Medical Terminology 2

Question 1

Adenopathy

Answer 1

any disease or enlargement involving glandular tissue, especially the lymph nodes

Question 2

Ambulate

Answer 2

to move from place to place, typically in relation to a patient’s ability to walk on his/her own – Note: This has nothing to do with an ambulance.

Question 3

Angina

Answer 3

chest pain caused by insufficient blood supply to the heart

Question 4

Aneurysm

Answer 4

an abnormal widening or ballooning of a portion of a blood vessel due to weakness in the vessel wall

Question 5

Aphasia

Answer 5

the symptomatic inability to express oneself through communication such as speaking or writing

Question 6

Bruit

Answer 6

an abnormal sound heard on auscultation that indicates the narrowing of an artery, most commonly the carotid artery – Note: pronounced “brew-ee”

Question 7

Cardiomegaly

Answer 7

abnormal enlargement of the heart, most commonly seen on chest x-ray as a sign of congestive heart failure

Question 8

Catheter

Answer 8

a flexible tube typically used to drain fluid from or introduce fluid to the body; most commonly a foley catheter inserted into the bladder

Question 9

Cerumen

Answer 9

medical term for ear wax, often noted in ENT exam

Question 10

Costrovertebral Angle (CVA)

Answer 10

the areas of the back that are over the kidneys; CVA tenderness on exam can indicate kidney infection – Note: “CVA” is also an acronym for stroke, but these two terms will be easily distinguishable with context (i.e. Diagnosis vs Physical Exam finding).

Question 11

Cyanosis

Answer 11

bluish discoloration of a tissue resulting from oxygen deprivation

Question 12

Diaphoresis

Answer 12

excessive sweating as a medical symptom

Question 13

Dental Caries

Answer 13

medical phrase for tooth decay or cavities (note spelling)

Question 14

Deep Tendon Reflexes (DTRs)

Answer 14

involuntary muscle contraction elicited by percussion of a muscle tendon or bone (the test with the hammer we have all seen before); rated on a number scale with 2+ being normal

Question 15

Dysphagia

Answer 15

difficulty swallowing related to muscular or nervous problems (not mechanical choking on an object such as food)

Question 16

Dyspepsia

Answer 16

medical term for the symptoms of indigestion

Question 17

Ectopy

Answer 17

a temporary abnormal heartbeat (not a sustained abnormal rhythm) that can be read on an EKG or perceived by the patient as a palpitation

Question 18

Effusion

Answer 18

the escape of a fluid from the blood vessels or lymphatics into the tissues or a body cavity; most commonly in the context of pleural effusion seen on chest x-ray

Question 19

Epigastric

Answer 19

referring to the area of the abdomen lying upon/over the stomach; the region at the top-middle if a “hashtag” were drawn on the abdominal wall

Question 20

Epistaxis

Answer 20

medical term for nosebleed

Question 21

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

Answer 21

a scale used to assess the consciousness of a patient upon physical examination, typically in patients with neurological concerns or complaints

Question 22

Guarding

Answer 22

tensing of the muscles of the abdominal wall to protect sensitive inflammation of underlying organs upon direct pressure/palpation

Question 23

Hematemesis

Answer 23

the vomiting of blood from an upper gastrointestinal bleed which may appear frankly red or dark like coffee grounds – Note: Compare to hemoptysis, melena, and hematochezia

Question 24

Hematochezia

Answer 24

the passage of fresh, red blood per anus; indicative of a lower gastrointestinal bleed

Question 25

Hematoma

Answer 25

a mass of usually clotted blood that forms in a tissue, organ, or body space as a result of a broken blood vessel (many other similar terms are actually types of hematomas)

Question 26

Hemiparesis

Answer 26

muscular weakness or partial paralysis of the entire left or right side of the body (a neurologic finding/symptom)

Question 27

Hemiplegia

Answer 27

total paralysis of the entire left or right side of the body (more severe than hemiparesis)

Question 28

Hemoptysis

Answer 28

the coughing up of blood or bloody sputum (a respiratory finding/symptom)

Question 29

Hepatomegaly

Answer 29

abnormal enlargement of the liver, typically a sign of liver disease discovered on palpation of the abdomen

Question 30

Incontinence

Answer 30

the inability of the body to control evacuative functions, especially pertaining to urine and feces; typically indicative of neurologic dysfunction

Question 31

Ischemia

Answer 31

a decrease in the blood supply to a bodily organ, tissue, or body part caused by constriction or obstruction of the blood vessels

Question 32

Malaise

Answer 32

an indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health often indicative of or accompanying the onset of an illness; feeling generally weak or “wiped out”

Question 33

Melena

Answer 33

dark, tarry stool containing decomposing blood that usually indicates bleeding in the upper part of the alimentary canal

Question 34

Myalgia

Answer 34

Medical term for muscle pain

Question 35

Neuralgia

Answer 35

pain along the distribution of a nerve(s), typically perceived as burning or stabbing in nature

Question 36

Nocturia

Answer 36

the need to wake in the middle of the night to urinate (typically used to refer to excessive trips to the bathroom); most common with aging and/or the use of a diuretic such as Lasix

Question 37

Orthopnea

Answer 37

difficulty breathing that occurs when lying flat due to fluid in the lungs (typically indicative of congestive heart failure)

Question 38

Paraspinal

Answer 38

the area on either side of the spine (directly over the spine would be “midline”); typically used when describing tenderness or muscle spasm

Question 39

Paresthesia

Answer 39

an abnormal sensation of the skin associated with nerve dysfunction; most commonly described as “pins and needles”

Question 40

Phonophobia

Answer 40

abnormal sensitivity to noise commonly associated with migraines

Question 41

Photophobia

Answer 41

abnormal sensitivity to light commonly associated with migraines

Question 42

Polydipsia

Answer 42

excessive thirst and/or fluid intake most commonly associated with poorly controlled diabetes

Question 43

Polyuria

Answer 43

the excessive/frequent production and passage of urine, most often in diabetes and/or with the use of diuretics

Question 44

Rebound

Answer 44

a sensation of pain felt when pressure is removed (instead of applied), typically upon palpation of the abdomen on physical exam

Question 45

Scleral icterus

Answer 45

yellowing of the “white part of the eye” in patients with liver disease

Question 46

Stenosis

Answer 46

a narrowing of the diameter of a bodily passage or orifice

Question 47

Stridor

Answer 47

an abnormal, high-pitched breathing sound caused by a blockage in the throat or voice box (larynx)

Question 48

Suprapubic

Answer 48

referring to the area of the abdomen lying upon/over the urinary bladder; the region at the bottom-middle if a “hashtag” were drawn on the abdominal wall

Question 49

Tachypnea

Answer 49

abnormally fast respiratory rate, typically greater than 20 breaths per minute

Question 50

Tinnitus

Answer 50

medical term for ringing in the ears (but may be perceived as other sounds)

Question 51

Torsion

Answer 51

the abnormal twisting of a bodily organ on its own axis, most commonly of the testicles or ovaries