Medical Terminology Flashcards
Alcorhydria
Absence of hydrochloric acid in gastric juices
Acromegaly
Abnormal development of the bones, chiefly of the hands and face; associated with dysfunction of the pituitary and/or thyroid gland
Adenoma
A new growth or neoplasm composed of epithelial tissue; may be benign or malignant
Adenopathy
Any disease of the glands
Afferent
Projecting to a structure
Akinesis
Absence of voluntary movement
Alopecia
Absence of hair in skin areas where it is normally present
Amenorrhea
Absence of or abnormal stoppage of menses
Amnesia
Loss of memory
Anabolism
Any constructive process by which simple substances are converted into more complex compounds by living cells
(e.g. the conversion of amino acids –> muscle protein)
Analgesic
Agent that alleviates pain without causing loss of consciousness
Anaphrodisia
Absence or loss of sexual desire
Anaphylactic
Unusual or exaggerated reaction of the body to a foreign pattern
Aneurysm
A sac formed by the dilation of the walls of an artery or of a vein and filled with blood
Angina
Spasmodic, choking, or suffocative pain; often used for the disease or condition producing such pain (e.g. angina pectoris = symptom of cardiac insufficiency characterized by chest pain)
Angiography
Description of the blood vessels and lymphatics obtained by radiography of vessels after injection with a radio-opaque material
Anorexia
Lack or loss of appetite for food
Anorexiant
An agent that reduces desire for food; an anoretic
Anovulation
Suspension or cessation of ovulation
Anoxia
Absence or loss of oxygen
Antacid
A drug that locally neutralizes excess gastric acid
Anthelmintic
Substance useful in the treatment of parasitic intestinal worms
Antibody
Modified type of serum globulin synthesized by lymphoid tissue in response to antigenic stimulus
Anticholinergic
Drug that prevents response to stimulation of parasympathetic nervous system; AKA parasympatholytics
Antidote
Agent given to counteract an unwanted effect of a drug
Antiemetic
Agent that prevents vomiting
Antiflatulent
Agent that reduces GI tract gas (e.g. simethicone)
Antigalactagogue
Agent that tends to suppress milk secretion
Antigen
Substance that causes the production of antibodies when inoculated into the blood
Antineoplastic
Agent that is selectively toxic to rapidly multiplying cells; destroys malignant tumors
Antiperistaltic
Agent that decreases intestinal tract motility (useful in treating diarrhea, motion sickness, etc)
Antipruritic
Agent that relieves or reduces itching
Antipyretic
Agent that reduces or relieves fever
Antitussive
Agent that relieves or prevents coughing
Anuria
Absence of urine excretion from the body
Aphasia
Limited ability to understand or use symbols of language; either spoken or written
Apnea
Temporary cessation of breathing; asphyxia
Arrythmia
Variation from normal rhythm of heart
Arteriole
Small artery
Arteriosclerosis
Condition marked by thickening and hardening of the arteries due to loss of elasticity
Arthralgia
Neuralgia or pain in the joint
Arthritits
Inflammation of the joint
Ascites
Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
Auscultation
Listening to sounds within the body
Asthenia
Lack or loss of strength and energy; weakness
Astringent
Mild protein precipitant for local application to harden skin, decrease secretion, or coagulate bleeding
Ataxia
Lack of motor coordination due to dysfunction of the cerebellum; zigzag movement due to drinking alcohol or other CNS depressants
Atelectasis
Incomplete expansion of the lungs at birth, or the collapse of an adult lung
Atheroma
Any closed sac or cyst of noninflammatory origin filled with a gruel-like material
Atherosclerosis
A lesion of the large or medium-sized arteries with deposits in the blood vessel lining (intima) of yellowish plaques containing cholesterol, lipoid material, and lipophages
Atonia, atony
Lack of normal strength or tone
Atopic dermatitis
Inflammation of the skin caused by allergy to substances either ingested or inhaled
Atrophy
A wasting away in the size of cell, tissue, organ, or other body part
Attenuation
Mutation to a less virulent form
Aura
Premonitory sensation that often precedes an epileptic fit
Azotemia
Presence of urea or other nitrogenous compounds in the blood
bacteremia
The presence of bacteria in the blood
Bile
Digestive juice made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder for breaking up fat globules
Bilirubin
A bile pigment
Biliuria
Presence of bile in the urine
Blepharitis
Inflammation of the eyelids
Bowel
Intestine
Bradycardia
Abnormal slowness of the heartbeat (usually less than 60 bpm)
Bronchiectasis
Dilation of the bronchial tubules
Bruit
Abnormal blowing or swishing sound heard during auscultation of an artery or organ
Bruxism
Grinding of the teeth other than normal chewing, especially when such movements occur during sleep
Bullous
Pertaining to or characterized by large blisters or cutaneous vesicles filled with serous fluid
Bursa
Sac or sac-like cavity filled with viscid fluid and situated at places in tissue where friction would otherwise develop
Bursitis
Inflammation of a bursa, often characterized by difficulty of movement in body parts
Cachexia
Profound and marked state of constitutional disorder; general ill health and malnutrition
Callus
A broad, shallow, hyperkeratotic skin lesion
Carcinoma
Malignant new growth made of epithelial cells tending to infiltrate surrounding tissues causing metastasis
Cardiomegaly
Enlargement of the heart
Cardiopathy
Disease of the heart
Catabolism
Any destructive process by which complex substances are converted by living cells into simple compounds; destructive metabolism
Celiac
Pertaining to the abdomen
Cellulitus
diffuse inflammation process in solid tissues; characterized by edema, pain, redness and possible interference with function
Cephalic
Pertaining to the head or the head end of the body
Cerebrovascular
Pertaining to the blood vessels of the cerebrum or brain
Cerumen
Waxy secretion in the ear
Cervical
Neck region (C1-C7)
Chancre
The primary lesion of syphillis
Chancroid
Infection that begins on a pustule on genitals, grows rapidly, and finally breaks down into a virulent ulcer that discharges pus
Cheilosis
Condition marked by fissuring and dry scaling of the red surface of the lips and angles of the mouth; characteristic of riboflavin deficiency
Cholecystitis
Inflammation of the gall bladder
Cholelithasis
Presence or formation of a gallstone(s)
Cholestasis
Stoppage or reduction of bile flow
Cirrhosis
End stage liver disease involving progressive destruction of liver cells accompanied by failure of hepatic cell function, poor blood flow in the liver, and an increase in connective tissue
Coccygeal
Region of the coccyx
Colic
Acute abdominal pain
Colitis
Inflammation of the colon
Comedo
A plug of dried sebum in the excretory duct;
closed comedo = whitehead
open comedo = blackhead
Congenital
Born with (e.g congenital deformity)
Conjunctiva
Delicate membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the exposed surface of the eyeball
Corn
Well defined hyperkeratotic skin lesion
Creatinine
Nitrogenous waste excreted in urine
Creatinine Clearance
Measure of the efficiency of the kidneys in removing creatinine from the blood
Cryotherapy
Use of coldness for therapeutic effects
Cyanosis
Blush discoloration of the skin and mucous membrane caused by excessive concentration of deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood
Cycloplegia
Paralysis of the ciliary muscle of the eye and thus paralysis of accommodation
Cyst
a sac or cavity usually containing fluid or semisolid material
Cystitis
Inflammation of urinary bladder
Decubitus
The act of lying down; a bed sore (decubitus ulcer)
Defecation
Elimination of feces from the digestive tract through the anus
Defibrillation
Brief discharges of electricity applied across the chest to stop dysrhythmias
Dermatitis
An inflammation of the skin
Desquamation
Shedding of epithelial elements; chiefly of the skin in scales or sheets
Diabetogenic
Something (an agent, drug, etc.) causing diabetes mellitus
Diaphoresis
Perspiration, especially from sweat glands as perfuse perspiration
Diaphoretic
An agent that causes increased secretion from sweat glands
Diastole
Relaxation (dilation) of the ventricles of the heart as they fill with blood (opposite of systole)
Diplopia
Double vision
Diverticulitis
Inflammation and formation of small pouches along the border of the colon; such pouches fill with feces, which creates irritation leading to inflammation and abcess
Diverticulosis
Abnormal outpouching in the intestinal wall
Duodenum
The first or proximal portion of the small intestine extending from the pylorus to the jujenum
Dyscrasia
Morbid condition of the blood
Dysentery
Inflammation of the intestine with evacuation containing blood and mucous
Dyskinesia
Impairments in performing voluntary movements
Dysmenorrhea
Painful or difficult menstruation
Dyspepsia
Impairment in digestive function
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing
Dysphasia
Impaired or difficult speech
Dysphoria
A feeling of emotional and mental discomfort which could be a symptom of restlessness, depression, anxiety, etc.
Dyspnea
Difficult or labored breathing
Dystonia
loss of muscle tone; involuntary, irregular muscle contraction
Dystrophy
Disorder arising from faulty nutrition or infection
Dysuria
Pain or difficulty in urination
Ecchymosis
Extravasation of blood under the skin, usually with skin discoloration (e.g. a small bruise)
Eclampsia
Convulsion or coma occurring in pregnant women; usually associated with hypertension, edema, or proteinurina
Ectopic
Location away from the normal position
Eczema
Skin inflammation accompanied by itching, exudation, and the formation of scales or crust
Edema
Presence of abnormally large mounts of fluids in the intercellular tissue spaces; demonstratable amount of excess fluid in subcutaneous tissues
Efferent
Conducting away from a structure
Embolism
Obstruction of a blood vessel by a clot brought from another location ( a thrombus that has broken loose)
Emesis
The act of vomiting
Emphysema
Hyperinflation of air with destruction of alveolar walls
Empyema
Accumulation of pus in a body cavity
Encephalitis
Inflammation of the brain
Endarectomy
Surgical removal of plaque from the inner layer of an artery
Endemic
Disease of low morbidity that is constantly present in human community
Endocarditis
Inflammation of the endothelial lining membrane of the heart and the connective tissue bed on which it lies
Endoscopy
Inspection of any body cavity
Enteric
Pertaining to the intestine
Enteritis
inflammation in the intestine, especially the small intestine
Enuresis
Involuntary discharge of urine
Epidemic
Disease of high morbidity that occurs only occasionally in the community
Epigastric
Middle upper abdominopelvic region above the stomach
Epistaxis
Hemorrhage from the nose (nosebleed)
Erythema
Patchy or circular redness of the skin due to an excess of red corpuscles or erythrocytes in the lower layer of the skin
Erythema*
Polycythemia Vera; an excess of red corpuscles or erythrocytes by the bone marrow
Erythrocyte
Red blood cell
Erythropoietin
Hormone secreted by the kidney to stimulate red blood cell production in the bone marrow
Etiology
The study of causes; causes of diseases
Euphoria
A feeling of general well being, bodily comfort, and the absence of general discomfort
Euthyroid
Condition of having a normally functioning thyroid gland
Exacerbation
An increase in the severity of a symptom or a disease
Exogenous
Originating or originally produced outside the body
Extravasation
A discharge or escape such as blood from a vessel into a tissue (i.e. hemorrhage); also refers to leakage form an intravenous line into surrounding tissue
Exudate
material such as fluid, cells, cellular debris that has escaped from blood vessels and deposited in tissues or tissue surfaces (usually the result of inflammation)
Fascia
A sheet or band of fibrous tissue such as that beneath the skin or enclosing muscles
Febrile
Penetrating to or characterized by fever
Fibrillation
Very rapid, random, inefficient, and irregular contraction of the heart
Fibrosis
The formation of fibrous tissue
Fissure (anal)
A painful ulcer at the margin of the anus
Fistula
An abnormal passage or communication, usually between two internal organs, or leading form an internal organ to the body surface
flatulence
Accumulation of gases in the stomach and intestines with resultant distention
Flutter
Rapid but regular contraction
Fundus
The bottom or base of an organ or the part of a hollow organ farthest from its mouth
Gangrene
Death of tissue associated with loss of blood supply
Gastritis
Inflammation of the stomach
Genotype
The fundamental hereditary constitution (or assortment of alleles) of an individual
Geriatric
Branch of medicine that treats all problems peculiar to old age, including senility
Gingivitis
Inflammation of the gum tissue
Glaucoma
condition of the eye characterized by increased intraocular pressure
Glomerulus
Tiny ball of capillaries in the kidney
Glossitis
Inflammation of the tongue
Gluteal
Pertaining to the buttocks
Glycogenesis
Synthesis of glycogen
Glycogenolysis
Breakdown of glycogen and the release of glucose in the blood circulation