Medical Terminology by Jane Rice Chapter 1 -Vocabulary

pallor

Paleness, a lack of color

paracentesis

Surgical puncture of a body cavity for fluid removal para- beside -centesis surgical puncture

malformation

Literally means a process of being badly shaped, deformed; a structural defect that fails to form normal shape and therefore can affect the function; e.g., cleft lip mal- bad format a shaping -ion process

adhesion

Literally means a process of being stuck together. An abdominal adhesion usually involves the intestines and is caused by inflammation of trauma. This type of adhesion may cause an intestinal obstruction and require surgery. adhes stuck to -ion process

prognosis

Literally means a state of foreknowledge; prediction of the course of a disease and the recovery rate of the affected person pro- before -gnosis knowledge

malignant

Literally means formation of a bad kind; growing worse, harmful, cancerous malign bad kind -ant forming

centigrade (C)

Literally means having 100 steps or degrees; unit or temperature measurement (Celsius scale) with a boiling point at 100 degrees and a freezing point at 0 degrees. Each degree of temperature change is 0.01 (1/100) of the scale. centi- one hundred, one hundredth -grade a step

disease

Literally means lack of ease; a pathological condition of the body that presents with a series of symptoms, signs, and laboratory findings peculiar to it and sets it apart from normal or other abnormal body states; a disruption of normal functioning of the body by a process that can be congenital, infectious , or the failure of normal activity to maintain and sustain health dis- lack of -ease ease

heterogeneous

Literally means pertaining to a different formation; composed of unlike substances; the opposite of homogeneous hetero- different gene formation, produce -ous pertaining to

oncology

Literally means the study of tumors; the study of the etilolgy, the characteristics, treatments, etc., of cancer onc/o tumor -logy study of

abscess

Localized collection of pus, which may occur in any part of the body.

neopathy

New disease neo- new -pathy disease

multiform

Occurring in or having many shapes; an object that has more than one defined shape multi- many, much -form shape

epidemic

Pertaining to among the people; the rapid, widespread occurrence of an infectious disease that can be spread by any pathological organism transmitted by and to human, birds, insects, etc. In 2009 H!N! (swine flu) reached an epidemic level, and in the same year the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a worldwide pandemic, with more than 207 countries being affected. epi- upon dem people -ic pertaining to

antipyretic

Pertaining to an agent that is used to lower an elevated body temperature (fever). anti- against pyret fever -ic pertaining to

antitussive

Pertaining to an agent that works against coughing. anti- against tuss cough -ive nature of, quality of

antiseptic

Pertaining to an agent that works against sepsis (putrefaction); a technique or product used to prevent of limit infections. anti- against sept putrefaction -ic pertaining to

abnormal (AB)

Pertaining to away from the norm or rule. A condition that is considered to be not normal. ab- away from norm rule -al pertaining to

febrile

Pertaining to fever, a sustained body temperature above 96.6 F degrees

macroscopic

Pertaining to objects large enough to be examined by the naked eye macr/o- large scope to examine ic- pertaining to

prophylactic

Pertaining to preventing or protecting against disease or pregnancy prophylact guarding -ic pertaining to

axillary (ax)

Pertaining to the armpit axill armpit -ary pertaining to

maximal

Pertaining to the greatest possible quantity, number, or degree maxim greatest -al pertaining to

minimal

Pertaining to the least possible quantity, number, or degree minim least -al pertaining to

palmar

Pertaining to the palm of the hand palm palm -ar pertaining to

pyrogenic

Pertaining to the production of heat; a fever pyr/o- heat, fire -genic formation, produce

chronic

Pertaining to time; denotes a disease with little change or of slow progression; the opposite of acute

incision

Process of cutting into in- in, into cis to cut -ion process

excision

Process of cutting out, surgical removal ex- out cis to cut -ion process

rapport

Relationship of understanding between two individuals, especially between the patient and physician

microscope

Scientific instrument designed designed to view small objects micro- small -scope instrument for examining

microorganism

Small living organisms that are not visible to the naked eye micro- small organ organ -ism condition

illness

State of being sick

etiology

Study of the cause(s) of disease eti/o- cause -logy study of

radiology

Study off x-rays and other imaging modalities that use x-rays radi/o ray, x-ray -logy study of

antidote

Substance given to counteract poisons and their effects.

acute (ac)

Sudden, sharp, severe; used to describe a disease that has a sudden onset, severe symptoms, and a short course.

biopsy (Bx)

Surgical removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination; used to determine a diagnosis of cancer or other disease processes in the body. bi(o) life -opsy to view

empathy

The ability to sense intellectually and emotionally the feelings of another person

chemotherapy

The use of chemical agents in the treatment of disease, specifically drugs used in cancer therapy chem /o- chemical -therapy treatment

diaphoresis

To carry through sweat glands; profuse sweating dia- through -phoresis to carry

abate

To lessen , ease, decrease, or cease. Used to note the lessening of pain or the decrease in severity of symptoms.

Centimeter (cm)

Unit of measurement in the metric system; one hundredth of a meter centi- one hundred, one hundredth -meter measure

milliliter

Unit of volume in the metric system; 0.001L milli- one thousandth -liter

liter

Unit of volume in the metric system; 1000 mL; a liter is equal to 33.8 fl oz or 1.0567 qy

milligram

Unit of weight in the metric system; 0.001 g milli- one thousandth -gram a weight

kilogram

Unit of weight in the metric system; 1000g; a kilogram is equal to 2.2 lb kil/o- a thousand -gram weight

gram

Unit of weight in the metric system; a cubic centimeter or a milliliter of water is equal to the weight of a gram

thermometer

An instrument used to measure degree of heat, especially the temperature of a person therm/o- hot, heat -meter instrument to measure

efferent

Carrying impulses away from a center

afferent

Carrying impulses toward a center.

malaise

A general feeling of discomfort, uneasiness; often felt by a patient who has a chronic disease

syndrome

A group of signs and symptoms occurring together that characterize a specific disease of pathological condition syn- together, with -drome that which runs together

triage

A system of prioritizing and classifying patient injuries to determine priority of need and treatment

necrosis

Abnormal condition of tissue death necro death -osis condition

autoclave

An apparatus that sterilizes instruments and items using steam under pressure (15 pounds of pressure per square inch) to reach a hear of 250 F to 254 F for a specified time, such as 30 minutes for single wrapped items.

disinfectant

Chemical substance that can be applied to objects to destroy pathogenic microorganisms, such as bacteria dis- apart infect to infect -ant forming

apathy

Condition in which one lacks feelings and emotions and is indifferent.

ambulatory (Amb)

Condition of being able to walk, not confined to bed.

autonomy

Condition of being self-governed; to function independently. auto- self nom law -y condition

cachexia

Condition of ill health, malnutrition, and wasting. It may occur in chronic diseases such as cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis. cac- bad -hexia condition

topography

Description of a body part in relation to the anatomic region in which it is located top/o- place -graphy recording

diagnosis (Dx)

Determination of the cause and nature of a disease dia- through -gnosis knowledge

centrifuge

Device used in a laboratory to separate solids from liquids centr/i center -fuge to flee

asepsis

Without decay; sterile, free from all living microorganisms. a- without -sepsis decay

microgram

a unit of weight in the metric system; 0.001 mg micro- small -gram. a weight