Medical Terminology Flashcards
aerobic
the presence of air or oxygen
agonist
to enhance an expected response
anaerobic
the absence of air or oxygen
aniscoria
a condition characterized by unequal pupil size
antagonist
to inhibit or counteract the effects of other drugs or undesired effects
aphasia
inability or difficulty in speaking
apnea
the cessation of spontaneous respirations
ascites
abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen
atrophy
shrinkage of a cell or muscle
aura
sensation (may be visual, smell, taste, etc.) that may precede a migraine or seizure
blebs
collection of air between the lung and visceral pleura that can result in spontaneous pneumothorax
brachial
artery found in the upper arm, used for pulse checks in pediatric patients
cartilage
smooth and firm connective tissue
cell
basic unit of life
cilia
small, hair-like structures
coma
deep state of unconsciousness, unarousable
confabulation
made up stories to fill in gaps of lost memory
congenital
present at birth
contrecoup
occurs at a site opposite of the side of impact
crepitus
a grating sound or sensation often caused by bone on bone rubbing, or with inflammation in joints
dehydration
an excessive loss of water or fluids from the body
dermatomes
specific area that is supplied by a single spinal nerve
dysarthria
poor articulation of speech; often due to affected muscles used in speaking
dyskinesia
disorder related to involuntary muscle movements
dysplasia
abnormal growth of a cell
dysphagia
difficulty in swallowing (stroke/anaphylaxis)
dysuria
difficult or painful urination
edema
excess fluid in the interstitial spaces
epidemic
a widespread occurrence of an infectious disease in a community at a particular time
erthrocytes
red blood cells
fascia
connective tissue that surrounds or separates muscles
gait
walking or moving on foot
gestation
period from fertilization of ovum to birth of fetus
hematuria
blood in the urine
hemiparesis
one-sided weakness; often seen in those with CVA’s
hemolysis
breakdown of red blood cells
hemophilia
hereditary bleeding disorders due to missing factors for proper blood coagulation
hemoptysis
coughing up blood
host
an animal or human with exposure to an infectious agent
idiopathic
unknown cause
incontinence
inability to control bowel or bladder function
infarction
death of tissue from lack of oxygen
inferior
down/bottom, toward the feet
jejunum
part of the small intestine
joule
measurement of electrical energy
kyphosis
abnormal curvature of the spine, increased convexity as viewed laterally
lactate
found in cells during metabolism, byproduct of lactic acid
laryngitis
inflammation of the larynx
malaise
general weakness
mania
a mood disorder characterized by hyperactivity, agitation, excitement and occasional violent and self-destructive behavior
melena
black, tarry stools containing digested blood
myalgia
muscle pain
necrosis
death of a cell or a group of cells as the result of disease, ischemia, or injury
nucleus
controlling body of a cell
nystagmus
involuntary jerking actions of the eyes
oliguria
diminished ability to create or pass urine
osmosis
the diffusion of solvent (water) through a membrane form a less concentrated solution to a more concentrated solution
ostomy
a surgical opening that creates a hole from the inside of the body to the outside
ovum
a female egg or egg cell
paresthesia
sensation of numbness tingling or “pins and needles”
pathogen
a cause of a disease
phobia
anxiety disorder characterized by an obsessive, irrational, and intense fear of a specific object or activity
photophobia
a sensitivity to light that is abnormal
plasma
the fluid part of blood
platelets
fragments of cells that are responsible for initiating the clotting process
polyuria
excessive urination
priapism
a painful and persistent erection
quadriplegia
weakness or paralysis of all four extremities and the trunk; often occurs after a high-level cervical spine fracture
referred pain
pain felt at a site away from its origin
rhonchi
abnormal, course, rattling respiratory sounds, usually caused by secretions in the bronchial airways or muscular spasm/constriction
sclera
the white outer layer of the eyeball
slander
false statements about a person
stridor
high-pitched musical sound caused by an obstruction in the trachea or larynx
stroke volume
volume (amount in mL) of blood ejected from one ventricle in a single heartbeat; normal range is 60-100 with average being 70mL
subluxation
a partial dislocations
surfactant
substance that reduces the surface tension of the pulmonary fluids
tendons
bands of connective tissue that connect muscle to bone
tidal volume
volume (or amount) of air inspired or expired in a single breath
tort
personal harm or injury caused by civil versus criminal wrongs
uremia
excess of urea and other nitrogen based wastes in the blood
urticaria
hives
ventilation
mechanical movement of air into and out of the lungs
vesicants
an agent that causes blistering
virulence
the harmfulness of a disease or poison
wheals
small areas of swelling that results from an allergic reaction; similar to hives (urticaria)
xiphoid process
smallest of 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
zygote
a fertilized ovum (egg)
