Medical Terminology - Chapter 4

Contraindication

A factor that prohibits the administration of a drug or procedure in the care of a patient.

Ectopic pregnancy

A pregnancy that is outside the uterus.

Congenital anomaly

Abnormality present at birth; birth defect.

Contralateral

Affecting the opposite side of a part of the body.

Postpartum

After birth.

Postmortem

After death.

Antibiotic

Against life (germ life). Antibiotics are drugs given to combat bacteria.

Autoimmune disease

Antibodies that are produced against an individual's own normal cells.

Antepartum

Before birth.

Ante cibum (a.c.)

Before meals.

Retroflexion

Bending backward.

Anteflexion

Bending forward.

Subacute

Between acute (sharp, sudden, severe) and chronic (lasting over a long period of time with little change of symptoms).

Bifurcation

Branching or forking into two parts.

Malignant

Cancerous; harmful.

Symbiosis

Close association between organisms of different species or a state in which two people are emotionally dependent on each other.

Macrocephaly

Condition of a larger than normal head.

Dysplasia

Condition of abnormal formation.

Metamorphosis

Condition of change of shape or form.

Hypoglycemia

Condition of decreased sugar in the blood; low blood sugar.

Euphoria

Condition of exaggerated well-being ("good feeling").

Hyperglycemia

Condition of excessive or high blood pressure; diabetes mellitus.

Hypertrophy

Condition of increased development when individual cells increase in size.

Hyperplasia

Condition of increased formation of cells.

Pancytopenia

Deficiency of all cells (blood cells).

Antisepsis

Destruction of microorganisms to prevent infection.

Paralysis

Destruction of nerve tissue leading to loss of sensation or motion in a part of the body.

Diarrhea

Diarrhea is the frequent passage of watery, loose stools.

Dyspnea

Difficult breathing.

Diameter

Distance between opposite parts on the circumference of a structure.

Adrenal glands

Endocrine glands above the kidney.

Symmetry

Equality of parts, literally measured together.

Dehydration

Excessive loss of water.

Exophthalmos

Eyeballs that protrude from their sockets; associated with hyperthyroidism.

Pseudocyesis

False pregnancy.

Parathyroid glands

Four endocrine glands on the posterior (dorsal) region of the thyroid gland.

Syndactyly

Fusion of fingers or toes; a congenital anomaly.

Malaise

General feeling of bodily discomfort.

Syndrome

Group of symptoms that occur together indicating a particular condition or disorder.

Metacarpal bones

Hand bones.

Polyneuritis

Inflammation of many nerves.

Recombinant DNA

Insertion of a gene (region of DNA) from an organism into the DNA of another organism.

Microscope

Instrument to view small projects.

Endoscope

Instrument to visually examine within the body; bronchoscope.

Epithelium

Layer of cells covering the external surface of the body and lining the hollow tubes within the body.

Symphysis

Literally, to grow together.

Transfusion

Literally, to pour (-fusion) across (trans-); transference of blood from person to another.

Synthesis

Literally, to put (-thesis) together (syn-).

Remission

Literally, to send back to good health; disappearance of disease symptoms.

Periosteum

Membrane surrounding a bone.

Abductor

Muscle that leads a limb away from the body.

Adductor

Muscle that leads a limb toward the body.

Neoplasm

New growth.

Benign

Non-cancerous.

Euthyroid

Normal thyroid function.

Neonatal

Pertaining to a newborn infant.

Polymorphonuclear

Pertaining to a nucleus with several or many shapes. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes are white blood cells with a multilobed nucleus.

Suprapubic

Pertaining to above the pelvic bone.

Transurethral

Pertaining to across or through the urethra.

Prenatal

Pertaining to before birth.

Retroperitoneal

Pertaining to behind the peritoneum (membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity).

Infracostal

Pertaining to below the ribs.

Intercostal

Pertaining to between the ribs.

Bilateral

Pertaining to both or two sides.

Precancerous

Pertaining to occurring before a malignant condition.

Unilateral

Pertaining to one side.

Percutaneous

Pertaining to through the skin.

Subcutaneous

Pertaining to under the skin.

Intravenous

Pertaining to within a vein.

Endotracheal

Pertaining to within the trachea.

Insomniac

Pertaining to without sleep; an insomniac is a person who cannot sleep.

Hypodermic injection

Placement of a needle below the skin.

Anabolism

Process of building up proteins in cells.

Antibody

Proteins made by white blood cells to destroy antigens.

Tachypnea

Rapid breathing.

Hemiglossectomy

Removal (resection) of half the tongue.

Analysis

Separation of a substance into various parts.

Dialysis

Separation of nitrogenous wastes from the blood when the kidneys no longer function.

Prolapse

Sliding forward or downward.

Relapse

Sliding or falling back; as in recurrence of symptoms or decline after apparent recovery.

Bradycardia

Slow heart beat, usually less than 60 beats per minute.

Metastasis

Spread of a malignant tumor beyond its original location to a distant site.

Antigen

Substance (protein) that stimulates the production of antibodies.

Antitoxin

Substance produced against a toxin (poison); an antibody.

Prodrome

Symptom that appears before the onset of a more serious an illness. An example of a prodrome is the fever that signals the onset of a viral illness.

Endocardium

The inner lining of the heart.

Ultrasonography

The prefix ultra- means beyond or excessive; sonography is the process of recording sound waves. Ultrasonography is the use of high frequency sound waves that are beyond the range of normal hearing to produce a record or picture of an organ or tissue.

Connective tissue

Tissue that supports and binds other tissues and parts. Examples are bones, cartilage, muscle, or fibrous tissues.

Apnea

Without breathing.

Anoxia

Without oxygen.