Spelling/ Definition of terms Flashcards
collection of pus within a tissue
abscess
associated anatomic parts (ovaries and fallopian tubes)
adnexa
without fever
afebrile
able to move
ambulatory
widening of blood vessel due to weakness in the vessel wall
aneurysm
chest pain caused by lack of blood supply (ischemia) to the heart muscle
angina
surgical procedure which arteries are widened to treat artherosclerosis
angioplasty
generalized massive edema
anasarca
loss of appetite, esp. for long period of time
anorexia
fever reducing medicine
antipyretic
tear in the inner layer of the aorta
aortic dissection
impairment of ability to speak
aphasia
surgical removal of the appendix
appendectomy
irregular heart beat
arrhythmia
thick walled blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart
artery
joint pain not associated with inflammation
arthralgia
surface contact between distinct bones
articulation
accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity
ascites
inflammation of the lungs after breathing in foreign material
aspiration pneumonia
state of zero cardia output, “flatline”
asystole
collapse of alveoli resulting in reduced gas exchange
atelectasis
hardening of the arteries caused by fatty buildup
atherosclerosis
listening for internal sounds during an exam (usually with stethoscope)
ausultation
pulling away of an area or structure
avulsion
armpit region
axilla
abnormally slow heart rate
bradycardia
abnormally slow respiratory rate
bradypnea
unusual sound that blood makes when it rushes past an obstruction in a vessel (when listened to with a stethoscope)
bruit
mucous membrane lining the oral cavity
buccal mucosa
loss of weight and muscle mass, “wasting syndrome”
cachectic
enlargement of the heart
cardiomegaly
earwax
cerumen
pertaining to the neck or cervix
cervical
surgical removal of the gallbladder
cholecystectomy
inflammation of the gallbladder
cholecystitis
gallstones
cholelithiasis
replacement of liver tissue with scar tissue caused by chronic liver disease
cirrhosis
tail bone
coccyx
surgical removal of a portion of the colon
colectomy
surgical procedure that brings opening end of colon through abdominal wall to stoma for collecting feces
colostomy
inner membrane of the eyelids and membrane covering the sclera of the eye
conjunctivae
transparent covering on the anterior eye that overlies the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Allows light to pass through to the lens
cornea
crackling sounds made by two surfaces contacting each other
crepitus
bluish skin color due to lack of blood supply
cyanosis
inflammation of the bladder
cystitis
removal of dead material from a wound
debride
a separation between layers, often in reference to a surgical incision site
dehiscence
reference to the position of teeth in the mouth
dentition
layer of skin beneath the epidermis and above the subcutaneous tissues
dermis
sweating or perspiration
diaphoresis
substance that causes fluid loss from the body
diuretic
foot is moved upward toward the shin
dorsiflexion
a condition in which diverticula becomes infected
diverticulitis
a condition in which diverticula (outpockets) form in the colon wall
diverticulosis
painful menstration
dysmenorrhea
painful intercourse
dyspareunia
condition of impaired digestion
dyspepsia
difficulty swallowing
dysphagia
impairment of speech and verbal comprehension
dysphasia
difficult breathing
dyspnea
burning sensation or pain during urination
dysuria
purple skin color due to blood escaping from ruptured blood vessel into the subcutaneous tissue (bruise)
ecchymosis
fetus implants outside the uterus
ectopic pregnancy
inflammation of the skin involving scaly and itchy rash
eczema
swelling due to the accumulation of fluid
edema
lacking teeth
edentulous
escape of fluid into a body cavity, such as a joint
effusion
extremely thin and weak
emaciated
obstruction of a blood vessel due to a clot or foreign substance
embolism
vomiting
emesis
chronic lung disease
emphysema
medical procedure in which a tube is placed in to the trachea through the mouth or the nose
endotracheal intubation
inflammation of the small intestine
enteritis
involuntary urination
enuresis
bloody nose
epistaxis
redness of skin due to capillary congesion
erythema
act of tearing away or forcible extraction
evulsion
fibrous tissue that envelopes, separates, or binds together muscle, organs, and other soft tissues
fascia
fever
febrile
red/orange dye applied to eyes to detect corneal lesions, abrasions, or foreign bodies
fluorescein
in infants, the soft membranous gaps between cranial bones
fontanel
position opposite to organ opening; base or bottom
fundus
inflammation of the stomach and small intestine
gastroenteritis
gums
gingiva
severe epileptic attack characterized by convulsions, stupor, and temporary loss of consciousness
grand mal
state of pregnancy
gravid
benign tumor consisting of blood vessels
hemangioma
vomiting of blood
hematemesis
red, bloody stools
hematochezia
blood in the tympanic cavity of the middle ear
hemotympanum
localized collection of blood in an organ or tissue due to a ruptured blood vessel
hematoma
blood in the urine
hematuria
coughing up blood or bloody sputum
hemoptysis
excessive or profuse bleeding
hemorrhage
collection of blood in the pleural cavity
hemothorax
enlargement of the liver and spleen
hepatosplenomegaly
high blood sugar
hyperglycemia
elevated potassium concentration in the plasma
hyperkalemia
elevated sodium concentration in the plasma
hypernatremia
elevated arterial blood pressure
hypertension
increase volume of organ or tissue due to enlargement of its component cells
hypertrophy
low blood glucose
hypoglycemia
low potassium concentration in the plasma
hypokalemia
low sodium concentration in the plasma
hyponatremia
low arterial blood pressure
hypotension
disruption of contraction of the intestinal muscle resulting in failure of content passage; intestinal obstruction
ileus
an area of hardened tissue
induration
necrotic area of tissue following cessation of blood supply
infarct
pertaining to the groin region
inguinal
decrease in blood supply to an organ, tissue
ischemia
articulation or junction between two or more bones or cartilage
joint
yellow skin or eye color due to excessive bilirubin
jaundice
scar formation consisting of dense tissue
keloid
relating to tears
lacrimal
elevated white blood count above the normal range
leukocytosis
fibrous tissue that connect bones together
ligament
relating to the tongue
lingual
enlargement of the lymph nodes
lymphadenopathy
small colored spot on the skin that is not elevated or depressed
macule
general feeling of discomfort or weakness
malaise
bony prominences on either side of the ankle joint
malleolus
improper or negligent treatment of a patient, resulting in injury, damage, or loss
malpractice
misalignment of teeth
malocculsion
surgical excision of the breast
mastectomy
black, tarry stool
melena
abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual period at regular interval
menorrhagia
inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord
meningitis
muscle pain
myalgia
nostrils
nares
inflammation of the nephrons in the kidneys
nephritis
kidney stones
nephrolithiasis
sharp, shocking pain that follows the path of a nerve due to nerve irritation or damage
neuralgia
exam finding that head and all major organs of the head are in a normal condition and without significant abnormality
normocephalic
involuntary rapid eye movements
nystagmus
back portion of the head above the base of the neck
occiput
painful swallowing
odynophagia
large bony projection of the ulna forming the elbow joint
olecranon
eye pain
ophthalmalgia
shortness of breath induced by lying flat in a supine position
orthopnea
form of hypotension in which a person’s blood pressure suddenly falls when standing up or changing positions abruptly
orthostatic hypotension
mouth or orifice
os
a pale appearance of the skin
pallor
able to be touched or felt
palpable
inflammation of the pancreas
pancreatitis
procedure to remove fluid that has accumulated in the abdominal cavity
paracentesis
number of viable offspring born by a woman
para
abnormal tactile (sense of touch) sensation often described as numbness, tingling, burning, or pricking
paresthesia
inflammation of the tissue surrounding the nail
paronychia
a sudden attack, recurrence, or intensification of symptoms
paroxysmal
inflammation of the peritoneum, the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of the abdominal organs
peritonitis
pinpoint-sized red spots on the skin caused by a small amount of bleeding under the skin
petechiae
inflammation of the pharynx, can be caused by strep infection
pharyngitis
abnormal intolerance and sensitivity to light
photophobia
inflammation of the pleura of the lungs
pleurisy
abnormal collection of air or gas in the pleural space that may occur spontaneously or due to trauma (collapsed lung)
pneumothorax
shallow depression at the back of the knee
popliteal foss
infection of the kidneys
pyelonephritis
an abnormal respiratory sound characterized by a cracking noise
rale
breakdown of muscle fibers that leads to the release of muscle fiber content (myoglobin) into the bloodstream
rhabdomyolysis
thin, watery discharge from the nose
rhinorrhea
coarse, rattling sound due to partial obstruction of the air channels
rhonchi
pertaining to the hip
sciatic
a dense, white, fibrous membrane that forms the external covering of the eyeball
sclera
severe response to the presence of pathological microorganisms or toxins in the blood
sepsis
long, slender portion of a long bone
shaft
matter expectorated from the respiratory system, such as mucus
sputum
star-shaped, radiating from the center
stellate
abnormal narrowing of a blood vessel or other tubular organ or structure
stenosis
high-pitched respiratory sound caused by an obstruction in the larynx or pharnyx
stridor
irregular heartbeat originating above the AV node
supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
loss of consciousness
syncope
rapid heart rate, greater than 100 beats per minute
tachycardia
rapid respirations
tachypnea
incision of the chest wall to place a chest tube
thoracostomy
incision of the plural space of the chest
thoracotomy
abnormally low platelet count, cane be caused by various conditions
thrombocytopenia
the blocking of a blood vessel by a blood clot dislodged from its site of origin
thomboembolic
skin infection caused by fungus
tinea
ringing in the ear
tinnitus
surgical excisions of a tonsil
tonsillectomy
twisting of a bodily organ on its own axis (ie ovary, testicle)
torsion
cardiac enzyme lab test to assess for cardiac muscle damage
troponin
the normal fullness of tension produced by the fluid content of blood vessels, capillaries, and cells
turgor
raised, itchy red welts on the surface of the skin that are accompanied by itching
urticaria
inflammation of the vaginal wall; can be caused by infection
vaginitis
thinner-walled vessels that carry deoxygenated blood from the capillaries toward the heart, excluding pulmonary veins
vein
condition of dizziness described as room spinning sensation
vertigo
a round, localized area of edema on the body surface often associated with severe itching, and vanishes quickly
wheal
a whistling breath sound as a result of narrowed respiratory passageways
wheeze
