Medical Terminology Flashcards
1
Q
Aerobic
A
The presence of air or oxygen
2
Q
Agonist
A
to enhance an expected response
3
Q
Anaerobic
A
the absence of air or oxygen
4
Q
Aniscoria
A
a condition characterized by unequal pupil size
5
Q
Antagonist
A
to inhibit or counteract the effects of other drugs or undesired effects
6
Q
Anion
A
an ion with a negative charge
7
Q
Aphasia
A
inability or difficulty in speaking
8
Q
Apnea
A
the cessation of spontaneous respirations
9
Q
Ascites
A
abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
10
Q
Ataxia
A
failure of muscle coordination
11
Q
Atrophy
A
shrinkage of a cell or muscle
12
Q
Aura
A
sensation (may be visual, smell, taste, etc.) that may precede a migraine or seizure
13
Q
Benign
A
nonmalignant, often not problematic
14
Q
Bile
A
secreted by the liver, stored in gallbladder
15
Q
Blebs
A
collection of air between the lung and visceral pleura that can result in spontaneous pneumothorax
16
Q
Bruit
A
an abnormal sound or murmur due to a narrowing of the vessel
17
Q
Bursa
A
a sac containing synovial fluid that helps ease friction between tendons and bone
18
Q
Carcinogens
A
cancer-causing agents
19
Q
Cartilage
A
smooth and firm connective tissue
20
Q
Cation
A
an ion with a positive charge
21
Q
Cell
A
basic unit of life
22
Q
Cerumen
A
ear wax found in external ear canal
23
Q
Chyme
A
mass of partially digested food passed from stomach to the duodenum
24
Q
Cilia
A
small, hair-life structures
25
Coma
deep state of unconsciousness, unarousable
26
Confabulation
made up stories to fill in gaps of lost memory
27
Congenital
present at birth
28
Contrecoup
occurs at a site opposite of the side of impact
29
Crepitus
a grating sound or sensation often caused by bone on bone rubbing, or with inflammation in joints
30
Dehydration
An excessive loss of water or fluids from the body
31
Demarcation
line or visible mark between living and necrotic tissues
32
Dendrites
found at the end of neurons, allows propagation of message towards cell body
33
Dentalgia
is a toothache
34
Dermatomes
specific area that is supplied by a single spinal nerve
35
Dysarthria
poor articulation of speech. Often due to affected muscles used in speaking
36
Dysarthria
poor articulation of speech. Often due to affected muscles used in speaking
37
Dyskinesia
disorder related to involuntary muscle movements
38
Dysplasia
abnormal growth of a cell
39
Dysphagia
difficulty in swallowing
40
Dysuria
difficult or painful urination
41
Edema
excess fluid in the interstitial spaces
42
Epidemic
a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time
43
Erythrocytes
red blood cells
44
Facilitated diffusion
a carrier-mediated process moving substances from areas of high concentration to low concentration
45
Fascia
connective tissue that surrounds or separates muscles
46
Fecalith
fecal impaction in the colon
47
Fibrinogen
blood protein used in clotting cascade
48
Frailty
characterized by exhaustion, slowed performance, weakness, weight loss, low physical activity, often seen in the elderly
49
Gait
walking around or moving on foot
50
Ganglia
a group of nerve cell bodies in the peripheral nervous system
51
Gestation
period from fertilization of ovum to birth of fetus
52
Globulins
simple proteins classified by their size, mobility, and solution
53
Glomerulus
mass of capillaries found at the beginning of each nephron
54
Hematuria
blood in the urine
55
Hemiparesis
one-sided weakness; often seen in those CVA's
56
Hemolysis
breakdown of red blood cells
57
Hemophilia
hereditary bleeding disorders due to missing factors for proper blood coagulation
58
Hemoptysis
coughing up blood
59
Host
an animal or human with exposure to an infectious agent
60
Hydrocele
a fluid-filled sac along the spermatic cord
61
Hymen
a mucous membrane covering the vaginal outlet
62
Hyperemia
increased blood flow to an organ
63
Hyperemia
increased blood flow to an organ
64
Hyperopia
distant vision is clear, but near vision is often blurry (farsightedness)
65
Hyperplasia
excessive increase in the number of cells
66
Idiopathic
unknown cause
67
Idiosyncrasy
an abnormal response to a drug
68
incontinence
inability to control bowel or bladder function
69
infarction
death of tissue from lack of oxygen
70
inferior
down/bottom, toward the feet
71
infiltration
how fluids pass into tissues
72
Jejunum
part of the small intestine
73
Joule
measurement of electrical energy
74
Keloid
excessive scar tissue that goes beyond the original border
75
Kyphosis
abnormal curvature of the spine, increased convexity as viewed laterally
76
Lactate
found in cells during metabolism, byproduct of lactic acid
77
Laryngitis
inflammation of the larynx
78
Lobules
small lobes
79
Luxation
complete dislocation
80
Malaise
general weakness
81
Malignant
cancerous, has ability to metastasize or spread
82
Mania
a mood disorder characterized by hyperactivity, agitation, excitement and occasional violent and self-destructive behavior
83
Melena
black, tarry stools containing digested blood
84
Metastasis
movement or spreading of cancer cells from location to another
85
Myalgia
muscle pain
86
Necrosis
death of a cell or a group of cells as a the result of disease, ischemia, or injury
87
Neoplasia
new and abnormal growth that may be malignant or benign
88
Nephron
the structural and functional unity of the kidney
89
Nocturia
excessive urination at night
90
Nucleus
controlling body of a cell
91
Nystagmus
involuntary jerking actions of the eyes
92
Oliguria
diminished ability to create or pass urine
93
Orchitis
inflammation of the testicle that may be painful
94
Osmolality
osmotic pressure of a solution
95
Osmosis
the diffusion of solvent (water) through a membrane from a less concentrated solution to a more concentrated solution
96
Ostomy
a surgical opening that creates a hole from the inside of the body to the outside.
97
Ovum
a female egg or egg cell
98
Parenteral
any medication route other than the oral route
99
Paresthesia
sensation of numbness tingling or "pins and needles"
100
Pathogen
a cause of a disease
101
Phobia
anxiety disorder characterized by an obsessive, irrational, and intense fear of a specific object or activity
102
Photophobia
a sensitivity to light that is abnormal
103
Plasma
the fluid part of blood
104
Platelets
fragments of cells that are responsible for initiating the clotting process
105
Poikilothermia
inability to regulate the body temperature in comparison to the ambient temperature
106
Polycythemia
unusually large number of red blood cells in the blood as a result of their increased production by the bone marrow. Often caused by COPD and/or right ventricular failure/enlargement
107
Polyuria
excessive urination
108
Priapism
a painful and persistent erection
109
Pulsus paradoxus
abnormal decrease in systolic blood pressure (10-15mmhg) during inspiration
110
Quadriplegia
weakness or paralysis of all four extremities and the trunk. Often occurs after a high-level cervical spine fracture
111
Referred Pain
pain felt at a site away from its origin
112
Renin
enzyme secreted by the kidneys that is involved in the release of angiotensin; plays an important role in maintenance of blood pressure
113
Rhinitis
inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose
114
Rhonchi
abnormal, course, rattling respiratory sounds, usually caused by secretions in the bronchial airways or muscular spasm/constriction
115
Sciatica
pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve
116
Slander
false statements about a person
117
Solutes
the minor component in a solution that is dissolved in solution
118
Stridor
high-pitched musical sound caused by an obstruction in the trachea or larynx
119
Stroke
volume (amounts in milliliters) of blood ejected from one ventricle in a single heartbeat. Normal range is 60-100 with average being 70mL
120
Subluxation
a partial dislocation
121
Surfactant
substance that reduces the surface tension of the pulmonary fluids
122
Synapse
junction between two nerve cells. Most often referred to with regards to sympathetic (norepinephrine) and parasympathetic nervous system (acetylcholine)
123
Synergism
the combined action of two agents in greater than the action of the agents independently
124
Tendons
bands of connective tissue that connect muscle to bone
125
Tetany
involuntary contraction of skeletal muscles
126
Tetraplegia
weakness or paralysis of all four extremities and the trunk (another term for quadriplegia)
127
Tidal volume
volume (or amount) of air inspired or expired in a single breath
128
Tort
personal harm or injury caused by civil versus criminal wrongs
129
Trismus
limited jaw range of motion commonly caused by muscle spasms of the jaw. Can be primary symptom in tetanus
130
Untoward effects
side effects that prove harmful to the patient
131
Urea
a nitrogen containing waste product
132
Uremia
excess of urea and other nitrogen based wastes in the blood
133
Urticaria
hives
134
Ventilation
mechanical movement of air into and out of the lungs
135
Vesicants
an agent that causes blistering
136
Virulence
the harmfulness of a disease or poison
137
Viscosity
the degree of friction between two liquid molecules
138
Volvulus
twisting of the intestines
139
Wheals
small areas of swelling that result from an allergic reaction. Similar to hives (urticaria)
140
Xiphoid proces
smallest of the three parts of the sternum. Articulates caudally with the body of the sternum and laterally with the seventh rib. Can fracture with inappropriate hand placement during CPR.
141
Zone of coagulation
central area of a burn wound that has sustained the most intense contact with the thermal source
142
Zone of of hyperemia
area in which blood flow is increased as a result of the normal inflammatory response to injury in a burn
143
Zone of statsis
area of burn tissue that surrounds the critically injured area from a burn
144
