Pathology Vocabulary Flashcards
Prefix that means without or not.
A
Decrease in, such as in pain.
Abatement
An excoriation, a circumscribed removal of the epidermis of skin or mucous membrane.
Abrasion
Localized accumulation of pus.
Abscess
A marked decrease in blood carbon dioxide content.
Acapnia
Condition in which there is an excessive proportion of acid in the blood.
Acidosis
Presents itself after birth.
Acquired
A disease which is not congenital, but has developed since birth.
Acquired Disease
Prefix that means extremity.
Acro
Hyperfunction of pituitary gland after ossification has been completed.
Acromegaly
A disease with a more or less rapid onset and short duration.
Acute
Prefix meaning gland.
Adeno
A neoplasm formed by glandular epithelium.
Adenoma
Suffix meaning pain.
Algia
Condition in which there is an excessive proportion of alkali in the blood.
Alkalosis
Having a hypersensitivity to a substance that does not normally cause a reaction.
Allergies
A pre-senile dementia occurring usually in persons over 60 years of age; thought to be associated with neurofibril degeneration.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Congenital absence of one or more limbs.
Amelia
Prefix meaning without.
An
Generalized massive edema in subcutaneous tissue.
Anasarca
A decrease in the number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, or both.
Anemia
A localized dilation of a blood vessel.
Aneurysm
Suffix meaning vessel.
Angio
A swelling or tumor due to dilation (hemangioma) or lymphatics (lymphangioma)
Angioma
Deficient blood oxygen supplies to tissues.
Anoxia
Failure of a tissue or an organ or develop normally; Congenital absence of an organ or other part. In hematology, incomplete or defective development or a cessation of regeneration.
Aplasia
Suffix meaning enzyme.
Ase
Mutual opposition or contrary action. The inhibition of one bacterial organism by another.
Antagonism
Prefix meaning before.
Ante
Prefix meaning against.
Anti
Glycoprotein substance developed in response to, and interacting specifically with an antigen.
Antibody (Immunoglobulin)
A foreign substance that stimulates the formation of antibodies that interact specifically with it.
Antigen
The prevention of sepsis by preventing or inhibiting the growth of causative microorganisms.
Antisepsis
Dilution or weakening of virulence of a microorganism, reducing or abolishing pathogenicity.
Attenuation
Disease of the arteries resulting in thickening and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls.
Arteriosclerosis
Inflammation, usually of a chronic progressive character, involving an artery or arteries.
Arteritis
Prefix meaning joint.
Arthro
Accumulation of free serous fluid in the abdominal cavity.
Ascites
Loss of consciousness from deficient oxygen.
Asphyxia
A form of arteriosclerosis marked by the deposition of lipids in the inner layer of arterial walls.
Atherosclerosis
A wasting, decrease in size of an organ or tissue.
Atrophy
Prefix meaning self.
Auto
A postmortem examination of the organs and tissues of a body to determine cause of death or pathological condition.
Autopsy (Necropsy)
Self-nourishing bacteria that are capable of growing in the absence of organic compounds. Organisms that obtain carbon from carbon dioxide.
Autotrophic Bacteria
A tearing away.
Avulsion
Any rod-shaped microorganism.
Bacillus (pl. Bacilli)
The presence of viable bacteria in the blood stream.
Bacteremia
A procaryotic, one-celled microorganism of the Kingdom Monera, existing as free living organisms or as parasites, multiplying by binary fission and having a large range of biochemical properties.
Bacteria
A visible group of bacteria growing on a solid medium, presumably arising from a single microorganism.
Bacterial Colony
An agent that destroys bacteria but not necessarily their spores.
Bactericide
Science that studies bacteria.
Bacteriology
The red pigment in the bile.
Bilirubin
The green pigment in the bile.
Biliverdin
A method of asexual reproduction in bacteria in which the cell splits into two parts, each of which develops into a complete individual.
Binary Fission
Prefix meaning life.
Bio
An arthropod vector in which the disease causing organism multiplies or develops within the arthropod prior to becoming infective for a susceptible individual.
Biological Vector
Pre-embalming purge as a result of a fracture of the skull, a surgical procedure in the cranial cavity or a trauma. It is possible for gas (a type of purge) to build up in the cranium and travel along the nerve routes to distend such tissues as the eyelids.
Brain Purge
Severe form of malnutrition.
Cachexia
Several communicating boils of the skin and subcutaneous tissues with the production and discharge of pus and dead tissue.
Carbuncle
General term for a malignant tumor.
Carcinoma
The membrane that surrounds some bacterial cells; a loose gel-like structure that, in pathogenic bacteria, help to protect against phagocytes.
Capsule
Formation of cavities in an organ or tissue; frequently seen in some forms of tuberculosis.
Cavitation
Suffix meaning a protrusion.
Cele
The deterioration of an organ or cell structure which may include swelling.
Cellular Degeneration
A cellular reaction to injury which may include pigmentation, calcification, and gout.
Cellular Infiltration
Suffix meaning perforating.
Centesis
A blow; hence a sudden attack, as a sunstroke, a paralytic or apoplectic stroke or apoplexy.
Cerebral Vascular Accident (Stroke)
Primary lesion, initial sclerosis, syphilitic sore, the first manifestation of syphilis.
Chancre
A large group of nonmotile, gram negative intracellular parasites.
Chlamydia
Prefix meaning bile.
Chol
Suffix meaning bile.
Chole
Inflammation of the gallbladder.
Cholecystitis
A disease with a more or less slow onset and long duration.
Chronic
A degeneration or atrophy of the parenchyma cells of an organ with hypertrophy of the interstitial connective tissue.
Cirrhosis
Congenitally malformed palate with a fissure along the midline.
Cleft Palate
Study of disease by means of body secretions, excretions, and other body fluids performed in the laboratory in the diagnosis of a disease.
Clinical Pathology
A type of bacteria that is spherical or ovoid in form.
Coccus (pl. Cocci)
Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the colon.
Colitis
The symbiotic relationship of two organisms of different species in which one gains some benefit such as protection or nourishment.
Commensalism
A disease that may be transmitted directly or indirectly from one individual to another.
Communicable
An unfavorable condition arising during the course of disease.
Complication
The immediate and temporary disturbance of brain function.
Concussion
Existing at the time of birth or shortly thereafter.
Congenital
A disease that begins before birth and is evident at the time of birth.
Congenital Disease
Accumulation of an excess of blood or tissue fluid in a body part.
Congestion
The act of introducing disease germs or infectious material into an area or substance.
Contamination
A bruise, often accompanied with swelling.
Contusion
A congenital condition due to hypothyroidism resulting in mental retardation.
Cretinism
Condition in which the descent of a testis into the scrotum is arrested at some point in the normal path.
Cryptorchism
Bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membrane due to lack of oxygen.
Cyanosis
A sac within or on the body surface containing air or fluid.
Cyst
Prefix meaning bladder.
Cyst
Inflammation of a bladder, especially the urinary bladder.
Cystitis
Chemical reaction involving breaking of chemical bonds; forms two or more smaller molecule compounds from larger molecule compounds.
Decomposition
Disease due to lack of dietary or metabolic substance.
Deficiency
The deterioration of tissues with corresponding functional impairment as a result of disease or injury.
Degeneration
Loss of moisture from body tissue which may occur antemortem or postmortem.
Dehydration
Prefix meaning through.
Dia
A term used to designate two diseases, diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus, each having the symptom of polyuria in common.
Diabetes
The term denoting the naming of the disease or syndrome; to recognize the nature of a disease.
Diagnosis
The condition of the heart being enlarged, occurring normally, artificially, or as a result of disease.
Dilatation
A double bacillus, two being linked end to end to each other.
Diplobacilli
A genus of bacteria that are gram-positive organisms occurring in pairs.
Diplococcus (Streptococcus)
A chemical or physical agent that kills disease-causing microorganisms generally used on inanimate objects.
Disinfectant
The destruction of infectious agents by chemical or physical means directly applied to inanimate objects.
Disinfection
The presence of a number of diverticula of the intestine.
Diverticulosis
Resistant, as in bacteria, to the action of a drug or drugs.
Drug-Fast
Condition that results when the body part that dies had little blood and remains aseptic and occurs when the arteries but not the veins are obstructed.
Dry Gangrene (Ischemic Necrosis)
Prefix meaning difficult.
Dys
Abnormal development of tissue.
Dysplasia
Faulty nutrition.
Dystrophy
Small, non-elevated hemorrhagic patch; extravasation of blood into a tissue.
Ecchymosis
Suffix meaning dilate.
Ectasis
Suffix meaning removal of.
Ectomy
Displaced; not in the normal place; for example: extrauterine pregnancy.
Ectopic
The implantation of the fertilized ovum in a site other than the normal one in the uterine cavity.
Ectopic Pregnancy
Abnormal accumulation of fluids in tissue or body cavities.
Edema
Excessive wasting away of the body.
Emaciation
Free floating object in the bloodstream.
Embolism
Suffix meaning vomit.
Emesis
Suffix meaning blood.
Emia
Pus in the pleural cavity.
Empyema
Prefix meaning in.
En
Inflammation of the brain.
Encephalitis
A disease that is continuously present in a community.
Endemic
Prefix meaning within.
Endo
Inflammation of the endocardium, or lining membrane of the heart. It may involve only the membrane covering the valves or the general lining of the chambers of the heart.
Endocarditis
Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the cervix uteri.
Endocervicitis
The ectopic occurrence of endometrial tissue or its diffuse inplantation or infiltration in the myometrium.
Endometrosis
Produced or arising from within a cell or organism.
Endogenous Infection
A thick-walled spore within a bacterium.
Endospores
Bacterial toxin confined within the body of a bacterium freed only when the bacterium is broken down, found only in gram negative bacteria.
Endotoxin
Inflammation of the intestine.
Enteritis
Prefix meaning intestine.
Entero
Prefix meaning upon.
Epi
A disease that is currently in higher than normal numbers.
Epidemic
A chromic neurological disease marked by sudden alterations in consciousness and frequently by convulsions.
Epilepsy
Bleeding from the nose.
Epistaxis
Inflammation of the esophagus.
Esophagitis
Suffix meaning sensation.
Esthesia
The study of the cause of disease.
Etiology
Prefix meaning out of.
Ex
Increase in severity of a disease.
Exacerbation
Originating outside an organ or part.
Exogenous Infection
A toxin produced by a microorganism and excreted into its surrounding medium. generally protein in nature.
Exotoxin
Increase in severity of a disease; Loss of blood to the point where life can no longer be sustained.
Exsanguination
The fluid that oozes through the tissues into a cavity or to the surface.
Exudate
A microorganism that prefers the environment devoid of oxygen but has adapted so that it can live and grow in the presence of oxygen.
Facultative Aerobe
An organism that prefers an oxygen environment but is capable of living and growing in its absence.
Facultative Anaerobe
Having the capacity to do something that is not compulsory, in particular having the ability to live or adapt to certain conditions.
Facultative Bacteria
Prefers live organic matter as a source of nutrition but can adapt to the use of dead organic matter under certain conditions.
Facultative Saprophyte
Term associated with fever.
Febrile
An encapsulated tumor composed mainly of fibrous connective tissue.
Fibroma (Fibroid, Tumor, Inoma)
One in which the organisms are originally confined to one area but enter the blood or lymph vessel and spread to other parts of the body.
Focal Infection
Any inanimate object to which infectious material adheres and can be transmitted.
Fomite
Having rapid and severe onset, usually fatal.
Fulminating
A condition or disease in which there is no recognizable change in anatomy.`
Functional
A group of diverse and widespread unicellular and multicellular organisms, lacking chlorophyll, usually bearing spores and often filamentous.
Fungus (pl. Fungi)
An agent that kills fungi and their spores.
Fungicide
An abscess or pyogenic infection of a sweat gland or hair follicle.
Furuncle
A form of necrosis combined with putrefaction.
Gangrene
Inflammation of the stomach.
Gastritis
