Pre-Classroom Flashcards (General Terminology)
Afebrile
without fever.
Ambulation
to walk (with a cane/walker).
Aneurysm
An excessive localized enlargement of an artery caused by a weakening of the artery wall.
Arrhythmia
An abnormal heart rhythm (AKA cardiac dysrhythmia).
Artery
A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart.
Arthralgia
Pain in a joint.
Atelectasis
Partial or total collapse of the lungs
Avulsion
Pulling or tearing away (as in a skin avulsion).
Axilla
The armpit.
Benign
A tumor that is not dangerous and does not spread.
Bruit
An abnormal murmur or sound heard through a stethoscope.
Cardiomegaly
Abnormal enlargement of the heart.
Cephalgia
A headache.
Cerumen
Earwax.
Conjunctiva
The white area of the eye.
Contracture
The tightening of a muscle, often leading to deformity and rigidity of joints.
Cornea
The transparent coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil; lets light into the eye.
Debridement
Removal of foreign matter or dead tissue from a wound.
Dentition
The teeth in situ or the dental arch.
Diaphoresis
Excessive sweating
Dyspepsia
Indigestion.
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing.
Dysphasia
Difficulty speaking.
Dyspnea
Difficulty breathing.
Dysuria
Painful urination.
Edema
Swelling of body tissues due to an excessive accumulation of fluid in connective tissue or a serous cavity.
Edentulous
Without teeth
Effusion
Escape of fluid into a cavity.
Emaciate/Cachectic
To become extremely thin or lean; wasting.
Embolism
Obstruction of a blood vessel by a clot of blood or foreign substance.
Emesis
Vomiting
Encephalopathy
A broad term for any brain disease that alters function or structure.
Epistaxis
Bleeding from the nose.
Erythema
Redness.
Febrile
With fever.
Gait
Manner of walking.
Gingiva
Gums.
Hematemesis
Vomiting of blood.
Hematochezia
Bright red bloody stools.
Hematoma
Swelling of blood which occurs in an organ or tissue resulting from ruptured blood vessels.
Hematuria
Blood in the urine.
Hemiplegia
Paralysis to one side of the body.
Hemoptysis
Coughing up blood.
Hemorrhage
An escape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel.
Hemothorax
The accumulation of blood in the pleural cavity.
Hypertension
Persistently high arterial blood pressure.
Hypotension
Persistently low arterial blood pressure.
Incontinence
Inability to control bowel movements or urine.
Infarct
Tissue death resulting from failure of blood supply.
Inguinal
Pertaining to the groin region.
Ischemia
An inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body.
Jaundice
Yellowing of the skin.
Lethargy
Fatigue/exhaustion.
Ligament
Fibrous tissue, binding bones together.
Lingual
Belonging to the tongue.
Lymphadenopathy
Enlargement of a lymph node.
Malaise
Generalized feeling of discomfort or weakness.
Malignant
Atumor tthat can invade/destroy local tissues and psred to other parts of the body.
Malleolus
Projections on either side of the ankle joint from the lower leg bones (tibia/fibula)
Melena
Black, tarry-like stool
Myalgia
Muscular pain
Myocardial Infarction
heart attack
Nares
Nostrils.
Neuralgia
Sharp pain along the course of a nerve or several nerves.
Occiput
Back part of the skull.
Olecranon
Large boy projection of the ulna forming the elbow joint.
Orthopnea
Shortness of breath while lying down flat.
Os
mouth; orifice
Palpable
Able to be touched or felt.
Palpitations
A noticeably rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat
Paresthesia
Abnormal tactile sensation often described as creeping, burning, tingling, or numbness.
Photophobia
Extreme sensitivity to light.
Pleurisy
Inflammation of the pleural lining of lung which causes pain when taking a deep breath.
Polydipsia
Excessive thirst.
Polyuria
Excessive urination
Pruritis
Itchiness
Purulent
Consisting of pus
Rhinorrhea
Thin, watery discharge from the nose
Sciatic
Pertaining to the ischium or hip
Sclera
The dense fibrous opaque outer coat enclosing the eyeball - except the part covered by the cornea.
Sputum
Any mixed matter with saliva that is expectorated through the mouth.
Stenosis
Narrowing of a body opening or passage
Syncope
Passing out or fainting (near syncope is almost fainting).
Tachycardia
Rapid heart rate (> 100 BPM)
Thrombus
A blood clot formed within the vascular system of the body and impeding blood flow.
Tinnitus
Ringing in the ears.
Torsion
The twisting of a bodily organ on its own axis (ovary, testes).
Transient
Passing quickly into and out of existence (temporary condition)
Vein
Vessel carrying blood to the heart.
Vertigo
Dizziness, often described as the room spinning.
Waxing and Waning
Constant symptom that increased and decreases in severity (such as pain).
