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.