Module 1B: Medical Terminology Flashcards
Abd
Abdomen
ABGs
Arterial blood gases
a.c.
Before meals
ACLS
Advance cardiac life support
Ad lib
As desired
ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
AKA
Above-the-knee amputation
AMA
Against medical advice
ASA
Aspirin
ASAP
As soon as possible
BE
Barium enema
BKA
Below-the-knee amputation
BM
Bowel movement
BMI
Body mass index
BP
Blood pressure
BPH
Benign prostatic hypertrophy
BPM
Beats per minute
BRP
Bathroom privileges
BSA
Body surface area
BUN
Blood urea nitrogen
Bx
Biopsy
c̄
With
C
Celsius
C&S
Culture and sensitivity
Ca
Calcium; cancer
CABG
Coronary artery bypass graft
CAD
Coronary artery disease
CBC
Complete blood count
CC
Chief complaint
CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
cm
Centimeter
CMS
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
CNS
Central nervous system
CP
Chest pain
CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
c/o
Complains of
COPD
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Csf
Cerebrospinal fluid
CT
Computed tomography
Cv
Cardiovascular
CVA
Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
CXR
Chest x-ray
d
Day
D&C
Dilation and curettage
D/C, dc
Discharge, discontinue
DM
Diabetes mellitus
DNR
Do not resuscitate
DOB
Date of birth
DTap
Diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis vaccine
Dx
Diagnosis
ECG, EKG
Electrocardiogram
ED
Emergency department
EEG
Electroencephalogram
ENT
Ear, nose, and throat
F
Fahrenheit
FBS, FBG
Fasting blood sugar/glucose
f/u
Follow up
FUO
Fever of unknown origin
Fx
Fracture
GI
Gastrointestinal
GTT
Glucose tolerance test
gtt
Drop
GU
Genitourinary
GYN
Gynecology, gynecologist
H, hr
Hour
Hct
Hematocrit
HEENT
Head, ears, eyes, nose, throat
HF
Heart failure
Hgb
Hemoglobin
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
HPV
Human papillomavirus
HTN
Hypertension
Hx
History
I&D
Incision and drainage
I&O
Intake and output
ICU
Intensive care unit
IUD
Intrauterine device
K
Potassium
KUB
Kidneys, ureters, bladder
L
Liter or left
lb
Pound
LLE
Left lower extremity
LLL
Left lower lobe
LLQ
Left lower quadrant
LMP
Last menstrual period
LUE
Left upper extremity
LUQ
Left upper quadrant
mg/dL
Milligrams per deciliter
MI
Myocardial infarction
mL
Milliliters
MM
Mucous membrane
mm Hg
Millimeters of mercury
MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging
MS
Multiple sclerosis
N/V
Nausea/vomiting
NB
Newborn
NG
Nasogastric
NKA/NKDA
No known allergies/No known drug allergies
NPO
Nothing by mouth (nil per os)
NS
Normal saline
NSAID
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
OB
Obstetrics
OC
Oral contraceptive
OOB
Out of bed
OP
Outpatient
OT
Occupational therapy/therapist
OTC
Over-the-counter
PA (direction)
Posteroanterior
p.c.
After meals (post cibos)
PE
Physical examination, pulmonary embolism
PID
Pelvic inflammatory disease
PMS
Premenstrual syndrome
PO
By mouth
PRN
As needed
PT
Physical therapy/therapist
pt
Patient
R
Right
RA
Rheumatoid arthritis
RBC
Red blood cell
RLE
Right lower extremity
RLL
Right lower lobe
RLQ
Right lower quadrant
R/O
Rule out
ROM
Range of motion
RT
Respiratory therapy/therapist
RUE
Right upper extremity
RUQ
Right upper quadrant
Rx
Prescription
s̄
Without
SOB
Shortness of breath
Stat
Immediately
STI
Sexually transmitted infection
Sx
Symptoms
T&A
Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy
TB
Tuberculosis
TIA
Transient ischemic attack
Tx
Treatment
UA
Urinalysis
URI
Upper respiratory infection
UTI
Urinary tract infection
VS
Vital signs
WBC
White blood cell
WNL
Within normal limits
YO, y/o
Years old
#
Pounds
↑
Increase
↓
Decrease
♂
Male
♀
Female
‘
Feet
“
Inches
°
Degrees
Combining vowel
Sometimes, when a root attaches to a prefix or suffix, it needs an extra vowel to combine the components. This vowel is known as a combining vowel.
EX: hem- means blood, and -rrhage means excessive flow. The “o” between the two creates the medical term hemorrhage, meaning excessive blood flow.
Combining form
A combining form is a word root with a combining vowel. Often, the combining vowel makes the medical term easier to pronounce. In most cases, the combining vowel is an “o,” but it is sometimes “i” or “e.”
A combining form should be used when the last word root in a medical term connects with a suffix that begins with a consonant. When the word root connects with a suffix that starts with a vowel, just the word root should be used.
When the suffix begins with a vowel, the word root is used. Examples include cephalalgia and colectomy. However, when the suffix begins with a consonant, the combining form is used, as in colostomy and cephalodynia. When connecting two word roots, always use the connecting vowel, even if the following word root begins with a vowel.
Aden
Gland
Pancreat
Pancreas
Thyr
Word Root
Thyroid gland
Hem, hemat
Blood
Phleb
Vein
Thromb
clot
Arthr
Joint
Brachi
Arm
Cervic
Neck
Chondr
Cartilage
Cost
Rib
Crani
Skull
Dactyl
Finger or toe
Fibr
Connective tissue
My
Muscle
Oste
Bone
Pod
Foot
Sacr
Sacrum
Spondyl, vertebr
Vertebra
Ten, tendin
Tendon
Abdomin
Abdomen
An
Anus
Appendic
Appendix
Bil, chol
Bile, gall
Col
Colon
Dent
Teeth
Enter
Intestines
Esophag
Esophagus
Gastr
Stomach
Gingiv
Gums
Gloss
Tongue
Hepat
Liver
Icter
Jaundice
Ile
Ileum
Lapar
Abdominal wall
Lingu
Tongue
Pancreat
Pancreas
Pepsia
Digestion
Phag
Eating, swallowing
Proct
Rectum
Splen
Spleen
Stomat
Mouth
Andr
Male
Colp
Vagina
Cyst
Bladder
Gravid
Pregnant
Gynec
Female
Hyster
Uterus
Mamm, mast
Breast
Metr
Uterus
Nephr
Kidney
Ov
Ovum
Oophor
Ovary
Orchid
Testicles
Prostat
Prostate gland
Pyel
Pelvis of the kidney
Ren
Renal/kidney
Salping
Fallopian tube
Ureter
Ureters
Ur
Urinary
Vesic
Bladder
Bronch
Bronchial
Laryng
Larynx
Nas
Nose
Pleur
Pleura
Pneum, pneumon
Lungs, air
Pulmon
Lung
Rhin
Nose
Steth
Chest
Thorac
Thorax
Trache
Trachea
Derm, dermat
Skin
Hidr
Sweat
Trich
Hair
Onych
Nail
Xer
Dry
Angi
Blood vessel
Arteri, arter
Artery
Cardi
Heart
Vas
Vessel
Ven
Vein
Blephar
Eyelid
Cephal
Head
Cerebr
Cerebrum
Encephal
Brain
Esthesi
Sensation
Irid, ird
Iris
Mening, meningi
Membranes, meninges
Myel
Spinal cord, bone marrow
Myring
Eardrum
Neur
Nerve
Ocul, ophthalm
Eye
Ot
Ear
Adip
Fat
Bio
Life
Carcin
Cancer
Cry
Cold
Dors
Back portion of the body
Gluc, glyc
Sugar
Hemi
Hernia
Hist
Tissue
Hydra
Water
Lact
Milk
Later
Side
Lip
Fat
Lith
Stone
Med, medi
Middle
Narc
Numbness, stupor, sleep
Necr
Death
Onc
Tumor
Path
Disease
Ped
Child; foot
Psych
Mind
Pyo
Pus
Pyr
Fever, heat
Septic
Infection
Therm
Heat
A-, an-
Without
Ab-
Away, from
Ad-
Toward
Ambi-
Both
Ante-
Before
Anti-
Against
Auto-
Self
Bi-
Two, twice, double
Brady-
Slow
Circum-
Around
Contra-
Against
De-
Down
Dys-
Painful, abnormal, difficult, bad
Endo-
Within, inside
Epi-
Above, on
Eu-
Normal, good
Ex-, extra-, exo-
Outside of
Hemi-
Half
Hyper-
Above, excessive, increased
Hypo-
Below, decreased, insufficient
Infra-
Beneath
Inter-
Between, among
Intra-
Within, during
Levo-
To the left
Macro-
Large
Mal-
Bad
Mega-
Exceptionally large
Meso-
Middle
Meta-
Over, beyond
Micro-
Small
Mono-
One
Multi-
Many
Neo-
New
Nulli-
None
Peri-
Around
Poly-
Many
Post-
After, behind
Pre-, pro-
Before, in front of
Presby-
Older age
Primi-
First
Pseudo-
False
Quadri-
Four
Retro-
Behind, in back of
Sten-
Narrowed
Sub-
Under
Super-, supra-
Above, excess
Sym-, syn-
Together, with
Tachy-
Fast
Trans-
Across
Tri-
Three
Ultra-
Beyond, excess
Uni-
One
-age
Related to
-cidal, -cide
Pertaining to killing
-form
Shape
-fuge
Driving away
-iatry, -iatrist
Healing by a provider/healer
-ical
Pertaining to
-ion
Process
-logy, logist
Study of, one who studies
-ole
Little, small
-opia
Vision
-phylaxis
Protection, prevention
-pnea
Breathing
-therapy
Treatment
-uria
Urine
-centesis
Surgical puncture
-cise
Cut, remove
-clasis
Break down
-desis
Stabilization, binding
-ectomy
Removal, excision
-gram
Record
-graph
Instrument for recording
-graphy
Process of recording
-ion
Process
-lepsy
Seizure, convulsion
-lysis
Destruction, separation
-meter
Device for measuring
-metry
Process of measuring
-pexy
Fixation, to put in place
-plasty
Surgical repair, reformation
-scopy
Visual examination
-spasm
Involuntary twitch
-stasis
Stopping or controlling
-stomy
A new opening
-tomy
Incision
-tripsy
Crushing
-algia
Pain
-asthenia
Weakness
-cele
Swelling, herniation
-dynia
Pain
-ectasis
Dilation, expansion
-emesis
Vomiting
-emia
Blood condition
-gen
Producing
-ia, -ism
Condition of
-iasis
Presence of, formation of
-I
Inflammation
-malacia
Weakening or softening of
-mania
Obsessive preoccupation
-megaly
Enlargement
-oid
Seeming like
-ole
Small
-oma
Tumor
-osis
Condition, usually abnormal
-pathy
Disorder, disease
-penia
Deficiency, decrease
-phagia
Eating, swallowing
-phasia
Speech
-phobia
Fear
-plasia
Formation of
-plegia
Paralysis
-ptosis
Drooping, falling
-rrhage
Bursting forth
-rrhea
Flow, discharge
-rrhexis
Rupture
-sclerosis
Hardening condition
-trophy
Development
Hypertension
High blood pressure
Angina
Chest pain
Acute
New, urgent, sudden
Chronic
Ongoing
Alopecia
Hair loss
Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
Stroke
Myocardial infarction
Heart attack
Edema
Swelling
CT scan
CAT scan
Cryotherapy
Freezing off
Abdomen
Stomach
Tachycardia
Fast heart rate, heart beating fast, heart racing
Heart rate greater than 100/min.
Bradycardia
Low heart rate, heart beating slow
Heart rate less than 60/min.
Hyperglycemia
High blood sugar
Hypoglycemia
Low blood sugar
GERD
Heartburn
Shortness of breath
Trouble breathing
Phalanges
Fingers and toes
Arrhythmia
Irregular heart rhythm
Erythrocytes
Red blood cells
Vertigo
Dizziness, room spinning, dizzy, lightheaded
Syncope
Fainting, temporary loss of consciousness
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
Blood clot
Osteoarthritis
Wear and tear
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Lou Gehrig’s disease
Anatomical position
Standard frame of reference in which the body is standing up, face forward, arms at the sides, palms forward, and toes pointed forward
Supine
Lying face up
Prone
Lying face down
Dorsal recumbent
Lying facing upward with flexed knees, feet flat on floor
Fowler position
Sitting upright with back angledat 90 degrees
Semi-Fowler’s position
Sitting with back angled at 45 degrees
Anterior
Toward the front of the body
Posterior
Toward the back of the body
Superior
Above; toward the head
Inferior
Below; toward the feet
Medial
Closer to the midline of the body
Lateral
Further from the midline of the body (toward the side)
Superficial
Closer to the surface of the body; more external
Deep
Farther from the body’s surface; more internal
Proximal
Closer to the body’s trunk
Distal
Further from the body’s trunk
Dextrad
Toward the right
Sinistrad
Toward the left