| A |
|
| Abatement |
A decrease in the severity of a pain or a symptom |
| Abdomen |
The body cavity below the diaphragm which contains the stomach, intestines, liver, and other organs; the belly |
| Abdominal |
Pertaining to the body cavity below the diaphragm which contains the stomach, intestines, liver, and other organs; having to do with the belly |
| Abdominoplasty |
Surgery to fix the belly |
| Abduction |
Movement away from the middle of the body |
| Ablation |
Separation or detachment; Removal of a part, especially by cutting |
| Abortion |
Premature stoppage of a pregnancy |
| Abrasion |
Area where the skin or other tissue is scraped away |
| Abscess |
A swelling filled with pus |
| Absorb |
Take up fluids, take in |
| Absorption |
The way a drug or other substance enters the body |
|
| Accumulation |
Build-up |
| Acetabulum |
Pocket in the hip bone that holds the top of the upper leg bone |
| Acidosis |
Condition when blood contains more acid than normal |
| Acne |
Pimples |
| Acoustic neuroma |
Growth in the ear canal |
| Acuity |
Clearness, keenness, especially of vision - airways |
| Acute |
New, recent, sudden; Lasting a short time, but often causing a serious problem |
| Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) |
Contagious illness that results in decreased ability of the body to protect itself from other illnesses |
| Adduction |
Movement towards the middle of the body |
| Adenoids |
Infection-fighting glands in the back of the throat |
| Adenoma |
Non-cancerous tumor |
| Adenomyosis |
A growth of muscle in the uterus |
| Adenopathy |
Swollen lymph nodes (glands) |
| Adhesion |
Tissue stuck together |
| Adipose |
Having to do with fat |
| Adjunct |
Additional substance, treatment or procedure used for increasing the effectiveness of the primary substance, treatment, or procedure |
| Adjuvant |
Helpful, assisting, aiding |
| Adjuvant treatment |
Added treatment |
| Adrenal gland |
A gland found over each kidney that helps regulate blood pressure and stress |
| Adrenaline |
Hormone made by the adrenal glands that speeds up body organs and helps the body deal with stress |
| Adverse |
Harmful, bad, negative, unfavorable |
| Aerosol |
A drug or substance made as a mist to be breathed in |
| Agent |
Substance |
| Aggravation |
Worsening |
| Airway |
Tube through which air passes to enter and leave the lungs |
| Akinesia |
Lack of movement |
| Albumin |
Water-soluble blood protein |
| Albuminuria |
Protein in the urine |
| Alimentary |
Related to digestion |
| Allergen |
A substance that gets into the body and activates the immune system, which produces an allergic reaction |
| Allergic reaction |
Rash, swelling, and/or trouble breathing, which may range from mild and annoying to severe and life-threatening. A severe allergic reaction may cause shock and even death. |
| Allergy |
Sensitivity to a substance |
| Alopecia |
Baldness |
| Alzheimer’s Disease |
A disorder that causes mental confusion |
| Ambulant |
Walking |
| Ambulatory |
Able to walk |
| Ameliorate |
Improve |
| Amenorrhea |
When a women has no menstrual period |
| Amino acid |
Substance used by the body to make protein |
| Amniocentesis |
Removal of some of the waters from around an unborn baby for laboratory testing |
| Amniotic fluid |
Waters around an unborn baby |
| Amniotic sac |
Bag of tissue that surrounds an unborn baby |
| Amphetamines |
Drugs that speed up metabolism and decrease appetite (“speed”) |
| Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) |
A disease of the nerves that causes weakness |
| Analgesic |
Drug used to control pain |
| Analyze |
To study thoroughly |
| Anaphylactic shock |
Serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction to a substance (eg, food, drug) |
| Anastamosis |
Connection between two vessels or tubes |
| Androgen |
Male sex hormone |
| Anemia |
Decreased red blood cells; Low red blood cell count |
| Anergia |
Inactivity |
| Anesthesia |
Loss of sensation or feeling |
| Anesthetic, general |
A drug or agent used to decrease the feeling of pain or eliminate the feeling of pain by putting one to sleep |
| Anesthetic, local |
A drug or agent used to decrease the feeling of pain or by numbing an area of the body, without putting one to sleep |
| Aneurysm |
Area where an artery is swollen like a sac because the wall of the artery is weak |
| Angina pectoris |
Chest pain due to decreased oxygen being supplied to the heart |
| Angioedema |
Skin blistering |
| Angioma |
Growth made up of blood vessels or lymph vessels |
| Angioplasty |
Surgery to open up a narrow blood vessel |
| Ankylosis |
Joint stiffness |
| Anorexia |
No appetite for food |
| Anoxia |
No oxygen |
| Antacid |
Drug used to decrease acid in the stomach |
| Antecubital |
Area inside the elbow |
| Antepartum |
Before childbirth |
| Anterior |
Having to do with the front of the body |
| Anterior lobe |
Front part of an organ |
| Antiarrhythmic |
Drug used to restore the natural rhythm of the heart |
| Antibiotic |
Drug that kills bacteria and other germs |
| Antibody |
Type of protein that helps protect the body against foreign matter, such as bacteria and viruses; Substance that helps fight infection |
| Anticoagulant |
Drug used to stop blood from clotting |
| Anticonvulsant |
Drug used to stop seizures |
| Antidepressant |
Tranquilizer |
| Antidote |
Substance used to treat allergic reactions |
| Antiemetic |
Drug used to stop vomiting |
| Antifungal |
Fungus killer |
| Antigen |
Foreign Substance |
| Antihistamine |
Drug used to treat allergic reactions |
| Antihypertensive |
High blood pressure drug |
| Anti-inflammatory |
Substance to reduce swelling |
| Antilipemic |
Drug that counteracts fat in the blood |
| Antimicrobial |
Drug that kills bacteria and other germs |
| Antioxidant |
Substance to stop decay |
| Antipsychotic |
Tranquilizer |
| Antipyretic |
Treatment for fever |
| Antiretroviral |
Drug that inhibits certain viruses |
| Antiseptic |
Substance used to stop or slow down the growth of germs |
| Antitussive |
Drug used to relieve coughing |
| Antiviral |
Treatment for a virus |
| Anus |
Ring of muscle that keeps the opening at the end of the digestive tract closed |
| Anxiety |
Agitation |
| Aorta |
Biggest artery in the body |
| Aortic stenosis |
Narrowing of the aorta where it comes out of the heart |
| Aphagia |
Not able to swallow |
| Aphasia |
Not able to speak or write and not able to understand spoken or written words; a stroke |
| Apnea |
Stopping of breathing |
| Appendectomy |
Surgery to remove the appendix |
| Arrhythmia |
Any change from the normal heart beat |
| Arteriogram |
X-ray using a dye to outline an artery |
| Arterioles |
Small branches of arteries |
| Arteriosclerosis |
Hardening of the artery |
| Artery |
The type of blood vessel that carries blood and oxygen from the heart to the rest of the body |
| Arthralgia |
Pain in a joint |
| Arthritis |
Inflammation of one or more joints |
| Arthrocentesis |
Use of a needle to remove fluid from a joint |
| Arthroplasty |
Surgery to fix a joint |
| Arthroscopy |
A surgical procedure in which the internal structure of the joints is examined for diagnosis and/or treatment |
| Articular cartilage |
Smooth tissue that covers the bones inside a joint |
| Ascites |
Fluid in the belly |
| Asphyxia |
Suffocation |
| Aspirate |
Removing a substance using suction |
| Aspiration |
Removal of (usually excessive accumulation of) gas or fluid from the body cavity or organs by suction; Breathing in |
| Assay |
Lab test |
| Assent |
Agreement (usually used for children’s and youth’s approval, followed by parent/guardian’s consent in the form of a signature on the consent form) |
| Assess |
Evaluate, determine, learn about |
| Asthenia |
Weakness |
| Asthma |
Breathing disorder in which there is wheezing and difficulty breathing; A lung disease associated with tightening of the air passages |
| Asymptomatic |
Without symptoms |
| Ataxia |
Uncontrolled muscle movement; incoordination |
| Atelectasis |
Collapse of a lung |
| Atrioventricular block |
A disorder that blocks certain signals in the heart and causes problems in heart rhythm |
| Atrophy |
Wasting away, or decrease in size, of a body organ |
| Atypical |
Unusual |
| Audiology |
The study of hearing |
| Audiometry |
Measurement of hearing |
| Aura |
Warning sensation |
| Auricular |
Hearing related |
| Auscultation |
Use of a stethoscope to listen to sounds inside the body |
| Autoimmune disease |
Disorder in which a person’s immune system attacks parts of his or her own body |
| Autonomic |
Unconscious, unaware |
| Axilla |
Armpit |
| Azotemia |
Kidney failure |
|
| B |
|
|
| Bacillus |
Bacteria |
| Bacteremia |
Bacteria in the blood |
| Bacteria |
Type of germs |
| Bacterial analysis |
Test used to detect and identify bacteria |
| Bacterial endocarditis |
Bacterial infection of the inner lining of the heart |
| Barbiturates |
Group of drugs that are used for different reasons, including general anesthesia, sedation, and stopping seizures |
| Barium enema |
An X-ray examination of the large intestines |
| Basal cell carcinoma |
Tumor of the skin (type of skin cancer) |
| Baseline |
A measurement to serve as the basis to compare subsequent measurements |
| Benign |
Not cancerous, usually without serious consequences; harmless |
| Benign prostatic hypertrophy |
Increase in the size of the prostate gland |
| Beta blocker |
Drug used to slow down the heart |
| Bicuspid valve |
A valve in the heart that controls the flow of blood by opening and closing with each heart beat |
| Bilateral |
Having to do with both sides of the body |
| Bile |
Brown-yellow-green liquid made in the liver and stores in the gallbladder that helps with digestion |
| Bile duct |
Tube that carries bile |
| Biliary |
Related to bile |
| Bilirubin |
A substance found in the bile (a high level of bilirubin in the blood causes jaundice) |
| Binding |
Carried by; to make stuck together; transported |
| Bioavailability |
The extent to which a drug or other substance becomes available to the body |
| Biofeedback |
|
A process for monitoring a body function (such as breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, etc.) and changing the function through relaxation or imagery |
| Biopsy |
A small sample of tissue removed for evaluation |
| Biphasic |
Having two phases |
| Blepharitis |
Inflammation of the eyelid |
| Blepharoplaslty |
Surgery to fix the eyelid |
| Blood amounts |
To be defined in teaspoons or tablespoons (a teaspoon is approximately 5 ml) |
| Blood pressure |
The pressure of blood flowing through blood vessels |
| Blood profile |
A series of blood tests |
| Blood vessels |
Tubes that carry blood through the body |
| Bolus |
A single large amount given all at once |
| Bone marrow |
Soft tissue inside bones that makes blood cells |
| Bone marrow biopsy |
Use of a needle to remove bone marrow so that it can be looked at under a microscope |
| Bone mass |
The amount of calcium in a given amount of bone |
| Bowel |
The intestine |
| Bradyarrhythmia |
Slow irregular heart beat |
| Bradycardia |
Slow heart beat |
| Bradykinesia |
Sluggishness |
| Breast nodes |
Increased size of lymph nodes in the armpit |
| Bronchitis |
Inflammation of the bronchus |
| Bronchodilator |
Drug to help breathing |
| Bronchoscopy |
Examination of the lungs by introducing a small instrument (bronchoscope) in a flexible tubing inserted through the nose or mouth |
| Bronchospasm |
Breathing distress caused by narrowing of the airways |
| Bullous |
Blistered |
| Bursa |
Small sac filled with liquid that cushions moving parts, such as two bones in a joint |
| Bursitis |
Inflammation of the bursa |
| Bypass |
An artificial passageway from one blood vessel to another to get around a blood clot |
|
| |
| C |
|
|
| Cachexia |
Wasting away |
| Calcaneus |
Heel bone |
| Calcemia |
Excess calcium in the blood |
| Calcification |
Hardening |
| Calculus |
A stone |
| Cancellous bone |
Bone that looks like a sponge |
| Cannula |
A thin tube |
| Capillary |
Tiny blood vessel that connects arterioles to venules |
| Carbohydrate |
The body’s primary source of energy and, along with fat and protein, one of the three major nutrients in the human diet. |
| Carcinogenic |
Capable of causing cancer in the body |
| Carcinoma |
Type of cancer |
| Cardiac |
Having to do with the heart |
| Cardiac arrest |
Stopping of the heart |
| Cardiac catheterization |
Putting a catheter into the heart to test for or treat a heart problem |
| Cardiac pacemaker |
Battery-powered tool put under the skin to control the heart rate |
| Cardiac scan |
Ultrasonographic test to view the structure of the heart |
| Cardiogenic |
Originating in the heart |
| Cardiologist |
Doctor who treats disorders of the heart |
| Cardiomegaly |
Enlargement of the heart |
| Cardiomyopathy |
Disorder of the heart muscle |
| Cardiopulmonary bypass |
Artificial passageway through which blood goes around the heart during open-heart surgery |
| Cardiotoxic |
Poisonous to the heart |
| Cardioversion |
Use of electric shock to make the heart beat with normal rhythm |
| Caries |
Decay |
| Carpal |
Having to do with the wrist |
| Carpal tunnel syndrome |
Painful disorder resulting in a pinched nerve in the wrist |
| Cartilage |
A rubbery type of tissue that pads the joints |
| Cataract |
Clouding of the lens of the eye |
| Catheter |
Flexible, tube-like tool used to take fluids out or put fluids into the body |
| Catheter, indwelling, epidural |
A tube placed near the spinal cord used for anesthesia during operations |
| Caudal |
Toward the lower side of an organ or structure |
| Cavity |
Hollow; tooth decay |
| Cecum |
The first part of the large intestine, which is shaped like a pouch |
| Cell |
The basic building block of all living things |
| Cell culture |
Keep cells alive and allow to grow under artificial conditions in the lab |
| Cell membrane |
Layer that surrounds a cell |
| Cellulitis |
Inflammation of the skin |
| Central nervous system |
Brain and spinal cord |
| Cephalgia |
Headache |
| Cephalic |
Related to the head or the head end of the body |
| cerebellum |
The part of the brain that controls the movement of the muscles and helps maintain balance |
| Cerebral |
Having to do with the brain |
| Cerebral aneurysm |
Area in the brain where an artery is swollen like a sac because the wall of the artery is weak |
| Cerebral angiography |
X-ray of the blood vessels in the brain |
| Cerebral thrombosis |
Blood clot in the brain |
| Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) |
The liquid around and in the brain and spinal cord |
| Cerebrovascular accident |
Stroke |
| Cerebrum |
The largest part of the brain, divided into right and left side |
| Cerumen |
Ear wax |
| Cervical vertebrae |
Bones of the neck |
| Cessation |
Stopping |
| CHD |
Coronary heart disease; congenital heart disease |
| Chelation |
Chemical combination with heavy metal |
| Chemotherapeutic agent |
Anti-cancer drug |
| Chemotherapy |
Treatment of disease, usually cancer, by using drugs |
| Cholangiogram |
X-ray of the gallbladder and bile ducts |
| Cholecystectomy |
Surgery to remove the gallbladder |
| Cholecystitis |
Inflammation of the gallbladder |
| Choledocholithiasis |
Gallstones in the bile duct |
| Cholelithiasis |
Gallstones |
| Cholinergic |
Type of nerve or a drug used to change its action |
| Chondrectomy |
Surgery to remove cartilage |
| Chondromalacia |
Softening of joint cartilage, usually inside the knee |
| Chromosomes |
Structures that hold the genes |
| Chronic |
Lasting for a long time |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) |
Lung disorder in which the flow of air to the lungs is blocked |
| Cirrhosis |
Serious liver disorder in which connective tissue replaces normal liver tissue, and liver failure often occurs |
| Clavicle |
Collarbone |
| Clinical |
Pertaining to medical care |
| Clinically significant |
Of major importance for treating or evaluating patients |
| Clinical trial |
An experiment in patients; a research study |
| Closeout |
The final procedures that will end the study |
| Coagulation time |
Measure of how long it takes for blood to clot |
| Cochlea |
The organ of hearing inside the ear |
| Cognition |
Understanding |
| Colectomy |
Surgery to remove part or all of the colon |
| Colitis |
Inflammation of the colon |
| Colon |
A part of the large intestine |
| Colonoscope |
Tool used to look into the colon |
| Colonoscopy |
Examination of the intest000ines by introducing a small instrument (colonoscope) in a flexible tubing inserted through the anus |
| Colostomy |
An opening, or the surgery to make an opening, between the colon and the outside of the body |
| Coma |
Varying degrees of unconsciousness from which a person may not awaken |
| Compensation |
Payment, money |
| Complete response |
Total disappearance of disease |
| Complications |
Difficulties, problems |
| Computerized axial tomography (CAT) |
X-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of the organs of the body |
| Computerized tomography (CT) |
X-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of the organs of the body |
| Concomitant |
Given at the same time; associated |
| Concussion |
Unconsciousness resulting from a blow to the head affecting the brain |
| Conduction |
Transfer |
| Congenital |
Occurring prior to birth, due to a parent’s genetic input |
| Congenital anomaly |
Birth defect |
| Congenital heart disease |
Heart disease present at birth |
| Congenital heart failure |
Failure of the heart resulting in fluid build-up in the lungs and other body tissues, or both |
| Conjugated |
Joined |
| Conjunctiva |
Tissue that lines the eyelids and covers part of the eye and its sockets |
| Conjunctivitis |
Irritation and redness of the thin membrane covering the eye; “pink eye” |
| Connective tissue |
Type of tissue that connects, supports, touches, and surrounds various body parts |
| Conservative |
Not extreme |
| Conscious |
Awake and aware |
| Consent |
Agreement |
| Consequences |
Outcomes, results |
| Constipation |
Decreased number of or difficulty making bowel movements |
| Contraindications |
Medical reasons that prevent a person from using a certain drug or treatment |
| Contrast agent |
A substance injected as part of certain scanning procedures; like a dye to make certain parts of the body show up better when a scan is done |
| Control |
Standard |
| Controlled trial |
Study in which the experimental treatment or procedure is compared to a standard (control) treatment or procedure |
| Contusion |
Bruise |
| Conventional |
Normal, standard |
| Convulsion |
seizure |
| Cooperative group |
Association of multiple institutions to perform clinical trials |
| Cor pulmonale |
Heart disease or heart failure caused by a disorder of the lungs |
| Cornea |
Clear tissue covering the front part of the eye |
| Coronary |
Pertaining to the blood vessels that supply the heart |
| Coronary artery |
Artery that supplies blood to the heart |
| Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) |
Surgery to make a new passageway for blood to the heart |
| Coronary artery disease |
A condition that reduces the blood flow through the coronary arteries to the heart muscle |
| Coronary heart disease |
A condition that reduces the blood flow through the coronary arteries to the heart muscle |
| Coronary ischemia |
Not enough blood going to the heart |
| Coronary thrombosis |
Blood clot in an artery that supplies blood to the heart |
| Corpus |
Main portion of a body part or organ |
| Correlation |
Association |
| Cortex |
Outer layer of an organ or other structure in the body |
| Cortical |
Having to do with the outer layer of an organ or other structure in the body |
| Corticosteroid |
Hormone |
| Cough |
Sudden, loud flow of air from the lungs |
| Cranial |
Related to the head |
| Cranial cavity |
Space inside the skull that holds the brain |
| Cranioplalsty |
Surgery to fix the skull |
| Craniotomy |
Surgery on the skull or to make an opening in the skull |
| Crohn’s Disease |
Serious inflammation of any part of the gastrointestinal system |
| Croup |
Children’s breathing disorder resulting in coughing and harsh breathing |
| CT scan (CAT scan) |
Computerized series of x-rays |
| Culture |
Test for infection or organisms (bacteria) that could cause infection |
| Cumulative |
Total sum (of individual events, experiences, treatments) |
| Curative |
Curing |
| Cutaneous |
Relating to the skin |
| CVA |
Cerebrovascular accident, stroke |
| Cyanosis |
Blue color of tissues, such as the skin or gums, caused by little oxygen |
| Cyst |
Any closed sac in the body, especially one that contains fluid or semisolid material |
| Cystic fibrosis |
Genetic disorder of glands resulting in lung and digestive problems |
| Cystitis |
Inflammation of the urinary bladder |
| Cystocele |
Type of hernia in which the urinary bladder bulges into the vagina |
| Cystogram |
X-ray of the urinary bladder |
| Cystostomy |
Surgery to make an opening into the urinary bladder |
| Cystoureterogram |
X-ray of the urinary bladder and ureters |
| Cytogenic |
Making cells |
| Cytology |
The study of cells |
| Cytoplasm |
Material inside a cell |
|
| D |
|
|
| Debridement |
Surgery to clean foreign material and dead tissue out of a wound |
| Decubital ulcer |
Bedsore |
| Decubitus ulcer |
Bedsore |
| Deep |
Inside the body |
| Deep vein thrombosis |
Blood clot in a deep vein |
| Defibrillation |
Use of electric shock to make the heart start beating, or to correct abnormal heart rate or rhythm |
| Degenerative |
Worsening |
| Degradation |
Break-down |
| Dementia |
Mental decline |
| Dentition |
Set of teeth |
| Depersonalization |
Dream-like feeling |
| Depletion |
Removal |
| Depressant |
Drug that slows down the action of the central nervous system |
| Deprivation |
Loss or lack of |
| Derivative |
Substance obtained from something else |
| Dermabrasion |
Method used to remove scars from the skin |
| Dermal |
Pertaining to the skin |
| Dermatitis |
Skin inflammation |
| Dermatologic |
Pertaining to the skin |
| Dermatologist |
Doctor who treats disorders of the skin |
| Dermatome |
Tool used to cut thin slices of the skin to use as skin grafts; also, geographic area of the skin |
| Dermatoplasty |
Surgery to repair the skin |
| Dermis |
Inner layer of the skin |
| Detached retina |
Separation of the innermost layer of the eye from the middle layer |
| Detoxification |
Drug addiction treatment |
| Deviated septum |
When the inner wall separating the two sides of the nose is off to one side |
| Diabetes insipidus |
Excessive discharge of urine from the body caused by a deficiency in the quantity of antidiuretic hormone being produced in the body |
| Diabetes mellitus |
Disorder in which there is decreased insulin in the body or the body’s insulin is not effective, resulting in high blood sugar and many other side effects |
| Diagnosis |
Determination of the cause of a medical problem |
| Diaphoresis |
Heavy sweating |
| Diaphragm |
Thin flat muscle that helps with breathing and separates the chest wall from the abdominal cavity |
| Diarrhea |
Frequent, loose bowel movements |
| Diastolic |
Lower number in blood pressure reading; Pertaining to the resting or relaxation phase of the heart beat |
| Diffuse |
Widely distributed |
| Diffusion |
Spreading |
| Digitalization |
Giving heart failure medication |
| Dilatation |
Stretching |
| Dilator |
Tool used for stretching or enlarging an opening or tube |
| Diplopia |
Seeing double |
| Dislocation |
Moving out of position |
| Disposition |
Tendency |
| Dissector |
Tool used to separate or cut away tissue |
| Disseminate |
Scatter, spread |
| Dissociation |
Separation |
| Distal |
Toward the end, away from the center of the body |
| Distended |
Stretched or swollen, such as a full bladder |
| Diuresis |
Increased discharge of urine |
| Diuretic |
Drug used to get excess water out of the body and increase urine; “water pill” |
| Diurnal |
Daytime |
| Diverticulitis |
Inflammation of abnormal pouches coming off the colon |
| Diverticulosis |
Abnormal pouches coming off the colon |
| DNA |
The part of the cells that contains all the information about what the cell is and what it does. It is composed of proteins that are grouped in different ways. |
| Doppler |
Sound waves |
| Doppler flow studies |
Use of sound waves to see blood flow inside blood vessels |
| Dorsal |
Having to do with the back of the body |
| Double-blind |
Study in which neither the person giving the treatment nor the subject knows what drug or treatment the subject is receiving |
| Down’s syndrome |
Birth disorder in which there is one extra chromosome, mental retardation, and changed appearance of the head, hands, and feet |
| Duct |
Tube that carries body fluid; passageway |
| Duodenal ulcer |
Sore in the first part of the small intestine |
| Duodenum |
First part of the small intestine |
| Dura mater |
Outer layer of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord |
| Dysarthria |
Speech defect |
| Dyscrasia |
Disorder, usually of the blood cells |
| Dysentery |
Inflammation of the intestine, usually the colon, resulting in pain with blood and mucus in bowel movements |
| Dysfunction |
State of improper function; not working properly |
| Dyskinesia |
Jerky movements |
| Dysmnenorrhea |
Painful menstruation |
| Dyspepsia |
Trouble digesting food, with discomfort after meals |
| Dysphagia |
Trouble swallowing |
| Dysphasia |
Difficulty speaking and putting words together |
| Dysplasia |
Abnormal development or cell growth |
| Dyspnea |
Trouble breathing |
| Dystonia |
Muscle disorders |
| Dystrophy |
Growth failure in tissue |
| Dysuria |
Pain when urinating |
|
| |
| E |
|
|
| Ecchymosis |
Deep, extensive, black and blue mark; bruise |
| Echocardiogram |
Picture of the heart in motion made by bouncing sound waves off of it and recording the echoes |
| Eclampsia |
Convulsions in a pregnant woman caused by high blood pressure and other medical problems |
| Ectopic |
In the wrong place |
| Ectopic pregnancy |
Pregnancy growing outside the uterus, often in the fallopian tubes |
| Eczema |
Type of itchy skin rash |
| Edema |
Swelling caused by fluid held in the tissues |
| Efficacy |
Effectiveness |
| Effusion |
Escape of fluid |
| Elective |
Non-urgent |
| Electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) |
Assessment or tracing of the electrical action of the heart |
| Electrocardiograph |
Machine that records the electrical action of the heart |
| Electrode |
A small device that detects electrical activity in your body or is capable of delivering an electrical impulse |
| Electroencephalogram (EEG) |
Tracing of the electrical activity of the brain |
| Electroencephalograph |
Machine that records the electrical action of the brain |
| Electrolyte imbalance |
Imbalance of minerals or chemicals in the blood |
| Electrophysiological |
Involving the study of electrical phenomena in living bodies |
| Embolus; embolism |
Blood clot; sudden blocking of an artery |
| Embryo |
Unborn baby from 2 to 8 weeks after it is formed |
| Emesis |
Vomiting |
| Emetic |
Drug used to make a person vomit (useful in treating poisoning) |
| Emollient |
Substance that softens the skin |
| Emphysema |
Disorder in which too much air collects deep in the lungs |
| Empiric |
Based on experience |
| Encephalitis |
Inflammation of the brain |
| Encephalopathy |
Brain disease |
| End point |
The event observed in a subject that wound determine ending or changing the treatment |
| Endogenous |
Without obvious external cause |
| Endocrinologist |
Doctor who treats disorders of the glands that make hormones |
| Endometriosis |
Growths outside of the uterus made up of the tissue that lines the uterus |
| Endometritis |
Inflammation of the inner lining of the uterus |
| Endometrium |
Inner lining of the uterus |
| Endorphin |
Substance made by the body to stop pain |
| Endoscopic examination |
Examination of an internal part of the body with a lighted tube; Looking at a part of the body with a lighted tube |
| Endothelium |
Lining of heart and blood vessels |
| Endotracheal |
Inside the windpipe |
| Enema |
Liquid that is injected into the rectum to promote bowel movement |
| Enteral |
By way of the gastrointestinal tract |
| Enteritis |
Inflammation of the small intestine |
| Enuresis |
Bed-wetting |
| Epicondylitis |
“Tennis elbow” |
| Epidemiological |
Involving the study of epidemics |
| Enzyme |
A substance produced by the body to assist in breaking down chemicals |
| Epidermal |
Having to do with the outer layer of the skin |
| Epididymis |
Tube that stores and carries sperm |
| Epidural |
Outside the spinal cord |
| Epigastric region |
Area above the navel |
| Epiglottis |
Flap of skin that keeps food from going down the windpipe |
| Epilepsy |
Seizure disorder |
| Epinephrine |
Hormone made by the adrenal glands that speeds up body organs and helps the body deal with stress |
| Epistaxis |
Nosebleed |
| Epithelium |
Type of tissue that covers the outside of the body and makes up the lining and outer layers of most body organs and parts |
| Equivalent |
Equal, same |
| Eradicating |
Getting rid of (such as a disease) |
| Eruption |
Breaking out |
| Erythema |
Redness of the skin that is often a sign of infection or inflammation |
| Erythrocytes |
Cells in the blood that carry oxygen; red blood cells |
| Esophagus |
The passageway between the mouth and the stomach; the ‘food pipe’ |
| Esophagoscopy |
Examination of the esophagus by introducing a small instrument in a flexible tubing inserted through the nose or mouth |
| Estrogen |
Female sex hormone |
| Eustachian tube |
Tube that connects the middle ear and the throat |
| Evaluate |
Assess; examine for medical condition |
| Exacerbation |
Worsening |
| Exanthema |
Skin rash |
| Excretion |
The way that substances leave the body; removal of waste |
| Exfoliation |
Shedding of cells |
| Exogenous |
With an external organ |
| Exophthalmos |
Protruding eyes |
| Exostosis |
Bony growth on the surface of a bone |
| Expectorant |
Cough medicine |
| Expiration |
Breathing out |
| Extension |
The straight position of an arm of leg |
| External |
Outside the body |
| Extrapyramidal |
Part of the central nervous system |
| Extrasystole |
Premature heart contraction |
| Extravasation |
Escape of blood from blood vessels and into tissue |
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| |
| F |
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| Fallopian tube |
Tube attached to the uterus down which the egg travels from the ovary to the uterus |
| Fasciculation |
Twitch |
| Fasting blood sugar |
Blood test used to measure the amount of sugar in the blood after not eating or drinking for a set amount of time |
| FDA |
U.S. Food and Drug Administration; the branch of the federal government which regulates and approves new drugs |
| Febrile |
Feverish |
| Femoral |
Having to do with the thigh area |
| Femur |
Thigh bone |
| Fetus |
Unborn baby from 9 weeks after it is formed until it is born |
| Fibrillation |
Fast uncontrolled heart beat |
| Fibroid tumor |
Growth made up of tissue having many fibers, such as scar tissue |
| Fibrous |
Having many fibers, such as scar tissue |
| Fibula |
The lower leg bone behind the shin |
| Fissure |
Crack or groove in tissue |
| Fistula |
Abnormal passage |
| Flaccid |
Soft |
| Flatus |
Passing gas |
| Flexion |
Bent position of the arm or leg |
| Food and Drug Administration (FDA) |
The branch of the federal government that regulates foods and drugs |
| Forceps |
Tool with two blades and a handle used for handling tissue or dressings |
| Foreskin |
Fold of skin that covers the penis and is removed in circumcision |
| Fracture |
Broken bone |
| Fulguration |
Use of electric sparks to remove tissue such as tumors |
| Fundus |
Top of the uterus; or |
| Back of the eye; or |
| Large part of the stomach |
| Fungus |
Type of living organisms, such as yeast, molds, and mushrooms, some of which cause infection and some which look like plants |
| Furuncle |
Painful skin boil |
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| |
| G |
|
|
| Gait |
The way a person walks |
| Gallbladder |
Small sac under the liver that holds bile |
| Ganglion |
Group of nerve cells found outside the central nervous system; A tumor on muscle connective tissue or on a tendon |
| Gangrene |
Death of tissue caused by loss of blood flow and usually followed by infection |
| Gastrectomy |
Surgery to remove all or part of the stomach |
| Gastric lavage |
Washing the stomach out |
| Gastric ulcer |
Sore in the stomach |
| Gastritis |
Inflammation of the stomach |
| Gastroenteritis |
Inflammation of the stomach and intestines |
| Gastrointestinal |
Stomach and intestines |
| Gastroscopy |
Examination of the stomach by introducing a small instrument in a flexible tubing inserted through the nose or mouth |
| General anesthesia |
Induction and maintenance of drugged sleep, as in surgery |
| Generic name |
Chemical name for a drug |
| Genes |
Material passed from parent to child that determines the make-up of body and mind |
| Genetic |
Having to do with material passed from parent to child that determines the make-up of body and mind |
| Genitalia |
Male and female sex organs |
| Gestational |
Pertaining to pregnancy |
| Gingiva |
The gums |
| Gingivectomy |
Surgery to remove gum tissue |
| Gingivitis |
Inflammation of the gums |
| Gland |
Tissue that produces a material, such as the saliva or a hormone |
| Glaucoma |
Increased pressure inside the eye that causes visual problems |
| Globulin |
Protein in the blood |
| Glomerulonephritis |
Inflammation of the kidney |
| Glossitis |
Inflammation of the tongue |
| Glottis |
Voice box |
| Glucocorticoids |
Drugs or natural substances made by the adrenal glands that have many effects on body metabolism, raise sugar level in the blood, and reduce inflammation |
| Glucose |
Type of sugar found in the blood |
| Glucose tolerance test |
Test that measures blood sugar levels over a certain amount of time after the patient drinks a beverage that contains a measured amount of sugar |
| Glycosuria |
Sugar in the urine |
| Gout |
Disorder in which crystals of uric acid deposit in and around joints, causing pain and arthritis |
| Grand mal |
Epileptic seizure |
| Granulocytopenia |
Drop in white blood cell count increasing the risk of infection |
| Gynecologist |
Doctor who treats disorders of the sex organs of women |
| Gynecology |
The study of the reproductive system of women |
|
| |
| H |
|
|
| Heart |
Muscle that moves or pumps blood through the body |
| Heart failure |
When the heart inadequately pumps blood through the body |
| Heart murmur |
Swishing sound, heard when listening to the heart through a stethoscope, caused by abnormal flow of blood through the heart |
| Hematemesis |
Blood in vomit |
| Hematocrit |
The percentage of blood made up of red blood cells |
| Hematocytopenia |
Not enough blood cells |
| Hematologist |
Doctor who treats blood disorders |
| Hematology |
The study of blood |
| Hematoma |
Pocket of blood caused by bleeding from a broken blood vessel; |
| a “black and blue” mark; a bruise |
| Hematuria |
Blood in the urine |
| Hemiparesis |
Muscle weakness or partial paralysis, usually with loss of feeling, in half of the body |
| Hemiplegia |
Total loss of muscle movement, usually with loss of feeling, on half of the body |
| Hemodialysis |
Method used to remove waste material from the blood |
| Hemodynamic |
Measuring of blood flow |
| Hemoglobin |
Substance that carries oxygen and gives blood its red color |
| Hemolysis |
Bursting open or break down of red blood cells |
| Hemophilia |
Genetic defect in which blood clots too slowly |
| Hemoptysis |
Coughing up blood |
| Hemorrhage |
Bleeding; escape of blood from blood vessels |
| Hemostasis |
The stopping of bleeding |
| Hemothorax |
Blood in the chest cavity |
| Heparin lock |
Needle placed in the arm with blood thinner to keep the blood from clotting inside the needle or tubing |
| Hepatic |
Liver related |
| Hepatitis |
Inflammation of the liver |
| Hepatoma |
Growth on the liver |
| Hepatomegaly |
Liver enlargement |
| Heritable disease |
A disease which can be transmitted to one’s offspring resulting in damage to future children |
| Hernia |
Bulging of an organ through an abnormal opening in a muscle |
| Herniated disk |
Breaking of a ring-shaped pad in the spine, which often pinches a nerve; Slipped disk |
| Herniorrhaphy |
Surgery to fix a hernia |
| Herpes |
Groups of tiny blisters found on the skin caused by infection with herpes virus |
| Heterosexual |
Person who is attracted to the opposite sex |
| Hiccup |
Sudden, uncontrolled spasm of the diaphragm |
| Hirsutism |
Abnormal hairiness (in women, an adult male pattern of hair distribution) |
| Histology |
The study of tissue under the microscope |
| Histopathological |
Pertaining to the disease status of body tissues or cells |
| Hodgkin’s Disease |
A cancer of white blood cells |
| Holter Monitor |
A portable machine for recording heart beats |
| Homogeneous |
Uniform |
| Homosexual |
Person who is attracted to the same sex |
| Hormone |
Substance made by a gland in the body that regulates another part of the body |
| Hospital Formulary |
List of drugs and their proper doses maintained by each hospital |
| Humeral |
Having to do with the upper arm bone |
| Humerus |
Upper arm bone |
| Hydration |
Adding water |
| Hydrocephalus |
Increase in fluid usually causing pressure on the brain; Water on the brain |
| Hydronephrosis |
Abnormal collection of urine in the kidney causing a swollen kidney |
| Hyperalgesia |
Excessive sensitivity to pain |
| Hyperbaric |
At higher than normal pressure |
| Hypercalcemia |
Too much calcium in the blood |
| Hypercapnia |
Too much carbon dioxide in the blood |
| Hyperemesis |
Excessive vomiting |
| Hyperemia |
Excess blood in a part |
| Hyperesthesia |
Very sensitive to touch |
| Hyperglycemia |
Too much sugar in the blood |
| Hyperkalemia |
Too much potassium in the blood |
| Hyperkeratosis |
Thickening of the skin |
| Hyperkinesis |
Overactive movements |
| Hypernatremia |
Too much sodium in the blood |
| Hyperplasia |
Abnormal increase in the number of normal cells |
| Hypersensitivity |
Over sensitivity |
| Hypertension |
High blood pressure |
| Hypertensive heart disease |
Heart problems caused by high blood pressure |
| Hyperthyroidism |
Overactive thyroid gland |
| Hypertonia |
Stiffness |
| Hypertrophy |
Increase in the size of an organ |
| Hyperventilation |
Breathing that is too fast |
| Hypnotic |
Drug used to make a person sleep |
| Hypocalcemia |
Not enough calcium in the blood |
| Hypocapnia |
Not enough carbon dioxide in the blood |
| Hypochondriac region |
Area to the right or left above the navel |
| Hypodermic |
Under the skin |
| Hypodermic injection |
Injection of a substance under the skin |
| Hypoesthesia |
State of having less than normal sensitivity to stimulation |
| Hypogastric region |
Area below the navel |
| Hypoglycemia |
Not enough sugar in the blood |
| Hypokalemia |
Not enough potassium in the blood |
| Hypomania |
Persistent slight hyperactivity |
| Hyponatremia |
Not enough sodium in the blood |
| Hypotension |
Low blood pressure |
| Hypothermia |
Low body temperature |
| Hypothesis |
A theory that forms the basis for a study to prove it |
| Hypothyroidism |
Underactive thyroid gland |
| Hypotonia |
Decreased muscle tone |
| Hypoventilation |
Too little air entering the lungs |
| Hypoxemia |
Not enough oxygen in the blood |
| Hypoxia |
Not enough oxygen in the tissues |
| Hysterectomy |
Surgery to remove the uterus |
| Hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy |
Surgery to remove all of the internal female reproductive organs |
| Hysterosalpingography |
Taking an x-ray of the uterus and the uterine tubes |
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| |
| I |
|
|
| Iatrogenic |
Response (usually unfavorable) to a treatment or surgery |
| Icterus |
Too much bile (Brown-yellow-green liquid made in the liver and stores in the gallbladder that helps with digestion) in the blood causing a yellow color to the skin, gums, eyes, and other tissues; jaundice |
| IDE |
Investigational device exemption the license to test an unapproved new medical device |
| Idiopathic |
Of unknown cause |
| Idiosyncrasy |
Rare side effect of a drug; unusual reaction of a person to a drug |
| Ileum |
Third and last part of the small intestine |
| Ileus |
Blockage of the intestines |
| Iliac regions |
Area to the right and left below the navel |
| Ilium |
Wing-shaped upper part of the hip bone |
| Immobilization |
Stopping movement |
| Immune system |
The cells and substances that protect the body from infection and foreign matter |
| Immunity |
Protection against infection |
| Immunodeficiency |
Weakness of the immune system |
| Immunoglobulins |
Proteins that help protect the body from infection and foreign matter |
| Immunotherapy |
Giving of drugs to help the body’s immune response system; usually used to destroy cancer cells |
| Impaired function |
Abnormal function |
| Impetigo |
Skin infection |
| Implanted |
Placed in the body |
| In situ |
In the normal place |
| In vitro |
In a test tube |
| In vivo |
In the body |
| Incidence |
Number of cases |
| Incidential |
Minor |
| Incision |
Cut |
| Incontinence |
Not able to control bladder or bowel actions |
| IND |
Investigational new drug the license to test an unapproved new drug |
| Indication |
Sign |
| Induction phase |
Beginning phase or stage of a treatment |
| Induration |
Hard spot; hardening |
| Indwelling |
Remaining in a given location, such as a catheter |
| Infarct |
Death of tissue because of lack of blood supply |
| Infarction |
Heart attack |
| Infectious disease |
Disease which is transmitted from one person to another |
| Inferior |
Toward the lower part of the body |
| Inflammation |
Swelling which is generally painful, red and warm |
| Influenza |
The flu |
| Infusion |
Placing a liquid substance into a vein by letting it flow in with gravity |
| Ingestion |
Eating; taking by mouth |
| Inhalant |
Substance given through the nose or mouth to reach the lung |
| Inherent |
Natural |
| Innervation |
Nerve distribution |
| Insomnia |
Sleeplessness |
| Inspiration |
Breathing in |
| Insulin |
The hormone that controls blood sugar levels |
| Integrity |
Wholeness |
| Integumentary |
Of skin |
| Intention tremor |
Shakiness |
| Intercostal |
Between the ribs |
| Interferon |
Agent which acts against viruses; antiviral agent |
| Interictal |
Happening between seizures |
| Intermittent |
Occurring (regularly or irregularly) between two time points |
| Intermittent claudication |
Pain and weakness in the legs when walking is impossible and then goes away after a rest |
| Interior |
Inside the body |
| Internal |
Inside the body |
| Interstitial |
In gaps between tissue |
| Interval |
Space |
| Intervertebral disks |
Pads found between each ring (bone) in the spine |
| Intoxication |
Poisoning |
| Intracranial |
Inside the skull |
| Intradermally |
Given into the skin |
| Intradermal injection |
Injection of a substance into the skin |
| Intramuscular injection |
Injection of a substance into a muscle |
| Intraocular |
Inside the eye |
| Intraperitoneal |
Inside the abdominal cavity |
| Intrathecal injection |
Injection of a substance into the space surrounding the spine (i.e., spinal canal) |
| Intravenous injection |
Injection of a substance into a vein |
| Intravenous pyelogram |
X-ray of the kidneys and ureters using dye that is injected into the blood |
| Intravesical |
In the bladder |
| Intrinsic |
Internal |
| Intubate |
The placement of a tube into the airway |
| Invasive procedure |
Puncture, opening or cutting of the skin |
| Inversion |
Turning inward |
| Investigation |
Study |
| Investigational method |
A treatment method which has not been proven to be beneficial or has not been accepted as standard care |
| Irrigation |
Washing |
| Irritable bowel syndrome |
Bowel disorder in which there is pain and diarrhea or constipation |
| Ischemia |
Low oxygen in tissue due to decreased blood circulation caused by obstruction |
| Ischium |
Lower part of the pelvic bone, part you sit on |
| Isthmus |
Thin strip of tissue that joins two parts of the body |
|
| |
| J |
|
|
| Jaundice |
Too much bile (Brown-yellow-green liquid made in the liver and stores in the gallbladder that helps with digestion) in the blood causing a yellow color to the skin, gums, eyes and other tissues |
| Jejunum |
Second and longest part of the small intestine |
|
| |
| |
| K |
|
|
| Kaposi’s sarcoma |
Purple or brown cancerous pimples on the skin, often associated with AIDS |
| Karyocyte |
Cell with a center |
| Karyoplasm |
Material inside the center of a cell |
| Keloid |
Type of scar tissue that keeps growing inside |
| Keratin |
Protein that is found in the hair, nails, and skin |
| Keratoplasty |
Surgery to fix the cornea of the eye |
| Ketone bodies |
Substances that increase in the blood and urine when too much body fat and too many carbohydrates are being broken down, usually because of starvation or serious, untreated diabetes mellitus |
| Kidney |
One of two organs in the lower back that filter blood and make urine |
| Kyphosis |
Hunchback |
|
| |
| L |
|
|
| Labile |
Unstable |
| Labyrinth |
Structure in the inner ear |
| Labyrinthectomy |
Surgery to remove the inner ear |
| Labyrinthitis |
Inflammation of the inner ear |
| Laceration |
Torn, ragged cut |
| Lacrimal |
Having to do with the tears |
| Lacrimal duct |
Passageway in the eyelids that drains tears; A type of tear duct |
| Lactating |
Nursing or breast feeding; making milk |
| Lactic dehydrogenase |
Substance measured in a blood test to assess damage to heart and other organs |
| Lactogenic |
Causing the making of breast milk |
| Lactorrhea |
Too much discharge of milk from the breast |
| Laminectomy |
Surgery to remove the top of vertebra |
| Laparoscope |
Tool used to look into the abdominal cavity |
| Laparotomy |
A procedure in which an opening is made in the abdominal wall to enable a physician to look at the organs |
| Large intestine |
A bowel between the small intestine and the anus, including the cecum, colon, and rectum |
| Laryngeal |
Having to do with the voice box |
| Largyngectomy |
Surgery to remove the voice box |
| Laryngitis |
Inflammation of the voice box |
| Laryngoplasty |
Surgery to fix the voice box |
| Laryngoscope |
Took used to look into the voice box |
| Laryngospasm |
Sudden, uncontrolled cramp in the voice box |
| Laryngostomy |
Surgery to make an opening into the voice box |
| Larynx |
Voice box |
| Lassitude |
Weariness |
| Latent |
Inactive |
| Lateral |
Toward or having to do with the side of the body |
| Laxative |
Drug used to stop constipation |
| Legionnaires’ Disease |
Serious disorder caused by bacterial infection in which there is high fever, stomach pain, and pneumonia |
| Leiomyoma |
Smooth muscle growth |
| Lens |
Structure in the eye that is normally clear and helps to focus light coming into the eye |
| Lesion |
Abnormal area of tissue, such as a wound, sore, rash, or boil |
| Lethargy |
Sleepiness |
| Leukemia |
Cancer of white blood cells |
| Leukocyte |
One of the infection-fighting cells in the blood and body tissues; white blood cells |
| Leukocytosis |
Increase in the number of white blood cells in the blood |
| Leukopenia |
Low white blood cell count |
| Ligament |
Elastic tissue that connects bone or cartilage |
| Lipid |
Fat |
| Lipoma |
Growth made up of fat cells |
| Lipoprotein electrophoresis |
Blood test that measures the amounts of fat and protein in the blood |
| Liposome |
Fatty or oily globule |
| Lithotripsy |
Surgery or other method to crush a stone |
| Liver |
Large organ that helps in many body functions, including digestion, metabolism, and storage of substances |
| Lobar pneumonia |
Bacterial infection of one or more sections of the lung |
| Lobectomy |
Surgery to remove a section of the lung |
| Local anesthesia |
Creation of insensitivity to pain in a small local area of the body |
| Localized |
Limited to a specific area |
| Lower GI Series |
X-ray using a dye given as an enema to outline the large intestine |
| Lumbar puncture |
Spinal tap using a needle to remove spinal fluid for testing from the lower back |
| Lumbar region |
Lower back of the body |
| Lumbar vertebrae |
Bones of the spine in the lower back |
| Lumen |
The space inside a tube-like body structure, such as a blood vessel |
| Lung lobe |
One of five sections of the two lungs |
| Lungs |
The two main organs for breathing |
| Lupus Erythematosus (LE) |
Chronic disorders of connective tissues in which there can be skin rash, arthritis, kidney problems, and anemia, among other problems |
| Lymph |
Clear liquid tissue |
| Lymph node |
Tissue that filters disease germs from the blood, also called a lymph gland |
| Lymphadenitis |
Inflammation of the lymph nodes |
| Lymphangiography |
X-ray of the lymph nodes or tissues after injection of dye in lymph vessels |
| Lymphocyte |
Type of white blood cell important in the body’s defense against infection |
| Lymphoid tissue |
Tissue that contains lymphocytes |
| Lymphoma |
Cancerous growth made up of lymphoid tissue, particularly lymphocytes |
|
| |
| M |
|
| |
| Maceration |
Soaking |
| Macro - |
Describes something that is large or long |
| Macule |
Flat, colored spot on the skin |
| Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) |
The use of magnetic waves to look at soft tissues of the body |
| Malabsorption |
Poor digestion |
| Malaise |
A vague feeling of bodily discomfort, feeling bad |
| Malfunction |
Condition in which something is not functioning properly |
| Malignancy |
Cancer or other progressively enlarging and spreading tumor, fatal if not successfully treated |
| Malignant |
Cancerous; occurring in a severe form (that may even cause death) not responding to treatment |
| Mallet |
Hammer-like tool used for striking objects |
| Mammary glands |
Milk-producing tissue in the breasts |
| Mammogram |
X-ray of the breast |
| Mammoplasty |
Surgery to reconstruct the breast |
| Mandible |
Lower jaw bone |
| Manifest |
Visible |
| Manifestation |
sign |
| Mastectomy |
Surgery to remove a breast |
| Mastitis |
Inflammation of the mammary gland or of the breast |
| Mastoid cells |
Air spaces inside the protruding part of the bone located in the skull behind the ear |
| Mastoid process |
The protruding part of the bone located in the skull behind the ear |
| Mastoidectomy |
Surgery to remove the protruding part of the bone located in the skull behind the ear |
| Mastoiditis |
Inflammation of the air spaces in the mastoid process that communicate with the middle ear |
| Maxilla |
Upper jaw bone |
| Medial |
Toward or having to do with the middle of the body |
| Median |
Average |
| Medications |
Medicine, drugs |
| Mediastinum |
Tissue and organs in the middle of the chest between the two lungs |
| Medulloblastoma |
Type of brain tumor |
| Medulla oblongata |
Part of the brain that controls breathing, blood pressure, and other important body functions; brain stem |
| Megaloblastosis |
Change in red blood cells |
| Melanin |
Material that makes the color of the skin and hair |
| Melanoma |
Cancerous black growth on the skin |
| Meniere’s Disease |
Disorder of the inner ear in which there is dizziness, ringing in the ears, and loss of hearing |
| Meninges |
Three-layered tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord |
| Meningitis |
Inflammation of the tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord |
| Meniscus |
One of two crescent-shaped pads inside the knee joint |
| Menometrorrhagia |
Too much bleeding from the uterus during menstruation and at other times |
| Menopause |
Time in life when a woman stops having a menstrual period |
| Menses |
Discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus that happens about every 4 weeks in women who are not pregnant |
| Menstruation |
Discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus that happens about every 4 weeks in women who are not pregnant |
| Metabolism |
Total of all the important actions in the body that keep it alive |
| Metabolize |
Process of breaking down substances in the cells |
| Metacarpal bones |
Bones of the hand between the wrist and fingers |
| Metastasis |
Spread of disease from one place in the body to another place in the body that is not nearby |
| Metatarsal bones |
Foot bones |
| Micro- |
Describes something that is small or delicate |
| Microcephalus |
Person with a very small head |
| Microorganism |
Germ |
| Micturate |
Urinate |
| Middle ear |
The space between the eardrum and the inner ear |
| Migraine |
Type of severe headache that occurs periodically and is often associated with nausea, vomiting, and constipation or diarrhea |
| Minimal |
Slight |
| Minimize |
Reduce |
| Miotic |
Substance that makes the pupil of the eye smaller (eg. Narcotic) |
| Miscarriage |
Loss of an unborn baby from the uterus before it is able to survive outside the mother’s body |
| Mitral valve |
Valve between two chambers on the left side of the heart |
| Mobility |
Ease of movement; able to move around |
| Monitor |
Keep track of |
| Mononucleosis |
Glandular fever |
| Monoparesis |
Weak muscle movement and loss of feeling in one arm or one leg |
| Monoplegia |
Loss of movement and loss of feeling in one arm or one leg |
| Monotherapy |
Therapy with one drug |
| Morbidity |
Undesired result or complication; serious disease |
| Mortality |
Death or death rate |
| Motility |
Ability to move |
| MRI magnetic resonance imaging |
Body pictures created using magnetic rather than x-ray energy |
| Mucopurulent |
Slimy and with pus in it |
| Mucosa |
Moist lining of digestive, respiratory, reproductive, and urinary tracts |
| Mucous membrane |
Moist lining of digestive, respiratory, reproductive, and urinary tracts |
| Mucus |
Slimy fluid |
| Multicenter |
The same study being carried out at several centers |
| Multigravida |
Woman who has been pregnant two or more times |
| Multipara |
Woman who has given birth two or more times |
| Multiple Sclerosis (MS) |
Slowly worsening disorder of the central nervous system that causes weakness, incoordination, numbness, and problems talking and seeing |
| Muscle |
Type of tissue that causes movement |
| Muscular Dystrophy (MD) |
Genetic problem resulting in muscle weakness and wasting away of the muscle(s) |
| Myalgia |
Muscle aches |
| Myasthenia |
Muscle weakness |
| Myasthenia Gravis |
Disorder that causes muscles to get tired quickly |
| Mycosis |
Fungal disease |
| Mydriatic |
Substance that makes the pupil of the eye bigger |
| Myelogram |
X-ray of the spinal cord using dye that is injected into the spinal area |
| Myeloma |
Cancer of the types of cells normally found in bone marrow |
| Myelomalacia |
Softening of the spinal cord |
| Myocardial |
Pertaining to the muscle of the heart |
| Myocardial infarction (MI) |
Heart attack; death of heart muscle |
| Myocardial ischemia |
Not enough blood going to the heart |
| Myocarditis |
Inflammation of the heart muscle |
| Myocardium |
Muscle of the heart |
| Myoma |
Growth made up of muscle tissue |
| Myomectomy |
Surgery to remove a piece of muscle |
| Myometrium |
Muscle of the uterus |
| Myopathy |
Muscle disorder |
| Myopia |
Nearsightedness |
| Myoplasty |
Surgery to fix a muscle |
| Myositis |
Muscle inflammation |
| Myringitis |
Inflammation of the eardrum |
| Myringoplasty |
Surgery to fix a ruptured eardrum |
| Myxedema |
Disorder caused by lack of thyroid hormone in which areas of the skin are swollen |
|
| |
| N |
|
|
| Nail |
Tough plate of tissue covering the top of the end of each finger and toe |
| Narcotic |
Strong potentially habit-forming drug that may relieve pain and depresses the central nervous system |
| Nasal septum |
Wall that divides the nose into two sides |
| Nasogastric tube |
Tube that goes from the nose and into the stomach; used for feeding liquid food to a patient |
| Nasolacrimal duct |
Tube that drains tears from the eye into the nose; tear duct |
| Natal |
Having to do with childbirth |
| Nausea |
Sick to the stomach |
| NCI |
The National Cancer Institute |
| Nebulizer |
Device used to turn liquids into mists for breathing treatments |
| Necrosis |
Death of tissue or skin |
| Neonate |
Newborn infant |
| Neonatology |
The study of disorders of newborn infants |
| Neoplasia |
Tumor, may be cancerous or non-cancerous |
| Neoplasm |
New growth that is not normal; tumor |
| Nephrectomy |
Surgery to remove a kidney |
| Nephritis |
Inflammation of the kidney(s) |
| Nephroblastoma |
Type of malignant kidney tumor |
| Nephrogram |
X-ray of the kidney |
| Nephrohypertrophy |
Overgrowth of the kidney |
| Nephrolithiasis |
Stones in the kidney |
| Nephroma |
Growth of the kidney |
| Nephromegaly |
Overgrowth of the kidney |
| Nephropexy |
Surgery to tie down a kidney |
| Nerve |
String-like tissue that carries messages to and away from the brain and spinal cord and tells muscles to move |
| Nervous tissue |
Type of tissue that makes up the central nervous system and nerves |
| Neuralgia |
Nerve pain |
| Neurectomy |
Surgery to remove part of a nerve |
| Neuritis |
Inflammation of a nerve |
| Neuroarthropathy |
Disorder of the joints and the central nervous system or nerves |
| Neuroblast |
Cell that will develop into a nerve |
| Neuroblastoma |
A cancer of the nerve tissue |
| Neurological |
Pertaining to the nervous system |
| Neurologist |
Doctor who treats disorders of the central nervous system and nerves |
| Neurolysis |
Surgery to open the covering of a nerve to destroy a nerve |
| Neuroma |
Growth made up of nerve tissue |
| Neuropathy |
A disturbance in the function of the brain or spinal cord that may affect the nerves and muscles of the body |
| Neuroplasty |
Surgery to fix a nerve |
| Neurosis |
Mental and emotional disorder |
| Neurotomy |
Surgery to make a break in a nerve |
| Neutropenia |
Decrease in the main part of the white blood cells |
| Nevus |
Mole; birthmark |
| NIH |
National Institute of Health |
| Nocturia |
Waking up to urinate at night |
| Non-compliance |
To not follow the set procedure |
| Non-invasive |
Not breaking, cutting or entering the skin |
| Norepinephrine |
Hormone discharged from nerves, the brain and the glands over the kidneys that helps the body deal with stress and low blood pressure |
| Normotensive |
With normal blood pressure |
| Noscomial pneumonia |
Pneumonia acquired in the hospital |
| Nucleus |
Center of a cell |
| Nulligravida |
Woman that has never given birth |
| Nullipara |
Woman that has never given birth to an infant that lived |
| Nyctalopia |
Difficulty seeing at night |
|
| |
| O |
|
|
| Obesity |
Extremely overweight |
| Objective |
Aim or goal |
| Obstetrician |
Doctor who takes care of pregnant women and delivers babies |
| Obstetrics |
The study of pregnant women and childbirth |
| Obstipation |
Severe constipation |
| Obstructive sleep apnea |
Breathing problems while sleeping because the airways collapse or get closed off |
| Occlude |
Close off |
| Occlusion |
Closing; obstruction |
| Occult |
Concealed, hidden |
| Ocular |
Eye related |
| Oculmycosis |
Fungus infection in the eye |
| Oculogyric |
Involving circular eye movements |
| OHRP |
Office for Human Research Protection; oversees IRBs and related matters, and research with humans to be sure that the federal regulations are followed |
| Oliguria |
Decreased amount of urine |
| Oncogenic |
Causing tumors to form |
| Oncologist |
Doctor who treats cancer |
| Oncology |
The study of tumors or cancer |
| Onychomalacia |
Softening of the nails |
| Onychomycosis |
Fungal infection of the nail |
| Oophorectomy |
Surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries |
| Ophthalmic |
Having to do with the eye |
| Ophthalmologist |
Doctor who treats eye disorders |
| Ophthalmology |
The study of eye disorders |
| Ophthalmopathy |
Disorder of the eye |
| Ophthalmorrhagia |
Bleeding from the eye |
| Opiate |
Opium-like drug |
| Opportunistic |
Disease usually excluded by body defenses |
| Optic |
Having to do with the eyes |
| Optic nerve |
Nerve that carries visual messages from the retina to the brain |
| Optician |
Person who makes glasses |
| Optimal |
Best; most favorable |
| Optometer |
Tool used in eye examinations |
| Optometry |
The study of the eye and vision |
| Oral |
Having to do with the mouth |
| Oral administration |
Given by mouth |
| Orbital |
Related to the eye socket |
| Orchiectomy |
Surgery to remove one or both testicles |
| Orchitis |
Inflammation of a testicle |
| Organ |
Two or more kinds of tissues that work together to make up a part of the body with a unique function |
| Orientation |
Awareness of your environment |
| Orthodontist |
Dentist who treats teeth and jaw disorders |
| Orthopedics |
The study of the bones and joints |
| Orthopedist |
Doctor who treats bone and joint disorders |
| Orthopnea |
Difficulty breathing except when sitting up |
| Orthostatic |
Related to the upright position |
| Orthotist |
Person who designs and teaches the use of braces and splints |
| Ossicles |
Bones of the middle ear that carry sound |
| Ossification |
Bone formation |
| Osteoarthritis (OA) |
Disorder, which is seen mostly in older persons, in which the joints become painful and stiff |
| Osteoblasts |
Cells that make bone |
| Osteocarcinoma |
Bone cancer growth |
| Osteochondritis |
Inflammation of the bone and cartilage |
| Osteocyte |
Bone cell |
| Osteofibroma |
Benign tumor of bone and connective tissue |
| Osteomalacia |
Soft bones |
| Osteomyelitis |
Infection and inflammation of bone |
| Osteonecrosis |
Death of bone tissue |
| Osteopetrosis |
Rare bone disorder characterized by dense bone |
| Osteoplasty |
Surgery to fix a bone |
| Osteoporpsis |
Loss of calcium from bone tissue resulting in bones that break easily; prevalent in postmenopausal women |
| Osteosarcoma |
Cancer of bone |
| Otalgia |
Earache |
| Otitis |
Inflammation of the ear |
| Otitis externa |
Inflammation of the outer ear canal |
| Otitis interna |
Inflammation of the inner ear |
| Otitis media |
Inflammation of the middle ear |
| Otologist |
Doctor who treats disorders of the ear |
| Otology |
The study of the ear |
| Otomycosis |
Fungus infection in the outer ear canal |
| Otosclerosis |
Bone deposits in the inner ear |
| Otoscope |
Took used to look into the ear |
| Outcome |
An observed event in a subject (usually used to determine the effectiveness of a treatment) |
| Ovaries |
Female sex glands; female organs which release eggs |
| Ovulation |
Discharge of an egg from the ovary |
| Ovum |
The female sex cell that joins with the male sperm to make a zygote and, eventually, a baby; egg |
| Oxidation |
Adding oxygen |
| Oximeter |
Tool used to measure the amount of oxygen in the blood |
| Oxytocin |
Hormone made by the brain that makes the uterus cramp and mild come out of the breasts |
|
| |
| P |
|
|
| Pachyderma |
Thickening of the skin |
| Palate |
Roof the mouth |
| Palliation |
To relieve symptoms and effects of the disease |
| Palliative treatment |
Treatment that relieves symptoms, such as pain, but does not cure the disease |
| Pallor |
Pale color of the skin |
| Palmar |
Having to do with the palm of the hand |
| Pancreas |
Organ that makes hormones, including insulin, and digestive juices |
| Pancreatic |
Having to do with the organ that makes hormones, including insulin, and digestive juices |
| Pancreatitis |
Inflammation of the organ that makes hormones, including insulin, and digestive juices |
| Panplegia |
Total loss of muscle control and feeling |
| Pansinusitis |
Inflammation of all the sinuses on one side of the body |
| Pap test |
Microscopic test used to detect virus infection of the cervix or cancer of the vagina, cervix, or lining of the uterus |
| Papilloedema |
Swollen optical disc |
| Papule |
Pimple |
| Para |
Woman who has given birth |
| Paracentesis |
Fluid removal |
| Paranasal sinuses |
Air cavities inside the bones of the face around the nose |
| Paraplegia |
Complete loss of muscle control and total loss of feeling from the waist downward |
| Parasympatholytic |
Drug that blocks a kind of nerve |
| Parathyroid gland |
Gland that makes and discharges a hormone that helps control the amount of calcium in the blood |
| Parathyroidectomy |
Surgery to remove the parathyroid gland |
| Parathyroidectomy |
Surgery to remove the parathyroid gland |
| Parenchyma |
Functional tissue of an organ |
| Parenteral administration |
Giving a substance by injection rather than by mouth |
| Paresis |
Muscle weakness; partial paralysis |
| Paresthesia |
Feeling of “pins and needles” |
| Parietal layer |
Layer of tissue in the wall of a cavity |
| Parkinson’s Disease |
Disorder of the central nervous system, seen usually in older persons, in which there is muscle weakness, trembling, sweating |
| Paroxysm |
Sudden worsening of an illness, or a spasm or seizure |
| Paroxysmal |
In sudden attacks |
| Patch Test |
Allergy test performed by putting an allergy-causing material on the skin to see if it causes a reaction |
| Patella |
Kneecap |
| Patent |
Open |
| Pathogenesis |
The initial cause of a disease |
| Pathogenic |
Causing disease |
| Pathologist |
Doctor who studies the changes in the body and its tissues caused by disease |
| Pathology |
The study of the changes in the body and tissue caused by disease |
| Pelvic bone |
Hip bone |
| Pelvic cavity |
Space where the urinary bladder, certain reproductive organs, part of the large intestine, and the rectum are found |
| Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) |
Infection of any of the female reproductive organs inside the pelvic space, including uterus, uterine tubes, and ovaries |
| Pelvis of the kidney |
Place where the urine leaves the kidney |
| Penicillin |
Type of drug used to stop or slow down the growth of germs |
| Penile implant |
Artificial device put into the penis to help a man get an erection |
| Penis |
Outer male sex organ |
| Peptic |
Digestion related |
| Peptic ulcer |
Sore in the stomach or in the lining of the stomach |
| Percussion |
Tapping of a body surface with the fingers to check the organs under the skin by the sound that is made |
| Percutaneous |
Through the skin |
| Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) |
Procedure in which a small balloon is blown up inside the blood vessel to open up the blood vessel |
| Perennial |
Persistent |
| Perforation |
Puncture, tear, or hole |
| Pericarditis |
Inflammation of the two-layer sac of tissue around the heart |
| Pericardium |
The two-layer sac of tissue around the heart |
| Perimetrium |
Outer layer of tissue around the uterus |
| Perineum |
Area between the vulva and rectum in women, and between the scrotum and rectum in men |
| Perioperative |
Immediately pre- and post-operation |
| Periosteum |
Layer of tissue that covers bone |
| Peripheral |
Not central |
| Peristalsis |
Pushing of food through the body |
| Peritoneal |
Inside the body cavity |
| Pernicious |
Fatal |
| Per os |
By mouth |
| Pertussis |
Whooping cough |
| Petechia |
Tiny red or purple spot on skin or other tissue caused by bleeding |
| Petit mal |
Minor epilepsy |
| Phalanges |
Finger and toe bones |
| Pharmacist |
Person licensed to prepare and dispense drugs and fill prescriptions |
| Pharmacodynamics |
The study of how drugs act on the body |
| Pharmacokinetics |
The study of how a drug enters and leaves the blood and tissues over time |
| Pharyngitis |
Sore throat |
| Pharynx |
Area between the mouth and esophagus that performs the swallowing action; throat |
| Phase I |
Initial study of a new drug in humans to determine the limits of tolerance |
| Phase II |
Second phase of study of a new drug intended to obtain initial information, safety assessments |
| Phase III |
Large scale trial to confirm and expand information on safety and usefulness of a new drug |
| Phenothiazines |
Group of drugs for the control of mental illness |
| Phenylketonuria (PKU) |
Dangerous build-up of toxic materials in the body resulting from a genetic defect that affects metabolism |
| Phlebitis |
Irritation or inflammation of a vein |
| Phlebotomy |
Nicking or putting a needle into a vein to remove blood |
| Phonocardiogram |
Detailed record of heart sounds |
| Photophobia |
Irritation of the eye caused by light |
| Photosensitivity |
Overly sensitive to light |
| Phrenic |
Having to do with the mind; or having to do with a diaphragm |
| Physiological |
Normal |
| Pia mater |
Inner layer of the three-layered tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord |
| Pigmentation |
Skin coloring |
| Pilot study |
An introductory (usually small) study before the actual (usually larger) study begins |
| Pinna |
Outer flap of the ear |
| Pituitary gland |
Gland that sits under the brain and makes many hormones, including some that control other glands |
| Placebo |
A pretend treatment (with n o drug in it) that is compared in a clinical trial with a drug to test if the drug has a real effect |
| Placebo effect |
Improvement seen with the administration of a placebo |
| Placenta |
Tissues that provide food for the unborn baby |
| Plantar |
Having to do with the sole of the foot |
| Plasma |
Liquid part of blood where cells float |
| Plasmapharesis |
Removing plasma from blood that has been drawn from a person and pumped through a machine |
| Platelet count |
The number of platelets in the blood |
| Platelets |
Small particles in the blood that help it to clot |
| Pleura |
Thin tissue that covers the lungs and inner walls of the chest |
| Pleural effusion |
Fluid in the chest cavity |
| Pleurisy |
Inflammation of the pleura with discharge in the chest cavity, making breathing painful |
| Pneumatocele |
Bulging of the lungs through an abnormal opening |
| Pneumonectomy |
Surgery to remove a lung |
| Pneumonia |
Inflammation of the lungs in which the lungs become heavy |
| Pneumonitis |
Inflammation of the lungs |
| Pneumothorax |
Free air in the chest cavity |
| Podiatrist |
Foot doctor |
| Poliomyelitis |
Infection with a virus in which there can be fever, headache, and stiff neck followed by paralysis and wasting away of muscles |
| Polyarteritis |
Inflammation of many arteries |
| Polycystic kidney |
Kidney with many cysts in it |
| Polydipsia |
Too much thirst; drinking excessively |
| Polymorphic |
In a variety of shapes |
| Polymyositis |
Inflammation of more than one muscle |
| Polyneuritis |
Inflammation of several nerves |
| Polyp |
Type of growth that sticks up out of tissue |
| Polypectomy |
Surgery to remove a polyp |
| Polyuria |
Too much urine being made |
| Pons |
Part of the brain through which the two sides and different areas of the brain communicate |
| Porphyria |
Disturbance of metabolism that can be seen as disorders of the skin or other organs |
| Posterior |
Having to do with the back of the body |
| Postictal |
Happening after a seizure |
| Postpartum |
After childbirth |
| Postprandial |
After eating |
| Potential |
Possible |
| Potentiate |
Increase of multiply the effect of a drug or toxin by administration of another drug or toxin at the same time |
| Preclinical |
Before the disease becomes recognizable |
| Precordial |
Related to the chest and heart |
| Precursor |
Forerunner |
| Predisposition |
Tendency |
| Preeclampsia |
Serious problem of pregnancy in which there is high blood pressure and excess fluid in the tissues of the mother |
| Pregnancy |
Carrying an unborn baby |
| Preictal |
Happening before a seizure |
| Premature infant |
Infant born before it has fully developed; weight less than 5.5 pounds |
| Prenatal |
Before birth |
| Preoperative |
Before an operation |
| Prepuce |
Fold of skin (foreskin) that covers the penis and is removed during circumcision |
| Presbycusis |
Loss of hearing because of old age |
| Presbyopia |
Problems with vision because of old age |
| Presentation |
Angle |
| Primigravida |
Woman going through her first pregnancy |
| Primipara |
Woman who has had one pregnancy that lasted at least 20 weeks |
| PRN |
As needed |
| Proctologist |
Doctor who treats disorders of the rectum and anus |
| Proctology |
The study of disorders of the rectum and anus |
| Proctoscope |
Tool used to look into the rectum |
| Progestins |
Type of female hormones that prepare the uterus for pregnancy |
| Prognosis |
Forecast of the probable outcome of a disease |
| Progresses |
Worsens |
| Prolapsed uterus |
Fallen uterus protruding from the body |
| Proliferation |
Multiplication |
| Prone |
Lying face down |
| Prophylaxis |
A drug given to prevent disease or infection |
| Prospective study |
Study following patients forward in time |
| Prostate gland |
Gland that makes fluid that aids movement of sperm |
| Prostatectomy |
Surgery to remove all or part of the prostate gland |
| Prostatic cancer |
Cancer of the prostate gland |
| Prostatitis |
Inflammation of the prostate gland |
| Prosthesis |
Artificial body part |
| Prothrombin time |
A test of blood clotting time used to measure substances that help the blood to clot |
| Protocol |
Plan of study |
| Proximal |
Nearest; closer to the center of the body, away from the end |
| Pruritis |
Itchiness |
| Psoriasis |
Scaly skin rash |
| Psychiatry |
The study of mental disorders |
| Psychogenic |
Caused by the mind (rather than the body) |
| Psychologist |
Person who treats disorders of the mind, thoughts, and behavior |
| Psychology |
The study of mental action and behavior |
| Psychomotor |
Involving motor effects of mental activity |
| Pschopathy |
Any disorder of the mind |
| Psychosis |
Severe mental disorder |
| Psychosomatic |
Having a connection between the mind and physical symptoms |
| Psychotropic |
Mood altering |
| Puberty |
Period of adolescence (life) during which the sex organs mature |
| Pulmonary |
Having to do with the lungs |
| Pulmonary edema |
Fluid in the lungs |
| Pulmonary embolism |
Blood clot in the lungs |
| Pulmonary neoplasm |
Lung tumor |
| Pupil |
Black spot in the middle of the eye, which is the opening in the center of the iris |
| Pupillometer |
Tool that measures how wide the pupil is |
| Purgative |
Drug used to cause the bowels to empty |
| Purpura |
Small purple-red marks in skin or other tissue caused by bleeding |
| Pustule |
Pimple filled with pus |
| Pyelitis |
Inflammation of the kidney and its pelvis |
| Pyelogram |
X-ray of the kidney and ureters |
| Pyelolithotomy |
Surgery to remove a kidney stone |
| Pyelonephritis |
Inflammation of the kidney and its pelvis |
| Pyloric sphincter |
Ring of muscles between the stomach and the small intestine |
| Pylorus |
The opening of the stomach into the small intestine |
| Pyrexia |
Fever |
| Pyrosis |
Heartburn |
| Pyuria |
Pus in the urine |
|
| |
| Q |
|
| QRC complex |
Part of heart monitor readout |
| QT interval |
Space between two seizures; Part of heart monitor readout |
| Quadriplegia |
Loss of muscle movement and loss of feeling in both arms and legs |
| Quiescent |
Inactive |
| qd |
Every day; daily |
| qid |
Four times a day |
|
| |
| R |
|
|
| Rachiotomy |
Surgery to cut into a bone or bones of the spine |
| Radial keratotomy |
Surgery to fix nearsightedness |
| Radiation therapy |
X-ray or cobalt treatment |
| Radiculitis |
Inflammation of a spinal nerve root |
| Radiography |
X-ray |
| Radioimmunoassay |
Laboratory method to measure a substance, such as a hormone |
| Radiological |
X-ray related |
| Radius |
One of the two lower arm bones |
| Random |
By chance |
| Randomization |
Assignment of treatment groups by chance, similar to tossing a coin (when there are two treatment choices), or rolling a die (when there are multiple treatment choices) |
| RBC |
Red blood cells |
| Reabsorption |
Absorbing again |
| Reagent |
Reactive substance |
| Recombinant |
Formation of new combinations of genes |
| Reconstitution |
Putting back together the original parts or elements |
| Rectal |
Related to the bowel |
| Rectal administration |
Giving a substance by putting it into the rectum |
| Rectocele |
Bulging of the rectum into the vagina |
| Recur |
Happen again |
| Red blood cell (RBC) |
A cell in blood that carries oxygen |
| Red blood cell count |
The number of red blood cells in the blood |
| Red blood cell morphology |
The size and shape of individual red blood cells as seen under a microscope |
| Refractory |
Not responding to treatment |
| Regeneration |
Regrowth of a structure or of lost tissue |
| Regimen |
Pattern of administering treatment |
| Regurgitation |
Bringing back |
| Rehabilitation |
Training and education to recover lost skills or learn new ones to compensate for the loss |
| Relapse |
The return or reappearance of a disease |
| Remission |
Condition that occurs when signs of an illness are decreased or gone |
| Renal |
Having to do with the kidney |
| Renal biopsy |
Removing a piece of the kidney tissue to look at it under a microscope |
| Renal calculi |
Kidney stones |
| Renal pelvis |
Place where urine leaves the kidney |
| Renal transplant |
Kidney transplant |
| Renogram |
X-ray to check kidney function by measuring how fast a dye passes through the kidneys and to the urinary bladder |
| Replicable |
Capable of being duplicated |
| Reproduction |
Making babies |
| Resection |
Surgical removal of a partial or whole organ |
| Resect |
Remove or cut out (surgically) |
| Resectoscope |
Tool used to remove or biopsy tissue from the urinary bladder, prostate, or urethra |
| Retard |
Delay |
| Retina |
Innermost layer of the eye |
| Retinal |
Having to do with the retina |
| Retinopathy |
Eye disease |
| Retractor |
Tool used for holding back tissue |
| Retrograde pyelogram |
X-ray of the kidney and ureter made by injecting dye backward into the ureter |
| Retrospective study |
Study looking back over past experience |
| Retrosternal |
Behind the breastbone |
| Revoke |
Cancel or take back |
| Reye's Syndrome |
Serious disorder of children, which often occurs after a viral infection, affecting the brain, liver, and other body organs |
| Rhabdomyoma |
Benign tumor of a muscle |
| Rhabdomyosarcoma |
Cancer of a muscle |
| Rheumatic Fever |
Bacterial disease in which there is fever and inflammation of the heart, blood vessels, and joints |
| Rheumatic Heart Disease |
Damage to the heart caused by rheumatic fever, especially deformed heart valves |
| Rheumatoid factor |
Substance in the blood that is measured to check for rheumatoid arthritis |
| Rhinitis |
Inflammation of the nose |
| Rhinoplasty |
Surgery to fix the nose |
| Rhinorrhagia |
Nosebleed |
| Rhinorrhea |
Runny nose |
| Rhytidectomy |
Surgery to remove wrinkles |
| Rhytidoplasty |
Surgery to remove wrinkles from the face |
| Rigidity |
Stiffness |
| Rongeur |
Tool used for cutting hard tissue, such as bone |
|
| |
| S |
|
|
| Sacrum |
Large triangle-shaped bone at the bottom of the spine above the tailbone |
| Sagittal plane |
Divides the body into a right and left side |
| Saline |
Salt water |
| Saliva |
Liquid in the mouth that helps with swallowing food; spit |
| Salivary glands |
Glands that make saliva |
| Salpingectomy |
Surgery to remove the uterine tube |
| Salpingitis |
Inflammation of the uterine tubes |
| Salpingo-oophorectomy |
Surgery to remove an ovary and uterine tube |
| Salpingocele |
Uterine tube bulging out of an abnormal opening |
| Salphinx |
Tube down which the egg travels from the ovary to the uterus |
| Sample size |
Number of people enrolled in the study |
| Sarcoma |
Cancer of connective tissue cells |
| Saw |
Tool with notched blade used for cutting |
| Scabies |
Itchy skin infection by a microscopic bug called a mite; mange |
| Scapula |
Shoulder blade |
| Schick Test |
Skin test used to detect diphtheria |
| Sciatica |
Pain running down from the lower back to the buttocks to the back or side of the leg |
| Scissors |
Tool with two sharp blades used for cutting tissue |
| Sclera |
Outer protective layer of the eye; “whites of the eyes” |
| Scleral buckling |
Surgery to fix a detached retina |
| Scleroderma |
Hardening and thickening of the skin |
| Sclerokeratitis |
Inflammation of the sclera and the cornea |
| Scleromalacia |
Softening of the sclera seen in patient with rheumatoid arthritis |
| Sclerosis |
Hardening |
| Sclerotomy |
Surgery to cut into the sclera |
| Scoliosis |
S-shaped (side-to-side) curve of the spine |
| Scratch Test |
Allergy test performed by putting a small amount of allergy-causing material on small skin patches to see if it causes a reaction |
| Scrotum |
Pouch that holds the testicles |
| Sebaceous gland |
Gland that discharges oil into the skin |
| Seborrhea |
Very oily skin |
| Sedation |
Calmness |
| Sedative |
A drug used to calm or relax a person |
| Seizure |
Sudden, uncontrolled muscle spasms and loss of consciousness resulting from abnormal brain function |
| Self-retaining |
Stays in place without being held |
| Semen |
Fluid containing sperm, which is discharged from the penis during the climax of sexual intercourse |
| Semicircular canals |
Channels in the labyrinth of the ear |
| Semilunar valves |
Valves that control the flow of blood out of the heart by opening and closing with each heart beat | </
