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Med Terms: Vocab
Vocab
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Frontal Plane | Vertical from left to right - divides into front and back (Coronal Plane) |
Transverse Plane | Horizontal cut - top and bottom |
Sagittal Plane | Vertical from front to back - divides body into right and left |
Longitudinal Section | lengthwise slice along the long axis of a structure |
Cross Section | slice perpendicular to the long axis of a structure |
deep | further below from surface |
superficial | nearer to the surface |
medial | towards the midline - to the middle |
lateral | away from midline - to the side |
distal | farthest (away from beginning of structure) |
proximal | closer or nearest |
posterior (dorsal) | to the back |
anterior (ventral) | to the belly side of body |
Cephalic (superior) | above |
Caudal (inferior) | below |
prone | on stomach |
supine | on the back |
Popliteal | creased area behind the knee |
palmar | palm of hand |
plantar | sole of the foot |
trunk | torso, excluding head and extremities |
umbilical | region around the navel |
Antecubital | in front of the elbow |
axillary | underarm area |
viscera | body's internal organs |
Dorsal cavity | (back) cranial and spinal cavities |
Ventral cavity | (front) Thoracic cavity and abdominopelvic cavity |
cranial cavity | inside skull; contains brain |
meninges | membrane sac that protects spinal cord and brain |
spinal cavity | formed by canal thru vertebrae; contains spinal cord |
thoracic cavitiy | enclosed by ribs and separated from abdominopelvic cavity by diaphragm; contains lungs, heart, esophagus, trachea, aorta, and thymus; subdivided into one central and 2 side regions |
mediastinum | central region of thoracic cavity; contains heart, trachea, esophagus, aorta, thymus; heart is encased in the pericardial sac |
plural cavities | side regions of thoracic cavity; each contains a lung |
pleura | sac protecting lungs |
abdominopelvic cavity | subdivided into abdominal and pelvic regions |
peritoneum | membrane covering that protects the abdominopelvic cavity |
abdominal cavity | stomach, liver, gallbladder, spleen, pancreas, colon & intestine portions |
pelvic cavity | bladder, ureters, uretha, portions of colon & intestine. Also male and female parts |
Right Upper Quadrant | Lg pt of liver; R kidney; colon; sm pt of pancreas; gallbladder; sm intestines |
Left Upper Quadrant | Sm pt of liver; spleen; L kidney; stomach; colon; lg pt of pancreas; sm intestines |
Right Lower Quadrant | colon; sm intestines; R ureter; appendix; R ovary & fallopian tube; R vas deferens & seminal vesicle |
Left Lower Quadrant | L ureter; colon; intestine; sigmoid colon, L ovary & fallopian tube; : vas deferens & seminal vesicle |
bone graft | uses piece of bone to replace lost bone or fuse two bones together |
bone scan | use of radioactive dye to visualize bones; stress fractures, bone cancer |
carpal tunnel syndrome | repetitive motion disorder caused by pressure on tendons and nerves in wrist |
closed fracture | broken bone with no skin wound; simple fracture |
comminuted fracture | bone shatters into many small segments |
compound fracture | broken bone with open skin wound; open fracture |
compression fracture | bone break causing loss of height of vertebral body; may result from trauma or osteoporosis in elderly |
contacture | abnormal shortening of muscle fibers, tendons, or connective tissue making it difficult to stretch muscle |
creatine kinase | muscle enzyme in skeletal and cardiac muscle; assoc w heart attach, muscular dystrophy, etc |
deep tendon reflexes | involuntary muscle contraction in response to reflex hammer |
dislocation | bones in join displaced from normal alignment; ends of bone no longer in contact |
fibromyalgia | chronic aching and pain in muscles |
fixation | procedure to stablize fractured bone while it heals; external includes casts, splints, pins thru skin; internal includes pins, plates, rods, screws, etc put in during open reduction |
fracture | broken bone |
greenstick fracture | common in kids, incomplete break |
herniated nucleus pulposus | protrusion of intervertebral disk between 2 vertebra - herniated or ruptured disk |
impacted fracture | one bone fragment pushed into another |
kyphosis | abnormal outward curve or thoracic spine; humpback |
lordosis | abnormal curve in cervical and lumbar spine; swayback |
muscle atrophy | loss of muscle bulk; muscle wasting |
muscular dystrophy | group of inherited diseases involving progressive muscle atrophy |
non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs | mild pain relief and anti-inflammatory |
oblique fracture | fracture line runs along angle to shaft of bone |
orthosis | brace or splint to correct or prevent deformities |
osteoarthritis | arthritis caused by loss of cartilage cushion |
osteogenic sarcoma | most common bone cancer (osteocytes) |
pathologic fracture | not caused by trauma; break from diseased or weakened bone |
prostesis | artificial device for body part |
radiography | diagnostic imaging procedure using x-rays; visualizing bones and joints |
reduction | realigning bone; closed bones are externally moved; open bones are manipulated thru surgical incision |
rheumatiod arthritis | autoimmune disease; swelling, stiffness, pain, denigration of cartilage in joints caused by chronic soft tissue inflammation |
scoliosis | abnormal lateral curve of spine |
spasm | sudden, involuntary, strong muscle contraction |
spina bifida | birth defect when vertebra fails to fully form around spinal cord |
spiral fracture | fracture line spirals around shaft of bone; twisting injury, slow to heal |
sprain | ligament injury |
strain | muscle or tendon injury |
stress fracture | slight bone break caused by repetitive low impact forces |
total hip, shoulder or knee arthroplasty | surgical reconstruction of hip, shoulder or knee |
transverse fracture | break with line straight across shaft of bone |
Aneurysm | stroke- widening of artery due to weakness in arterial wall |
angina pectoris | severe chest pain |
arrhythmia | irregular heart beat |
auscultation | listening to sounds within body |
blood pressure | measurement of pressure exerted by blood against walls of blood vessel |
bradycardia | abnormally slow HR (below 60 bpm) |
cardiac arrest | complete stoppage of all heart activity; both electrical signals and muscle contractions |
cardiac catherization | passage of tube thru veins into heart |
cardiac enzymes | proteins release by heart muscle when damaged |
cardiopulmonary resuscitation | external compressions to rib cage in order to maintain blood floor and air movement in lungs |
congenital septal defect | birth defect in wall separating the two chambers of the heart |
coronary artery bypass graft | vein grafted to re route blood around occluded artery in heart |
congestive heart failure | heart weakens and starts to fail - muscle can not pump blood forcefully enough |
coronary artery disease | chronic heart disease caused by arteriosclerosis of coronary arteries |
deep vein thrombosis | blood clots in deep veins |
defibrillation | using defibrillator to shock heart to converting arrhythmia back to regular heart beat |
dopplar ultrasonography | ultrasound used to create moving image for visualizing blood flow & heart function |
electricaradiography | records electrical activity of the heart |
endarterectomy | removal of inner lining of artery to remove plaque (roto rooter) |
fibrillation | abnormal quivering of heart fibers |
heart murmur | abnormal heart sound |
heart valve prolapse | flaps of heart valve are too loose and fail to shut tightly; allows backwards flow of blood |
heart valve stenosis | flaps of heart valve are too stiff and can't open fully or shut tightly; blood can flow backwards |
hotler monitor | portable ECG monitor worn to assess heart throughout the day |
hypertension | high BP (above 140/90) |
hypo tension | low BP |
implantable cardioverter defibrillator | electrical device implanted in chest cavity; applies shock to stop arrhythmia's |
infarct | area of tissue death caused by ischemia |
myocardial infarction | heart attack; infarct of heart muscle caused of occlusion of one or more coronary arteries |
myocardial ischemia | loss of blood supply to heart muscle tissue due to occlusion of coronary artery |
occlusion | blockage of blood vessel or other hollow structure |
pacemaker | electrical device that artificially stimulates contraction of heart muscle; treats bradycardia |
sphygmomanometer | inst for measuring blood pressure |
stent | stainless steel tube placed in blood vessel to widen |
stress test | evaluates cardio fitness; ekg and oxygen levels taken while pt exercises; can also be chemically induced |
tachycardia | fast HR (over 100 bpm) |
transesophegeal echocardiography | pt swallows ultrasound head to better visualize internal cardiac structures |
varicose veins | swollen veins usually in legs |
venipuncture | puncture to withdraw blood or inject meds in veins |
AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) | late stage of HIV; cells of immune system lose their ability to fight off infection |
allergy | hypersensitivity to common environmental substance, to food, or to medication |
anaphylactic shock | severe allergic reaction |
antihistamine | med that blocks effects of histamine released by body during allergic reactions |
autoimmune disease | body's immune sys attacks its own cells as if they were pathogens |
corticosteroids | meds to treat autoimmune disease due to strong anti inflammatory |
elephantiasis | blockage of lymphatic vessels that causes extreme tissue edema |
hives | wheals during allergic reaction |
hodgkin disease | cancer of lymphatic cells found in lymph nodes |
immunodeficiency | immune system that is unable to respond properly to pathogens |
immunosuppressant | med to block actions of immune syst; used to prevent rejection of transplanted organ |
inflammation | tissue response to injury; redness, pain, swelling, etc |
mononucleosis (mono0 | acute viral infection of lymphoid tissues with abnormal amt white blood cells |
opportunistic infection | infections in pt with compromised immune systems |
vaccination | exposure to weakened pathogen to simulate immune response |
arterial blood gasses | lab test for levels of oxygen and co2 present in blood |
asphyxia | lack of oxygen (suffocation) |
aspirate | inhaling foreign object or fluid into airways |
asthma | bronchospasm, excessive mucous, inflammation, airway constriction, etc |
atelectasis | lung tissue collapes preventing exchange of ox and co2 |
bronchogenic carcinoma | malignant lunch tumor that originates in bronchi |
chronic obstructive pulmonary diasease | progressive, chronic condition where air flow to lungs is decreased , severe dyspnea |
cystic fibrosis | genetic condtion that causes pt to produce very thick mucus; results in severe congestion of lungs |
emphysema | pulmonary cond resulting from destruction of alveolar walls leading to overinflated alveoli |
hyperventilation | breathe too quickly (tachypnea) & too deeply (hyperpnea) |
hypoventilation | breathe too slowly (bradypnea) & too shallowly (hypopnea) |
hypoxis | insufficient oxygen in body |
influenze | acute viral infection of the airways |
phlegm | thick mucus secreted through mouth (sputnum) |
pleurisy | inflammation of pleura |
pneumonia | acute inflammatory condition of the lung |
pneumothorax | collapse of lung bc of air or gas in pleural cavity |
postural drainage | drainage of secretions from bronchi by placing pt in specific postions |
pulmonary edema | lung tissue retains excessive fluid |
pulmonary embolism | blood clot or air bubble in pulm artery or one of its branches |
purulent | containing pus |
rales | abnormal crackling sound caused by mucus or fluid in airways |
respiratory rate | number of breaths per minute |
sudden infant death syndrome | unexpected and unexplained death of well infant |
alzheimer disease | chronic brain condition; progressive |
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis | disease with muscular weakness and atrophy due to degeneration of motor neurons of spinal cord |
anticonvulsant | medication to reduce excitability of neurons |
brain tumor | intracranial mass, can grow and cause pressure on normal brain tissue |
cerebral contusion | bruising of brain from impact; symptoms last longer than 24 hrs |
cerebral palsy | non-progressive brain damage resulting from defect in fetal development or lack of oxygen |
cerebrovascular accident | development of brain infarct due to loss in blood supply to brain; stroke |
coma | profound unconsciousness |
concussion | brain shaken inside of skull due to impact; symptoms last less than 24 hrs |
dementia | progressive impairment of intellectual function that interferes with ADL's |
epilepsy | seizures and loss of consciousness as result of uncontrolled neuron electrical activity |
hydrocephalus | buildup of cerebrospinal fluid within brain (children0 |
lumbar puncture | puncture to withdraw fluid for examination or injection of medication |
migraine | severe head pain, sensitivity |
multiple sclerosis | inflammatory autoimmune disease or CNS; myelin around neurons damaged |
paralysis | temp or perm loss of muscle function and movement |
Parkinson disease | chronic disorder of nervous sys with tremors, muscle weakness, rigidity |
seizure | sudden uncontrollable onset of symptoms |
shingles | painful blisters along nerve path |
spina bifida | congenital defect in walls of spinal canal where vertebrae do not close |
spinal cord injury | damage to spinal cord as result of injury |
subdural hematoma | mass of blood underneath dura mater |
syncope | fainting |
transient ischemic attack | can lead to stroke - temp reduction of blood supply to brain |