Medical Terminology Flashcards
Abrasion
Scraping of the skin
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 blood pressure, 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 inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle
Apnea
Temporary cessation (stopping) of breathing
Arrhythmia
Variation from normal, or absence of heart rhythm
Arteriosclerosis
Hardening of the walls of the arteries
Acetylsalicylic Acid (ASA) or Aspirin
Given to patients having chest pain
Asphyxia
Decreased oxygen or increased Carbon Dioxide in the blood and tissues
Aspiration
Drawing of vomit or mucus into the respiratory tract
Asthma
Disease marked by periodic spasmodic contractions of the bronchial tubes resulting in difficulty of breathing
Benign
Not malignant, has the ability to grow and be harmful, but does not spread to adjacent tissues
Blood pressure
Pressure of blood exerted against the elastic artery walls (systolic/diastolic)
Bloody show
Vaginal discharge (blood) during labour
Bronchitis
Inflammation of the bronchial tubes
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
Pertains to the neck
Clammy
Cold sweats
Coma
A drop and prolonged unconsciousness from which a patients cannot be roused
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Inadequate heart output for normal needs
Contusion
Injury to tissues without skin breakage (bruises)
Convulsions
Involuntary contractions 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 the skin due to oxygen deficiency in blood and tissues
Dilation & Curettage (D&C)
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 the early part of the second trimester of pregnancy)
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)
Diastolic
Relaxation phase of the heartbeat
Disorientation
Mental confusion - loss of recognition of time , place or persons
Dyspnea
Difficult or laboured breathing
Ectopic
A pregnancy that is not in the uterus
Edema
Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the tissues
Embolus
Foreign substance or air bubble in the blood vessel, which partially or completely obstructs the blood flow
Emesis
An act or instance of vomiting
Emphysema
Fluid in the lungs causing loss of elasticity on the tissue makes exhaling 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
Gastrointestinal
Pertaining to the stomach and intestines
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 blood vessel
Hematuria
Blood in the 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 (lung) cavity
Hyperglycemia
Abnormally high amount of sugar in the blood
Hypertension
Chronic elevation in blood pressure (high blood pressure)
Hyperventilation
Increase in rate and/or depth of respiration resulting in more air in lungs than normal
Hypoglecemia
Abnormally low amount of sugar in the blood
Hysteria
Exaggerating or uncontrollable emotion or excitement
Insulin
Hormone (natural or artificial) to control body sugar level
Intubation
Insertion of a tube, 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
Meninges
Three membranes covering the brain and spinal cord
Meningitis
Inflammation of the meninges
Miscarriage
Expulsion of the fetus from the womb before it is viable
Myocardial Infarction (MI)
Damage to the heart muscle from blocked or restricted coronary artery
Myocardium
Heart muscle
Nitroglycerin (Nitro)
Medication given to patients having chest pain
Orthopnea
Shortness of breath which occurs when lying flat; the ability to breathe only when upright
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
Quadraplegia
Paralysis affecting all four limbs
Rigor Mortis
Stiffness of the muscle after death
Sclerosis
Hardening of a part
Shock
Depression of body function due to circulation failure
Signs
Observed changes in the body
Sodium Bicarbonate
An ACP alkalizing medication given to patients who are hypoxic or prolonged VSA
Spasm
An sudden involuntary muscle contraction
Sphygmomanometer
Instrument used to measure blood pressure; 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; 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
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 and occurs because of a temporary lack blood to part of the brain; mini stroke
Trauma
Wound or injury
Triage
Sorting, according to initial examination, of casualties in a disaster
Tumour
Abnormal growth of cells
Umbilical cord
Attachment between unborn child and placenta
Unconsciousness
Lack of environmental awareness - incapable of reacting to sensory stimuli
Ventolin (Salbutamol)
Medication given to patients having shortness of breath
