Medical Terminology Flashcards
9 stretcher
collapsible stretcher (without wheels) that is at 35 Stn. and district hubs
abrasion
scraping of the skin
acetaminophen
generic drug name for tylenol
automatic external defibrillator
medical device used to provide electrical shocks to re-establish effective heart rhythms, also called “defibs”
allergy
where the body is hypersensitive to some foreign substance
ambulatory
walking or able to walk
anaphylactic shock
a sudden, severe allergic reaction characterized by a sharp drop in bp, hives and breathing difficulties that is caused by exposure to a foreign substance, such as a drug, food or bee venom
aneurysm
an excessive localized enlargement of an artery caused by a weakening of the artery wall
angina (pectoris)
severe and crushing chest pain due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle
apnea
temporary cessation of breathing
arrhythmia
variation from normal, or absence of heart rhythm
arteriosclerosis
hardening of the walls of the arteries
atherosclerosis
build up of plaques in blood vessels; often made up of fats and cholesterol
ASA
acetylsalicylic acid aka aspirin; given to patients having chest pain
asphyxia
decreased o2 and increased co2 in the blood and tissues
aspiration
drawing in of vomit, mucus, food etc into respiratory tract
asthma
disease marked by periodic spasmodic contractions of the bronchial tubes resulting in difficulty in breathing
asystole
total cessation of electrical activity in the heart ; “ flat-line”
benign
not malignant, has the ability to grow and be harmful but does not spread to adjacent tissue
benzodiazepine
a class o drug often included in recreational drugs; commonly called “ benzos”
blood pressure
pressure of the blood exerted against the elastic artery walls (systolic/diastolic)
bloody show
vaginal discharge (blood) during labour
bronchitis
inflammation of the bronchial tubes
bronchiolitis
inflammation of the bronchiole branches
carcinoma
a form of cancer
cardiac
pertains to the heart
cardiac arrest
sudden or unexpected stoppage of effective heart action
catheterization
the placement of a tube into the body, usually for drainage
cervical
pertaining to the neck or cervix
clammy
cold sweats
coma
a deep and prolonged unconsciousness from which the patient cannot be roused
congestive heart failure
CHF
inadequate cardiac output for normal needs
contusion
injury to tissues without skin breakage; breakage of smaller blood vessels i.e bruise
convulsions
involuntary contraction of the voluntary muscles
coronary artery disease
CAD
blood supply to the heart is decreased by either arteriosclerosis or a blood clot in the coronary artery
crowning
first appearance of the baby’s head in the vaginal opening
cyanosis
blueness of skin due to oxygen deficiency in blood and tissues
D&C
Dilation and Curettage
a medical procedure in which the uterine cervix is dilated and a curette is inserted into the uterus to scrape away the endometrium ( as for the diagnosis or treatment of abnormal bleeding or for surgical abortion during the early part of the second trimester of pregnancy)
Deep Vein Thrombosis
DVT
a type of blood clot occurring in the deep veins, often in the legs
dehydration
lack or loss of water in the body and tissues
delirium
usually temporary mental disturbance noted by delusions, wandering speech and hallucinations
depression
lowered mental and physical activity
dermatitis
inflammation of the skin
diabetes
body does not manufacture enough insulin to regulate blood sugar level
diaphoresis
profuse sweating ( diaphoretic)
diastole
relaxation phase of heart beat
disorientation
mental confusion- loss of recognition of time, place or persons
dyspnea
difficult or labor breathing
ectopic
a pregnancy that is not in the uterused
edema
abnormal accumulation of fluid in the tissues; swelling
embolus
foreign substance or air bubble in blood vessel, which partially or completely obstructs the blood flow ( embolism)
emesis
an act or instance of vomiting
emphysema
fluid in the lungs causing loss of elasticity in the tissue makes expiration of air difficult
epilepsy
chronic disease marked by attacks of convulsions
Epinephrine ( Adrenaline)
Medication given to patients having severe shortness of breath or having an allergic reaction. ACPs also use epinephrine for patients who are in cardiac arrest
Epistaxis
nosebleed
foley catheter
catheter inserted into the bladder via the urethra; used for bladder drainage
gastrointestinal
pertaining to the stomach and intestines i.e. GI bleed
Glasgow Coma Scale
GCS
the most widely used scoring system for classifying the neurological status of patients with head injuries. The scale rates three categories of patient response; eye opening, best verbal response , and best motor response. The lowest score is 3 and is indicative of no response, the highest score is 15, indicates the patient is alert and aware of his or her surroundings.
Glaucoma
condition of excess pressure of fluid in the eye
Hematemesis
the vomiting of blood
hematoma
a localized collection of blood in an organ, muscle or tissue due to a break in the wall of a larger blood vessel; may still appear bruise0like but are a more serious injury
hematuria
blood in urine
hemophilia
hereditary blood disease characterized by prolonged coagulation time
hemoptysis
coughing up blood from some part of the respiratory tract
hemorrhage
external or internal escape of blood from a vessel
hemothorax
collection of blood in the pleural cavity
hyperglycemia
abnormally high amount of sugar in the blood
hypertension
chronic elevation in blood pressure i.e. high blood pressure
hyperventilation
increase in rate or depth ( or both) of respiration resulting in more air in lungs than normal
hypoglycemia
abnormally low amount of sugar in the blood
hypotension
chronically low blood pressure
hysteria
exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitementib
ibuprofen
generic drug name for advil
insulin
hormone (natural or artificial) to control body sugar level
intubation
insertion of a tube i.e. to open an airway
isolation
separation of persons having infectious diseases
labour
process of fetus being expelled from the uterus
leukemia
excessive number of white blood cells, which are not fully grown and cannot kill bacteria
malignant
growing worse and resisting treatment, generally life threatening; cancerous
meninges
three membranes covering the brain and spinal cord
meningitis
inflammation of the meninges
miscarriage
the expulsion of a fetus from the womb before it is viable
myocardial infraction
MI
damage to the heart muscle resulting from blocked or restricted coronary artery
myocardium
the heart muscle
Naloxone (Narcan)
Naloxone is an antidote for heroin and narcotic pain medications including but not limited to, Percocet, Lartab, codeine, etc.; trade name is Narcan
Naproxen
generic drug name for Aleve
Nitroglycerin (Nitro)
medication given to patients having chest pain; often comes in a spray
orthopnea
shortness of breath which occurs when lying flat; the ability to breath only from the upright position
ostomy
surgically created openings in the abdomen for waste/urine drainage; performed to treat intestinal diseases or cancers
PAD Station
Public Access Defibrillation station: metal boxes with clear plastic windows commonly mounted on walls that contain AEDS; often found in public facilities, and locations are usually listed in premise notes in CAD
Pallor
absence of skin colour
Paralysis
loss or impairment of the ability to move body parts
paraplegia
paralysis of the lower body and legs
Phlebitis
inflammation of a vein
placenta
structure attached to the wall of the uterus that provides oxygen and nourishment to the unborn child, and is expelled shortly after birth
pneumonia
inflammation of the lung tissue
pneumothorax
presence of air or gas in the pleural cavity
prostration
extreme exhaustion
pulse
the beat of the heart as felt through the walls of the arteries
quadriplegia
paralysis affecting all four limbs
rigor mortis
stiffening of the muscles after death
sclerosis
hardening of a part
shock
depression of body functions due to circulation failure
signs
visible observed changes in the body
sodium bicarbonate
an ACP alkalizing medication given to patients who are hypoxic and prolonged VSA
spasm
sudden involuntary muscle contraction
sphygmomanometer
instrument for measuring blood pressure i.e. BP cuff
stoma
artificial opening between body cavity and body opening
stroke
loss of brain function(s) due to a disturbance in the blood supply to the brain i.e. apoplexy or CVA
stupor
a state of reduced responsiveness or partial unconsciousness
symptoms
complaint or description of something associated to the illness as stated by the patient
systole
contracting phase of the heartbeat
tachycardia
acute elevated heart rate
thrombus
blood clot which forms in a blood vessel or in the heart cavity (thrombosis)
transient ischemic attack (TIA)
is a set of symptoms that lasts a short time (short-lived) and occurs because of a temporary lack of blood to part of the brain. sometimes referred to as ‘mini-stroke’
trauma
wound or injury
triage
sorting, according to initial examination, of casualties in a disaster situation
tumour
abnormal growth of cells
umbilical cord
attachment between unborn child and placenta
unconsciousness
lack of environmental awareness - incapability to react to sensory stimuli
ventilator
machines that breathe mechanically for patients who cannot manually breathe. must be attended to by a respiratory therapist during transport
ventolin (Salbutamol)
medication given to patients having shortness of breath; usually the “blue inhaler” for patients with two-inhaler (blue & orange) prescriptions
