing a limb to a straight position
Flexion (positional/directional)
Bending a limb or body part and the joint
Inferior (positional/directional)
Below or directed downward
Medial (positional/directional)
Midline
Oblique (positional/directional)
Slanting, on an incline
Peripheral (positional/directional)
Outside the central area
Posterior (positional/directional)
Back
Proximal (positional/directional)
Toward the center or point of attachment
Quadrant (positional/directional)
Dividing an area horizontally and vertically into four parts
Rotation (positional/directional)
Turning around an axis
Sinistro (positional/directional)
Left
Superior (positional/directional)
Above or directed upward