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