Mastering Medical Terminology Block One

Front 1

chalasia

Back 1

cha·la·sia (k-la´zh) [ Gr. chalasis relaxation ]
relaxation of a bodily opening, such as the cardiac sphincter of the esophagus, a cause of vomiting in infants.

Front 2

cirrhosis

(s-ro´sis) [ Gr.]

Back 2

cir·rho·sis (s-ro´sis) [ Gr. kirrhos orange-yellow ]
any of a group of chronic diseases of the liver characterized by loss of normal lobular architecture with fibrosis, and by destruction of parenchymal cells and their regeneration to form nodules. These diseases have long latent periods, usually followed by sudden abdominal swelling and pain, hematemesis, dependent edema, or jaundice. In advanced stages, prominent symptoms include ascites, jaundice, portal hypertension, and central nervous system disorders that may end in hepatic coma. Often informally called c. of the liver, but nowadays all cirrhosis is “of the liver.”
cirrhotic, adj

Front 3

meniscus

(m-nis´kus) [ L.]

Back 3

me·nis·cus (m-nis´ks) [ L., from Gr. mniskos, crescent ] gen. and pl. menis´ci,
1. a crescent-shaped structure appearing at the surface of a liquid column, as in a pipet or buret, made concave or convex by the influence of capillarity. 2. a crescent-shaped structure of the body. Often used alone to designate one of the menisci of the knee joint; see m. lateralis articulationis genus and m. medialis articulationis genus. meniscus of acromioclavicular joint, discus articularis articulationis acromioclavicularis.

Front 4

pneumocrania

(noomo-kra´ne-ah) [Gr.]

Back 4

pneu·mo·cra·nia (noomo-kra´ne-ah) ) [pneumo- "air" + -crania "head"]
pneumocephalus. [Gr.]
pneu·mo·ceph·a·lus (noomo-sef´-ls) [ pneumo- + -cephalus ]
the presence of air in the cranial cavity; called also intracranial pneumatocele, pneumatocephalus, pneumocrania, and pneumoencephalocele.

Front 5

bezoar

Back 5

be·zoar (be´zor) [ Farsi pdzohr antidote to poison ]
a concretion of foreign material found in the gastrointestinal tract or urinary tract; types include trichobezoar (hair), phytobezoar (fruit and vegetable fibers), trichophytobezoar (hair mixed with plant fibers), and fungus ball.

Front 6

kwashiorkor

Back 6

kwash·i·or·kor (kwahshe-or´kor) [ “condition seen in the displaced child” in the language of the Ga people of Ghana ]
a form of protein-energy malnutrition produced by severe protein deficiency; caloric intake may be adequate but is usually also deficient. It is characterized by retarded growth, changes in skin and hair pigment, edema, enlarged abdomen, immunodeficiency, and pathologic changes in the liver, including fatty infiltration, necrosis, and fibrosis. Other findings are mental apathy, atrophy of the pancreas, gastrointestinal disorders, anemia, low serum albumin, and dermatoses. The skin of the limbs and back may have dark thickened patches, which may desquamate, leaving pink, almost raw surfaces. Cf. marasmus.

Front 7

matrix

Back 7

ma·trix (ma´triks) [ L. plural "matrices" ]
1. the intracellular substance of a tissue or the tissue from which a structure develops. 2. the groundwork on which anything is cast, or that basic material from which a thing develops. 3. a mold or a form for casting. 4. a plastic or metal strip used to support and shape a plastic restorative material. 5. a piece of gold or platinum foil fitted against the sides and bottom of a cavity, used as a mold in which porcelain for an inlay is baked. 6. resin m. 7. term used for the feldspar component of dental porcelain, which provides a glassy matrix in which quartz particles are dispersed. amalgam matrix, matrix band.

Front 8

Billroth or Billroth's operation

Back 8

Billroth operation, either of two operations with partial resection of the stomach and anastomosis of the remaining stomach to either the duodenum (Billroth I) or the jejunum (Billroth II). Called also Billroth gastrectomy or gastroenterostomy.

Front 9

glomerulus

Back 9

glo·mer·u·lus (glo-mer´u-ls) [ L., dim. of glomus ball ]
1. a tuft or cluster; used in anatomic nomenclature as a general term to designate such a structure, as one composed of blood vessels or nerve fibers. 2. g. renis. glomeruli arteriosi cochleae, an arterial network surrounding the cochlea.

Front 10

acneiform pustule

Back 10

pimple

ac·ne·iform (ak-ne´-form)
resembling acne.
pus·tule (pus´tl) [ L. pustula ]
a visible collection of pus within or beneath the epidermis.

Front 11

alopecia

Back 11

al·o·pe·cia (alo-pe´sh) [ Gr. alpekia a disease in which the hair falls out ]
lack or loss of hair from skin areas where it normally is present. Called also atrichia, baldness, and calvities.
alopecia adnata, congenital a.

Front 12

cephalgia

Back 12

ce·phal·gia (s-fal´j)
headache.

Front 13

calcaneus

Back 13

cal·ca·ne·us (kal-ka´ne-s) [ L., from calx heel ]
1. the irregular quadrangular bone at the back of the tarsus; called also calcaneal bone, calcaneum, heel bone, os calcis, and os tarsi fibulare. 2. talipes calcaneus. calcaneal, adj

Front 14

deglutition

Back 14

de·glu·ti·tion (degloo-tish´n) [ L. deglutitio ]
swallowing.

Front 15

epistaxis

Back 15

ep·i·stax·is (ep-stak´sis) [ Gr. ]
hemorrhage from the nose; called also nosebleed and nasal hemorrhage.

Front 16

eructation

Back 16

eruc·ta·tion (-rk-ta´shn) [ L. eructatio ]
the casting up of wind from the stomach through the mouth. Called also belching.

Front 17

esotropic

Back 17

eso·tro·pia (eso-tro´pe-) [ eso- + tropia ]
strabismus in which there is manifest deviation of the visual axis of an eye toward that of the other eye, resulting in diplopia. Called also cross-eye and convergent or internal strabismus.

Front 18

extremity

Back 18

ex·trem·i·ty (ek-strem´-te)
1. extremitas. 2. an upper or lower limb; see membrum inferius and membrum superius. 3. a hand or foot. anterior extremity of spleen, extremitas anterior splenis.

Front 19

hordeolum

Back 19

hor·de·o·lum (hor-de´o-lm) [ L. “barleycorn” ]
a localized, purulent, inflammatory staphylococcal infection of one or more sebaceous glands (meibomian or zeisian) of the eyelids; called also stye.

Front 20

purulent

Back 20

pu·ru·lent (pu´roo-lnt) [ L. purulentus ]
1. pertaining to or consisting of pus. 2. containing pus. 3. suppurative. 4. caused by pus; called also pyogenous.

Front 21

ichthyosis

Back 21

ich·thy·o·sis (ikthe-o´sis) [ ichthy- + -osis ]
1. any in a group of cutaneous disorders characterized by increased or aberrant keratinization, resulting in noninflammatory scaling of the skin. Metaphors sometimes used to describe the appearance or texture of the skin in various types or stages of ichthyosis include alligator, collodion, crocodile, fish, and porcupine skin. Most ichthyoses are genetically determined, but a few types may be acquired, usually developing in association with systemic diseases or genetic syndromes. 2. i. vulgaris. ichthyotic, adj

Front 22

lentigo simplex

Back 22

len·ti·go (len-ti´go) [ L. “freckle” ]
a small, flat, tan to dark brown or black, macular melanosis on the skin; it resembles a freckle clinically but is histologically distinct because it contains an increased number of normal-appearing melanocytes along the dermal-epidermal junction. Lentigines, unlike freckles, do not darken on exposure to sunlight. Called also l. simplex.

lentigo simplex, the most common type of lentigo, a congenital type found on mucous membranes as well as skin, usually associated with a hereditary disorder such as the LEOPARD syndrome or Moynahan syndrome. The rete pegs elongate and the number of melanocytes sharply increases. Single or multiple lesions may occur, and size and configuration vary widely. Called also nevoid l.

Front 23

micturition

Back 23

mic·tu·ri·tion (miktu-r´shn) [ L. micturire to urinate ]
urination.

Front 24

nares

Back 24

na·res (na´rz) [ L. ] sing. na´ris
the external orifices of the nose; called also nostrils.
anterior nares, external nares, nares.
posterior nares, the paired choanae; see choana (def. 2).

Front 25

omphalus

Back 25

om·pha·lus (om´f-ls) [ Gr. omphalos ]
umbilicus.

Front 26

pal·pe·bra (pal´p-br) [ L. ] gen. and pl. pal´pebrae,

Back 26

om·pha·lus (om´f-ls) [ Gr. omphalos ]
umbilicus.

Front 27

pal·pe·bra (pal´p-br)

Back 27

Word Lookup:
Provided by 3M

pal·pe·bra (pal´p-br) [ L. ] gen. and pl. pal´pebrae,
eyelid; either of the two movable folds that protect the anterior surface of the eyeball.
palpebral, adj

Front 28

pha·lanx (fa´lanks) pha·lan·ges (f-lan´jz)

Back 28

pha·lan·ges (f-lan´jz)
plural of phalanx.

pha·lanx (fa´lanks) [ L., from Gr. “a line or array of soldiers” ]
1. any of the bones of the fingers or toes; see ossa digitorum manus and ossa digitorum pedis, under os.

Front 29

ptarmus

Back 29

ptar·mus (tahr´ms) [ Gr. ptarmos ]
spasmodic sneezing.
ptarmic, adj

Front 30

rubor

Back 30

ru·bor (roo´bor) [ L. ]
redness, one of the cardinal signs of inflammation.

Front 31

tinea pedis

Back 31

tinea pedis, tinea on the feet, usually between the toes or on the soles, most often caused by Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes, or Epidermophyton floccosum. It is characterized by intensely pruritic lesions varying from mild, chronic, and scaling to acute, exfoliative, pustular, and bullous. It may be spread to other parts of the body by autoinoculation; see t. cruris and t. manuum. Called also athlete's foot and ringworm of the foot.

Front 32

trichobezoar

Back 32

tricho·be·zoar (triko-be´zor) [ tricho- + bezoar ]
a concretion within the stomach or intestines formed of hairs; called also hairball or hair ball.

Front 33

tumor

Back 33

tu·mor (too´mr) [ L., from tumere to swell ]
1. swelling, one of the cardinal signs of inflammation; morbid enlargement. 2. a new growth of tissue in which the multiplication of cells is uncontrolled and progressive; called also neoplasm.

Front 34

verruca vulgaris

Back 34

verruca vulgaris, common wart.

Front 35

Christmas disease

Back 35

Christmas disease
= hemophilia B, one of the two main forms of hemophilia, it is an X-linked recessive condition named for Stephen Christmas, who was the first patient proven to have the disorder.

Hemophilia A accounts for 90 percent of such hereditary bleeding disorders, while the more rare Christmas disease afflicts about 10 percent of hemophilia patients. Both Christmas disease and hemophilia A are genetic disorders in which there is deficient production of one of the proteins in the blood. Individuals with Christmas disease have a deficiency in a protein called factor IX, while in hemophilia A the deficiency is factor VIII. Patients lacking these proteins take longer to form blood clots, and prolonged bleeding can occur after a cut or bruise.

Front 36

fetal warfarin syndrome

Back 36

fetal warfarin syndrome

fetal bleeding, nasal hypoplasia, optic atrophy, and death resulting from ingestion of warfarin by the pregnant patient.

war·fa·rin (wor´fr-in)
a synthetic coumarin anticoagulant that acts by inhibiting the hepatic synthesis of vitamin K–dependent coagulation factors (prothrombin and factors VII, IX, and X) and proteins C and S.

Front 37

col·lyr·i·um (k-lir´e-m)

Back 37

col·lyr·i·um (k-lir´e-m) [ L., from Gr. kollyrion eye salve ]

A medicinal lotion applied to the eye (eyewash). This is not a brand name, but a word that describes any such salve or lotion. The plural form is collyria.

Front 38

subarachnoid cistern

Back 38

subarachnoid cisterns, cisternae subarachnoideae.


The subarachnoid cistern is a sac or cavity of the subarachnoid space that contains cerebrospinal fluid. This is a part of the central nervous system structure between the lower brain and upper spinal cord.

subarachnoid: situated or occurring beneath the arachnoid membrane, or between the arachnoid and the pia mater.

cistern: a sac or cavity containing fluid, especially lymph or cerebrospinal fluid. This is, of course, the anatomical definition. Cistern also has a broader, more general meaning.

Front 39

bovarism
   [boh-vuh-riz-uhm]

Back 39

bo·va·rism
   [boh-vuh-riz-uhm]
noun
an exaggerated, especially glamorized, estimate of oneself; conceit.

Front 40

Einthoven triangle

Back 40

Einthoven triangle

An imaginary equilateral triangle with the heart at its center and representing the three standard limb leads of the electrocardiogram when the apex is at the pelvis. This is named after William Einthoven, a Dutch doctor who developed the first electrocardiograph, or EKG.

Front 41

coumarin

Back 41

cou·ma·rin (koo´m-rin)
1. a principle with a bitter taste and an odor like that of vanilla beans, derived from tonka bean, sweet clover, and other plants, and also prepared synthetically. It contains a factor, dicumarol, that inhibits the hepatic synthesis of the vitamin K–dependent coagulation factors (prothrombin, factors VII, IX, and X), and a number of its derivatives are used widely as anticoagulants in the treatment of disorders in which there is excessive or undesirable clotting, such as thrombophlebitis, pulmonary embolism, and certain cardiac conditions. 2. any derivative of coumarin or any synthetic compound with coumarin-like actions.

Front 42

warfarin

Back 42

war·fa·rin (wor´fr-in)
a synthetic coumarin anticoagulant that acts by inhibiting the hepatic synthesis of vitamin K–dependent coagulation factors (prothrombin and factors VII, IX, and X) and proteins C and S. It also acts as a rodenticide, causing fatal hemorrhaging in any mammal that consumes a sufficient dose.

Front 43

hypoplasia

Back 43

hy·po·pla·sia (hipo-pla´zha) [ hypo- + -plasia ]
incomplete development or underdevelopment of an organ or tissue; it is less severe in degree than aplasia. hypoplastic, adj

Front 44

atrophy (at´r-fe)

Back 44

at·ro·phy (at´r-fe) [ Gr. atrophia ]
1. a wasting away; a diminution in the size of a cell, tissue, organ, or part. See also atrophia and atrophie. 2. to undergo this process. atrophic, adj

Front 45

mi·cro·ceph·a·ly (mikro-sef´-le)

Back 45

mi·cro·ceph·a·ly (mikro-sef´-le) [ micro- + cephaly ]
abnormal smallness of the head, usually associated with mental retardation. Called also nanocephaly.
microcephalic, microcephalous adj

Front 46

mi·croph·thal·mia (mikrof-thal´me-)
also microphthalmos.

Back 46

mi·croph·thal·mia (mikrof-thal´me-)
also microphthalmos.

a developmental defect causing moderate or severe reduction in size of the eye. Opacities of the cornea and lens, scarring of the retina and choroid, and other abnormalities may also be present. Cf. nanophthalmos.

Front 47

acid

Back 47

ac·id  [as-id] noun

In chemistry, a compound usually having a sour taste and capable of neutralizing alkalis and reddening blue litmus paper, containing hydrogen that can be replaced by a metal or an electropositive group to form a salt, or containing an atom that can accept a pair of electrons from a base. Acids are proton donors that yield hydronium ions in water solution, or electron-pair acceptors that combine with electron-pair donors or bases.

Front 48

alopecia

Back 48

al·o·pe·cia (alo-pe´shah)

[ Gr. alpekia a disease in which the hair falls out ] lack or loss of hair from skin areas where it normally is present. Called also atrichia, baldness, and calvities.

Front 49

anesthesia

Back 49

an·es·the·sia (anes-the´zhah)
[ an- + esthesia ]
1. loss of sensation, usually by damage to a nerve or receptor; called also numbness. 2. loss of the ability to feel pain, caused by administration of a drug or by other medical interventions;

Front 50

artery

Back 50

ar·te·ry (ahr´t-re) [ Gr. artria q.v. ]

A vessel through which the blood passes away from the heart to the various parts of the body. The wall of an artery consists typically of an outer coat (tunica externa), a middle coat (tunica media), and an inner coat (tunica intima).

Front 51

bag

Back 51

bag (bag)

A flexible container; see also pocket, pouch, and sac.

Front 52

bandage

Back 52

ban·dage (ban´dj)

1. a strip or roll of gauze or other material for wrapping or binding any part of the body. 2. to cover by wrapping with a strip of gauze or other material. See also dressing and strapping. Ace bandage, trademark for a bandage of woven elastic material.

Front 53

brace

Back 53

brace

1. a device that holds parts together or in place. 2. an orthopedic appliance (orthosis) used to support, align, or hold parts of the body in correct position. 3. (in the pl.)orthodontic appliance.

Front 54

canal

Back 54

ca·nal (kah-nal´)

A relatively narrow tubular passage or channel; see also canalis.

Front 55

catheter

Back 55

cath·e·ter (kath´e-tr) [ Gr. kathetr ]
a tubular, flexible, surgical instrument that is inserted into a cavity of the body to withdraw or introduce fluid. See also cannula

Front 56

cautery

Back 56

cau·tery (kaw´ter-e) [ L. cauterium; Gr. kautrion ]

A caustic substance or hot or cold instrument used in cauterization.