Term | Definition |
abduct, abduction | a drawing away from the midline |
adduct, adduction | a drawing toward the midline |
aberrant | wandering or deviating from the normal course |
apparent | open to view, appearing as actual to the eye or mind |
aberration | deviation from normal growth or development |
abrasion | scrape |
absorption | the uptake of substances into tissues |
adsorption | to collect in condensed form on a surface |
accept | to receive something, to receive with favor, to answer affirmatively, to take up, assume |
except | other than, but, only, to leave out |
access | a means of approach, to obtain entrance into |
abscess | collection of purulent exudate |
axis | straight line that goes through a structure |
aphthous | small ulcer on mucous membranes |
excess | more than usual |
ACE | acronym for angiotensin-converting enzyme |
Ace | brand name of a bandage |
ace | a type of card played in a deck of cards |
achymosis | lack in gastric juice or other digestive secretions |
ecchymosis | a purplish patch caused by extravasation of blood into the skin |
echinosis | a condition in which the red blood cells have lost their smooth outlines, resembling a sea urchin |
acidic | an acid-like substance |
ascitic | a collection of fluid in the abdomen |
acetic | sour |
adherence | act or quality of sticking to something, extent to which the patient continues the agreed-upon mode of treatment under limited supervision |
adherent | one that adheres, as a follower of a leader, party or profession |
advice | recommend regarding a decision, an opinion |
advise | to offer advice, counsel |
aesthetic | pertaining to the sense of beautiful, artistic |
asthenic | weakness or debility, thin delicate body habitus, slender build |
affect | an emotional feeling, tone and mood attached to a thought |
effect | the result or consequence of an action |
afferent | conveying towards a center |
efferent | conveying away from a center |
agonist | drugs that stimulate activity of cell molecules in a way that would be stimulated by naturally produced substances |
antagonist | a substance that inhibits or counteracts the action of another substance |
aid | to provide assistance |
aide | an assistant |
all together | many together, all at the same time |
altogether | completely, entirely, all included |
alkalosis | a state characterized by a decrease in the hydrogen ion concentration of arterial blood below normal level, 40 nmol/L or pH 7.4 |
ankylosis | stiffening or fixation of a joint as the result of a disease process, with fibrous or bony union across the joint |
all | the whole, everything, everybody |
awl | instrument for making holes |
all ready | implies something is ready |
already | used as an adverb referring to time |
allude | to make indirect reference to, mention casually or in passing |
elude | to get away from, evade, to escape detection |
allusion | indirect reference |
elusion | clever escape |
illusion | misleading or unreal perception |
amenorrhea | abnormal stoppage of the menses |
menorrhea | the normal discharge of the menses |
anatomic | relating to the human anatomy or body location |
atomic | nuclear particles |
anicteric | not jaundiced, not yellow |
icteric | relating to or marked by jaundice, yellow color present |
anisocoria | a condition in which the two pupils are not of equal size. |
anisophoria | the relative unequal directions assumed by the eyes during binocular fixation of a given object in the absence of an adequate fusion stimulus |
anterior | before, in front of |
interior | within, inside |
anuresis | absence of urine formation |
enuresis | involuntary discharge or leakage of urine |
any more | pertaining to volume |
anymore | pertaining to time |
aphagia | inability to eat |
aphakia | absence of the lens of the eye |
aphasia | loss of the power of expression by speech, writing or signs |
abasia | inability to walk |
apophysis | an outgrowth or projection, especially one from a bone; a bony process or outgrowth that lacks and independent center of ossification |
epiphysis | a part of a long bone developed from a center of ossification distinct from that of the shaft and separated at first from the latter by a layer of cartilage |
appose | set one thing beside another |
oppose | to be on the opposite side of a debate or argument |
apposition | the placing in contact of 2 substances, being fitted together |
opposition | contrary action or condition |
appraised | to determine the value |
apprised | to inform |
apraxia | inability to perform understood tasks |
ataxia | uncoordinated movement |
arrhythmia | variation from the normal rhythm of the heartbeat |
erythema | redness of the skin |
arteriosclerosis | thickening and loss of elasticity of arterial walls |
arteriostenosis | narrowing of the caliber of an artery |
atherosclerosis | deposits of plaques on the inside of the artery |
atherosclerotic | the condition of atherosclerosis |
escharotic | caustic or corrosive |
aseptic | free from contamination (sterile) |
a septic | referring to sepsis - presence of toxins in blood or tissue |
assess | to analyze |
axis | a straight line joining 2 opposing poles of a spherical body, also the 2nd cervical vertebra |
assure | to make sure of |
ensure | to make certain of |
insure | to guarantee proctection |
atopic | relating to atopy (allergy) |
ectopic | out of place |
aura | subjective symptoms during a seizure |
aural | pertaining to the ear |
oral | pertaining to the mouth |
auscultation | listening to the sounds make by various body structures |
oscillation | a to and fro movement |
averted | to turn away or aside |
everted | turned outward |
inverted | reversed in position or order |