Ch 1 - Intro to Med Term

Question 1

abnormal

Answer 1

pertaining to away from the norm or rule; a condition that is considered to be not normal

Question 2

abscess

Answer 2

localized collection of pus, which may occur in any part of the body

Question 3

acute

Answer 3

sudden, sharp, severe; used to describe that has a sudden onset, severe symptoms, and a short course

Question 4

adhesion

Answer 4

may form after abdominal surgery in which the outside of the intestines could adhere to other parts of the intestines

Question 5

ambulatory

Answer 5

condition of being able to walk, not confined to bed

Question 6

antidote

Answer 6

substance given to counteract poisons and their effects

Question 7

antipyretic

Answer 7

a drug that would reduce fever; physicians may order Tylenol, ibuprofen, and aspirin

Question 8

antiseptic

Answer 8

an agent that works against sepsis; a technique or product used to prevent or limit infections

Question 9

antitussive

Answer 9

an agent that works against coughing

Question 10

asepsis

Answer 10

sterile; without decay; free from all living microorganisms

Question 11

biopsy (Bx)

Answer 11

surgical removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination; used to determine a diagnosis of cancer or other disease processes in the body

obtained by a physician who could be a general surgeon, urologist, dermatologist, gynecologist, etc.; the specimen (part removed) that was obtained is sent to a Pathology for interpretation/diagnosis by the pathologist

Question 12

cachexia

Answer 12

condition of ill health, malnutrition, and wasting; seen with patients dying of AIDS or cancer or even debilitating diseases such as COPD

Question 13

Chemotherapy

Answer 13

the use of chemical agents in the treatment of disease; usually refers to treatment of cancer with chemicals and drugs

Question 14

chronic

Answer 14

pertaining to time; denotes a disease with little change or of slow progression; the opposite of acute

Question 15

diagnosis (Dx)

Answer 15

the process of identifying a disease or disorder, which is generally determined through the use of scientific and skillful methods of knowledge

several types of information are used, including signs and symptoms

Question 16

diaphoresis

Answer 16

profuse sweating from areas of body that usually doesn’t sweat; seen in “heart attack” and various types of shock

to carry through sweat glands

Question 17

disease

Answer 17

a pathological condition of the body that presents with a series of symptoms, signs, and laboratory findings peculiar to it and sets it apart from normal or other abnormal body states; a disruption of normal functioning of the body by a process that can be congenital or infections, or the failure of normal activity to maintain and sustain health

Question 18

etiology

Answer 18

the study of the cause(s) of disease; one of the topics covered for each disease/condition discussed in a Pathophysiology course

Question 19

excision

Answer 19

process of cutting out; surgical removal

Question 20

febrile

Answer 20

pertaining to fever, a sustained body temperature (T) above 98.6*F

Question 21

illness

Answer 21

state of being sick

Question 22

incision

Answer 22

process of cutting into

Question 23

malaise

Answer 23

a general feeling of discomfort, uneasiness; often felt by a patient who has a chronic disease

Question 24

malignant

Answer 24

growing, worse, harmful, cancerous; pertaining to the spreading process of cancer

Question 25

necrosis

Answer 25

abnormal condition of tissue death

Question 26

oncology

Answer 26

the study of the etiology, the characteristics, treatments, etc., of cancer

Question 27

pallor

Answer 27

lack of color, pale; seen in several medical conditions

Question 28

paracentesis

Answer 28

surgical puncture of a body cavity for fluid removal

long needle (attached to large syringe) is inserted into a cavity (usually abdomen). Fluid is aspirated (pulled out) from the cavity

Question 29

prognosis

Answer 29

prediction of the course of a disease and the recovery rate of the affected person

Question 30

prophylactic

Answer 30

preventing or protecting against disease or pregnancy

Question 31

pyrogenic

Answer 31

pertaining to the production of heat; a fever

Question 32

radiology

Answer 32

study of x-rays and other imaging modalities that use x-rays

Question 33

syndrome

Answer 33

a group of signs and symptoms occurring together that characterize a specific disease or pathological condition

Question 34

thermometer

Answer 34

an instrument used to measure degree of heat, especially the temperature of a person

Question 35

triage

Answer 35

a system of prioritizing and classifying patient injuries to determine priority of need and treatment

term to describe a process commonly used in the ER & at disaster scenes to establish priority for the treatment of patients