Medical Terminology Flashcards
Ablation
removal or destruction by cutting, chemicals, or electrocautery
Abortion
termination of pregnancy
Absence
without
Actinotherapy
treatment of acne using ultraviolet rays
Adenoidectomy
removal of adenoids
adipose
fatty
Adrenals
glands, located at the top of the kidneys, that produces steroid hormones
Albinism
lack of color/pigment
Allograft
homograft, same species graft
Alopecia
condition in which the hair falls out
Amniocentesis
percutaneous aspiration of amniotic fluid
Amniotic sac
sac containing the fetus and amniotic fluid
A-mode
one-dimensional ultrasonic display reflecting the time it takes a sound wave to reach a structure and reflect back; maps the structure’s outline
Anastomosis
surgical connection of two tubular structures, such as two pieces if the intestine
Aneurysm
abnormal dilation of vessels, usually an artery
Angina
sudden pain
Angiography
radiography of the blood vessels
Angioplasty
procedure in a vessel to dilate the vessel opening
Anhidrosis
deficiency of sweat
Anomaloscope
instrument used to test color vision
Anoscopy
procedure that uses a scope to examine the anus
Antepartum
before childbirth
Anterior(ventral)
in front of
Anterior segment
those parts of the eye in the front of and including the lens(cornea, iris, ciliary body, aqueous humor)
anterposterior
from front to back
Antigen
a substance that produces a specific response
Aortography
radiographic recording of the aorta
Apex Cardiography
recording of the movement of the chest wall over the end of the heart
Aphakia
absence of the lens of the eye
Apicectomy
excision of a portion of the temporal bone
Apnea
cessation of breathing
Arthrocentesis
injection and/or aspiration of a joint
Arthrography
radiography of a joint
Arthroplasty
reshaping or reconstruction of a joint
Arthroscopy
use of scope to view inside joint
Articular
pertains to joint
Asphyxia
lack of oxygen
Aspiration
use of a needle and a syringe to withdraw fluid
Assignment
Medicare’s payment for the service, which participating physicians agree to accept as payment in full
Asthma
shortage of breath caused by contraction of bronchi
Astigmatism
condition in which the refractive surfaces of the eye are unequal
Atelectasis
incomplete expansion of lung, collapse
Artherectomy
removal of plaque by percutaneous method
Atrophy
wasting away
Audiometry
hearing test
Aural atresia
congenital absence of the external auditory canal
Auscultation
listening to sounds within the body
Autograft
from patient’s own body
Avulsion
ripping or tearing away of part either surgically or accidentally
Axillary nodes
lymph nodes located in the armpit
Bacilli
plural of bacillus, a rod-shaped bacterium
barium enema
radiographic contrast medium
Beneficiary
person who benefits from health or life insurance
Bifocal
two focuses in eyeglasses, one usually for close work and the other for improvement of distance vision
Bilaminate skin
skin substance usually made of silicone-covered nylon mesh
Bilateral
occurring on two sides
Biliary
refers to gallbladder, bile, or bile duct
Bilobectomy
surgical removal of two lobes of a lung
Biofeedback
process of giving a person self-information
Biometry
application of a statistical measure to a biological fact
Biopsy
removal of a small piece of living tissue for diagnostic purposes
Block
frozen piece of a sample
Brachytherapy
therapy using radioactive sources that are placed inside the body
Bronchiole
smaller division of bronchial tree
Bronchography
radiographic recording of the lungs
Bronchoplasty
surgical repair of the bronchi
Bronchoscopy
inspection of the bronchial tree using a bronchoscope
B-scan
two-dimensional display of tissues and organs
Bulbocavernosus
muscle that constricts the vagina in a female and the urethra in a male
Bulbourethral
gland with duct leading to the urethra
Bundle of His
muscular cardiac fibers that provide the heart rhythm to the ventricles; blockage of this rhythm produces heart block
Bundled codes
one code that represents a package of services
Bunion
hallux valgus, abnormal increase in size of metatarsal head that results in displacement of the great toe
Burr
drill used to create an entry into the cranium
Bursa
fluid-filled sac that absorbs friction
Bursitis
inflammation of bursa(joint sac)
Bypass
to go around
Calcaneal
pertaining to the heel bone
Calculus
concretion of mineral salts, also called a stone
Calycoplasty
surgical reconstruction of a recess of the renal pelvis
Calyx
recess of the renal pelvis
Cancellous
lattice-type structure, usually of bone
Cardiopulmonary
refers to the heart and lungs
Cardiopulmonary Bypass
blood bypasses the heart through a heart-lung machine
Cardioversion
electrical shock to the heart to restore normal rhythm
Carotid Body
located on each side of the common carotid artery, often a site of tumor
Cartilage
connective tissue
Cataract
opaque covering on or in the lens
Catheter
tube placed into the body to put fluid in or take fluid out
Caudal
same as inferior, away from the head, or the lower part of the body
Causalgia
burning pain
Cauterization
destruction of tissue by the use of cautery
Cavernosa
connection between the cavity of the penis and a vein
Cavernosography
radiographic recording of a cavity, e.g. the pulmonary cavity or the main part of the penis
Cavernosometry
measurement of the pressure in a cavity, e.g. the penis
Central Nervous System
brain and spinal cord
Cervical
pertaining to the neck or the cervix of the uterus
Cervix Uteri
rounded, cone-shaped neck of the uterus
Cesarean
surgical opening through abdominal wall for delivery
Cholangiography
radiographic recording of the bile ducts
Cholangiopancreatography
radiographic recording of the biliary system or pancreas
Cholecystectomy
surgical removal of the gallbladder
Cholecystoenterostomy
creation of a connection between the gallbladder and intestine
cholecystography
radiographic recording of the gallbladder
Cholesteatoma
tumor that forms in middle ear
Chondral
referring to the cartilage
Chordee
condition resulting in the penis being bent downward
Chorionic villus sampling
CVS, biopsy of the outermost part of the placenta
Circumflex
a coronary artery that circles the heart
Cloquet’s node
also called a gland; it is the highest of the deep groin lymph nodes
Closed Fracture Repair
not surgically opened with/without manipulation and with/without traction
Closed treatment
fracture site that not surgically opened or visualized
Coccyx
caudal extremity of vertebral column
Collagen
protein substance of skin
Colles’ fracture
fracture at lower end of radius that displaces the bone posteriorly
Colonoscopy
fiberscopic examination of the entire colon that may include part of the terminal ileum
Colostomy
artificial opening between the colon and the abdominal wall
Component
part
Computed axial tomography
CAT or CT, procedure by which selected planes of tissue are pinpointed through computer enhancement, and images may be reconstructed by analysis of variance in absorption of the tissue
Conjuctiva
the lining of the eyelids and the covering of anterior sclera
Contraction
drawn together
Contralateral
opposite site
Cordectomy
surgical removal of the vocal cord(s)
Cordocentesis
procedure to obtain a fetal blood sample; also called a percutaneous umbilical blood sampling
Corneosclera
cornea and sclera of the eye
Corpectomy
removal of vertebrae
Corpora Cavernosa
the two cavities of the penis
Corpus uteri
uterus
Crackle
abnormal sound when breathing (heard on auscltation)
Craniectomy
permanent, partial removal of skull
Craniotomy
opening of skull
Cranium
that part of the skeleton that encloses the brain
Curettage
scraping of a cavity using a spoon-shaped instrument
Curette
spoon-shaped instrument used to scrape a cavity
Cutdown
incision into a vessel for placement of a catheter
Cyanosis
bluish discoloration
Cystocele
herniation of the bladder into the vagina
Cystography
radiographic recording of the urinary bladder
Cystolithectomy
removal of a calculus (stone) from the urinary bladder
Cystolithotomy
cystolithectomy
Cystometrogram
CMG, measurement of the pressures and capacity of the urinary bladder
Cystoplasty
surgical reconstruction of the bladder
Cystorrhaphy
suture of the bladder
Cystoscopy
use of a scope to view the bladder
Cystostomy
surgical creation of an opening into the bladder
Cystotomy
incision into the bladder
Cystourethroplasty
surgical reconstruction of the bladder and urethra
Cystourethroscopy
use of a scope to view the bladder and the urethra
Dacrycystography
radiographic recording of the lacrimal sac or tear duct sac
Dacrostenosis
narrowing of the lacrimal duct
Debridement
cleansing of or removal of dead tissue from a wound
deductible
amount the patient is liable for before the payer begins to pay for covered services
delayed flap
pedicle of skin with blood supply that is separated from origin over time
delivery
childbirth
dermabrasion
planing of the skin by means of sander, brush, or sandpaper
dermatologist
physician who treats conditions of the skin
Dialysis
filtration of blood
Dilation
expansion
Discectomy
removal of a vertebral disc
Discography
placement in a location other than the original location
Distal
farther from the point of attachment or origin
Diverticulum
protrusion in the wall of an organ
Doppler
ultrasonic measure of blood movement
Dosimetry
scientific calculation of radiation emitted from various radioactive sources
Drainage
free flow or withdrawl of fluids from a wound or cavity
Duodenography
radiographic recording of the duodenum or first part of the small intestine
Dysphagia
difficulty swallowing
Dyspnea
shortness of breath, difficult breathing
Dysuria
painful urination
Dysphonia
speech impairment
Echocardiography
radiographic recording of the heart or heart walls or surrounding tissues
Echoencephalography
ultrasound of the brain
Echography
ultrasound procedure in which sound waves are bounced off an internal organ and the resulting image is recorded
Ectopic
pregnancy outside of the uterus (i.e in the fallopian tube)
Edema
swelling due to abnormal fluid collection in the tissue spaces
Elective Surgery
nonemergency procedure
Electrocardiogram
ECG, written record of the electrical action of the heart
Electrocautery
cauterization by means of heated instrument
Electrocochleography
test to measure the eighth cranial nerve (hearing test)
Electrode
lead attached to a generator that carries the electrical current from the generator to the atria or ventricles
Electroencephalogram
EEG, written record of the electrical action of the brain
Electromyogram
EMG, written record of the electrical activity of the skeletal muscles
Electronic claim submission
claims prepared and submitted via computer
Electronic signature
identification system of a computer
Electro-oculogram
EOG, written record of the electrical activity of the eye
Electrophysiology
study of the electrical system of the heart, including the study of the arrhythmias
Embolectomy
removal of blockage (embolism) from vessel
Emphysema
air accumulated in organ or tissue
Encephalography
radiographic recording of the subarachnoid space and ventricles of the brain
Endartectomy
incision into an artery to remove the inner lining so as to eliminate disease or blockage
Endomyocardial
pertaining to the inner and middle layers of the heart
Endopylotomy
procedure involving the bladder and uterus, including the insertion of a stent into the renal pelvis
Endoscopy
inspection of body organs or cavities using a lighted scope that may be inserted through an existing opening or through a small incision
Enterolysis
releasing of adhesions of intestine
Enucleation
removal of an organ or organs from a body cavity
Epicardial
over the heart
Epidermolysis
loosening of the epidermis
Epidermomycosis
superficial fungal infection
Epididymectomy
surgical removal of the epididymis
Epididymis
tube located at the top of the testes that stores sperm
Epididymyography
radiographic recording of the epididymis
Epididymovasostomy
creation of a new connection between the vas deferens and epididymis
Epiglottidectomy
excision of the covering of the larynx
Episclera
connective covering of the sclera
Epistaxis
nosebleed
Epithelium
surface covering of internal and external organs of the body
Erythema
redness of skin
Escharotomy
surgical incision into necrotic (dead) tissue
Eventration
protusion of the bowel through an opening in the abdomen
Evisceration
removal of an organ all in one piece
Exophthalmos
protrusion of the eyeball
Exostosis
bony growth
Exstrophy
condition in which an organ is turned inside out
Extracorporeal
occuring outside the body
False aneurysm
sac of clotted blood that has completely destroyed the vessel and is being contained by the tissue that surrounds the vessel
Fasciectomy
removal of a band of fibrous tissue
Federal Register
official publication of all “Presidential Documents, “ “Rules and Regulations,” “Proposed Rules” and “Notices”; government-instituted national changes are published in the Federal Register
Fee Schedule
services and payment allowed for each service
Femoral
pertaining to the bone from the pelvis to knee
Fenestration
creation of a new opening in the inner wall of the middle ear
Fissure
cleft or groove
Fistula
abnormal opening from one area to another area or to the outside of the body
Fluoroscopy
procedure for viewing the interior of the body using x-rays and projecting the image onto a TV screen
Fracture
break in a bone
Free full-thickness graft
graft of epidermis and dermis that is completely removed from donor area
Fulguration
use of electrical current to destroy tissue
Fundoplasty
repair of the bottom of the bladder
Furuncle
nodule in the skin caused by Staphylococci entering through hair follicle
Ganglion
knot
Gastrointestinal
pertaining to the stomach and intestine
Gastroplasty
operation on the stomach for repair or reconfiguration
Gastrostomy
artificial opening between the stomach and the abdominal wall
Gatekeeper
a physician who manages a patient’s access to health care
Glaucoma
eye diseases that are characterized by an increase in intraocular pressure
Globe
eyeball
Glottis
true vocal cords
Gonioscopy
use of a scope to examine the angles of the eye
Group Practice Model
an organization of physicians who contract with a Health Maintenance Organization to provide services to the enrolleesof the HMO
Grouper
computer used to input the principal diagnosis and other critical information about a patient and then provide the correct DRG code
Health Maintenance Organization
HMO, a health care delivery system in which an enrollee is assigned a primary care physician who manages all the health care needs of the enrollee
Hematoma
mass of blood that forms outside of the body
Hemodyalsis
cleansing of the blood outside of the body