Medical Terminology: Medical History and Physical Examination

Question 1

abrasion

Answer 1

scraping or rubbing away of skin or muscous membrane

Question 2

abscess

Answer 2

localized collection of pus in any body part

Question 3

alopecia

Answer 3

hair loss

Question 4

analgesic

Answer 4

medication/treatment that relieves pain

Question 5

anomaly

Answer 5

marked deviation from normal

Question 6

asymptomatic

Answer 6

without symptoms

Question 7

arthralgia

Answer 7

joint pain

Question 8

ataxia

Answer 8

failure of muscular coordination

Question 9

atopy

Answer 9

charachterized by a tendency to be hyperallergic

Question 10

auscultation

Answer 10

act of listening for sounds within the body

Question 11

benign

Answer 11

noncancerous; not progressive

Question 12

blood chemistry profile

Answer 12

analysis of chemical components of the patient’s blood

Question 13

carotid

Answer 13

principle artery of the neck

Question 14

cheilliitis

Answer 14

inflammation of the lips

Question 15

chief complaint

Answer 15

subjective description of the symptoms that caused the patient to seek medical attention

Question 16

clinical diagnosis

Answer 16

diagnosis made on the basis of knowledge obtained from the medical history and physical examination

Question 17

consultation

Answer 17

report written by consulting physician on the request of the patient’s primary physician

Question 18

contusion

Answer 18

bruise

Question 19

decubitus

Answer 19

lying down

Question 20

dermis

Answer 20

second layer of skin

Question 21

diagnosis

Answer 21

identification of a disease or condition by a scientific evaluation of physical signs, symptoms, laboratory tests, and procedures

Question 22

diaphoresis

Answer 22

profuse perspiration

Question 23

differential diagnosis

Answer 23

distinguising between two or more disease with similar symptoms by comparing their signs and symptoms

Question 24

dysphonia

Answer 24

voice impairment; difficulty speaking

Question 25

edema

Answer 25

abnormal accumulation of fluid in intercellular spaces; swelling

Question 26

emesis

Answer 26

vomiting

Question 27

eschar

Answer 27

hard crust produced by a thermal burn

Question 28

erythema

Answer 28

redness on the skin

Question 29

exanthema

Answer 29

measles like eruption or rash that may be due to a virus or an allergic reaction to a drug

Question 30

extraocular

Answer 30

outside of the eye

Question 31

femoral (pulse)

Answer 31

pulse of the femoral artery felt in the groin

Question 32

fibrosis

Answer 32

abnormal formation of fibrosis tissue (scar tissue)

Question 33

Flaccid

Answer 33

weak, soft, flabby, poor muscle tone

Question 34

ganglion

Answer 34

a knot, group of nerve cell bodies outside of the central nervous system

Question 35

hematoma

Answer 35

a collection of blood trapped in the tissues of the skin or an organ

Question 36

hematuria

Answer 36

Presence of blood in the urine

Question 37

hemoptysis

Answer 37

spitting up of blood or blood-tinged sputum

Question 38

hepatosplenomegaly

Answer 38

enlargement of the liver and spleen

Question 39

impression/diagnosis

Answer 39

section of the report in which the physician indicates diagnostic conclusions

Question 40

incontinent

Answer 40

inability to control urination

Question 41

keloid

Answer 41

abnormally large, thickened scar

Question 42

laboratory diagnosis

Answer 42

diagnosis arrived at after the study of laboratory findings

Question 43

laceration

Answer 43

tear in the skin

Question 44

lacrimation

Answer 44

secretion and discharge of tears

Question 45

lumbar puncture

Answer 45

spinal tap

Question 46

melanin

Answer 46

pigment granules that give color to the skin and protect the body from injurious ultraviolet light rays

Question 47

malaise

Answer 47

general feeling of bodily discomfort

Question 48

murmur

Answer 48

auscultatory sound, particularly a periodic, short-duration sound of cardiac or vascular origin

Question 49

nocturia

Answer 49

excessive urination at night

Question 50

palpation

Answer 50

feeling with fingers of hands to determine the physical characteristics of organs or tissues

Question 51

paresis

Answer 51

partial or incomplete paralysis

Question 52

Past history

Answer 52

information that includes any childhood or adult disease, surgical procedures, accidents, pregnancies, deliveries, and allergies

Question 53

percussion

Answer 53

using fingertips to tap the surface of the body in order to produce sound

Question 54

physical examination

Answer 54

physician's objective assessment of the patient, using auscultation, palpation, percussion, and visualization

Question 55

postmortem

Answer 55

after death

Question 56

present illness

Answer 56

information provided by patient as to when the symptoms were first noticed, the extent and intensity, and the patient's opinion about what caused the symptoms

Question 57

primary symptoms

Answer 57

symptoms directly related to a disease

Question 58

primigravida

Answer 58

pregnant for the first time

Question 59

prognosis

Answer 59

prediction of course and end of disease

Question 60

progress note

Answer 60

brief note from a physician documenting a patient's progress

Question 61

pruritis

Answer 61

itching

Question 62

ptosis

Answer 62

dropping of the upper eyelid

Question 63

purpura

Answer 63

large bruises in the skin

Question 64

review of systems

Answer 64

exchange between doctor and patient to determine presence or absence of signs and symptoms

Question 65

scleroderma

Answer 65

chronic disease caused by infiltration of fibrous tissue resulting in hard skin

Question 66

sebacceous glands

Answer 66

oil glands located in the dermis

Question 67

secondary symptoms

Answer 67

symptoms that are the result of a disease process

Question 68

shunt

Answer 68

to bypass, as an example use of a catheter to drain fluid

Question 69

social history

Answer 69

information summarizing the patient's lifestyle and environment to determine whether something about these factors are contributing to the problem

Question 70

sputum

Answer 70

matter ejected from the trachea, bronchi, and lungs via the mouth

Question 71

syncope

Answer 71

temporary loss of consciousness

Question 72

tinnitus

Answer 72

a noise (ringing) in the ear

Question 73

tympanic membrane

Answer 73

ear drum

Question 74

uticaria

Answer 74

hives

Question 75

verruca

Answer 75

wart; type of viral skin infection

Question 76

vertigo

Answer 76

dizziness

Question 77

vesicle

Answer 77

small sac containing liquid

Question 78

vital signs

Answer 78

pulse rate, respiration rate, body temperature, blood pressure

Question 79

xanthoma

Answer 79

distinct yellow growth caused by deposits of fat in the skinl usually reflects increased fatty materials in the bloodstream.