Unit 8 Flashcards
(101 cards)
1
Q
actin-
A
ray
2
Q
-agog- , -agogue
A
inducing the flow of, expelling
3
Q
ambly-
A
dull, blunt
4
Q
brachy-
A
short
5
Q
campt-
A
bent
6
Q
cel- , celi- , coel- , -coel
A
cavity (esp. in the abdomen)
7
Q
-cele
A
hernia, swelling
8
Q
cente-
A
to punture
9
Q
doch-
A
to take, to receive, to contain
10
Q
dolich-
A
long
11
Q
gloss- , glott- , glot-
A
tongue
12
Q
hapl-
A
single
13
Q
ichthy- , ichtyos-
A
fish
14
Q
ischi-
A
hip
15
Q
lal-
A
to talk
16
Q
mel-
A
limb
17
Q
my- , mys- , myos-
A
muscle
18
Q
nem- , nemat-
A
thread
19
Q
pen-
A
deficiency, lack
20
Q
poie-
A
to make
21
Q
presby-
A
old
22
Q
pyel-
A
pelvis (esp. of the kidney)
23
Q
rhaph- , -rrhaph-
A
to sew, to suture
24
Q
-rrhag-
A
excessive discharge
25
stear- , steat-
fat
26
stern-
chest, breastbone
27
xer-
dry
28
convex-
| Lat.
vaulted, rounded
29
hallux, halluc-
| Lat.
big toe
30
hern- , herni-
| Lat.
rupture
31
lumb-
| Lat.
loin
32
plant-
| Lat.
sole of the foot
33
radix, radic-
| Lat.
root
34
scoli-
| Gk.
curved, bent
35
cardio
cardiovascular [cardi + vascul + ar]
| related to the heart and blood vessels (esp. "cardiovascular exercise")
36
lipo
liposuction [lip + o + suct (Lat. "to suck") + ion]
| surgical removal of fat deposits via vacuum suction
37
mono
mononucleosis [mon + o + nucle + osis]
| an abnormally high number of mononuclear leukocytes in the blood
38
polio
poliomyelitis [poli + o + myel + itis]
| infection of the gray matter of the spinal column or central nervous system
39
strep
streptococcus [strept (Gk. "twisted") + o + coccus (Gk. "berry")]
a type of bacterial organism with spherical clusters linked together in a chain-like ("twisted") series (esp. of the infection "strep throat"
40
cancer
[Lat. cancer, cf. karkinos, "crab"]
| so-called because of the apparent resemblance of the spreading growth of tumors to the legs of a crab (cf. "canker")
41
capillary
[capill + ary]
| used to describe blood vessels that are similar in shape to "little hairs"
42
hippocampus
[Gk. hippokampos, "see horse"]
a convoluted elevation of gray matter in the brain that helps with short term memory and spatial awareness; so-called because of its supposed resemblance to a sea horse
43
lupus
[Lat. lupus, "wolf"]
name for a collection of disorders usually marked by discoloration of the skin though may also include a range of other ailments; names for the apparently voracious nature of the affliction
44
pica
[Lat. pica, "magpie"]
compulsive eating of non-nutritive substances, such as dirt or hair; named after the magpie, a bird in the crow family, because of its remarkably wide-ranging diet; probably analogous to the Greek kitta ("jay"), which was used in antiquity to denote cravings for strange food
45
polyp
[poly + pus}
originally "many-footed} creature, but later used to indicate a nasal tumor; now "a protruding growth from any mucous membrane"
46
solar plexus
[sol + ar, Lat. plexus, "network"]
a complex of nerves situated at the pit of the stomach, so-called because of its "radiating" appearance, lit. "sun-like network"
47
diet
from Gk. diata, "manner of life, behavior", now used specifically for a manner of eating
48
intoxication
lit. "state of having ingested a poison"; now used primarily to refer specifically to drunkenness (although it can refer to other chemicals)
49
nausea
from Gk. nausia (or nautia), "seasickness"; now used of any feeling of sickness, esp. with an inclination to vomit; an example of generalization
50
physician
related to Gk. physis ("nature," from phy-, "to grow"); a physikos was a natural philosopher, one who inquired into the nature of the universe; now used of a medical doctor (cf. "physicist")
51
plague
from Lat. plaga, "strike, blow": now used to refer to an infectious disease, especially that caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis; an example of specification and intensification
52
Achilles tendon
a powerful tendon that attaches to the lower muscle of the legs to the heel; Thetis, the mother of the famous warrior Achilles, was said to have dipped her son into the River Styx while holding him by the heel so that he could become immortal, but as his heal was never immersed in the water, he died when struck by an arrow in this unprotected area (also called by the more descriptive title "calcaneal tendon," i.e., "tendon of the heel")
53
atlas (vertebra)
the first or uppermost cervical vertebra, which articulated with the occipital bone above and supports the skull; so named after Atlas, the mythic giant born from the Titan Iapetus, responsible for holding up the vault of the heavens (in some accounts, a punishment for his involvement in the rebellion of the Titans against the Olympian gods)
54
caput Medusae
dilated cutaneous veins around the umbilicus; so-called because of a perceived resemblance between the veins and the head of the snake-haired Medusa (note the genitive singular Medusae)
55
hymen
a membranous fold that partially or wholly occludes the external orifice of the vagina; the Greek work hymen, "membrane," maybe the same origin as the name Hymen, the Greek and Roman god of marriage, although its etymology is disputed
56
mons Veneris
the mons pubis ("pubic mound") of a woman, i.e., a rounded, fleshy prominence over the pubic bone; lit. "mound of Venus," names after the Roman goddess of love and sex, corresponding generally to the Greek Aphrodite (Veneris is the genitive singular of the third-declension noun Venus)
57
chimerism
in genetics, the presence of cells of different origin in an individual, whether by mutation, transplant, or some other process; names from the chimera, a hybrid monster depicted as an amalgam of a lion, goat, and serpent
58
gigantism
abnormal overgrowth or excess in stature, names from the Giants (Lat. and Gk. gigantes), a race of monstrous creatures that were born from Gaia ("Earth") and drops of blood falling from the castrated genitals of Ouranos ("Sky"); also spelled "giantism"
59
hermaphrodite
a person or animal with both male and female sex organs, so-called because of the mythical figure Hermaphroditus, the son of Hermes and Aphrodite who became conjoined with the nymph Salmacis, after which he possessed dual sexuality
60
narcissism
excessive self-interest of self-love; named from Narcissus, a beautiful young man who saw his reflection in a stream and was so transfixed by the sight that he could not move; depending on the version of the story he then committed suicide, or fell into the spring and drowned, or was transformed into a flower
61
panic
acute, extreme anxiety, often leading to abnormal thinking or behavior; lit. "pertaining to Pan"; the Greek god Pan presided over mountains, forests, caved, and other places in which strange sounds could be heard, and the fear caused by such noises were associated directly with the god
62
priapism
persistent abnormal erection of the penis, usually without any sexual desire; Priapus was a Greek god of fertility and sexuality marked by a constant ithyphallic (i.e., erect) state; he was also associated generally with prosperity (statuettes of erect penises were frequently employed as good-luck charms)
63
satyriasis
hypersexuality in a male; lit. "the condition of being a satyr," a hybrid (often ithyphallic) creature associated with Dionysus and known for constant cravings for wine and sex
64
venereal
related to or transmitted by sexual contact (esp. of disease); lit. "having to do with Venus"
65
ammonia
a colorless, water-soluble alkaline has that can be toxic in high concentrations; so-called because it was emitted by sal ammoniacus ("salt of Ammon"), a salt obtained by the Romans near the temple of Jupiter Ammon in Egypt (the Egyptian deity Amun was king of the gods and therefore associated with the Greek Zeus and the Roman Jupiter
66
aphrodisiac
a drug that increases sexual libido; from a Greek word meaning "having to do with Aphrodite," the goddess of love and sex
67
atropine
a poisonous alkaloid occurring naturally in deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna); called by the name Atropos ("Inflexible"), one of the Greek Fates, the goddesses responsible for apportioning to humans their respective lifespans
68
mercury
a metallic element that is a silvery-white liquid at room temperature; names from Mercury, the Roman messenger god presiding over commerce, travel, and boundaries (identified with the Greek Hermes); some elements known in antiquity were associated with planets, and likewise, mercury was associated with the god/planet of the name, perhaps because of its mobility (cf. the alternative name "quicksilver"); the Greek name hydrargyros ("liquid silver") gives the element its symbol, Hg
69
morphine
the principle alkaloid of opium, used mainly as a narcotic analgesic, so-called from Morpheus, the mythological son of Hypnos ("sleep"), on account of his ability to induce dreams
70
neptunium
a radioactive element obtained by splitting uranium atoms with neutrons; so-called because it came directly after uranium on the periodic table, and Neptune is one planet farther out from Uranus (uranium itself had been named after the newly discovered planet; the same process was also used to label plutonium, the next element in the table after neptunium)
71
sphingosine
an amino alcohol serving as a major base of sphingolipids in mammals; some sources claim an etymology from sphinc- ("to bind"), but the actual namesake is the Sphinx, a hybrid female monster famous for her riddles
72
coron-
| Lat.
crown
73
farc- , farct-
| Lat.
to stuff, to cram
74
isch-
| Gk.
to suppress
75
lu- , lut-
| Lat.
to wash
76
mitr-
| Gk.
bandage, waistband
77
ram-
| Lat.
branch
78
thromb-
| Gk.
clot
79
Eustachian tube
a channel that establishes the connection between the nasopharynx and the tympanic cavity serves to adjust the pressure in the cavity to external pressure; named after the Italian anatomist Eustachius
80
Fallopian tube
a long, slender tube that extends from the upper lateral cornu of the uterus to the regions of the ovary of the same side; named after the Italian anatomist Fallopius
81
Galen vein
either of the internal cerebral veins or the great cerebral vein; names after Galen, the Greek physician of the 2nd century AD
82
islets of Langerhans
microscopic structures scattered through the pancreas and compromising its endocrine part (the beta cells of this group produce insulin, from the Latin word insula, "island"); named after the 19th-century German anatomist Paul Langerhand, who was the first to describe them
83
torcular Herophili
the confluence of the sinuses at the back of the skull; lit. "wine cellar (i.ei, cavity) of Herophilus," the Greek doctor active in 3rd century BC who was reputed to have been the first to perform dissection on human cadavers
84
Alzheimer's disease
a progressive central neurodegenerative disorder marked by memory disturbance and personality changes, progressing to severe dementia; first describes by German neuropathologist and psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer
85
facies Hippocratica
a shrunken, pale aspect of the countenance immediately before death; so-named because the description of this condition is found in Hippocratic writings
86
Leishmaniasis
an infection caused by Leishmania, a parasitic protozoon of worldwide disruption; named after Scottish pathologist William Boog Leishman
87
Listeriosis
an infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes, a widespread pathogen in humans and animals; named after Joseph Lister, who was known for his work in antiseptics
88
Lou Gehrig's disease
progressive degeneration of the motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord; formally known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (i.e., hardening in the lateral spinal column associated with the lack of muscle nourishment); named after Lou Gehrig, a professional baseball player who was diagnosed with this disease
89
Parkinson's disease
a chronic, progressive neurological disorder marked by tremors, muscle rigidity, and slowing of voluntary movement; named after James Parkinson, an English surgeon who first described the disease in his 1817 "Essay of the Shaking Palsy"
90
Rickettsiosis
a disease caused by Rickettsia, a genus of bacteria transmitted frequently by ticks, fleas, and lice; named after American pathologist Howard Taylor Ricketts; note that this is not the same as rickets, an interruption in bone development caused by a vitamin D deficiency
91
Salmonellosis
an infection caused by the genus of bacteria known as Salmonella, which manifests itself most frequently in humans as food poisoning; named after American pathologist Daniel Elmer Salmon
92
Cesarean section
delivery of a child by an incision through the walls of the abdomen when natural birth cannot take place; so-called because it was thought that an ancestor of Julius Caesar was born this way
93
Heimlich maneuver
a method of dislodging food or other material from the throat of a choking victim, affected by the sudden application of upward thrust into the abdomen between the navel and the sternum; developed by American thoracic surgeon Henry J. Heimlich
94
Pap smear
an exfoliative cytological staining procedure for detection and diagnosis of various conditions, esp. cancer and precancerous growths in the female reproductive tract; named very succinctly for Greek anatomist Georgios Papanicolaou
95
Pasteurization
the process of heating foods or liquids (esp. milk) to a specific temperature for a specific time for the purpose of eliminating microorganisms that would cause spoilage; developed by French chemist Louis Pasteur
96
John Surgery
the surgical replacement of a portion of the ulnar collateral ligament with another tendon from another part of the body, performed frequently on athletes; named after professional baseball pitcher Tommy John, the first person to undergo this procedure
97
auscult- , ausculttat-
| Lat.
to listen
98
inguin-
| Lat.
groin
99
palp-
| Lat.
to touch, to stroke
100
pharynx , pharyng-
| Gk.
throat
101
tuss-
| Lat.
cough
