Medical Terminology Chapter 2 8th Edition

End-, Endo-, En-

In, within, inside

-oma

Tumor

-itis

Inflammation

Distal

Situated farthest from the midline or beginning of a body structure

Pathology

The study of disease: its nature and cause as well as the produced changes in structure and function. It also means a condition produced by disease

Genetics

The study of how genes are transferred from parents to their children and the role of genes in health and disease

Etiology

The study of the causes of diseases

Anatomy

The study of the structures of the body

Communicable Disease

(AKA: contagious disease) is any condition that is transmitted from one person to another either directly or by indirect contact with contaminated objects

Food-Borne and Waterborne Transmission

(AKA: fecal-oral transmission) is caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or water that has not been properly treated to remove contamination or kill any pathogens present

Genetic Disorder

(AKA: hereditary disorder) A pathological condition caused by an absent or defective gene. Some are obvious at birth. Others may manifest at any time in life.

Licensed Vocational Nurse

(AKA: licensed practical nurse) in certain states, works under the supervision of a doctor or RN to provide basic patient care

Midsagittal Plane

(AKA: midline) is the sagittal plane that divides the body into equal left and right halves

Umbilical Region

Surrounds the umbilicus. This pit in the center of the abdominal wall marks the point where the umbilical cord was attached before birth

Loose Connective Tissue

Surrounds various organs and supports both nerve cells and blood vessels

Dysplasia

The abnormal development or growth of cells, tissues, or organs

Adenosclerosis

The abnormal hardening of a gland

Adenomalacia

The abnormal softening of a gland

Cells

The basic structural and functional units of the body. They are specialized and grouped together to form tissues and organs.

Gene

A fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity. They control hereditary disorders and all physical traits such as hair, skin, and eye color.

Mesentery

A fused double layer of the parietal peritoneum that attaches parts of the intestine to the interior abdominal wall

Hypertrophy

A general increase in the bulk of a body part or organ that is due to an increase in the size, but not in the number, of cells in the tissues. This enlargement is not due to tumor formation.

Graft-vs.-Host Disease

Can result from transplanted bone marrow that contains immunocompetent cells

Communicable

Capable of being transmitted

Chondr/i

Cartilage

Eti-

Cause

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Caused by the mother's consumption of alcohol during the pregnancy

Parietal

Cavity wall

-cyte

Cell

Cyt/o

Cell

cyt-

Cell

Umbilicus

Commonly known as the belly button or navel

Regions of the Thorax and Abdomen

Comprise a descriptive system that divides the abdomen and lower portion of the thorax into nine parts

Birth Injuries

Congenital disorders that were not present before the events surrounding the time of birth

Double Helix

Consists of two helix strands twisted together

Muscle Tissue

Contains cells with the specialized ability to contract and relax

Nerve Tissue

Contains cells with the specialized ability to react to stimuli and to conduct electrical impulses

Abdominal Cavity

Contains the major organs of digestion. This cavity is frequently referred to simply as the abdomen

-stasis, -static

Control, maintenance of a constant level

Right and Left Hypochondriac Regions

Covered by the lower ribs. It also describes an individual with an abnormal concern about his or her health

Medical Coder

Reviews patients' medical records and assigns appropriate codes for treatment and services provided to each patient based on codes for medical diagnoses, equipment, and procedures

Allied Health Professions

Roles outside of medicine, nursing, and pharmacy

Medical Receptionist

Schedules and registers patients for appointments and may also work as a medical assistant

Exo-

Out of, outside, away from

Hemopoietic

(blood forming) tissue of the donor's bone marrow

Contamination

A pathogen is possibly present

-trophy

Development

Aden-

Gland

Physi-

Nature or physical

Hist-

Tissue

A-

Without

Postmortem

After death

Idiopathic Disorder

An illness without known cause

Carcin-

Cancerous

Home/o

Constant

Caud-

Tail or lower part of the body

Hist/o

Tissue

-ac

Pertaining to

-al

Pertaining to

-ar

Pertaining to

-eal

Pertaining to

-ic

Pertaining to

-ior

Pertaining to

-nic

Pertaining to

-ose

Pertaining to

-tics

Pertaining to

Cranial

Pertaining to the skull

Rubella Infection

(AKA: German Measles, or Three-day measles) is a viral infection characterized by a low-grade fever, swollen glands, inflamed eyes, and a fine, pink rash

Developmental Disorder

(AKA: birth defect) can result in an anomaly or malformation such as the absence of a limb or the presence of an extra toe

Thoracic Cavity

(AKA: chest cavity or thorax) surrounds and protects the heart and the lungs.

Adipose Tissue

(AKA: fat) provides protective padding, insulation, and support

Gamete

(AKA: sex cell) is the only type of cell that does not contain 46 chromosomes. Instead, each ovum or sperm has 23 single chromosomes.

Adult Stem Cells

(AKA: somatic stem cells) are undifferentiated cells found among differentiated cells in a tissue or organ. The primary role of these cells is to maintain and repair the tissue in which they are found.

Adenoma

A benign tumor that arises in or resembles glandular tissue

Premature Birth

A birth that occurs earlier than 37 weeks of development, can cause serious health problems because the baby's body systems have not had time to form completely

Anaplasia

A change in the structure of cells and n their orientation to each other. This abnormal cell development is characteristic of tumor formation in cancers.

Genetic mutation

A change of the sequence of a DNA molecule. Potential causes include exposure to radiation or environmental pollution.

Somatic Cell Mutation

A change within the cells of the body. These changes affect the individual, but cannot be transmitted tot he next generation.

Gametic Cell Mutation

A change within the genes in a gamete that can be transmitted by a parent to his or her children

Anomaly

A deviation from what is regarded as normal

Nosocomial Infection

A disease acquired in a hospital or clinical setting

Pathogen

A disease-producing microorganism such as a virus

Emergency Physician

A doctor who specializes in high-acuity medicine in the ER.

Horizontal Plane

A flat crosswise plane, such as the horizon

Huntington's Disease

A genetic disorder that is passed from parent to child. This condition causes nerve degeneration with symptoms that most often appear in midlife. (Degeneration means worsening condition.) This damage eventually results in uncontrolled movements and the loss of some mental abilities.

Cystic Fibrosis

A genetic disorder that is present at birth and affects both the respiratory and digestive systems

Chromosome

A genetic structure located within the nucleus of each cell.

Down Syndrome

A genetic variation that is associated with a characteristic facial appearance, learning disabilities, developmental delays, and physical abnormalities such as heart valve disease

Muscular Dystrophy

A group of genetic diseases that are characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement

Hemophilia

A group of hereditary bleeding disorders in which a blood-clotting factor is missing. This blood coagulation disorder is characterized by spontaneous hemorrhages or severe bleeding following an injury.

Gland

A group of specialized epithelial cells that are capable of producing secretions

Tissue

A group or layer of similarly specialized cells that join together to perform certain specific functions

Primary Care Provider

A healthcare professional who handles general care

Transverse Plane

A horizontal plane that divides the body into superior and inferior portions. It can also be at the waist or at any other level across the body

Emergency Medical Technician

A licensed health care professional who works in a pre-hospital setting on an ambulance, or in an emergency room

Registered Nurse

A licensed health care professional who works in a variety of health care settings

Physician Assistant

A licensed professional who works under the supervision of a physician

Adenocarcinoma

A malignant tumor that originates in glandular tissue

Certified Medical Assistant

A medical assistant certified through the American Association of Medical Assistants

Peritoneum

A multilayered membrane that protects and holds the organs in place within the abdominal cavity

Diaphragm

A muscle that separates the thoracic and abdominal cavities

Histologist

A non-physician specialist who studies the microscopic structure of tissues

Nurse Practitioner

A nurse with graduate training who often works as a primary care provider

Hospitalist

A physician focusing on the general medical care of hospitalized patients

Intensivist

A physician specializing in the care of critically ill patients hospitalized in the ICU

Internist

A physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders of the internal organs and related body systems

Pediatrician / Pediatrics

A physician who specializes in diagnosing, treating, and preventing disorders and diseases of infants and children

Geriatrician / Gerontologist

A physician who specializes in the care of older people

Pathologist

A physician who specializes in the laboratory analysis of diseased tissue samples to confirm or establish a diagnosis. These tissue specimens can be removed in biopsies, during operations, or in postmortem examinations.

Autopsy

A postmortem examination

Phenylketonuria

A rare genetic disorder in which the essential digestive enzyme phenylalanine hydroxyls is missing. This can be detected by a blood test performed on infants at birth.

Helix

A shape twisted like a spiral staircase

Organ

A somewhat independent part of the body that performs a specific function

Geneticist

A specialist in the field of genetics

Cytologist

A specialist in the study and analysis of cells

Epidemiologist

A specialist in the study of outbreaks of disease within a population group

Epidemic

A sudden and widespread outbreak of a disease within a specific population group or area

Membrane

A thin layer of tissue that covers a surface lines a cavity, or divides a space or organ

Frontal Plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions. (AKA: coronal plane, it is located at right angles to the sagittal plane)

Sagittal Plane

A vertical plane that divides the body into unequal left and right portions

Abdomin/o

Abdomen

-osis

Abnormal condition or disease

-sclerosis

Abnormal hardening

-malacia

Abnormal softening

Epi-

Above

Congenital Disorder

An abnormal condition that exists at the time of birth. These conditions can be caused by a developmental disorder before birth, prenatal influences, premature birth, or injuries during the birth process.

Infectious Disease

An illness caused by living pathogenic organisms such as bacteria and viruses

Human Genome Project

An international collaborative effort to map and sequence the DNA of the entire human genome.

Iatrogenic Illness

An unfavorable response due to prescribed medical treatment

Vertical Plane

An up-and-down plane that is at a right angle to the horizon

Somatic cell

Any cell in the body except the gametes. They contain 46 chromosomes arranged into 23 pairs. There are 22 identical pairs of chromosomes, plus another pair. In a typical female, this remaining pair consists of XX chromosomes. In a typical male, this pair consists of an XY chromosome pair.

Adenosis

Any disease or condition of a gland

Dors-

Back of the body

Poster-

Back or toward the back

Ana-

Backward

Dys-

Bad

Anter/o

Before, front

Retro-

Behind

Poster/o

Behind, toward the back

Ventr-

Belly side of the body

Hypo-

Below

Liquid Connective Tissue

Blood and lymph, transport nutrients and waste products throughout the body

Atomic Reference systems

Body planes, Body directions, Body cavities, and Structural units. When body parts work together to perform a related function, they are grouped together and are known as a body system.

Quadrant

Divided into four: 1. RUQ: Right Upper Quadrant 2. LUQ: Left Upper Quadrant 3. RLQ: Right Lower Quadrant 4. LLQ: Left Lower Quadrant

Anatomic Position

Describes the body standing in the standard position. Standing up straight so that the body is erect and facing forward. Holding the arms at the sides with the hands turned so that the palms face toward the front.

Atresia

Describes the congenital absence of a normal body opening or the failure of a structure to be tubular

-plasia

Development, growth, formation

Plas/i, Plas/o

Development, growth, formation

-pathy

Disease, suffering, feeling, emotion

Path/o

Disease, suffering, feeling, emotion

Tele-

Distant

Pan-

Entire

Congenital

Existing at birth

Adip-

Fat

Adip/o

Fat

Embry/o

Fertilized ovum, Embryonic

Emergency Room / Emergency Department

Focuses on diagnosing and treating life-threatening emergency medical conditions

-plasm

Formative material of cells

Epithelial Tissue

Forms a protective covering for all of the internal and external surfaces of the body. They also form glands

Anter-

Front or before

Aden/o

Gland

Malignant

Harmful, capable of spreading, and potentially life threatening

Differentiated

Having a specialized function or structure

Cephal/o

Head

Ili-

Hip bone

Body Planes

Imaginary vertical and horizontal lines used to divide the body into sections for descriptive purposes

Medical Assistant / Clinical Medical Assistant

Performs administrative and clinical tasks in a doctor's office, such as coding patients', administering injections and drawing blood

Peritonitis

Inflammation of the peritoneum

Dominant gene

Inherited from either parent, the offspring will inherit that genetic condition or characteristic

Recessive Gene

Inherited from only one parent, and a normal gene is inherited from the other parent, the offspring will not have the condition

Nucleus

Is surrounded by the nuclear membrane, is a structure within the cell. It has two important functions: it controls the activities of the cell, and it helps the cell divide.

Pharmacist

Licensed medical professional who dispenses prescribed medication to patients

Epigastric Region

Located above the stomach

Dorsal Cavity

Located along the back of the body and head, contains organs of the nervous system that coordinate body functions and is divided into two portions: cranial and spinal cavities

Ventral Cavity

Located along the front of the body, contains the body organs that sustain homeostasis

Retroperitoneal

Located behind the peritoneum

Hypogastric Region

Located below the stomach

Right and Left Iliac Regions

Located near the hip bones

Right and Left Lumbar Regions

Located near the inward curve of the spine. It describes the part of the back between the ribs and the pelvis

DNA

Located on the pairs of chromosomes in the nucleus of each cell, is the same for all living organisms. It is packaged in a chromosome as two spiraling strands that twist together to form a double helix. It is the abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid, is found in the nucleus of all types of cells except erythrocytes. Each individual is different, and no two DNA patterns are exactly the same. A very small sample, such as from human hair or tissue, can be used to identify the individuals in instances such as criminal investigations, paternity suits, or genealogy research.

Cranial Cavity

Located within the skull, surrounds and protects the brain

Spinal Cavity

Located within the spinal column, surrounds and protects the spinal cord

Lumb-

Lower back

Caud/o

Lower part of body, tail

Inferior

Lowermost, below, or toward the feet

Undifferentiated

Not having a specialized function or structure

Benign

Not life threatening

Airborne Transmission

Occurs through contact with germs floating in the air

Idi/o

Peculiar to the individual

Pelv-

Pelvis

Periton-

Peritoneum

Dem/i

Population

Endocrine Gland

Produce hormones, do not have ducts. These hormones are secreted directly into the bloodstream and are then transported to organs and structures throughout the body.

Organic Disorder

Produces symptoms caused by detectable physical changes in the body

Functional Disorder

Produces symptoms for which no physiological or anatomical cause can be identified

Gene-

Producing

Telemetry Unit

Provides continuous cardiac monitoring for patients with heart problems not requiring intensive care. The term refers to the electronic transmission of data about a patient's heart rhythm

Intensive Care Unit / Critical Care Unit

Provides continuously monitored care for critically ill patients

Medical / Surgical Unit

Provides nursing care for lower-acuity patients who are recovering from surgery or require continued drug therapy or monitoring

General Practitioner / Family Practice Physician

Provides ongoing care for patients of all ages

Embryonic

Referring to an embryo, a developing child during its first eight weeks in the womb

Adenoids

Refers to a mass of gland-like lymphoid tissue at the back of the upper pharynx

Pandemic

Refers to an outbreak of a disease occurring over a large geographic area, possibly worldwide

Indirect Contact Transmission

Refers to situations in which a susceptible person is infected by contact with a contaminated surface

Abdominopelvic Cavity

Refers to the abdominal and pelvic cavities as a single unit

Dorsal

Refers to the back of the organ or body

Ventral

Refers to the front, or belly side, of the organ or body

Acuity

Refers to the level of severity of an illness

Endemic

Refers to the ongoing presence of a disease within a population, group, or area

Inguinal

Relating to the groin, refers to the entire lower are of the abdomen. This includes the groin, which is the crease at the junction of the trunk within the upper end of the thigh.

Visceral

Relating to the internal organs

Bilateral

Relating to, or having, two sides

Exocrine Glands

Secrete chemical substances into ducts that lead either to other organs or out of the body, such as sweat glands

Posterior

Situated in the back. It also means on the back part of an organ. It is also used in reference to the dorsal surface of the body.

Anterior

Situated in the front. It also means on the front or forward part of an organ. It is also used in reference to the ventral surface of the body.

Proximal

Situated nearest the midline or beginning of a body structure

-ologist

Specialist

Transmission

Spread of disease

Gastr-

Stomach

Dense Connective Tissue

Such as bone and cartilage, form the joints and framework of the body

Connective Tissue

Support and connect organs and other body tissues

-ectomy

Surgical removal

Genome

The complete set of genetic information of an organism

Aplasia

The defective development, or the congenital absence, of an organ or tissue

Medial

The direction toward, or nearer, the midline

Lateral

The direction toward, or nearer, the side of the body, away from the midline

Hyperplasia

The enlargement of an organ or tissue because of an abnormal increase in the number of cells in the tissues

Hypoplasia

The incomplete development of an organ or tissue usually due to a deficiency in the number of cells

Adenitis

The inflammation of a gland

Visceral Peritoneum

The inner layer of the peritoneum that surrounds the organs of the abdominal cavity

Genetic Engineering

The manipulating or splicing of genes for scientific or medical purposes

Cytoplasm

The material within the cell membrane that is not part of the nucleus

Histology

The microscopic study of the structure, composition, and function of tissues

Prenatal Influences

The mother's health, behavior, and the prenatal medical care she does, or does not, receive before delivery

Aging

The normal progression of the life cycle that will eventually end in death

Parietal Peritoneum

The outer layer of the peritoneum that lines the interior of the abdominal wall

Homeostasis

The processes through which the body maintains a constant internal environment

Cerebral Palsy

The result of brain damage, can be caused by premature with or inadequate oxygen to the brain during the birth process

-ology

The science or study of

Pelvic Cavity

The space formed by the hip bones and contains the organs of the reproductive and excretory systems

Epithelium

The specialized epithelial tissue that forms the epidermis of the skin and the surface layer of mucous membranes

Endothelium

The specialized epithelial tissue that lines the blood and lymph vessels, body cavities, glands, and organs

Bloodborne Transmission

The spread of a disease through contact with infected blood or other body fluids that are contaminated by infected blood

Vector-Borne Transmission

The spread of certain disease due to the bite of a vector. This term describes insects or animals such as flies, mites, fleas, ticks, rats, and dogs, that are capable of transmitting a disease.

Droplet Transmission

The spread of diseases such as measles, cold, and flue through large respiratory droplets sprayed by coughing or sneezing onto a nearby person or object

Cytology

The study of the anatomy, physiology, and chemistry of the cell

Physiology

The study of the functions of the structures of the body

Geriatrics / Gerontology

The study of the medical problems and care of older people

Secretion

The substance produced by a gland

Adenectomy

The surgical removal of a gland

Cell Membrane

The tissue that surrounds and protects the contents of a cell from the external environment

-metry

To measure

-crine

To secrete

Caudal

Toward the lower part of the body

Embryonic Stem Cells

Undifferentiated cells that are unlike any specific adult cell; however, they have the important ability to form any adult cell. These cells can proliferate indefinitely in a laboratory and could therefore potentially provide a source for adult muscle, liver, bone, or blood cells. Because these cells are more primitive than adult stem cells, an embryonic stem cell transplant does not require as perfect a match between the patient and donor as the transplantation of adult stem cells. They come from the cord blood found in the umbilical cord and placenta of a newborn infant. These cells from cord blood can be harvested at the time of birth without danger to mother or child. These cells are kept frozen until needed for treatment purposes. They can also be obtained from surplus embryos produced by in vitro fertilization. With the informed consent of the donor couple, stem cells obtained in this manner can be used for medical and scientific research.

Stem Cells

Unspecialized cells that are able to renew themselves for long periods of time by cell division. This is in contrast to other types of cells that have a specialized role and die after a determined life span. Under certain conditions, they can be transformed into cell with special functions, such as the cells of the heart muscle that make the heartbeat possible or the specialized cells of the pancreas that are capable of producing insulin.

Superior

Uppermost, above, or toward the head

Body Cavities

Which are the dorsal and the ventral cavities, are spaces within the body that contain and protect internal organs

Idiopathic

Without known cause

Certified Nursing Assistant

Works under the supervision of a RN to provide basic patient care