Medical Terminology

Front 1

anaemia

Back 1

reduction in the quantity of oxygen carrying cells (haemoglobin) in the blood

Front 2

aneurysm

Back 2

balloon like swelling in the wall of an artery

Front 3

angina

Back 3

reduction of blood flow to the heart muscle (myocardium) in the coronary arteries

Front 4

arrhythmia

Back 4

any variation from the normal cardiac rhythm (normal sinus rhythm)

Front 5

atrial

Back 5

relating to the upper chambers of the heart (atria)

Front 6

autonomic dysreflexia / autonomic hyperreflexia

Back 6

a condition of sudden high pressure in patients who have suffered a spinal injury, such as paraplegics and quadriplegics, which may continue to rise and may cause a brain haemorrhage or fits

Front 7

blood pressure

Back 7

pressure of blood in the arteries. usually measured in millimetres of mercury (mmHg)

Front 8

bradycardia

Back 8

slow heart rate, usually < 60 beats per minutes (bpm)

Front 9

cardia/cardiac

Back 9

relating to the heart

Front 10

cardiac arrest

Back 10

the cessation of effective pumping action

Front 11

cyanosis

Back 11

a bluish discolouration of the skin and mucus membranes, resulting from a lack of oxygen (cyanosed)

Front 12

defibrillation

Back 12

an electric shock administered to restore normal rhythm in cardiac arrest

Front 13

diastole

Back 13

the period between contractions when the heart muscle relaxes (diastolic)

Front 14

Embolus

Back 14

A clot in an artery which obstructs the flow of blood (embolism)

Front 15

Epistaxis

Back 15

Bleeding from the nose

Front 16

Fibrillation

Back 16

A rapid, uncoordinated heart muscle (myocardium) action resulting in inadequate circulation

Front 17

Frank

Back 17

Fresh blood

Front 18

Haematoma

Back 18

Accumulation of blood within tissue(bruise)

Front 19

Haemorrhage

Back 19

Bleeding

Front 20

Heart Block

Back 20

Impairment of normal electrical conduction in the heart

Front 21

Hypertension

Back 21

Elevation of arterial blood pressure above normal range ( > 140mmHg)

Front 22

Hypotension

Back 22

A decrease of arterial blood pressure below normal range ( < 100mmHg)

Front 23

Hypovolemia

Back 23

Decreased volume of circulating blood

Front 24

Infarction

Back 24

Death of tissue as a result of inadequate oxygen supply

Front 25

Ischaemia

Back 25

Inadequate circulation of blood caused by constriction or blockage in blood vessels

Front 26

Myocardial

Back 26

Relating to the myocardium (heart muscle)

Front 27

Oedema

Back 27

Excessive accumulation of fluid in body tissue (eg. peripheral or pulmonary)

Front 28

Systole

Back 28

The period of the cardiac cycle during which the heart muscle contracts (systolic)

Front 29

Tachycardia

Back 29

Fast heart rate, usually > 100 beats per minute (bpm)

Front 30

Thrombosis

Back 30

A blood clot (thrombus)

Front 31

Vasovagal

Back 31

A nerve response which causes a drop in blood pressure and heart rate leading to fainting (syncope)

Front 32

Ventricular
Fibrillation

Back 32

A life threatening cardiac arrhythmia in which the heart quivers (like jelly) resulting in inadequate circulation

Front 33

Ventricular
Tachycardia

Back 33

A life threatening cardiac arrhythmia in which the heart rate increases to a level where adequate circulation is not achieved

Front 34

Dislocation

Back 34

Displacement of one or more bones from their normal location

Front 35

Fracture

Back 35

Any damage or break to a bone

Front 36

Potts Fracture

Back 36

A fracture across the lower end of the fibula just above the ankle

Front 37

Aphasia

Back 37

Loss of speech

Front 38

Coma

Back 38

A state of unrousable consciousness

Front 39

Concussion

Back 39

Injury to the brain resulting in a disturbance of normal brain function

Front 40

Convulsion

Back 40

Generalised involuntary contraction of muscles (also known as fitting, seizures)

Front 41

Dementia

Back 41

Loss of mental (intellectual) function due to organic brain disease

Front 42

Dysphagia

Back 42

Difficulty swallowing

Front 43

Dysphasia

Back 43

Difficulty speaking

Front 44

Encephalitis

Back 44

Inflammation of the brain due to infection

Front 45

Epilepsy

Back 45

Transient disturbances of brain function

Front 46

Hemiparesis

Back 46

Paraesthesia (pins & needles) affecting one side of the body

Front 47

Hemiplegia

Back 47

Paralysis of one side of the body

Front 48

Meningitis

Back 48

Inflammation of the meninges (outer lining of the brain)

Front 49

Multiple Sclerosis

Back 49

A degenerative disease of the nervous system resulting in loss of motor function

Front 50

Paralysis

Back 50

Muscle weakness that varies in its extent, severity and degree

Front 51

Paraesthesia

Back 51

A sensation of pricking, tingling, or creeping on the skin usually caused with injury or irritation of a sensory nerve or nerve root

Front 52

Post Ictal

Back 52

The stage following a convulsion

Front 53

Quadriplegia

Back 53

Paralysis of the torso and limbs

Front 54

Seizure

Back 54

see Convulsion

Front 55

Schizophrenia

Back 55

A psychiatric disorder characterised by disintegration of thinking process, reality and emotional responses

Front 56

Sciatica

Back 56

Pain in the back and outer side of the upper leg

Front 57

Stroke

Back 57

Interruption of blood flow in the brain

Front 58

Syncope

Back 58

Fainting caused by a vasovagal reaction

Front 59

Vertigo

Back 59

Dizziness

Front 60

Agonal Breathing

Back 60

Pertaining to the period preceding death, usually a matter of minutes, but occasionally indicating a period of several hours. This is seen as a breath, followed by a release of air and long pause before the next breath is taken

Front 61

Anaphylaxis

Back 61

An extreme and generalised allergic reaction which is life threatening

Front 62

Asphyxia

Back 62

A life threatening condition in which oxygen cannot enter the respiratory system due to injury or obstruction

Front 63

Asthma

Back 63

Acute respiratory distress as a result of swelling in the airway (bronchospasm)

Front 64

Bronchitis

Back 64

Inflammation of the bronchi (lower airway)

Front 65

Cheyne Stoke

Back 65

Sometimes known as death rattles, a condition in which breathing slows down until it stops for several seconds before speeding up to a peak and then slowing down and repeating the cycle again

Front 66

Croup

Back 66

Inflammation and obstruction of the larynx (voice box) in children, often the result of an infection

Front 67

Dyspnoea

Back 67

Laboured or difficult breathing

Front 68

Emphysema

Back 68

Enlarged alveoli in the lungs which reduces the exchange of gasses

Front 69

Epiglottitis

Back 69

Inflammation of the epiglottis

Front 70

Haemoptysis

Back 70

Coughing blood

Front 71

Haemothorax

Back 71

Blood in the pleural cavity

Front 72

Hyperventilation

Back 72

Breathing at an abnormally rapid rate

Front 73

Hypoxia

Back 73

Deficiency of oxygen in the body

Front 74

Pleurisy

Back 74

Inflammation of the pleura, usually due to pneumonia

Front 75

Pneumonia

Back 75

Inflammation of the lung caused by a bacterial infection

Front 76

Pneumothorax

Back 76

Air in the pleural cavity, causing the lung to collapse

Front 77

Pulmonary

Back 77

Relating to the lungs

Front 78

Pulmonary Embolus

Back 78

A clot formed in an artery in or around the lungs

Front 79

Respiratory arrest

Back 79

Cessation of breathing

Front 80

Stridor

Back 80

A high pitched breathing sound indicating obstruction of the trachea or larynx

Front 81

Tachypnoea

Back 81

Increased respiratory rate, usually > 20 per minute

Front 82

Thorasic

Back 82

Related to the chest (thorax)

Front 83

Appendicitis

Back 83

Inflammation of the appendix

Front 84

Cholecystitis

Back 84

Inflammation of the gall bladder

Front 85

Colic

Back 85

Acute abdominal pain

Front 86

Colostomy

Back 86

A surgical opening through which faecal matter drains or to allow decompression of the intestines

Front 87

Diabetes

Back 87

A metabolic disorder in which insufficient insulin is produced by the pancreas

Front 88

Diarrhoea

Back 88

Loose bowel action

Front 89

Gastroenteritis

Back 89

Inflammation of the gastro-intestinal area

Front 90

Haematuria

Back 90

Blood in the urine

Front 91

Haematemesis

Back 91

Vomiting blood

Front 92

Hepatitis

Back 92

Inflammation of the liver

Front 93

Hernia

Back 93

The protrusion of part of an organ through an opening

Front 94

Hyperglycaemia

Back 94

High blood sugar level: > 10mmol/L (millimoles per litre)

Front 95

Hypoglycaemia

Back 95

Low blood sugar level: < 4mmol/L (millimoles per litre)

Front 96

Incontinence

Back 96

Loss of bladder or bowel control

Front 97

Jaundice

Back 97

A yellow discolouration of the skin usually due to liver dysfunction

Front 98

Ketoacidosis

Back 98

Elevated number of ketones which may rise due to diabetes or persistent vomiting

Front 99

Malaena

Back 99

Blood and faeces discharged from the bowel

Front 100

Nausea

Back 100

Feeling the need to vomit

Front 101

Pancreatitis

Back 101

Inflammation of the pancreas

Front 102

Peritonitis

Back 102

Inflammation of the membrane lining the abdominal cavity (peritoneum)

Front 103

Dialysis

Back 103

A procedure where waste products are removed from the kidneys

Front 104

Renal

Back 104

Relating to the kidneys

Front 105

Breech Birth

Back 105

Presentation of infant’s leg, arms or buttocks instead of the head

Front 106

Caesarean

Back 106

A surgical operation to deliver an infant through the abdominal wall

Front 107

Eclampsia

Back 107

A condition during pregnancy which may lead to elevated blood pressure, oedema and convulsions

Front 108

Ectopic Pregnancy

Back 108

The development of a foetus at a site other than in the uterus

Front 109

Foetus

Back 109

An embryo during the later stages of development in the uterus
(from 8 weeks till birth)

Front 110

Gestation

Back 110

The period of development of a foetus in the uterus (pregnancy)

Front 111

Pre-Eclampsia

Back 111

The early stages of eclampsia

Front 112

Carcinoma

Back 112

Cancer

Front 113

Chemotherapy

Back 113

A form of drug treatment for cancer

Front 114

Leukaemia

Back 114

Any of a group of malignant diseases in which abnormally large numbers of white blood cells (leucocytes) are present

Front 115

Malignant

Back 115

Cancerous

Front 116

Metastasis

Back 116

The distant spread of disease from it’s original site

Front 117

Tumour

Back 117

Abnormal formation or growth of cells

Front 118

Exposure

Back 118

The term given to being exposed to extremes of
temperature ( ie. hot or cold)

Front 119

Febrile

Back 119

Elevated body temperature ( > 37.5c)

Front 120

Frostbite

Back 120

Extremely low temperature of the extremities (eg. hands, ears, feet, etc)

Front 121

Hyperthermia

Back 121

High body temperature usually from prolonged exposure to high temeperatures

Front 122

Hypothermia

Back 122

Abnormally low body temperature from prolonged exposure to cold temperatures

Front 123

Pyrexia

Back 123

Elevated body temperature

Front 124

Angiogram

Back 124

Radiological imaging of blood vessels

Front 125

Angioplasty

Back 125

Insertion of a catheter which has a inflatable balloon to widen an obstructed artery

Front 126

Barium

Back 126

A radio opaque contrast used to highlight the gastro-intestinal tract on x-rays

Front 127

Biopsy

Back 127

Surgical removal of tissue for evaluation

Front 128

Cannula

Back 128

A tube inserted into part of the body

Front 129

Catheter

Back 129

A tube inserted into an organ or cavity

Front 130

Intubation

Back 130

The insertion of a tube into the upper airway through which the patient breathes
(endotracheal tube)

Front 131

Acute

Back 131

Of sudden onset and duration

Front 132

Aspiration

Back 132

Removal of fluid from the body by means of suction

Front 133

Chronic

Back 133

Long standing

Front 134

Effusion

Back 134

Collection of fluid (eg. pleural effusion)

Front 135

Exacerbation

Back 135

Worsening or deterioration of a condition

Front 136

Rigor mortis

Back 136

The stiffening of the body after death.

Front 137

Torso

Back 137

The upper part of the body excluding the head and arms (also known as the trunk)

Front 138

Triage

Back 138

To sort in order of priority