Term | Definition |
acromegaly | The condition of enlarged extremities due to hypersecretion of the pituitary growth hormone after puberty. Acromegalic is the objective form. |
acrophobia | exaggerated fear. |
acute | sharp: condition that has intense, often severe symptoms and a short course. |
adenocarcinoma | a cancerous tumor of glandular (secretory) tissue |
amenorrhea | menstrual discharge (menstruation) |
anemia | reduced numbers of red blood cells and their diminished ability to transport oxygen to the tissues |
aneurysm | widening in the wall of the heart, aorta, or artery caused by a congenital defect or acquired weakness |
aphagia | difficulty eating or swallowing |
aphasia | without speech |
apnea | without breathing |
appendicitis | inflammation of the appendix |
arterosclerosis | hardening of fatty (lipid) paste within the walls of arteries |
atrophy | shrinking or wasting of tissue, such as muscle |
autism | complex developmental disorder distinguished by difficulties with social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and behavioral problems, including repetitive behaviors and narrow focus of interest. |
benign | mild or noncancerous |
bipolar disorder | known as manic depression, is a mood disorder that causes radical emotional changes and mood swings, from manic, restless highs to depressive, listless lows. Most bipolar individuals experience alternating episodes of mania and depression. |
blepharoptosis | Drooping of the upper eyelid. |
blepharospasm | the involuntary contraction of eyelid muscles. |
bradycardia | A slow heart rate. Bradycardia is one of the two types of arrhythmia |
bradypnea | Abnormal slowness of respiration. |
bronchospasm | bronchial spasm; spasmodic contraction of the smooth muscle of the bronchi, as in asthma. |
carcinoma | a malignant new growth made up of epithelial cells tending to infiltrate surrounding tissues and to give rise to metastases. |
cardiomegaly | Enlargement of the heart. Also called macrocardia, megalocardia. |
cardiomyopathy | a chronic disease of the heart muscle (myocardium), in which the muscle is abnormally enlarged, thickened, and/or stiffened. The weakened heart muscle loses the ability to pump blood effectively, resulting in irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias) |
cephalodynia | Pain in the head; headache. |
cerebrovascular accident (CVA) | the damage to brain tissue that occurs as a result of a cerebral embolism is known as a stoke or CVA |
cholelithiasis | The presence or formation of gallstones in the gallbladder or bile ducts. |
chondromalacia | Abnormal softening or degeneration of cartilage of the joints, especially of the knee. |
chronic | a condition that develops slowly and persists over a period of time. |
coronary artery disease (CAD) | when hardening and fatty paste builds up within the wall of a blood vessel, it can have many cumulative ill effects. Artherosclerosis within the coronary arteries causes CAD |
cystocele | hernial protrusion of the urinary bladder, usually through the vaginal wall |
degeneration | gradual deterioration of normal cells and body functions |
dermatitis | Dermatitis is a general term used to describe inflammation of the skin. |
diagnosis | determination of the presence of a disease based on an evaluation of symptoms, signs, and test findings |
diarrhea | frequent or loose stool |
dysmenorrhea | Dysmenorrhea is the occurrence of painful cramps during menstruation |
dysphagia | Difficulty in swallowing or inability to swallow. Also called aglutition, aphagia, odynophagia. |
dysphasia | Dysphasia is a partial or complete impairment of the ability to communicate resulting from brain injury. |
dysplasia | 1. abnormality of development.
2. in pathology, alteration in size, shape, and organization of adult cells. |
dyspnea | |
dysrhythmia | |
dysthymia | |
dystrophy | |
endometriosis | |
enterospasm | |
epigastralgia | |
epilepsy | |
erthrocytopenia | |
etiology | the cause of a disease |
eupnea | |
exacerbation | an aggravation, or "flare-up," of symptoms |
febrile | relating to a fever, or elevated temperature. |
fibroma | |
fibromyoma | |
gastroptosis | |
hemiplegia | |
hemorrhage | |
hepatitis | |
hepatomegaly | |
hydrocele | |
hyperglycemia | |
hyperlipemia | |
hyperthyroidism | |
hypertrophy | |
hypoglycemia | |
hypothyroidism | |
hypoxemia | |
iatrogenic | |
ischemia | |
ischemic | |
kyphosis | an abnormal posterior curvature of the thoracic spine, know as a humpback condition. (like mine) |
laryngomalacia | |
leukemia | |
leukocytosis | |
leukocytopenia | |
leukopenia | |
Degenerative disease | any disease in which deterioration of the structure or function of tissue occurs |
lithiasis | |
localized | limited to a definite area or part |
lordosis | an anterior bend or sway back condition of the lumbar spine (like Brian's back) |
lymphadenopthy | |
macrocytosis | |
malignant | harmful or cancerous |
mania | |
manic depression | |
melanoma | |
menorrhagia | |
metastasis | |
metrorrhagia | |
microcytosis | |
microlithiasis | |
myalgia | |
myocardial infraction (MI) | |
myodynia | |
myoma | |
narcolepsy | |
necromania | |
necrophobia | |
necrosis | |
neoplasia | |
nephrolithiasis | |
nephroptosis | |
nephrosis | |
neurosis | |
oncology | |
orthopnea | |
ostealgia | |
osteoarthritis | |
osteodynia | |
osteomalacia | |
osteopenia | |
osteosarcoma | |
otalgia | |
otitis media | |
otodynia | |
otorrhea | |
paraplegic | |
pharyngitis | |
phlebitis | |
photophobia | |
pneumonia | |
pneumonitis | |
polydipsia | |
polyuria | |
prognosis | foreknowledge; prediction of the likely outcome of a disease based on the general health status of the patient and knowledge of the usual course of the disease; often noted in one word. (prognosis: good) |
progressive | pertaining to the advance of a condition as the signs and symptoms increase in severity |
psychosis | |
quadriplegia | |
rectocele | |
rhinitis | |
rhinorrhea | |
remission | a period in which symptoms and sings stop or abate |
salpingitis | |
schizophrenia | |
sclerosis | |
scoliosis | the condition of a lateral S-shaped curve of the spine |
sign | a mark; objective evidence of disease that can be seen or verified by an examiner |
splenomegaly | |
spondylosis | |
stenosis | |
symptoms | subjective evidence of disease that can be seen or verified by an examiner |
syndrome | a running together; combination of symptoms and signs that give a distinct clinical picture indication a particular condition or disease (menopausal syndrome) |
tachycardia | |
tachypnea | |
thrombocytopenia | |
thrombophlebitis | |
tonsillitis | |
tracheomalacia | |
vaginitis | |
varicocele | |
vasospasm | |
Mental illness | refers to any disorder of the brain or mind that alters thought, mood, or behavior |
mood disorders | conditions that effect how a person feels, also called Affective Disorders. major depression and bipolar disorder are examples of mood disorders |
anxiety disorders | conditions of emotional stress. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)is the most common anxiety disorder. Other types include obsessive-compulsive disorder; panic disorder; phobia disorder; and PTSD |
cognitive disorder | impairing one's ability to think or reason. Alzheimer disease is an example |
developmental disorders | are commonly diagnosed in childhood. ADHD and autism are examples. |
eating disorders | disturbances in eating behavior. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are common eating disorders |
substance abuse disorders | substance abuse disorders are identified by the abused substance, such as alcohol abuse, amphetamine abuse. opioid abuse (narcotic), and polysubstance abuse |
psychotic disorders | impair one's ability to recognize reality, like schizophrenia |
anorexia | one without an appetite |
anorexia nervosa | abnormal perceptions about his or her body weight, evidenced by a fear of becoming fat that results in refusal to eat |