MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY Flashcards
(130 cards)
1
Q
Dislocation
A
Displacement of one or more bones from their normal location
2
Q
Fracture
A
Any damage or break to a bone
3
Q
Potts Fracture
A
A fracture across the lower end of the fibula, just above the ankle
4
Q
Aphasia
A
Loss of speech
5
Q
Coma
A
A state of unrousable consciousness
6
Q
Concussion
A
Injury to the brain resulting in a disturbance of normal brain function
7
Q
Convulsion
A
Generalised involuntary contraction of muscle
8
Q
Dementia
A
Loss of mental (intellectual) function due to organic brain disease
9
Q
Dysphagia
A
Difficulty swallowing
10
Q
Dysphasia
A
Difficulty speaking
11
Q
Encephalitis
A
Inflammation of the brain due to infection
12
Q
Epilepsy
A
Transient disturbances of brain function
13
Q
Hemiparesis
A
Paraesthesia affecting one side of the body
14
Q
Hemiplegia
A
Paralysis of one side of the body
15
Q
Meningitis
A
Inflammation of the meninges (outer layer of the brain)
16
Q
Multiple Sclerosis
A
A degenerative disease of the nervous system resulting in loss of motor function
17
Q
Paralysis
A
Muscle weakness that varies in its severity and degree
18
Q
Paraplegia
A
Paralysis of the lower legs
19
Q
Paraesthesia
A
Tingling sensation often described as pins and needles
20
Q
Post Ictal
A
The stage following convulsion
21
Q
Quadriplegia
A
Paralysis of the limbs and torso
22
Q
Seizure
A
Convulsion
23
Q
Schizophrenia
A
A psychiatric disorder characterised by disintegration of thinking process, reality and emotional responses
24
Q
Sciatica
A
Pain in the back and outer side of the upper leg
25
Stroke
Interruption of blood flow in the brain
26
Syncope
Fainting caused by vasovagal reaction
27
Vertigo
Dizziness
28
Anaemia
Reduction of quantity of oxygen carrying cells in the blood
29
Aneurysm
Balloon like swelling in the walls of the arteries
30
Angina
Reduction of blood flow to the heart muscle in the coronary arteries
31
Atrial
Relating to the upper chambers of the heart
32
Blood Pressure
Pressure of the blood in the arteries, usually measured in mmHg
33
Bradycardia
Slow heart rate
34
Cardia/Cardiac
Relating to the heart
35
Cardiac Arrest
Cessation of effective pumping action by the heart muscle
36
Cyanosis
Bluish discolouration of the The skin and mucus membrane, resulting from lack of oxygen
37
Defibrillation
An electric shock administered to restore normal rhythm in cardiac arrest
38
Diastole
The period between contractions when the heart muscle relaxes
39
Embolus
A clot in the artery which obstructs the flow of blood
40
Epistaxis
Nose bleed
41
Fibrillation
A rapid unco-ordinated heart muscle action resulting in inadequate circulation
42
Frank
Fresh blood
43
Haematoma
Accumulation of blood within tissue
44
Haemorrhage
Bleeding
45
Heart Block
Impairment of normal electrical conduction in the heart
46
Hypertension
Elevation of arterial blood pressure
47
Hypotension
Decrease in arterial blood pressure
48
Hypovolemia
Decreased volume of circulating blood
49
Infarction
Death of tissue as a result of inadequate oxygen supply
50
Myocardial
Relating to the myocardium (heart muscle)
51
Arrhythmia
Any variation from the normal cardiac rhythm (normal sinus rhythm)
52
Ischaemia
Inadequate circulation of blood caused by constriction or blockage in the blood vessels
53
Oedema
Excessive accumulation of fluid in body tissue
54
Systole
The period of the cardiac cycle during with the heart muscle contracts
55
Tachycardia
Fast heart rate, usually over 100bpm
56
Thrombosis
A blood clot
57
Vasovagal
A nerve response which causes a drop in blood pressure and heart rate leading to fainting
58
Ventricular Fibrillation
A life threatening cardiac arrhythmia in which the heart quivers resulting in inadequate circulation
59
Ventricular Tachycardia
A life threatening cardiac arrhythmia in which the heart rate increases to a level where adequate circulation is not achieved
60
Agonal Breathing
Pertaining to the period proceeding death, usually a matter of minutes, but occasionally indicating a period of several hours. This is seen as a breath, followed by release of air and a long pause before the next breath is taken.
61
Anaphylaxis
An extreme and generalised allergic reaction which is life threatening
62
Asphyxia
A life threatening condition in which oxygen cannot enter the respiratory system due to injury or obstruction
63
Asthma
Acute respiratory distress as a result of swelling in the airway (bronchospasm)
64
Bronchitis
Inflammation of the bronchi (lower airway)
65
Cheyne Stoke
Sometimes known as death rattles, a condition in which breathing slows down until it stops for several seconds before speeding up to a peak and then slowing down and repeating the cycle again.
66
Croup
Inflammation and obstruction of the larynx (voice box) in children, often the result of an infection.
67
Dyspnoea
Laboured or difficult breathing
68
Emphysema
Enlarged alveoli in the lungs which reduces the exchange of gasses
69
Epiglottitis
Inflammation of the epiglottis
70
Haemoptysis
Coughing blood
71
Haemothorax
Blood in the pleural cavity
72
Hyperventilation
Breathing at an abnormally rapid rate
73
Hypoxia
Deficiency of oxygen in the blood
74
Pleurisy
Inflammation of the pleura, usually due to pneumonia
75
Pneumonia
Inflammation of the lungs caused by bacterial infection
76
Pneumothorax
Air in the pleural cavity, causing the lung to collapse
77
Pulmonary
Relating to the lungs
78
Pulmonary Embolus
A clot formed in an artery in or around the lungs
79
Respiratory Arrest
Cessation of breathing
80
Stridor
A high pitched breathing sound indicating obstruction of the trachea or larynx
81
Tachypnoea
Increased respiratory rate, usually >20 per minute
82
Thoracic
Related to the chest (thorax)
83
Appendicitis
Inflammation of the appendix
84
Cholecystitis
Inflammation of the gall bladder
85
Colic
Acute abdominal pain
86
Colostomy
A surgical opening through which faecal matter drains or to allow decompression of the intestines
87
Diabetes
A metabolic disorder in which sufficient insulin is produced by the pancreas
88
Diarrhoea
Loose bowel action
89
Gastroenteritis
Inflammation of the gastro-intestinal area
90
Haematuria
Blood in the urine
91
Haematemesis
Vomiting blood
92
Hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver
93
Hernia
The protrusion of part of an organ through an opening
94
Hyperglycaemia
High blood sugar level: >10mmol/L
95
Hypoglycaemia
Low blood sugar level: <4mmol/L
96
Incontinence
Loss of bladder or bowel control
97
Jaundice
A yellow discolouration of the skin usually due to liver dysfunction
98
Ketoacidosis
Elevated number of ketones which may rise due to diabetes or persistent vomiting
99
Malaena
Blood and faeces discharged from the bowels
100
Nausea
Feeling the need to vomit
101
Pancreatitis
Inflammation of the pancreas
102
Peritonitis
Inflammation of the membrane lining the abdominal cavity (peritoneum)
103
Dialysis
A procedure where waste products are removed from the kidneys
104
Renal
Relating to the kidneys
105
Breech Birth
Presentation of the infant’s leg, arms or buttocks instead of the head
106
Caesarean
A surgical operation to remove an infant through the abdominal wall
107
Eclampsia
A condition during pregnancy which may lead to elevated blood pressure, oedema and convulsions
108
Ectopic Pregnancy
The development of a foetus at a site other than in the uterus
109
Foetus
An embryo during the later stages of development in the uterus (8 weeks till birth)
110
Gestation
The period of development of a foetus in the uterus (pregnancy)
111
Pre-Eclampsia
The early stages of eclampsia
112
Carcinoma
Cancer
113
Chemotherapy
A form of drug treatment for cancer
114
Leukaemia
Any of a group of malignant diseases in which abnormally large numbers of white blood cells (leukocytes) are present
115
Malignant
Cancerous
116
Metastasis
The distant spread of disease from its original site
117
Tumour
Abnormal formation or growth of cells
118
Exposure
The term given to being exposed to extremes of temperature
119
Febrile
Elevated body temperature (>37.5)
120
Frostbite
Extremely low temperature of the extremities
121
Hyperthermia
High body temperature usually from prolonged exposure to high temperatures
122
Hypothermia
Abnormally low body temperature usually from prolonged exposure to cold temperatures
123
Pyrexia
Elevated body temperature
124
Angiogram
Radiological imaging of blood vessels
125
Angioplasty
Insertion of a catheter which has an inflatable balloon to widen obstructed artery
126
Barium
A radio opaque contrast used to highlight the gastro-intestinal tract on x-rays
127
Biopsy
Surgical removal of tissue for evaluation
128
Cannula
A tube inserted into part of the body
129
Catheter
A tube inserted into an organ or cavity
130
Intubation
The insertion of a tube into the upper airway through which the patient breathes
