Question | Answer |
Bursting open of a wound, especially a surgical abdominal wound | dehiscence |
Feverish; pertaining to a fever | febrile |
Relative constancy or equilibrium in the internal environment of the body | homeostasis |
Body defense against injury, infection, or allergy marked by redness, swelling,heat,pain and sometimes,loss of function | inflammation |
Visual examination of a cavity or canal using a specialized lighted instrument called an endoscope | endoscopy |
Visual exam of the organs of the pelvis and abdomen through very small incisions in the abdominal wall | laparoscopy |
Exam of the lungs, pleura, and pleural space with a scope inserted through a small incision between the ribs | thorascopy |
Ultrasound technique used to detect and measure blood-flow velocity and direction through the cardiac chambers, valves by reflecting sound waves off of moving blood cells | Doppler |
Removal of a small core of tissue using a hollow instrument | punch biopsy |
Removal of a part, pathway, or function by surgery, chemical, electro,freezing or rediofrequency | ablation |
Surgical joining of two ducts, vessels, or bowel segments to allow flow from one to another | anastomosis |
Destroy tissue by electricity, freezing, heat, or corrosive chemicals | cauterize |
Incision made to allow the free flow or withdrawal of fluids from a wound or cavity | incision and drainage (I&D) |
Walled cavity containing pus and surrounded by inflamed or necrotic tissue | abscess |
Deep-seated pyogenic infection o the skin usually involving subcutaneous tissues | carbuncle |
Diffuse, acute infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue | cellulitis |
Commonly called a bruise | ecchymosis |
Redness of the skin caused by swelling of the capillaries | erythema |
Damaged tissue following a severe burn | eschar |
Inflammatory skin disease characterized by isolated pustules that become crusted and rupture | impetigo |
Unnatural paleness or absence of color in the skin | pallor |
Minute, pinpoint hemorrhage under the skin | petechia |
Localized loss of skin pigmentation characterized by milk-white patches | vitiligo |
Another name for warts | verruca |
Removal of foreign material and dead or damaged tissue in a wound; used to promote healing | debridement |
Removal of acne scars, tattoos, or fine wrinkles though the use of sandpaper, and other abrasive materials | dermabrasion |
Freezing to destroy or eliminate abnormal tissue | cryosurgery |
Inhibit inflammation, redness, and itching caused by allergic skin reaction and the release of histamine | antihistamines |
Decrease inflammation and itching by suppressing the immune system's response to tissue damage | corticosteroid anti-inflammatories |
Condition where the bones become porous | osteoporosis |
A systemic disease that changes the joints | rheumatoid arthritis |
Stiffness and immobility of a joint as a result of disease, trauma etc | ankylosis |
Lameness, limping | claudication |
Increase in severity if a disease or of any of its symptoms | exacerbation |
Replacement of a missing part by an artificial substitute | prosthesis |
Partial or incomplete dislocation | subluxation |
Visual exam of a joint | arthroscopy |
Presence of glucose in the urine | glycosuria |
Excessive hair, especially in women | hirsutism |
Excessive amount of calcium in the blood | hypercalcemia |
Excessive amount of potassium in the blood | hyperkalemia |
Low sodium in the blood | hyponatremia |
Abnormal increase in the proportion of fat cells | obesity |
Excision of the thyroid gland | thyroidectomy |
Treats Type I diabetes | insulins |
Phychological disorderin which the major characteristic is an abnormal mood, usually mania or depression | affective disorder |
Refusal to eat to maintain an adequate weight for age and height | anorexia nervosa |
Feelings of worry dread, lack of energy and a loss of interest in life | anxiety |
Affects both children and adults characterized by impulsiveness, overactivity and the inability to remain focused on a task | attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) |
Mental disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, emotion, energy and ability to function; also called manic-depressive illness | bipolar disorder |
Binging and purging also called | bulimia nervosa |
Mood disorder associated with sadness, despair, discouragement, and commonly feelings of low self-esteem, guilt and withdrawal | depression |
Mood disorder characterized by mental and physical hyperactivity, disorganized behavior and hyper-elevated mood | mania |
Sudden, profound, overwhelming feeling of fear that comes without warning | panic attack |
Weakness, debility, or loss of strength | asthenia |
Lack of muscle coordination in the execution of voluntary movement | ataxia |
Self-limiting paralysis due to developmental defects in the brain or trauma during the birth process | cerebral palsy |
Broad term that refers to cognitive deficit, including memory impairment | dementia |
Inability to learn and process written language despite adequate intelligence, sensory ability,and exposure | dyslexia |
Accumulation of fluid in the ventricles of the brain causing thinning of brain tissue and separation of cranial bones | hydrocephalus |
Paralysis of the trunk and both legs | paraplegia |
Paralysis of all four extremities | quadriplegia |
Severe pain that runs down the leg due to a compressed nerve | sciatica |
Another name for fainting | syncope |
Recording of electrical activity in the brain | electroencephalography |
Series of chemical, microscopic, and microbial tests used to diagnose disorders of the CNS, including viral and bacterial infection tumors and hemorrhage | cerebrospinal fluid analysis |
Partial destruction of the thalamus to treat intractable pain | thalamotomy |
Treats multiple symptoms of depression | antidepressants |
Bx, bx | biopsy |
BCC | basal cell carcinoma |
CM | centimeter |
decub | decubitus ulcer, bedsore |
derm | dermatology |
FS | frozen section |
ID | intradermal |
I & D | incision and drainage |
IMP | impression |
Sub Q | subcutaneous |
ung | ointment |
ACL | anterior crucial ligament |
AK | above the knee |
C1, C2 and so on | first cervical vertebra, etc |
Ca | calcium; cancer |
CTS | carpal tunnel syndrome |
DJD | degenerative joint desease |
EMG | electromyography |
Fx | fracture |
HD | hemodialysis; hip disarticulation; hearing distance |
HNP | herniated nucleus pulposus |
NSAIDS | nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs |
PCL | posterior cruciate ligament |
ROM | range of motion |
THA | total hip arthroplasty |
TKA | total knee arthroplasty |
TKR | total knee replacement |
BMR | basal metabolic rate |
DI | diabetes insipidus; diagnostic imaging |
DKA | diabetic ketoacidosis |
DM | diabetes mellitus |
IDDM | insulin dependent diabetes mellitus |
NIDDM | non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus |
PRL | prolactin |
TFT | thyroid function test |
TSH | thyroid stimulating hormone |
AD | alzheimer disease |
ALS | "Lou Gehrig disease" |
CNS | central nervous system |
CP | cerebral palsy |
CSF | cerebrospinal fluid |
CVA | cerebrovascular accident |
EEG | electroencephalogram; electroencephalography |
LOC | loss of consciousness |
LP | lumbar puncture |
TIA | transient ischemic attack |