Term | Definition |
abductor | Muscle that draws a limb away from the body. |
abnormal | Pertaining to away from rule, order. |
adductor | Muscle that draws a limb toward the body. |
adrenal glands | Endocrine glands above the kidney. |
anabolism | Process of building up proteins in cells. |
analysis | Separation of a substance into various parts. |
anoxia | Without oxygen. |
ante cibum (a.c.) | Before meals. |
anteflexion | Bending forward. |
antepartum | Before birth. |
antibiotic | Chemical substance that has the ability to inhibit or destroy foreign substances (antigens) in the blood. |
antigen | Substance that stimulates the production of antibodies. |
antisepsis | Destruction of microorganisms to prevent infection. |
antitoxin | Substance produced against a toxin (poison); an antibody. |
apnea | Without breathing. |
autoimmune disease | Antibodies that are produced against an individual's own normal cells. |
benign | Non-cancerous. |
bifurcation | Branching or forking into two parts. |
bilateral | Pertaining to both or two sides. |
bradycardia | Slow heartbeat. |
catabolism | Cellular process of breaking down of a complex substance into simple compounds. Energy is released to do the work of the cell. |
congenital anomaly | Abnormality present at birth; birth defect. |
connective tissue | Tissue that supports and binds other tissues and parts. Examples are bone, cartilage, muscle or fibrous tissues. |
contraindication | A factor that prohibits the administration of a drug or procedure in the care of a patient. |
contralateral | Affecting the opposite side of a part of the body. |
dehydration | Excessive loss of water. |
dialysis | Separation of nitrogenous wastes from the blood when the kidneys no longer function. |
diameter | Measurement between opposite points on the periphery of a circular body part. |
diarrhea | Frequent passage of loose, watery stools. |
dysentery | Condition of painful intestines (often caused by bacterial infection). |
dysplasia | Condition of abnormal formation. |
dyspnea | Difficult breathing. |
ectopic pregnancy | Pregnancy that is not in the normal location (uterus); a fallopian tube is the most common ectopic site. |
endocardium | Inner lining of the heart. |
endoscope | Instrument to visually examine the interior of the body. |
endotracheal | Pertaining to within the trachea |
epithelium | Layer of cells covering the external surface of the body and lining the hollow tubes within the body. |
euphoria | Exaggerated feeling of well-being; elevated mood, "high." |
euthroid | Normal thyroid function. |
exopthalmos | Protrusion of the eyeball (proptosis); symtom of hyperthyroidism. |
hemiglossectomy | Removal (resection) of half the tongue. |
hyperglycemia | High levels of sugar in the bloodstream; often associated with diabetes mellitus. |
Hyperplasia | Condition of increased formation of cells. |
hypertrophy | Increase in size of tissue or an organ due to increase in size of individual cells. |
hypodermic injection | Placement of a needle below the skin. |
hypoglycemia | Low/deficient levels of sugar in the bloodstream. |
incision | Process of cutting into. |
infracostal | Pertaining to below the ribs. |
insomniac | Pertaining to without sleep. |
intercostal | Pertaining to between the ribs. |
intravenous | Pertaining to within a vein. |
macrocephaly | Condition of a larger than normal head. |
malaise | General feeling of bodily discomfort. |
malignant | Cancerous; harmful. |
metacarpal bones | Pertaining to beyond the wrist; hand bones. |
metamorphosis | Condition of change of shape or form. |
metastasis | Spread of a malignant tumor beyond its orignal location to a distant site. |
microscope | Instrument to view small objects. |
neonatal | Pertaining to a new birth. |
neoplasm | New growth. |
pancytopenia | Deficiency of all (blood) cells. |
paralysis | Destruction of nerve tissue leading to loss of sensation or motion in a part of the body. |
parathyroid glands | Four endocrine glands on the posterior (dorsal) region of the thyroid gland. |
percutaneous | Pertaining to through the skin. |
pericardium | Double-layered membrane surrounding the heart. |
polymorphonuclear | Pertaining to a multi-lobed nucleus (in granulocytic white blood cells). |
polyneuritis | Inflammation of many nerves. |
postmortem | After death. |
postpartum | After birth. |
precancerous | Pertaining to occurring before a malignant condition. |
prenatal | Pertaining to before birth. |
prodrome | Symptom that appears before the onset of a more serious illness. An example is the fever that signals the onset of a viral illness. |
prolapse | Sliding forward or downward. |
prosthesis | An artificial substitute for a missing body part. |
recombinant DNA | Insertion of a gene (region of DNA) from an organism into the DNA of another organism. |
relapse | Sliding or falling back; as in recurrence of symptoms or decline after apparent recovery. |
remisson | Disappearance of symptoms of disease. |
retroflexion | Bending backward. |
retroperitoneal | Pertaining to behind the peritoneaum (membrane surrounding the abdominal cavity). |
subcutaneous | Pertaining to under the skin. |
suprapubic | Pertaining to above pubic bones. |
symbiosis | Close association between organisms of different species or a state in which two people are emotionally dependent on each other. |
symmetry | Equality of parts, literally measured together. |
symphysis | Bones that grow together separated by a piece of fibrocartilage. |
symptom | A subjective change in condition as perceived by the patient. |
syndactyly | Fusion of fingers or toes; a congenital anomaly. |
syndrome | Group of symptoms that occur together indicating a particular condition or disorder. |
synthesis | Combination of simple substance to create something new and more complex. |
tachypenea | Excessively fast breathing. |
transfusion | Transfer of blood from one person to another. |
transurethral | Pertaining to across or through the urethra. |
ultrasonography | The use of high frequency sound waves to produce a record or picture of an organ or tissue. |
unilateral | Pertaining to one side. |