General Medical Terms (Signs and Symptoms)

Question 1

sudden onset of symptoms; short duration of illness

Answer 1

acute

Question 2

abnormal growth in which body tissues that are usually separate grow together, often by way of new fibrous scar tissue

Answer 2

adhesions

Question 3

no fever

Answer 3

afebrile

Question 4

absence of normal menstruation

Answer 4

amenorrhea

Question 5

sudden, intense pain in the chest due to reduced blood supply to the heart

Answer 5

angina

Question 6

before childbirth

Answer 6

antepartum

Question 7

inability to swallow

Answer 7

aphagia

Question 8

loss of previously held ability to speak

Answer 8

aphasia

Question 9

temporary absence of breathing

Answer 9

apnea

Question 10

variation from the heart’s normal rhythm

Answer 10

arrhythmia

Question 11

accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity commonly caused by cirrhosis of the liver

Answer 11

ascites

Question 12

removal of fluid from the body using suction

Answer 12

aspiration

Question 13

wasting away of body tissue

Answer 13

atrophy

Question 14

using a stethoscope to listen to body sounds

Answer 14

auscultation

Question 15

excessive discharge of fluid from the glans penis

Answer 15

balanorrhea

Question 16

pressure exerted against the walls of blood vessels, especially arteries, recorded as systolic (heart contraction)/diastolic (heart relaxation)

Answer 16

blood pressure

Question 17

abnormally slow heart rate

Answer 17

bradycardia

Question 18

sound caused by turbulent flow of blood rushing past an obstruction in an artery

Answer 18

bruit

Question 19

cycle of breathing characterized by alternating periods of shallow and deep breathing that usually leads to a period of apnea

Answer 19

Cheyne-Stokes respiration

Question 20

an illness of long duration

Answer 20

chronic

Question 21

rounded fingertips due to chronic inadequate oxygen in tissues

Answer 21

clubbing of fingers

Question 22

breath sounds, rattling or bubbling of the lungs

Answer 22

crackles

Question 23

Costovertebral Angle Tenderness: pain and tenderness in area of lower back next to the spine; common symptom of kidney conditions

Answer 23

CVA tenderness

Question 24

bluish discoloration of skin and mucous membranes, due to insufficient oxygen in the blood

Answer 24

cyanosis

Question 25

involuntary muscle contractions brought on by stretching the muscle with a tap on a tendon that connects muscle to bone

Answer 25

deep tendon reflexes

Question 26

frequent elimination of watery feces

Answer 26

diarrhea

Question 27

painful menstruation

Answer 27

dysmenorrhea

Question 28

difficult digestion, indigestion

Answer 28

dyspepsia

Question 29

difficulty in swallowing

Answer 29

dysphagia

Question 30

difficulty speaking due to brain impairment

Answer 30

dysphasia

Question 31

painful or difficult breathing

Answer 31

dyspnea

Question 32

difficult or painful urination

Answer 32

dysuria

Question 33

swelling due to excess accumulation of fluid

Answer 33

edema

Question 34

nosebleed

Answer 34

epistaxis

Question 35

abnormal redness of the skin

Answer 35

erythema

Question 36

abnormal protrusion or bulging of the eyeballs, caused by hyperthyroidism

Answer 36

exophthalmos

Question 37

fever

Answer 37

febrile

Question 38

rapid, irregular, and uncontrolled twitching of muscle fibers of the heart

Answer 38

fibrillation

Question 39

presence of excessive gas in the gastrointestinal tract

Answer 39

flatulence

Question 40

palpable vibration in the chest

Answer 40

fremitus

Question 41

body tissue death due to reduced blood supply

Answer 41

gangrene

Question 42

abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland at the front and sides of neck often due to infection or lack of iodine

Answer 42

goiter

Question 43

spasm of muscle in order to minimize motion and protect a site affected by injury or disease

Answer 43

guarding

Question 44

history and physical

Answer 44

H&P

Question 45

bad breath

Answer 45

halitosis

Question 46

head, eyes, ears, nose, and throat (portion of exam)

Answer 46

HEENT

Question 47

vomiting of blood

Answer 47

hematemesis

Question 48

presence of blood in the urine

Answer 48

hematuria

Question 49

coughing up blood from the lungs

Answer 49

hemoptysis

Question 50

excessive bleeding

Answer 50

hemorrhage

Question 51

history of present illness

Answer 51

HPI

Question 52

excessive vomiting during pregnancy

Answer 52

hyperemesis gravidarum

Question 53

excessive development of number of cells other than tumor development, may be a sign of precancerous cell development

Answer 53

hyperplasia

Question 54

enlargement of an organ or part due to increase in size of cells

Answer 54

hypertrophy

Question 55

pertaining to being produced by treatment, condition that results from treatment such as, an adverse affect from incorrect medication provided by a physician or other health care professional

Answer 55

iatrogenic

Question 56

pertaining to a disease that has an unknown cause

Answer 56

idiopathic

Question 57

physician's assessment or diagnosis of a condition or disease

Answer 57

impression

Question 58

inability to control bowel movements

Answer 58

incontinence (fecal)

Question 59

involuntary leakage of urine

Answer 59

incontinence (urinary)

Question 60

redness, swelling, pain, etc. that results from the body's reaction to injury or illness

Answer 60

inflammation

Question 61

insufficient blood flow to body tissues or organs usually caused by blockage of an artery

Answer 61

ischemia

Question 62

abnormal yellowish coloring of the skin and mucous membranes, often a symptom of liver disease

Answer 62

jaundice

Question 63

torn, jagged wound or cut

Answer 63

laceration

Question 64

abnormal discharge of milk not associated with childbirth or nursing

Answer 64

lactorrhea

Question 65

abnormal change in tissue resulting from injury or disease

Answer 65

lesion

Question 66

white or yellow vaginal discharge

Answer 66

leukorrhea

Question 67

feeling of lack of health or discomfort of the body

Answer 67

malaise

Question 68

pain of the breast

Answer 68

mastalgia

Question 69

irregular or excessive bleeding during menstruation and between menstrual periods

Answer 69

menometrorrhagia

Question 70

abnormally heavy and regular menstrual period

Answer 70

menorrhagia

Question 71

discharge of mucus or pus from the uterus

Answer 71

metrorrhea

Question 72

woman who has given birth two or more times

Answer 72

multipara

Question 73

heart sound: soft blowing or fluttering when valves or opening and closing

Answer 73

murmur

Question 74

excessive urination at night

Answer 74

nocturia

Question 75

head of normal shape and size for corresponding age

Answer 75

normocephalic

Question 76

acquired in a hospital, usually describes bacterial infections that are contracted during a hospital stay

Answer 76

nosocomial

Question 77

woman who has not given birth

Answer 77

nullipara

Question 78

infrequent or very light menstruation

Answer 78

oligomenorrhea

Question 79

reduced discharge of urine

Answer 79

oliguria

Question 80

breathing comfortably is restricted to only when standing upright

Answer 80

orthopnea

Question 81

pertaining to treatment that reduces pain and suffering without producing a cure

Answer 81

palliative

Question 82

abnormally rapid and irregular beating of the heart

Answer 82

palpitation

Question 83

abnormal sensation (such as burning or tingling) without physical cause

Answer 83

paresthesia

Question 84

tapping on the chest or back while using a stethoscope while listening to lung sounds

Answer 84

percussion

Question 85

excessive urination

Answer 85

polyuria

Question 86

after childbirth

Answer 86

postpartum

Question 87

woman in first pregnancy

Answer 87

primigravida

Question 88

palpable beat of the throbbing of arteries as blood is pushed through them, caused by contractions of the heart

Answer 88

pulse

Question 89

breath sounds, rattling or bubbling of the lungs

Answer 89

rales

Question 90

process used in a physical exam where the hand is firmly pressed on the abdomen and then released, checking to see if pain is felt upon release as it may indicate peritonitis

Answer 90

rebound

Question 91

flowing back of material in the gastrointestinal tract, regurgitation

Answer 91

reflux

Question 92

breathing in and out, respiratory rate is the number of respirations per minute

Answer 92

respirations

Question 93

portion of exam which focuses on subjective symptoms experienced by the patient in each body system

Answer 93

review of systems

Question 94

breath sounds, rattling sound, snore like, may clear with cough

Answer 94

rhonchi

Question 95

condition that results from a previous illness or injury. For example, a person who has difficulty speaking (dysphasia) following a stroke (CVA)

Answer 95

sequela

Question 96

fainting

Answer 96

syncope

Question 97

condition with many symptoms affecting multiple organs

Answer 97

syndrome

Question 98

abnormally rapid heart rate

Answer 98

tachycardia

Question 99

rapid breathing

Answer 99

tachypnea

Question 100

palpable tremor common to certain cardiac conditions

Answer 100

thrill

Question 101

sensation of ringing in the ears (one or both)

Answer 101

tinnitus

Question 102

an external incident that causes physical or emotional injury to a person

Answer 102

trauma

Question 103

normal, nothing out of the ordinary

Answer 103

unremarkable

Question 104

dizziness

Answer 104

vertigo

Question 105

act of expelling the content of the stomach through the mouth

Answer 105

vomiting

Question 106

breath sounds, continuous whistling sound

Answer 106

wheezing