Science Words

Question 1

Etiology

Answer 1

Ee-Dee-ology

1) the cause, causes, or manner of causation of a disease or condition
2) the investigation or attribution of the cause of something, usually expressed as a historical or mythological explanation

Ex: The etiology of her anemia turned out to be chronic internal bleeding, not inadequate iron intake.

Question 2

Mitigate

Answer 2

Make something less severe.

Ex: By mitigating the fight between my siblings, what could have ended in blows instead culminated in a productive conversation about boundaries and respect.

Question 3

Nosocomial

Answer 3

No-zo-coe-me-uhl

A disease originating in a hospital, similar to iatrogenic

Ex: Though her original ailment was minor, the nosocomial fungal infection continued to ail her.

Question 4

Natal

Answer 4

Relating to the place or time of birth

Ex: The natal exposure to methadone impacted the rat’s respiratory control networks.

Question 5

Corpuscle

Answer 5

1) a minute particle
2) a living cell, especially white or red blood cells that are individual free-floaters
3) tiny multi-cellular cells, like protists

Ex: Though these corpuscular cells make up only a small fraction of total brains cells, microglia have a big impact on brain function.

Question 6

Occlude

Answer 6

To stop, close up, or obstruct

Ex: His arteries were occluded by his high-fat diet.

Question 7

Sensorium

Answer 7

The sensory apparatus or faculties considered as a whole.

Ex: A cat’s sensorium includes the “traditional” organs like the eyes and nose, as well as its whiskers and inner ear hairs.

Question 8

Saccharolytic

Answer 8

Metabolism where sugars are broken down for energy

Question 9

Abate

Answer 9

(Something bad) becoming less intense or widespread, getting smaller, or reducing

Ex: “All at once, my ferocious cough abated and I could breath again.”

Question 10

Analgesic

Answer 10

A drug used to achieve relief from pain.

Related: Analgesia (an-Al-jeez-ee-uh), inability to feel pain

Ex: Morphine is as potent an analgesic as it is an addictive narcotic.

Question 11

Anxiolysis (ang-she-awl-iss-iss)

Answer 11

A medication that reduces anxiety.

Ex: For me, three vodka sodas back-to-back are an effective anxiolysis.

Question 12

Sequalae (suh-kweh-lay)

Answer 12

1) A pathological condition resulting from a disease

2) a secondary consequence or result

Question 13

Prodromal

Answer 13

The period of time between the appearance of symptoms and the full development of a rash or fever.

Ex: My prodromal evening was spent anxiously awaiting the inevitable fever.

Question 14

Concentric contraction

Answer 14

This is where the force produced by a muscle is greater than the force exerted by a weight, so the muscle contracts and you move the weight.

You have to concentrate to contract your muscles!

Question 15

Eccentric contraction

Answer 15

This is where the force exerted by a weight or band is greater than the force exerted by a muscle, so it lengthens the muscle.

How eccentric, to have a weight move you!

Question 16

Neoplasia

Answer 16

Uncontrolled abnormal cell growth, leading to tumor formation. They can either be benign or malignant

Ex: Incidences of neoplasia were increased in the keto diet, lending further evidence to the conclusion it is ultimately worse for your health than a standard diet.

Question 17

Calculus

Answer 17

A calculus or calculi, in medical terms, is a stone like a kidney stone.

Ex: Conner’s multiple calculi, and the intense pain and nausea they brought him, caused a loss of appetite and sharp weight loss.

Question 18

Lithogenesis

Answer 18

The process of the formation of calculi/stones.

Ex: By consuming a diet so high in calcium and so low in water, he unknowingly ramped up lithogenesis in his kidneys and ended up with multiple stones.

Question 19

Expectorant

Answer 19

A medicine which promotes the secretion of sputum by the air passages, used to treat coughs

Ex: The herbal tea was a surprisingly effective expectorant, and my cough felt much better not long after drinking it.

Question 20

Idiopathic

Answer 20

A disease or condition that arises spontaneously and for which the cause is unknown

Question 21

Stochastic

Answer 21

Randomly determined, having a random probability distribution or pattern that can be analyzed statistically afterwords but cannot be predicted precisely.

Ex: Though the movement of the protist through appeared to be Brownian in nature, its path actually followed a non-stochastic route and corresponded to algae cell density in the water column.

Question 22

Attenuate

Answer 22

Verb, to reduce the force, effect, or value of
Ex: We immediately gave him ibuprofen following the injury, which attenuated the swelling.

Adjective (a-ten-yew-et), reduced in force, effect, or physical thickness.
Ex: Two months of careful dieting left my waistline quite shapely and attenuate.