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CityMD Medical Terms
Basic Medical Terminology from CityMD's medical staff training- HARD (9/17)
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Superior | Situated above or higher than another part |
| Inferior | Located beneath or directed downward |
| Distal | Located far from a point of reference |
| Proximal | Located nearer to a point of reference |
| Volar | Relating to the palm of the hand or the sole of the foot |
| Palmar | Pertaining to the palm of the hand |
| Dorsal | Near the back or upper surface of the body |
| Ventral | Close to the anterior or abdominal aspect or the lower surface of the body |
| Plantar | Relating to the sole of the foot |
| Anterior | Located near the front or on the ventral surface of the body |
| Posterior | Located behind or on the dorsal surface of the body |
| Lateral | Pertaining to or directed to a side |
| Medial | Situated near the middle or on the median plane |
| Supine | Lying on the back with the face and palms upward |
| Prone | Lying flat with the face downward |
| Unilateral | Affecting or confined to one side only |
| Bilateral | Occurring on or involving both sides of a part |
| Superficial | Existing or occurring on the surface or immediately beneath it |
| -itis | Inflammation or disease of something specified |
| Dys- | Abnormal, difficult or impaired |
| Hem- | Pertaining to blood |
| Gastro- | Pertaining to the stomach |
| -uria | Presence of a specified substance in urine |
| -phagia | Eating or swallowing |
| -algia | Denoting pain in a specified part of the body |
| Poly- | More than usual, excessive or abnormal amount |
| A- | Abnormal absence or suppression |
| Tachy- | Rapid, accelerated rate |
| Brady- | Slow, decreased rate |
| Intra- | Within or inside something |
| Inter- | In between or among layers |
| Oto- | Pertaining to the ear |
| Ophthalm- | Pertaining to the eye |
| Chole- | Indicating bile or gallbladder |
| Cyst- | Bladder or sac |
| -ectomy | Surgical removal of a specified part of the body |
| Adeno- | Gland or glandular |
| -rhea | Flow, discharge |
| Hypo- | Below, beneath, underneath or less than normal |
| Hyper- | Above, over or in excess |
| Acute | Rapid onset followed by a short severe course |
| Chronic | Developing slowly and of long duration with frequent recurrence |
| Localized | Restricted, focal or limited to a specific part |
| Diffuse | Widely dispersed, spread out, not limited, generalized |
| Intermittent | Occurring occasionally or at regular or irregular intervals |
| Recurrent | Occurring periodically or appearing repeatedly |
| Febrile | Having a fever |
| Fever | Abnormally high body temperature (oral temperature > 99.5 °F or ear temperature >100.4 °F) |
| Night Sweats | Excessive sweating during sleep |
| Malaise | Feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness |
| Fatigue | State of physical or mental weakness or tiredness |
| Diaphoresis | Excessive sweating |
| Myalgia | Muscle pain or body ache |
| Inflammation | Localized reaction of a tissue to irritation or injury, characterized by pain, redness and swelling |
| BMI | Body mass index, ratio of weight to height used to determine a person’s nutritional level (underweight or obese) |
| SpO2 | Saturation level of oxygen in blood, determined via pulse oximetry by placing a device on the finger |
| Influenza | The Flu, caused by a virus typically transmitted through the air, characterized by fever, chills, body aches and URI (upper respiratory tract infection) symptoms |
| Viral Syndrome | Viral illness with a combination of constitutional and respiratory symptoms |
| Cornea | Transparent front part of the eye |
| Pupil | Hole or aperture located in the center of the iris |
| Iris | Circular, colored portion of the eye responsible for controlling the size of the pupil |
| Conjunctiva | Thin layer covering the inside of the eyelids and the sclera (white portion of the eye) |
| Eyelid | Thin fold of skin that covers and protects the eye |
| Sclera | Opaque, white, fibrous, protective, outer layer of the eye |
| Retina | Innermost light sensitive layer of the eye |
| Lens | Transparent elastic curved structure behind the iris that helps in focusing light on the retina |
| Erythema | Redness of the outer covering layer |
| Edema | Abnormal fluid accumulation beneath the skin, leading to swelling |
| Ecchymosis | Bruising or discoloration of the outer covering layer |
| Discharge | Secretion of fluid from certain parts of the body |
| Injection | Red discoloration of the eye |
| Photophobia | Pain or discomfort in the eyes when looking at light |
| Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye) | Inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, characterized by redness and often discharge |
| Tympanic Membrane (TM) | Eardrum |
| Auricle | Pinna or outer projecting portion of the ear |
| Ear Canal | Narrow, tube-like passage through which sound enters the ear |
| External Ear | Outer portion of the ear, including the auricle and the canal |
| Eustachian Tube | Auditory tube or a narrow channel connecting the middle ear and the nasopharynx |
| Nasal Septum | Partition of bone and cartilage between the nasal cavities |
| Sinus | Air-filled cavities in the bones of the forehead and face |
| Frontal Sinuses | Pair of air-filled cavities in the frontal bone of the skull |
| Maxillary Sinuses | Pair of air-filled cavities in the maxillary bone of the skull |
| Pharynx | Area at the back of the mouth, extending from the nasal cavity to the larynx |
| Tonsils | Two oval-shaped masses of lymphoid tissue at the back of the throat between the mouth and the pharynx |
| Uvula | Small, conical, fleshy mass of tissue suspended from the center of the soft palate |
| Gingiva | Gums, enveloping the teeth |
| Effusion | Seepage of fluid into a body cavity or tissue |
| Exudate | Fluid or pus that has seeped out of blood vessels, tissues or organs due to inflammation |
| Tonsillar Exudates | White pus deposits on the tonsils |
| Bulging TM | Occurs due to fluid collection in the middle ear cavity |
| Cerumen | Earwax present in the ear canal |
| Post Nasal Drip | Accumulation of excess mucous in the throat or the back of the nose, produced by the nasal mucosa |
| Tinnitus | Ringing sound within the ear |
| Vertigo | Type of dizziness involving the sensation of spinning around |
| Dysphagia | Difficulty or inability to swallow (rare in an urgent care setup) |
| Odynophagia | Pain or discomfort in swallowing, usually occurring due to throat infections |
| Otitis Media | Inflammation of the middle ear due to infection |
| Otitis Externa (Swimmer’s Ear) | Inflammation of the outer ear and ear canal due to infection |
| Otalgia | Earache or pain in the ear |
| Otorrhea | Discharge from the ear |
| Pharyngitis | Inflammation of the throat due to viral or bacterial infections |
| Tonsillitis | Infection, inflammation and swelling of the tonsils |
| Sinusitis | Inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the sinuses due to infection |
| Rhinorrhea | Runny nose or persistent watery mucus discharge from the nose |
| Congestion | Narrowing of passages due to swollen membranes from inflamed blood vessels |
| Epistaxis | Nosebleed or hemorrhage from the nose |
| Thorax | Chest, part of the body between the neck and the abdomen |
| Cardiac | Pertaining to the heart |
| Costal | Pertaining to the ribs |
| Sternum | Breastbone, long flat bone present in the middle of the anterior wall of the thorax |
| Vasculature | Arrangement of blood vessels |
| Brachial Artery | Major blood vessel of the upper arm |
| Radial Artery | Main artery at the lateral part of the wrist proximal to the thumb, where a pulse is usually taken |
| Syncope | Fainting or loss of consciousness resulting from insufficient blood flow to the brain |
| Palpitations | Sensation of an abnormally fast heartbeat or with an irregular rate |
| Arrhythmia | Abnormal or irregular heartbeat |
| Tachycardia | Heart rate exceeding the normal range (resting heart rate >100 bpm) |
| Bradycardia | Slow heart rate below the normal range (resting heart rate < 60 bpm) |
| Murmurs | Pathologic audible heart sounds produced as a result of turbulent blood flow |
| Myocardial Infarction | Heart attack or injury to the heart muscle due to improper blood flow to the heart |
| Atypical Chest Pain | Chest pain that is sharp, sudden, random and short- lived |
| Atrial Fibrillation | Abnormal rapid irregular heartbeat (like a drum with no rhythm) |
| Hypertension | Long-standing high blood pressure, reading above 140/90 mm Hg, associated with a chronic underlying cause |
| Hypotension | Long-standing low blood pressure, reading below 90/60 mm Hg |
| Hypercholesterolemia | Higher than normal levels of cholesterol in the blood |
| Pulmonary | Pertaining to the lungs |
| Larynx | Voice box, air passage between the lower pharynx and the trachea containing the vocal chords |
| Trachea | Windpipe, tubed airway extending from the larynx into the thorax eventually dividing into bronchi |
| Bronchi | Two main branches of the trachea leading into the lungs |
| Alveoli | Small air sacs or cavities in the lungs where the exchange of gases takes place |
| Sputum | Phlegm, coughed up mass of salivary matter and mucus |
| Inspiration | Inhalation of air into the lungs or to breathe in |
| Expiration | Exhalation of air from the lungs or to breathe out |
| Wheeze | Hoarse whistling sound produced with difficulty in breathing |
| Stridor | Noisy breathing due to narrowed airways |
| Rhonchi | Continuous coarse rattling snore-like sounds in the throat or bronchi, lower-pitched than a wheeze |
| Rales | Crackles or coarse short discontinuous sounds heard during inhalation |
| Crepitus | Crackling crunching sound produced due to presence or discharge of gas |
| Dyspnea - Shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing or air hunger | |
| Hemoptysis | Coughing up of blood or bloody sputum from the lungs or airway |
| Infiltrates | Cells or body fluids that have passed into the lung tissue, suggestive of pneumonia or infection of the lungs |
| Pneumonia | Infection of the lung primarily involving inflammation of the alveoli |
| Bronchitis | Inflammation of the air passages including trachea and bronchi |
| Asthma | Chronic inflammatory disease of the airways causing them to spasm and swell periodically, leading to narrowing of the passages and difficulty in breathing |
| Abdomen | Belly or region of the body between the thorax and pelvis |
| Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ) | Important for liver, gallbladder |
| Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ) | Important for stomach, spleen, pancreas |
| Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ) | Important for right ovary, appendix, right ureter |
| Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ) | Important for left ovary, left ureter |
| Right Lumbar Region | Middle right region important for right kidney |
| Left Lumbar Region | Middle left region important for left kidney |
| Epigastric Region | Top center region important for stomach |
| Esophagus | Passage or tube extending from the pharynx to the stomach |
| Stomach | Enlarged sac-like portion of the digestive tract between the esophagus and small intestine |
| Small Intestine | Narrow proximal portion of the intestine extending from the stomach to the cecum |
| Large Intestine | Wider distal portion of the intestine extending from the ileum to the anus |
| Appendix | Accessory worm-shaped pouch attached to the cecum |
| Liver | Largest gland of the body which secretes bile and is located in the upper right portion of the abdominal cavity |
| Gallbladder | Small sac present on the posterior surface of the liver which serves as a reservoir for bile |
| Spleen | Large lymphoid organ situated in the upper left part of the abdominal cavity which acts as a reservoir for blood cells |
| Pancreas | Large elongated gland lying transversely behind the stomach whose secretions include insulin |
| Diarrhea | Condition of having three or more loose or liquid bowel movements per day |
| Constipation | Infrequent or difficult evacuation of feces |
| Distension | State of being swollen or stretched |
| Emesis | Vomiting, forcible ejection of contents of stomach through the mouth |
| Nausea | Unpleasant sensation characterized by gastrointestinal distress and an urge to vomit |
| Bloating | Abdominal distension due to swallowed air or intestinal gas |
| Organomegaly | Visceromegaly or abnormal enlargement of an organ |
| Melena | Passage of black tar-like stools containing digested blood, usually resulting from upper GI tract bleeding |
| Hematochezia | Passage of bloody stools containing fresh blood, usually resulting from bleeding in the colon or rectum |
| Hematemesis | Vomiting of bright red blood, indicating rapid upper GI bleeding |
| Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) | Heartburn, regurgitation of stomach contents containing acid into the esophagus |
| Guarding | Involuntary or voluntary muscular contraction secondary to pain, detected during physical examination |
| Rebound Tenderness | Pain or tenderness occurring upon the release of pressure over a part |
| Gastritis | Inflammation of the lining of the stomach |
| Gastroenteritis | Stomach flu or intestinal flu or inflammation due to infection or irritation of the GI tract, particularly the stomach and intestine, leading to vomiting and diarrhea |
| Appendicitis | Inflammation of the appendix and is a medical emergency as it can lead to rupture of the appendix |
| Cholecystitis | Inflammation of the gallbladder due to bacterial infection or the presence of gallstones |
| Kidneys | Pair of organs located in the lower back area responsible for filtration of blood and secreting the waste material as urine |
| Ureters | Tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder for transmission of urine |
| Urinary Bladder | Muscular sac in the anterior part of the pelvic cavity which serves as a reservoir for urine |
| Urethra | Canal through which urine is discharged from the bladder to the exterior as well as semen in males |
| Dysuria | Painful or difficult urination |
| Hematuria | Blood in the urine |
| Urinary Frequency | Urination at short intervals or having to urinate frequently |
| Urinary Urgency | Sudden almost incontrollable need to urinate |
| Urinary Incontinence | Inability to control urination leading to leakage of urine |
| Urinary Retention | Accumulation of urine in the bladder due to inability to urinate |
| Flank/CVA Tenderness | Pain elicited by tapping on each side of the mid-back area overlying the kidney |
| Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) | Infection of one or more structures in the urinary system, more common in females than in males |
| Pyelonephritis | Inflammation or infection of the kidneys and upper urinary tract usually resulting from bacterial infection of the bladder |
| Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) | Venereal diseases or illnesses that get transmitted through vaginal/anal/oral sex, shared IV needles, or blood transfusions |
| Examples: gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis, candidiasis, hepatitis-B, hepatitis-C, herpes, HIV, HPV and trichomoniasis | |
| Cranium | Skull |
| Maxilla | Upper jaw |
| Mandible | Lower jaw |
| Sternum | Breastbone |
| Humerus | Upper arm bone |
| Radius | Lateral bone of the forearm, on the same side as the thumb |
| Ulna | Medial bone of the forearm, on the same side as the little finger |
| Carpals | Wrist bones |
| Metacarpals | Bones of the hands and knuckles |
| Phalanges | Bones of the fingers and toes |
| Pelvic Bone | Hip bone Femur |
| Patella | Kneecap |
| Tibia | Shinbone, shankbone, medial bone of lower leg |
| Fibula | Calfbone, lateral bone of the lower leg |
| Medial Malleolus | Inside part of the ankle |
| Lateral Malleolus | Outside part of the ankle |
| Metatarsals | Bones of the feet |
| Cervical | The first seven segments of the vertebral column |
| Thoracic | The twelve vertebrae composing the middle segment of the vertebral column |
| Lumbar | The five largest segments of the vertebral column in the lower back |
| Sacrum | Large triangular bone at the base of the spine |
| Coccyx | Tailbone or small triangular bone at the end of the spine |
| Ligament | Band or sheet of tough fibrous tissue connecting two or more bones, cartilages or other structures to provide support |
| Tendon | Fibrous tough cord of connective tissue attaching a muscle to a bone or cartilage |
| Achilles Tendon | Large tendon at the back of the heel |
| Flexion | Joint movement that decreases the angle between the bones |
| Extension | Joint movement that increases the angle between the bones |
| Adduction | Movement which brings a limb closer to the body |
| Abduction | Movement which draws a limb away from the body |
| Inversion | Movement where the foot is tilted inwards |
| Eversion | Movement where the foot is tilted outwards |
| Contusion | Bruise, injury to a body part without a break in the skin |
| Sprain | Twisting joint injury when it is carried beyond its normal range of motion without fracture or dislocation |
| Strain | Overstretching or overexertion of a muscle |
| Fracture | Break, rupture or crack in a bone or cartilage |
| Dislocation | Displacement of a bone from its normal position at a joint |
| Tenderness | Pain, discomfort or soreness to touch or pressure |
| Axilla | Armpit or underarm |
| Sciatica | Pain and tenderness in the lower back and along the back of the thigh caused by compression or irritation of a sciatic nerve root |
| Laceration | Tear or cut of the skin |
| Lesion | Injury, wound or localized pathological change in a body part |
| Abrasion | Scraped skin due to friction |
| Excoriation | Superficial tear of the skin |
| Wound | Physical injury causing a cut or broken skin |
| Burn | Injury to tissues caused by contact with heat, flame, chemicals or electricity |
| Pruritis | Itching of skin |
| Rash | Spotted pink or red skin eruption may be accompanied by itching |
| Urticaria | Hives or appearance of slightly raised erythematous (red) patches with severe itching |
| Allergy | Abnormal body reaction to a specific substance, typically leading to a rash or swelling |
| Papules | Firm bumps on the skin with no visible fluid |
| Jaundice | Yellow discoloration of the skin and sclera due to increased level of bile pigments in the blood resulting from liver disease |
| Macules | Flat discolored spots on the skin surface |
| Vesicles | Small blisters or elevations on the skin containing fluid |
| Abscess | Pus pocket or enclosed collection of pus in any tissue of the body in response to infection or presence of foreign material |
| Pus | Thick yellowish-white or greenish-yellow fluid made up of dead cells and tissue, formed due to infection |
| Cyst | Abnormal closed sac in the body or under the skin containing fluid |
| PPD | Purified protein derivative, used in tuberculin skin sensitivity screening test for tuberculosis |
| Dermatitis | Inflammation of the skin usually characterized by an itchy pink or red rash |
| Shingles (Herpes Zoster) | Viral infection causing a painful rash occurring usually on the face or as a single stripe or belt of blisters wrapping around either side of the torso |
| Cellulitis | Bacterial infection with inflammation, just beneath the skin surface |
| Paronychia | Inflammation or infection involving the folds of skin tissue surrounding a nail |
| Subungual Hematoma | Collection of blood beneath a nail usually resulting from trauma |
| Sciatic Nerve | Largest nerve of the body supplying the skin of the leg and muscles of the back of thigh and those of the leg and foot |
| Paresthesia | Altered skin sensation described as numbness, burning, tingling, pins and needles, etc |
| Paresis | Partial or incomplete paralysis |
| Dizziness | Sensation of unsteadiness, lightheadedness, faintness or whirling |
| Anaphylaxis | Rapidly progressing life-threatening allergic reaction |
| Anemia | Decreased level of blood or hemoglobin in the body |
| Lymphadenopathy | Abnormal enlargement of lymph nodes usually due to infection or disease |
| Hypothyroidism | Underactive thyroid or low production or secretion of hormones by the thyroid gland |
| Hyperthyroidism | Overactive thyroid or excess production of hormones by the thyroid gland |
| Diabetes Mellitus | Insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas leading to a high glucose (sugar) level in the body |
| Type-I Diabetes/Juvenile Diabetes | Failure of the body to produce sufficient insulin or insulin-dependent diabetes |
| Type-II Diabetes/Adult-Onset Diabetes | Failure of body cells to respond to insulin properly or develop resistance or non-insulin-dependent diabetes |
| Dose | Specified quantity of medication to be administered at one time |
| Route | Path by which a substance is taken into the body |
| PO | Orally or by mouth |
| IV | Intravenous or into a vein |
| IM | Intramuscular or within a muscle |
| SC | Subcutaneous or directly underneath the skin |
| ID | Intradermal or into the inner layer of skin |
| PR | By rectum |
| PV | By vagina |
| SL | Sublingual or beneath the tongue |
| Ophthalm | Ophthalmic or on the external eye |
| Otic | By way of the ear |
| Nasal | By way of the nose |
| Inhalational | Within the respiratory tract by inhaling orally or nasally |
| Topical | On the outer surface of the skin |
| Frequency | Number of occurrences of a periodic process in a unit of time |
| QD | Take medication every day |
| OD | Take medication once daily |
| BID | Take medication twice a day |
| TID | Take medication 3 times a day |
| QID | Take medication 4 times a day |
| QW | Take medication once a week |
| BIW | Take medication twice a week |
| TIW | Take medication three times a week |
| QHS | Take medication at bedtime |
| QAM | Take medication in the morning |
| QPM | Take medication at night |
| Q#H | Take medication every # hours |
| Q#1 - #2 | Take medication every #1 to #2 hours |
| PRN | Take medication as needed |
Created by:
TiffanyWilsonScholar
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