Terms Flashcards
1
Q
abscess
A
collection of pus within a tissue
2
Q
adnexa
A
associated anatomic parts (ovaries and fallopian tubes)
3
Q
afebrile
A
without fever
4
Q
ambulatory
A
able to move
5
Q
aneurysm
A
widening of blood vessel due to weakness in the vessel wall
6
Q
angina
A
chest pain caused by lack of blood supply (ischemia) to the heart muscle
7
Q
angioplasty
A
surgical procedure which arteries are widened to treat artherosclerosis
8
Q
anasarca
A
generalized massive edema
9
Q
anorexia
A
loss of appetite, esp. for long period of time
10
Q
antipyretic
A
fever reducing medicine
11
Q
aortic dissection
A
tear in the inner layer of the aorta
12
Q
aphasia
A
impairment of ability to speak
13
Q
appendectomy
A
surgical removal of the appendix
14
Q
arrhythmia
A
irregular heart beat
15
Q
artery
A
thick walled blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart
16
Q
arthralgia
A
joint pain not associated with inflammation
17
Q
articulation
A
surface contact between distinct bones
18
Q
ascites
A
accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal (abdominal) cavity
19
Q
aspiration pneumonia
A
inflammation of the lungs after breathing in foreign material
20
Q
asystole
A
state of zero cardia output, “flatline”
21
Q
atelectasis
A
collapse of alveoli resulting in reduced gas exchange
22
Q
atherosclerosis
A
hardening of the arteries caused by fatty buildup
23
Q
ausultation
A
listening for internal sounds during an exam (usually with stethoscope)
24
Q
avulsion
A
pulling away of an area or structure
25
axilla
armpit region
26
bradycardia
abnormally slow heart rate
27
bradypnea
abnormally slow respiratory rate
28
bruit
unusual sound that blood makes when it rushes past an obstruction in a vessel (when listened to with a stethoscope)
29
buccal mucosa
mucous membrane lining the oral cavity
30
cachectic
loss of weight and muscle mass, "wasting syndrome"
31
cardiomegaly
enlargement of the heart
32
cerumen
earwax
33
cervical
pertaining to the neck or cervix
34
cholecystectomy
surgical removal of the gallbladder
35
cholecystitis
inflammation of the gallbladder
36
cholelithiasis
gallstones
37
cirrhosis
replacement of liver tissue with scar tissue caused by chronic liver disease
38
coccyx
tail bone
39
colectomy
surgical removal of a portion of the colon
40
colostomy
surgical procedure that brings opening end of colon through abdominal wall to stoma for collecting feces
41
conjunctivae
inner membrane of the eyelids and membrane covering the sclera of the eye
42
cornea
transparent covering on the anterior eye that overlies the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber. Allows light to pass through to the lens
43
crepitus
crackling sounds made by two surfaces contacting each other
44
cyanosis
bluish skin color due to lack of blood supply
45
cystitis
inflammation of the bladder
46
debride
removal of dead material from a wound
47
dehiscence
a separation between layers, often in reference to a surgical incision site
48
dentition
reference to the position of teeth in the mouth
49
dermis
layer of skin beneath the epidermis and above the subcutaneous tissues
50
diaphoresis
sweating or perspiration
51
diuretic
substance that causes fluid loss from the body
52
dorsiflexion
foot is moved upward toward the shin
53
diverticulitis
a condition in which diverticula becomes infected
54
diverticulosis
a condition in which diverticula (outpockets) form in the colon wall
55
dysmenorrhea
painful menstration
56
dyspareunia
painful intercourse
57
dyspepsia
condition of impaired digestion
58
dysphagia
difficulty swallowing
59
dysphasia
impairment of speech and verbal comprehension
60
dyspnea
difficult breathing
61
dysuria
burning sensation or pain during urination
62
ecchymosis
purple skin color due to blood escaping from ruptured blood vessel into the subcutaneous tissue (bruise)
63
ectopic pregnancy
fetus implants outside the uterus
64
eczema
inflammation of the skin involving scaly and itchy rash
65
edema
swelling due to the accumulation of fluid
66
edentulous
lacking teeth
67
effusion
escape of fluid into a body cavity, such as a joint
68
emaciated
extremely thin and weak
69
embolism
obstruction of a blood vessel due to a clot or foreign substance
70
emesis
vomiting
71
emphysema
chronic lung disease
72
endotracheal intubation
medical procedure in which a tube is placed in to the trachea through the mouth or the nose
73
enteritis
inflammation of the small intestine
74
enuresis
involuntary urination
75
epistaxis
bloody nose
76
erythema
redness of skin due to capillary congesion
77
evulsion
act of tearing away or forcible extraction
78
fascia
fibrous tissue that envelopes, separates, or binds together muscle, organs, and other soft tissues
79
febrile
fever
80
fluorescein
red/orange dye applied to eyes to detect corneal lesions, abrasions, or foreign bodies
81
fontanel
in infants, the soft membranous gaps between cranial bones
82
fundus
position opposite to organ opening; base or bottom
83
gastroenteritis
inflammation of the stomach and small intestine
84
gingiva
gums
85
grand mal
severe epileptic attack characterized by convulsions, stupor, and temporary loss of consciousness
86
gravid
state of pregnancy
87
hemangioma
benign tumor consisting of blood vessels
88
hematemesis
vomiting of blood
89
hematochezia
red, bloody stools
90
hemotympanum
blood in the tympanic cavity of the middle ear
91
hematoma
localized collection of blood in an organ or tissue due to a ruptured blood vessel
92
hematuria
blood in the urine
93
hemoptysis
coughing up blood or bloody sputum
94
hemorrhage
excessive or profuse bleeding
95
hemothorax
collection of blood in the pleural cavity
96
hepatosplenomegaly
enlargement of the liver and spleen
97
hyperglycemia
high blood sugar
98
hyperkalemia
elevated potassium concentration in the plasma
99
hypernatremia
elevated sodium concentration in the plasma
100
hypertension
elevated arterial blood pressure
101
hypertrophy
increase volume of organ or tissue due to enlargement of its component cells
102
hypoglycemia
low blood glucose
103
hypokalemia
low potassium concentration in the plasma
104
hyponatremia
low sodium concentration in the plasma
105
hypotension
low arterial blood pressure
106
ileus
disruption of contraction of the intestinal muscle resulting in failure of content passage; intestinal obstruction
107
induration
an area of hardened tissue
108
infarct
necrotic area of tissue following cessation of blood supply
109
inguinal
pertaining to the groin region
110
ischemia
decrease in blood supply to an organ, tissue
111
joint
articulation or junction between two or more bones or cartilage
112
jaundice
yellow skin or eye color due to excessive bilirubin
113
keloid
scar formation consisting of dense tissue
114
lacrimal
relating to tears
115
leukocytosis
elevated white blood count above the normal range
116
ligament
fibrous tissue that connect bones together
117
lingual
relating to the tongue
118
lymphadenopathy
enlargement of the lymph nodes
119
macule
small colored spot on the skin that is not elevated or depressed
120
malaise
general feeling of discomfort or weakness
121
malleolus
bony prominences on either side of the ankle joint
122
malpractice
improper or negligent treatment of a patient, resulting in injury, damage, or loss
123
malocculsion
misalignment of teeth
124
mastectomy
surgical excision of the breast
125
melena
black, tarry stool
126
menorrhagia
abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual period at regular interval
127
meningitis
inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord
128
myalgia
muscle pain
129
nares
nostrils
130
nephritis
inflammation of the nephrons in the kidneys
131
nephrolithiasis
kidney stones
132
neuralgia
sharp, shocking pain that follows the path of a nerve due to nerve irritation or damage
133
normocephalic
exam finding that head and all major organs of the head are in a normal condition and without significant abnormality
134
nystagmus
involuntary rapid eye movements
135
occiput
back portion of the head above the base of the neck
136
odynophagia
painful swallowing
137
olecranon
large bony projection of the ulna forming the elbow joint
138
ophthalmalgia
eye pain
139
orthopnea
shortness of breath induced by lying flat in a supine position
140
orthostatic hypotension
form of hypotension in which a person's blood pressure suddenly falls when standing up or changing positions abruptly
141
os
mouth or orifice
142
pallor
a pale appearance of the skin
143
palpable
able to be touched or felt
144
pancreatitis
inflammation of the pancreas
145
paracentesis
procedure to remove fluid that has accumulated in the abdominal cavity
146
para
number of viable offspring born by a woman
147
paresthesia
abnormal tactile (sense of touch) sensation often described as numbness, tingling, burning, or pricking
148
paronychia
inflammation of the tissue surrounding the nail
149
paroxysmal
a sudden attack, recurrence, or intensification of symptoms
150
peritonitis
inflammation of the peritoneum, the thin tissue that lines the inner wall of the abdomen and covers most of the abdominal organs
151
petechiae
pinpoint-sized red spots on the skin caused by a small amount of bleeding under the skin
152
pharyngitis
inflammation of the pharynx, can be caused by strep infection
153
photophobia
abnormal intolerance and sensitivity to light
154
pleurisy
inflammation of the pleura of the lungs
155
pneumothorax
abnormal collection of air or gas in the pleural space that may occur spontaneously or due to trauma (collapsed lung)
156
popliteal foss
shallow depression at the back of the knee
157
pyelonephritis
infection of the kidneys
158
rale
an abnormal respiratory sound characterized by a cracking noise
159
rhabdomyolysis
breakdown of muscle fibers that leads to the release of muscle fiber content (myoglobin) into the bloodstream
160
rhinorrhea
thin, watery discharge from the nose
161
rhonchi
coarse, rattling sound due to partial obstruction of the air channels
162
sciatic
pertaining to the hip
163
sclera
a dense, white, fibrous membrane that forms the external covering of the eyeball
164
sepsis
severe response to the presence of pathological microorganisms or toxins in the blood
165
shaft
long, slender portion of a long bone
166
sputum
matter expectorated from the respiratory system, such as mucus
167
stellate
star-shaped, radiating from the center
168
stenosis
abnormal narrowing of a blood vessel or other tubular organ or structure
169
stridor
high-pitched respiratory sound caused by an obstruction in the larynx or pharnyx
170
supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
irregular heartbeat originating above the AV node
171
syncope
loss of consciousness
172
tachycardia
rapid heart rate, greater than 100 beats per minute
173
tachypnea
rapid respirations
174
thoracostomy
incision of the chest wall to place a chest tube
175
thoracotomy
incision of the plural space of the chest
176
thrombocytopenia
abnormally low platelet count, cane be caused by various conditions
177
thomboembolic
the blocking of a blood vessel by a blood clot dislodged from its site of origin
178
tinea
skin infection caused by fungus
179
tinnitus
ringing in the ear
180
tonsillectomy
surgical excisions of a tonsil
181
torsion
twisting of a bodily organ on its own axis (ie ovary, testicle)
182
troponin
cardiac enzyme lab test to assess for cardiac muscle damage
183
turgor
the normal fullness of tension produced by the fluid content of blood vessels, capillaries, and cells
184
urticaria
raised, itchy red welts on the surface of the skin that are accompanied by itching
185
vaginitis
inflammation of the vaginal wall; can be caused by infection
186
vein
thinner-walled vessels that carry deoxygenated blood from the capillaries toward the heart, excluding pulmonary veins
187
vertigo
condition of dizziness described as room spinning sensation
188
wheal
a round, localized area of edema on the body surface often associated with severe itching, and vanishes quickly
189
wheeze
a whistling breath sound as a result of narrowed respiratory passageways
