Medical Terminology (Test 2) Flashcards
Abbreviation
- shortened form of a written word or phrase used in place of the word
- may use the first letter of each word or shorten one word
CHF
congestive heart failure
CBD
common bile duct
RLQ
right lower quadrant
DOB
date of birth
Abd
abdomen
Acronym
-name for an abbreviation that forms a pronuncable word
GERD
gastroesophageal reflux disease
PACS
picture archival communication system
TURP
transurethral resection of the prostate gland
Symbol
-a mark or character used as a conventional representation of an object, function or process
Eponyms
-the person whom something (such as a disease) or anatomical region is named after
Alzheimers Disease
-named after German neurologist Alois Alzheimer
Morrison’s Pouch
-named after British surgeon James Morrison
Pouch of Douglas
-named after Scottish anatomist James Douglas
Cells
- individual units found in all parts of the human body
- ex. blood cells
Tissues
- similar cells grouped together to do a specific job
- ex. brain
Organs
- structures composed of several kinds of tissue
- ex. liver
Systems
- groups of organs working together to perform complex functions
- ex. digestive system
Anatomical Position
- reference position
- body erect with arms at sides
- palms forward
- this position is universally used in the medical profession for consistency
Bilateral Symmetry
- a term meaning that the Rt and Lt sides of the body are mirror images
- balanced portions
Ipsilateral
-structures are on the same side of the body in anatomical position
Contralateral
-structures are on opposite sides of the body in anatomical position
Quadrants
-4: RUQ, RLQ, LUQ, LLQ
Regions
-9: Rt hypochondriac, epigastric, Lt hypochondriac, Rt lumbar, umbilical, Rt lumbar, Rt iliac, hypogastric, Lt iliac
Thoracic Cavity
- mediastium: contains heart
- pleural cavity: contains lungs
- pericardial cavity: contains heart
Abdominopelvic Cavity
- abdomen
- pelvis
What separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities?
-diaphragm
Ventral Cavity
- thoracic cavity
- abdominopelvic cavity
Dorsal Cavity
- cranial cavity
- vertebral cavity
Directional Terms
- superior
- inferior
- medial
- lateral
- anterior (ventral)
- posterior (dorsal)
- proximal
- distal
- superficial
- deep
3 Major Planes
- frontal (coronal)
- sagittal
- transverse (horizontal)
Supine
-lying on your back, facing upwards toward the ceiling
Prone
-lying on your front, facing the floor
Decubitus
-lying on your side
Eversion
-outward turning movement
Inversion
-inward turning movement
Flexion
-movement to minimize angle of joint
Extension
-movement to extend a joint
Dorsiflexion
-moves toe upwards
Plantarflexion
-moves toes downward
Pronation
-hand faces downwards or backwards
Supination
-hands face upward or outward
Abduction
-movement of a body part away from the median plane
Adduction
-movement of a body part toward the median plane
Homeostasis
- a stable internal environment
- provides a narrow range of temperature, water, acidity and salt concentration
Disease
-when homeostasis is disrupted
Etiology
-study of the origin of disease
Diagnosis
-establishing the cause or nature of the disease
Prognosis
-predicting the course of disease and probable outcome
Idiopathic
-any disease where the cause is unknown
Signs
- objective indicators that are physical manifestations of an illness
- physician can observe or measure
- can be felt, heard or seen
- ex. temperature, blood pressure, pulse, sweating, etc.
Symptoms
- subjective
- experienced/percieved by the patient
- patient can observe or feel and tell the physician
- can be easily verified
- ex. “doctor I have pain on my right lower side”
Fluorography
-photography of xray images from fluorescent screen
Mammography
-xray of the breasts
CT (computerized axial tomography)
-cross sectional xrays taken from different angles
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
-uses magnetic fields and radio waves
Specialties in Sonography
- generalist
- vascular
- cardiac
- pediactric
Angiogram
- involves an injection of dye to outline vessel lumens and organs in real time
- xray images are taken to record vessel pattern
Contrast Materials
- in many diagnostic procedures, contrast substance or “dye” is used to better define or delineate a structure
- introduced into the bloodstream, GI tract, joint spaces or spinal canal
- ex. barium for GI studies
- agitated fluid/bubbles for contrast enhanced US (ex. cardiac tumor ablation)
Angiography
-xray imaging of blood vessels (veins or arteries)
Cerebral Angiography
-visualizes the blood vessels of the brain
Coronary Angiography
-visualizes the blood vessels of the heart
Arteriography
-visualizes the peripheral arteries (leg/arm)
Venography
-visualizes the veins to see blood clots
Arthrography
-visualizes a joint (often the knee or shoulder)
Barium Tests
- barium sulfate mixtures
- visualizes the esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines
- swallowed for the upper GI tract and small bowel
- introduced through the rectum for the large bowel
- primarily used to r/o lesions, ulcers and filling defects
Chest X-Ray
- ionizing radiation used to visualize the lungs, heart and mediastinal structures
- used to detect: lung tumors, infections (pneumonia), fluid accumulation (pleural effusions), disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) and heart enlargement
COPD
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CT (Computerized Tomography)
- uses a series of xray images to show organs in cross section
- sometimes used in conjunction with contrast material
- visualizes structures within the head, chest, abdomen and pelvis
- tumors, vascular abnormalities and injuries can be assessed
Doppler Ultrasound
- ultrasound used to measure blood flow within a vessel: pulsed or continuous wave doppler and colour doppler
- uses duplex sonography (grey scale and doppler) to visualize vessels and measure blood flow within them
- measures the reflected movements of red blood cells
- blockages (stenosis) in arteries and blood clots (thrombus) in veins are the most common reasons for doppler exams
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
A powerful magnetic field and radio waves used to create whole body or focused body image (ex. head, chest, abdomen, etc.)
- water molecules are aligned and then relaxed, generating electromagnetic currents
- they provide a detailed picture of organs and blood vessels
- tumors and other abnormalities can be imaged
Mammography
- imaging of the breast tissue using low dose xray
- it can image tumors such as cancer, benign lesions and cysts
- US guidance used to biopsy a suspicious lesion in real time
Urography
- xray recording of the kidney and urinary tract
- contrast material is injected intravenously
- xrays are taken at the same time
- can outline blockages caused by a tumor or stone
- demonstrate deficiency of flow (renal filling) due to poor function
Amniocentesis
- procedure to remove some amniotic fluid surrounding a fetus in the pregnancy sac
- the fluid contains cells from the fetus that can be analyzed for chromosomal abnormalities
- usually done under US guidance
Biopsy
- removal of a piece of tissue from the body for examination under a microscope
- the cells identify the type of tissue (normal vs abnormal) in the sample
- core biopsy: a surgical knife and needle to aspirate the tissue
- can be done under US guidance
Digital Rectal Exam (DRE)
- a physician inserts a gloves finger (digit) into the patient’s rectum
- can detect abnormalities in the shape and texture of the gland which may be due to rectal or prostate cancer
- stool on the glove is tested for occult blood (sign of possible disease)
- done by the reporting physician, prior to transrectal US
Thoracentesis
- insertion of a needle into the chest to remove fluid from the space between the lungs and the chest wall (pleural cavity)
- usually done under US guidance
- fluid can be drained and analyzed
- can be used as a diagnostic or therapeutic procedure
Liver Function Tests (LFTs)
- common blood tests used to assess for liver disease
- Alk Phos (alkaline phosphatase)
- Bilirubin (derived from breakdown of hemoglobin, the oxygen carrying blood cells)
- ALT (alanine transaminase)
- SGOT (aka AST)
- patients sent for US to r/o possible: excessive fat in liver (steatosis), blockages in bile flow (biliary obstruction and/or dilation), infections (hepatitis), tumors (hepatoma)
BUN (blood urea nitrogen)
- measurement of the amount of urea in the blood
- kidney function test
- abnormal levels are an indication for renal US to r/o renal disease
Creatine
- kidney function test
- abnormal levels are an indication for a renal US to r/o renal disease
- measure nitrogen waste material in blood
eGFR
- estimated glomerural filtration rate
- common blood tests used to assess renal function
- abnormal levels are an indication for a renal US to r/o renal disease
Hematocrit
- measurement of the percentage of RBC in the blood
- a low hematocrit indicates anemia or internal bleeding
- a high hematocrit indicates a condition called polycythemia
PSA (prostatic-specific antigen)
A blood test that measures the amount of PSA (a protein) that is produced by the cells of the prostate gland and is present in the blood.
Elevated levels:
- can be an indication of prostatic cancer
- can indicate an inflamed prostate (prostatitis)
- can also be due to an enlarged prostate known as a benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)
Pregnancy Tests
- hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin) is a hormone produced in the body during pregnancy
- home pregnancy tests detect this hormone in the patient’s urine giving a qualitative result (+ve or -ve)
- Beta hCG (B-hCG): measures the hormone level in the blood stream and indicates how pregnant you are (5 weeks versus 10 weeks), the possibility of multiplicity (twins) and ectopic pregnancy
ACTH
adrenocorticotropic hormone
ALT
alanine transaminase
AST
aspirate transaminase
BM
bowel movement
HTN
hypertension
Bx
biopsy
CA
cancer
CBC
complete blood count
cc
cubic centimetre (ml)
c/o
complains of
C
section
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid
CX/CXR
chest xray
Cx
cervix
FSH
follicle stimulating hormone
LH
luteinizing hormone
f/u
follow up
FHR
fetal heart rate
GERD
gastroesophageal reflux disease
GFR
glomeral filtration rate
hCG
human chorionic gonadotropin
h/o
history of
HRT
hormone replacement therapy
IBD
inflammatory bowel disease (crohn disease, ulcerative colitis)
IBS
irritable bowel syndrome
IVF
in vitro fertilization
PE
physical examination
PSA
prostate specific antigen
pt
patient
PTH
parathyroid hormone
r/o
rule out
ROM
range of motion
SOB
shortness of breath
STAT
immediately
STD/STI
sexually transmitted disease/infection
T3, T4
parathyroid hormones
TAH
total abdominal hysterectomy
BSO
bilateral saplingo-oophorectomy
TSH
thyroid stimulating hormone
TURP
transurethral resection of prostate gland
Tx
treatment
UTI
urinary tract infection
wt
weight
PID
pelvic inflammatory disease
BP
blood pressure
BPH
benign prostatic hyperplasia
BUN
blood urea nitrogen
D and C
dilation and curettage
DM
diabetes mellitus
DUB
dysfunctional uterine bleeding
DVT
deep vein thrombosis
Dx
medical definition
EDD
estimated date of delivery
ETOH
ethyl alcohol or ethanol
Fe
iron
GI tract
gastrointestinal tract
Hb
hemoglobin
HDL/LDL
high density lipoproteins/low density lipoproteins
IV
intravenous
KUB
kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder
LFTs
liver function tests
LMP
last menstrual period
mets
metabolic equivalents
N+V
nausea and vomiting
NAD
nothing abnormal detected
OA
osteoarthritis
PACS
picture archiving and communication system
post-op
after a surgical procedure
TB
tuberculosis
wbc
white blood cell
