General Terms #1 Flashcards
(44 cards)
conformal
(of a map projection or a mathematical mapping) preserving the correct angles between directions within small areas, though distorting distances
callow
(of a young person) inexperienced and immature
waterfront
a street or piece of land which is next to an area of water
wharf
an area like a wide wall built near the edge of the ocean or a river where ships can be tied and goods can be taken off them
blackguard
(verb) a person who uses foul or abusive language
(noun) a rude or unscrupulous person
(obsolete meaning) the kitchen servants of a household
unscrupulous
not scrupulous
scrupulous
having moral integrity: acting in strict regard for what is considered right or proper
punctiliously exact: PAINSTAKING
punctilious
marked by or concerned about precise accordance with the details of codes or conventions
painstaking
taking pains: expending, showing, or involving diligent care and effort
portmanteau
- a large trunk or suitcase, typically made of stiff leather and opening into two equal parts.
- a word blending the sounds and combining the meanings of two others, for example motel (from ‘motor’ and ‘hotel’) or brunch (from ‘breakfast’ and ‘lunch’)
eponym
a person after whom a discovery, invention, place, etc., is named or thought to be named
Identify what the following word parts are:
- bronch/o
- bronch
- /o
- bronch/o = combining form
- bronch = root word (also called word root or simply root)
- /o = combining vowel
What is the single combining vowel rule?
This rule applies only if there is a single combining form in the word.
If the suffix starts with a vowel, as in arthritis, then a combining vowel is not needed to join the parts.
However, if the suffix starts with a consonant, then a combining vowel is needed. Arthritis is the inflammation (-itis) of a joint (arthr), and cardiology is the study of (-logy) the heart (cardi/o).
What is the double combining vowel rule?
This rule applies only if there are two or more combining forms in the word.
If two or more combining forms are used in a term, then a combining vowel is used, regardless of whether the combining forms start with vowels or consonants. For example, in joining the combining forms oste and arthr with the suffix -itis to make osteoarthritis, the o is needed between the two parts, even though arthr already starts with a vowel.
One special note: If the suffix starts with a vowel and the word root ends with the same vowel, then one of the vowels is dropped. Consider these examples: oste/o + -ectomy = ostectomy and cardi/o + -itis = carditis.
What is meant by the phrase “logical anatomical order of occurrence” in reference to medical terminology?
Sometimes, word roots are in a logical anatomical order of occurrence. For instance, the procedure esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is the visual examination of the upper digestive system. An EGD begins in the esophagus, goes through the stomach, and ends in the duodenum or small intestine. Thus to create this term, the combining forms esophag/o (esophagus or “food tube”), gastr/o (stomach), and duoden/o (duodenum) are joined in order with the suffix -scopy (visual examination).
What is the law of plurals?
Although many medical terms have Latin and Greek origins, changing the end of a word can make a singular term plural, similar to English. Most of the time, the form of the plural can be determined from the ending of a term’s singular form.
If a term ends in a -y, then the y is changed to an i and an -es is added to form the plural. (factory -> factories)
If a term ends in an a, then an -e is added to make it plural. (vertebra -> vertebrae)
A word ending in -us is made plural by changing it to an -i. (digitus -> digiti)
A word ending in -um is changed to an -a to make it plural. (bacterium -> bacteria)
Terms ending in -is are made plural by changing the -is to -es. (diagnosis -> diagnoses)
For terms ending in -nx, the -nx is changed to -nges. (phalanx -> phalanges)
sign vs symptom
Sign: An objective finding of a disease state (e.g., fever, high blood pressure,
rash).
Symptom: A subjective report of a disease (pain, itching).
prognosis vs diagnosis
The difference between the two is that while a prognosis is a guess as to the outcome of treatment, a diagnosis is actually identifying the problem and giving it a name.
aural
of or relating to the ear or to the sense of hearing
decerebration
loss of cerebral function (as from disease, trauma, or surgical cutting of the brain stem)
also: removal of the cerebrum (as by surgery)
aneurysm
A ballooning and weakened area in an artery.
Aneurysms often occur in the aorta, brain, back of the knee, intestine, or spleen. A ruptured aneurysm can result in internal bleeding, stroke, and can sometimes be fatal.
Aneurysms often have no symptoms until they rupture.
Treatment varies from watchful waiting to emergency surgery. The choice depends on the location, size, and condition of the aneurysm.
cretin
- often offensive: one afflicted with cretinism
- informal: a stupid, vulgar, or insensitive person
cretinism
a usually congenital condition marked by physical stunting and intellectual disability and caused by severe hypothyroidism
palindrome
a word or phrase spelled the same way backwards as it is normally (e.g. madam, nurses run)
