Chapter 1: Introduction to Medical Terminology Medical Terms

Question 1

abdominocentesis (ab-dom-ih-noh-sen-TEE-sis)

Answer 1

The surgical puncture of the abdominal cavity to remove fluid for diagnostic purposes.

Question 2

Acronym (ACK-roh-nim)

Answer 2

A word formed from the initial letters of the major parts of a compound term.

Question 3

Acute

Answer 3

A condition that has rapid onset, a severe course, and a relatively short duration.

Question 4

Angiography (an-jee-OG-rah-fee)

Answer 4

The process of producing a radiographic study of the blood vessels after the injection of a contrast medium to make the blood vessels visible.

Question 5

Appendectomy (ap-en-DECK-toh-mee)

Answer 5

Surgical removal of the appendix.

Question 6

arteriosclerosis (ar-tee-ree-oh-skleh-ROH-sis)

Answer 6

Abnormal hardening of the walls of an artery or arteries.

Question 7

Arthralgia (ar-THRAL-jee-ah)

Answer 7

Pain in a joint or joints

Question 8

Colostomy (koh-LAHS-toh-mee)

Answer 8

The surgical creation of an artificial excretory opening between the colon and the body surface

Question 9

Cyanosis (sigh-ah-NOH-sis)

Answer 9

Blue discoloration of the skin caused by clack of adequate oxygen in the blood.

Question 10

Dermatologist (der-mah-TOL-oh-jist)

Answer 10

a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the skin

Question 11

Diagnosis (dye-ag-NOH-sis)

Answer 11

The identification of a disease

Question 12

Diarrhea (dye-ah-REE-ah)

Answer 12

The frequent flow of loose or watery stools

Question 13

Edema (eh-DEE-mah)

Answer 13

Swelling caused by excess fluid in body tissues.

Question 14

Endarterial (end-ar-TEE-ree-al)

Answer 14

Pertaining to the interior or lining of an artery

Question 15

Eponym (EP-oh-nim)

Answer 15

A disease, structure operation, or procedure named for the person who discovered or described it first.

Question 16

Erythrocyte (eh-RITH-roh-sight)

Answer 16

A mature red blood cell

Question 17

Fissure (FISH-ur)

Answer 17

A groove or cracklike sore of the skin; also a normal fold In the contours of the brain

Question 18

Fistula (FIS-chuh-la)

Answer 18

An abnormal passage, usually between two internal organs or leading from an organ to the surface of the body.

Question 19

Gastralgia (gas-TRAL-jee-ah)

Answer 19

Pain in the stomach

Question 20

Gastritis (gas-TRY-tis)

Answer 20

Inflammation of the stomach

Question 21

Gastroenteritis (gas-troh-en-ter-EYE-tis)

Answer 21

Inflammation of the stomach and small intestine

Question 22

gastrosis (gas-TROH-sis)

Answer 22

Any abnormal condition or disease of the stomach

Question 23

Hemorrhage (HEM-or-idj)

Answer 23

The loss of a large amount of blood in a short time

Question 24

hepatomegaly (hep-ah-toh-MEG-ah-lee)

Answer 24

Abnormal enlargement of the liver

Question 25

Hypertension (high-per-TEN-shun)

Answer 25

Higher-than-normal blood pressure

Question 26

Hypotension (high-poh-TEN-shun)

Answer 26

Lower-than-normal blood pressure

Question 27

Infection (in-FECK-shun)

Answer 27

Invasion of the body by a pathogenic organism

Question 28

Inflammation (in-flah-MAY-shun)

Answer 28

A localized response to an injury or destruction of tissues that is characterized by heat, redness, swelling, and pain

Question 29

interstitial (in-ter-STISH-al)

Answer 29

Between, but not within, the parts of a tissue

Question 30

Intramuscular (in-trah-MUS-kyou-lar)

Answer 30

Within the muscle

Question 31

Laceration (lass-er-AY-shun)

Answer 31

A torn, ragged, wound, or an accidental cut wound.

Question 32

Lesion (LEE-zhun)

Answer 32

A pathologic change of the tissues due to disease or injury

Question 33

Malaise ( mah-LAYZ)

Answer 33

A feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness that is often the first indication of an infection or other disease

Question 34

Mycosis (my-KOH-sis)

Answer 34

Any abnormal condition or disease caused by a fungus

Question 35

myelopathy (my-eh-LOP-ah-thee)

Answer 35

Any pathologic change ordisease in the spinal cord

Question 36

Myopathy (my-OP-ah-thee)

Answer 36

Any pathologic change or disease of muscle tissue

Question 37

Myorrhexis (my-oh-RECK-sis)

Answer 37

The rupture of a muscle

Question 38

Natal (NAY-tal)

Answer 38

Pertaining to birth

Question 39

Neonatology (nee-oh-nay-TOL-oh-jee)

Answer 39

Study of disorders of the newborn

Question 40

neurorrhaphy (new-ROR-ah-fee)

Answer 40

Suturing together the ends of a severed nerve

Question 41

otorhinolaryngology (oh-toh-rye-noh-lar-in-GOL-oh-jee)

Answer 41

Study of the ears, nose, and throat

Question 42

Palpation (pal-PAY-shun)

Answer 42

An examination technique in which the examiners hands are used to feel the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body parts

Question 43

Palpitation (pal-pih-TAY-shun)

Answer 43

A pounding or racing heart

Question 44

Pathology (pah-THOL-oh-jee)

Answer 44

The study of all aspects of diseases

Question 45

Phalanges (fah-LAN-jeez)

Answer 45

The bones of the fingers and toes

Question 46

Poliomyelitis (poh-lee-oh-my-eh-LYE-tis)

Answer 46

A viral infection of the gray nerve tissue of the spinal cord

Question 47

Prognosis (prog-NOH-sis)

Answer 47

A prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disease

Question 48

Pyoderma (pye-oh-DER-mah)

Answer 48

Any acute, inflammatory,pus-forming bacterial skin infection

Question 49

Pyrosis (pye-ROH-sis)

Answer 49

Discomfort due to the regurgitation of stomach acid upward into the esophagus

Question 50

Remission

Answer 50

The temporary, partial, or complete disappearance of the symptoms of a disease without having achieved a cure

Question 51

Sign

Answer 51

Objective evidence of disease, such as a fever

Question 52

Supination (soo-pih-NAY-shun)

Answer 52

The act of rotating the arm so that the palm of the hand is forward or upward

Question 53

Suppuration (sup-you-RAY-shun)

Answer 53

The formation or discharge of pus

Question 54

Supracostal (sue-prah-KOS-tal)

Answer 54

Above or outside the ribs

Question 55

Symptom (SIMP-tum)

Answer 55

Subjective evidence of a disease, such as pain or a headache

Question 56

Syndrome (SIN-drohm)

Answer 56

A set of the signs and symptoms that occur together as part of a specific disease process

Question 57

tonsillitis (ton-sih-LYE-tis)

Answer 57

Inflammation of the tonsils

Question 58

Trauma (TRAW-mah)

Answer 58

Wound or injury

Question 59

Triage (tree-AHZH)

Answer 59

Medical screening of patients to determine their relative priority of need and the proper place of treatment

Question 60

Viral (VYE-ral)

Answer 60

Pertaining to a virus