Terminology Flashcards
Haemoptysis
Spitting out or coughing up of blood or blood-stained mucous.
Nightsweats
Repeated episodes of extreme perspiration at night.
Jaundice
Yellow skin discolouration of the skin and sclera caused by the build-up of bilirubin in the blood and the consequent tissue deposition thereof.
Syncope
The transient loss of consciousness resulting from cerebral anoxia (absence of oxygen) usually due to inadequate blood flow.
Polydipsia
Excessive thirst
Pyrexia
Pattern of fever
Pneumothorax
Caused by leakage of air from the lung/chest wall puncture into the pleural space, resulting in part or all of a lung to collapse.
Tachycardia
Abnormally rapid heart rate
Wasting
The process of a person or body part becoming progressively weaker and more emaciated. It may be accompanied by a loss of appetite, which worsens the condition.
Diarrhoea
Many different presentations:
• Frequent stools (>3/day) or change of from previous frequency
• Change in stool consistency (can be loose/watery)
• Small amounts of formed stool passed multiple times a day (increased urge to defecate)
Palmar Erythema
Reddening of the palms of the hands.
Clubbing
Increase in soft tissue of the distal part of the fingers/toes, without osseous change. The distal parts of the extremities are broadened with abnormally shiny and curved nails.
Photophobia
- Extreme sensitivity to light by the eyes
2. Abnormal/irrational fear of light
Chest pain
a physical complaint that requires immediate
diagnosis and evaluation. Evaluation of chest pain requires determining the quality of the pain-dull, sharp, or crushing, locating the site of the pain-in the center or side of the chest, and determining how long the pain has persisted, how it has developed, and whether it has occurred in the past.
Ascites
The abnormal accumulation of peritoneal fluid in the abdomen.
Polyuria
Excessive urination (>3L/day)
Stony dull
Sounds produced on percussion from the pleximeter with no contribution from the underlying area.
Bronchiectasis
Pathological dilation of the bronchi, resulting in impairedclearance of mucus and chronic infection. A history of chronic coughing and purulent sputum since childhood is
virtually diagnostic.
Bradycardia
Abnormally slow heartbeat (<60 BPM)
Pruritis
severe itching of often undamaged skin
Acanthosis nigrans
Brown-black velvety elevations of the epidermis use to confluent papillomas usually found in the axillae and nape of the neck.
Dyspnoea
The awareness that an abnormal amount of effort is required for breathing, i.e. difficult/laboured breathing or shortness of breath.
Splenomegaly
The enlargement of the spleen.
Oedema
oedema is a condition of abnormally large fluid volume in the circulatory system or in tissues between the body’s cells (interstitial spaces).
Xanthelasma
Xanthelasma Intracutaneous cholesterol deposits around the eyes creating slightly raised regions with a yellow discolouration.
Polyphagia
Excessive eating
Bronchial breathing
Tubular, hollow sounds which are heard when auscultating ver the large airways. Louder and higher-pitched than vesicular breath sounds.
Lymphadenopathy
Abnormal increase in the size of the lymph nodes/lymph vessels.
Cirrhosis
A chronic degenerative disease marked by inflammation of the liver where damaged cells are replaced by scar tissue.
It is typically a result of alcoholism or hepatitis.
Haematemesis
The presence of blood in vomitus (may be obviously red or have a “coffee ground” appearance).
kilonychia
Dry, thin, brittle, ridged, spoon-like nails.
Glossitis
Describe the smooth, swollen, inflamed and sometimes erythematous appearance of the tongue usually due to atrophy of papillae.
Haematuria
The presence of blood in the urine.
Palpitations
A sensation in which a person is aware of an irregular, hard, or rapid heartbeat.
Cyanosis
The blue discolouration of the skin and mucous membranes due to the presence of deoxygenated haemoglobin in
superficial blood vessels.
Dysphagia
Difficulty swallowing
Pleural effusion
The collection of fluid in the pleural space.
Tachypnoea
Abnormally rapid respiratory rate
Gynaecomastia
Enlargement of the male breasts due to adipose and glandular tissue growth. The breasts can be unilateral or bilateral or be tender.
Melaena
Melaena stools are poorly formed, black and have a tarry appearance, with a characteristically offensive smell. Due to
the presence of blood digested by gastric acid and colonic bacteria.
Leuconychia
White discolouration appearing on nails usually due to injury to the base of the nail.
