Term | Definition |
ABRASION | Scaping of the skin. |
ACUTE | Having a sudden onset, sharp rise, and short course. |
ALLERGY | Hypersensitivity to a foreign substance. |
AMBULATORY | Walking or able to walk. |
ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK | A serious, often life-threatening, allergic reaction. |
ANEURISM | Dilation of an artery due to blood pressure on a weakened wall. |
ANGINA PECTORIS | Chest pain caused by decreased blood (oxygen) supply to the heart muscle, e.g. narrowing of coronary arteries. |
APNEA | Cessation of breathing. |
APPENDICITIS | Inflammation of the appendix. |
ARRHYTHMIA | Any variation from normal rhythm of the heartbeat. |
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS | Hardening of the walls of the arteries. |
ASPHYXIA | A condition caused by inadequate intake of oxygen. |
ASPIRATION | 1. Drawing in of vomitus or fluid into the respiratory tract. 2. Withdrawal of fluid by suction. |
ASTHMA | Disease marked by increased mucous production and chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes resulting in difficulty in breathing. |
BENIGN | Not malignant - has the ability to grow and be harmful but does not spread to adjacent tissue. |
BLOOD PRESSURE | Pressure of the blood exerted against vessel walls. (systolic pressure/diastolic pressure) |
BRONCHITIS | Inflammation of the bronchial tubes. |
CARCINOMA | A form of cancer. |
CARDIAC ARREST | Stoppage of effective heart action. |
CARDIAC | Pertaining to the heart. |
CATHETERIZATION | The placement of a tube into the body, usually for drainage reasons. |
CERVICAL | Pertaining to the neck. |
CHRONIC | Marked by long duration or frequent recurrence: not acute |
COMA | Unconsciousness from which the patient cannot be aroused - deep and prolonged. |
CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE (CHF) | Heart cannot efficiently pump blood due to previous heart muscle damage. |
CONSCIOUS | Mentally awake - responds to stimuli. |
CONTUSION | Injury to tissues without skin breakage (bruise). |
CONVULSIONS | Involuntary contraction and relaxation of the voluntary muscles. |
CORONARY HEART DISEASE | Blood supply to the heart is decreased by the narrowing of coronary arteries. |
CYANOSIS | Blueness of the skin due to oxygen deficiency in the blood and tissues. |
DEHYDRATION | Inadequate amount of water in the body tissues. |
DELIRIUM | Usually a temporary mental disturbance noted by illusions, wandering speech and hallucinations. |
DEPRESSION | Lowered mental and physical activity. |
DERMATITIS | Inflammation of the skin. |
DIABETES | Body does not regulate blood sugar level properly - usually due to lack of insulin. |
DIAPHORESIS | Profuse sweating (diaphoretic). |
DIASTOLE | Relaxation phase of heartbeat. |
DISORIENTATION | Mental confusion - loss of recognition of time, place of persons. |
DYSPNEA | Difficult or labored breathing. |
ECTOPIC | Not in normal place (e.g. tubal pregnancy) |
EDEMA | Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the tissues. |
EMBOLUS | Foreign substance or air bubble in blood vessel, which partially or completely obstructs the blood flow (Embolism) |
EMPHYSEMA | A chronic condition of the lung marked by abnormal dilation of its air spaces and distension of its walls. |
EPILEPSY | Chronic disease marked by attacks of convulsions. |
EPISTAXIS | Nosebleed. |
GASTROINTESTINAL | Pertaining to the stomach and intestines (e.g., G.I. Bleed) |
GLAUCOMA | Condition of excess pressure of fluid in the eye. |
HEMATOMA | Collection of blood in a muscle or tissue. |
HEMATURIA | Blood in the urine. |
HEMOPHILIA | Hereditary blood disease characterized by prolonged coagulation time. |
HEMORRHAGE | External or internal escape of blood from a vessel. |
HEMOTHORAX | Collection of blood in the thoracic cavity. |
HYPERTENSION | Elevation in blood pressure (a.k.a. - High Blood Pressure) |
HYPERVENTILATION | Increase in rate or depth (or both) of respiration. |
HYPOGLYCEMIA | Abnormally low amount of sugar in the blood. |
HYSTERIA | A state of tension or excitement in which there is a temporary loss of control over actions and emotions. |
INSULIN | Hormone (natural or artificial) to regulate sugar level in the body. |
INTUBATION | Insertion of a tube, e.g., into trachea to open airway. |
ISOLATION | Containment of persons having infectious diseases. |
LEUKEMIA | Abnormal increase of white blood cells in the body. |
MALIGNANT | Tends to become worse and result in death. |
MENINGES | Three membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. |
MENINGITIS | Inflammation of the meninges. |
MISCARRIAGE | Interruption of pregnancy prior to the fifth month. |
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION | Damage to the heart muscle resulting from blocked or restricted coronary arteries (a.k.a. - MI) |
MYOCARDIUM | Heart muscle |
ORTHOPNEA | Inability to breathe in a supine position. |
PALLOR | A pale appearance to the skin. |
PARALYSIS | Loss or impairment of the ability to move body parts. |
PARAPLEGIA | Paralysis of the lower body and legs. |
PHLEBITIS | Inflammation of a vein. |
PNEUMONIA | Infection that occurs when fluid and cells collect in the lungs. |
PNEUMOTHORAX | Presence of air or gas in the thorax cavity. |
PROSTRATION | Extreme exhaustion. |
QUADRIPLEGIA | Paralysis affecting all four limbs. |
RIGOR MORTIS | Stiffening of the muscles after death. |
SCLEROSIS | Hardening of a part. |
SHOCK | A state of collapse resulting from inadequate tissue perfusion. |
SIGNS | Observed changes in a patient's body. |
SPASM | Sudden involuntary contraction. |
STOMA | Artificial opening between body cavity and body opening. |
STROKE | Sudden decrease or loss of conciousness, sensation, and/or voluntary motion caused by rupture or obstruction (as by a clot) of an artery of the brain (a.k.a. C.V.A. - Cerebral Vascular Accident) |
STUPOR | A state of reduced responsiveness or partial unconsciousness. |
SYMPTOM | Complaint or description of something associated to the illness as stated by the patient. |
SYSTOLE | Contracting phase of the heartbeat. |
THROMBUS | Blood clot which forms in a blood vessel or in the heart cavity |
TRAUMA | Wound or injury from an external force. |
TRIAGE | Sorting, according to initial examination, of casualties in a disaster situation. |
TUMOR | Abnormal growth of cells. |
UMBILICAL CORD | Cord-like vessel for the conveyance of nutrients and waste between the unborn child and placenta. |
UNCONSCIOUSNESS | Lack of environmental awareness - incapability to react to sensory stimuli. |