Terminology

Question 1

Define Haemoptysis

Answer 1

The coughing up of blood.

Question 2

Define Nightsweats

Answer 2

Excessive perspiration at night.

Question 3

Define Jaundice

Answer 3

Yellowing of the skin, sclerae or mucous membranes due to excess bilirubin; caused by hepatic disease/obstruction or haemolysis.

Question 4

Define Syncope

Answer 4

A temporary loss of consciousness caused by a fall in blood pressure.

Question 5

Define Polydipsia

Answer 5

Excessive thirst and subsequent fluid intake.

Question 6

Define Pyrexia

Answer 6

Fever/raised core body temperature.

Question 7

Define Pneumothorax

Answer 7

Collapse of the lung caused by the entrance of air into the intrapleural space.

Question 8

Define Tachycardia

Answer 8

Rapid heart rate, above 100 bpm.

Question 9

Define Wasting

Answer 9

An excessive loss of muscle and fat tissue due to underlying pathology.

Question 10

Define Diarrhoea

Answer 10

Abnormally frequent and liquid/loose bowel movements.

Question 11

Define Palmar Erythema

Answer 11

Reddening of the skin over the thenar or hypothenar eminences; caused by liver cirrhosis (esp alcohol abuse), SLE, DM, sarcoidosis.

Question 12

Define Clubbing

Answer 12

Bulbous swelling of the terminal phalanges due to soft tissue proliferation at the nail bed, leading to a loss of the normal hyponychial angle of 160 degrees. Assessed using the Schamroth Window Test where the patient holds opposing fingernails against each other; Diamond-shaped window present=No clubbing.

Question 13

Define Photophobia

Answer 13

Intolerance/painful sensitivity to light.

Question 14

Define Angina

Answer 14

Chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle; symptom of coronary artery disease.

Question 15

Define Polyuria

Answer 15

Excessive or abnormally large production and passage of urine; incl increased frequency of urination.

Question 16

Define Ascites (Hydroperitoneum)

Answer 16

An abnormal accumulation of serous fluid within the abdominal cavity. Commonly caused by cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure, nephrotic syndrome.

Question 17

Define Bronchiectasis

Answer 17

Permanent, abnormal dilation of the bronchi of the lung, often accompanied by infection, persistent coughing and purulent sputum.

Question 18

Define Bradycardia

Answer 18

Slow heart rate, below 60 bpm.

Question 19

Define Pruritus

Answer 19

Severe itching of the skin.

Question 20

Define Haematuria

Answer 20

The presence of blood in urine.

Question 21

Define Acanthosis Nigricans

Answer 21

A skin condition characterised by areas of dark, velvety discolouration and sometimes thickening within body folds and creases; often affects the armpits, groin and neck; typically occurs in obese or diabetic patients.

Question 22

Define Dyspnoea

Answer 22

Difficult or laboured breathing; shortness of breath.

Question 23

Define Splenomegaly

Answer 23

Abnormal enlargement of the spleen; commonly caused by portal hypertension, haemolytic anaemia, malaria, CML.

Question 24

Define Oedema

Answer 24

Swelling of tissue due to abnormal fluid retention; can signify heart or kidney failure, or be caused by anti-hypertensives (arteriolar vasodilation increases intracapillary pressure which forces fluid into the interstitial space)

Question 25

Define Palpitations

Answer 25

A sensation in which a person is aware of an irregular, hard, or rapid heartbeat; can be triggered by stress, exercise, medication or arrhythmias.

Question 26

Define Xanthelasma

Answer 26

A xanthoma on the eyelid, commonly seen in normocholesterolaemic elderly, or hypercholesterolaemic younger persons.

Question 27

Define Xanthoma

Answer 27

An irregular yellow patch or nodule on the skin, containing lipid-filled foam cells; often associated with disorders of lipid metabolism.

Question 28

Define Cyanosis

Answer 28

Bluish discolouration of the skin or mucous membranes; peripherally due to cold temperatures and centrally due to a lack of oxygen in the blood (due to low blood circulation or heart or lung problems).

Question 29

Define Polyphagia

Answer 29

Excessive appetite and resulting intake of food.

Question 30

Define Dysphagia

Answer 30

Difficulty or discomfort in swallowing.

Question 31

Define Bronchial Breath Sounds

Answer 31

Breath sounds of a harsh, blowing, tubular, hollow quality, made by air moving in the large bronchi; duration of the expiratory sound is as long as or longer than that of the inspiratory sound (louder and higher-pitched than vesicular breath sounds); may be heard over consolidation, above a pleural effusion overlying a compressed lung, and rarely over a pulmonary cavity; usually found in conjunction with whispered pectoriloquy.

Question 32

Define Pleural Effusion

Answer 32

A build-up of fluid in the intrapleural space. Transudate (ultrafiltrate of blood plasma due to an imbalance in vascular hydrostatic and oncotic forces in the circulatory system) or Exudate (produced by an inflammatory condition like malignancy or lung infection). Exudate is more serious and difficult to treat.

Question 33

Define Lymphadenopathy

Answer 33

Refers to lymph nodes that are abnormal in size, consistency or number; usually reflects disease involving the reticuloendothelial system secondary to an increase in lymphocytes and macrophages.

Question 34

Define Tachypnoea

Answer 34

Abnormally rapid breathing.

Question 35

Define Vesicular Breath Sounds

Answer 35

Gentle rustling sounds of normal breathing heard by auscultation over most of the lung surface; the inspiratory phase is usually 2-3 times longer than the expiratory phase. Sound intensity can quickly fade during expiration.

Question 36

Define Cirrhosis

Answer 36

A chronic disease of the liver marked by degeneration of cells, inflammation, and fibrous thickening (scarring) of tissue. Typically as a result of alcoholism or hepatitis.

Question 37

Define Gynaecomastia

Answer 37

Enlargement due to swelling of a man’s breasts, usually due to a hormone imbalance or hormone therapy. Growth can be abnormal or just excessive.

Question 38

Define Haematemesis

Answer 38

The vomiting of blood.

Question 39

Define Atrophic Glossitis

Answer 39

Inflammation leading to an erythematous, oedematous and painful tongue. Can be caused by iron or vitamin B12 deficiencies.

Question 40

Define Koilonychia

Answer 40

Thin, concave, spoon-shaped nails indicative of iron deficiency (hypochromic anaemia). Can also be caused by occupational contact with oils.

Question 41

Define Leuconychia

Answer 41

White spots on the nails, commonly caused by injury to the base of the nail. Also whitish opaque nail plates secondary to hypoalbuminaemia of chronic liver disease. Can also be associated with fungal infection, renal failure or lymphoma.

Question 42

Define Melaena

Answer 42

The passage of dark, tarry, sticky faeces containing partly digested blood, as a result of internal/alimentary canal bleeding or the swallowing of blood.