Medical Terminology For Physical Assessment

Front 1

Anterior

Back 1

Front

Front 2

Posterior

Back 2

Back

Front 3

Ventral

Back 3

pertaining to the front or anterior

Front 4

Dorsal

Back 4

pertaining to the back or posterior

Front 5

Proximal

Back 5

between 2 things, the nearer portion

Front 6

Cephalo

Back 6

pertaining to or toward the head

Front 7

Caudal

Back 7

toward the tail/rear

Front 8

Acr or acr/o

Back 8

pertaining to the extremities (arms, legs)

Front 9

Megal/o

Back 9

enlarged; large; big

Front 10

-y

Back 10

suffix that makes a word a noun

Front 11

Dermat/o

Back 11

pertaining to the skin

Front 12

Acromegaly

Back 12

enlarged, big or large extremities

Front 13

-itis

Back 13

suffix that means "inflammation"

Front 14

Acrodermatitis

Back 14

inflamed skin of the extremities

Front 15

Cyan/o

Back 15

blue or blueness

Front 16

Acrocyanosis

Back 16

blueness of the extremities (usually from lack of oxygen)

Front 17

-osis

Back 17

suffix that makes a word a noun and means condition

Front 18

Paralysis

Back 18

loss of movement

Front 19

Dermatitis

Back 19

inflammation of the skin

Front 20

Dermatosis

Back 20

any abnormal skin condition

Front 21

-tom

Back 21

From Greek tomos, meaning a piece cut off; may take many forms that refer to cutting

Front 22

Ectomy

Back 22

cut out

Front 23

Otomy

Back 23

cut into

Front 24

Tome

Back 24

instrument that cuts

Front 25

Dermatome

Back 25

instrument that cuts skin

Front 26

Leuk or leuk/o

Back 26

white

Front 27

Cyt/o

Back 27

cell

Front 28

Leukocyte

Back 28

white blood cell

Front 29

-penia

Back 29

decrease in (Greek for poverty)

Front 30

Leukocytopenia

Back 30

decrease in white blood cells

Front 31

-ia

Back 31

noun ending

Front 32

-em

Back 32

blood (from Greek for Blood)

Front 33

Leukemia

Back 33

literally a condition of white blood

Front 34

-logy

Back 34

study

Front 35

-logist

Back 35

one who studies

Front 36

Cardio

Back 36

heart

Front 37

Cardiology

Back 37

study of the heart

Front 38

-ostomy

Back 38

making a new opening

Front 39

Gastro

Back 39

pertaining to the stomach

Front 40

Gastrostomy

Back 40

making a new opening into the stomach

Front 41

Cyanosis

Back 41

condition of blueness

Front 42

Hyper

Back 42

prefix meaning above or more than normal

Front 43

Emesis

Back 43

vomiting

Front 44

Hyperemesis

Back 44

more than normal vomiting

Front 45

Trop/o

Back 45

nourishment

Front 46

Hypertrophy

Back 46

overdevelopment

Front 47

Hypo

Back 47

under or less than normal
opposite of hyper

Front 48

Hypotrophy

Back 48

progressive degeneration

Front 49

Aden/o

Back 49

referring to glands

Front 50

Adenitis

Back 50

inflammation of a gland

Front 51

-oma

Back 51

suffix meaning tumor

Front 52

Adenoma

Back 52

tumor of a gland

Front 53

Path/o

Back 53

disease

Front 54

Adenopathy

Back 54

disease of a gland or glandular disease in general

Front 55

Lip-

Back 55

fat

Front 56

Lipoma

Back 56

fatty tumor

Front 57

Carcin/o

Back 57

cancer

Front 58

Carcinoma

Back 58

cancerous tumor (can occur anywhere)

Front 59

Gastric carcinoma

Back 59

cancerous tumor of the stomach

Front 60

Splenic carcinoma

Back 60

cancerous tumor of the spleen

Front 61

-oid

Back 61

resembing (suffix)

Front 62

Lipoid

Back 62

resembling fat

Front 63

Mucoid

Back 63

resembing mucus

Front 64

Mucus

Back 64

noun; the secretion

Front 65

Mucous

Back 65

adjective; pertaining to mucus

Front 66

Mucosa

Back 66

protective mucous membrane lining body openings

Front 67

-algia

Back 67

pain

Front 68

-dynia

Back 68

pain

Front 69

Cephalalgia

Back 69

pain in the head

Front 70

Cephalodynia

Back 70

pain in the head

Front 71

-cele

Back 71

herniation (projecton of a part from its natural location or cavity)

Front 72

Encephalo

Back 72

brain

Front 73

Encephalocele

Back 73

herniation of the brain

Front 74

Malaci/ia

Back 74

softening of a tissue

Front 75

Osteo

Back 75

bone

Front 76

Osteomalacia

Back 76

softening of the bone

Front 77

Osteopathy

Back 77

diseases of the bone

Front 78

Osteoma

Back 78

bone tumor

Front 79

Arthr/o

Back 79

pertaining to a joint

Front 80

Osteoarthropathy

Back 80

any disease involving the bones and joints

Front 81

-plasty

Back 81

surgical repair

Front 82

Arthroplasty

Back 82

surgical repair of a joint

Front 83

Arthritis

Back 83

inflammation of a joint

Front 84

Arthrotomy

Back 84

incision into a joint

Front 85

Chondro

Back 85

cartilage

Front 86

Osteochondritis

Back 86

inflammation of the bone and cartilage

Front 87

Cost/o

Back 87

pertaining to the ribs

Front 88

Chostochondral

Back 88

pertaining to the rib cartilage

Front 89

Inter-

Back 89

between

Front 90

Intercostals

Back 90

between the ribs

Front 91

Dent/

Back 91

teeth

Front 92

Interdental cavity

Back 92

space between the teeth

Front 93

Ab-

Back 93

deviating (turning away from what is normal)

Front 94

Aberrant

Back 94

a structure that wanders away from the normal

Front 95

Abduction

Back 95

movement away from a midline

Front 96

Ad-

Back 96

prefix meaning toward

Front 97

Adduction

Back 97

movement toward a midline

Front 98

Addiction

Back 98

drawn toward a habit

Front 99

Adhesion

Back 99

forms when two tissues normally separated join together

Front 100

Py/o

Back 100

wood root meaning pus

Front 101

Py/o/gen/ic

Back 101

producing pus

Front 102

Py/orrhea

Back 102

discharge of pus

Front 103

/orrhea

Back 103

suffix meaning discharge or flow

Front 104

Pyothorax

Back 104

accumulation of pus in the thoracic cavity

Front 105

Ot/

Back 105

word root meaning ear

Front 106

Otorrhea

Back 106

discharge from the ear

Front 107

Otitis

Back 107

inflammation of the ear

Front 108

Otodynia

Back 108

ear pain

Front 109

Otalgia

Back 109

ear pain

Front 110

Rhin/o

Back 110

pertaining to the nose

Front 111

Rhinorrhea

Back 111

discharge from the nose

Front 112

/plasty

Back 112

surgical repair of

Front 113

Rhinoplasty

Back 113

surgical repair of the nose

Front 114

Opthalm/o

Back 114

word root for eye

Front 115

Ophthalmic

Back 115

pertaining to the eye

Front 116

/plegia

Back 116

suffix meaning paralysis

Front 117

Opthalmo/plegia

Back 117

paralysis of the eye

Front 118

Ophthalmo/logy

Back 118

study of the eye

Front 119

Ophthalmo/scope

Back 119

instrument to study the eye

Front 120

/scope

Back 120

instrument used to examine

Front 121

/o/logy

Back 121

study of

Front 122

Nas/o

Back 122

pertaining to the nose

Front 123

Pharyng/o

Back 123

word root pertaining to the pharynx

Front 124

Trache/o

Back 124

pertaining to the trachea

Front 125

Bronc/i or bronch/o

Back 125

pertaining to the bronchus

Front 126

Mental

Back 126

pertaining to the chin

Front 127

Nasopharyng/itis

Back 127

inflammation of nose and pharynx

Front 128

Naso/lacrim/al

Back 128

pertaining to the nose and lacrimal gland

Front 129

Pharyng/itis

Back 129

inflammation of the pharynx

Front 130

Trache/otomy

Back 130

incision into the trachea

Front 131

Bronch/itis

Back 131

inflammation of the bronchi

Front 132

Broncho/scope

Back 132

instrument used to examine the bronchus

Front 133

Pleur/al

Back 133

pertaining to the pleura

Front 134

Pleur/itis

Back 134

inflammation of the pleura

Front 135

/centesis

Back 135

surgical puncturing of

Front 136

Pleurocentesis

Back 136

surgical puncturing of the pleura

Front 137

Stom/a

Back 137

opening or related to the mouth

Front 138

Stomat/itis

Back 138

inflammation of the mouth

Front 139

Corne/o

Back 139

word root for cornea

Front 140

Ir

Back 140

word root for iris

Front 141

Scler/a

Back 141

word root for sclera

Front 142

Ir/itis

Back 142

inflammation of the iris

Front 143

Irid/o

Back 143

another word root for iris

Front 144

Irid/ectomy

Back 144

excision of part of the iris

Front 145

Retin/o

Back 145

word root for retina

Front 146

Retinoscope

Back 146

instrument used to examine the retina

Front 147

Cor

Back 147

word root for pupil

Front 148

Cor/e or cor/e/o

Back 148

word root for pupil

Front 149

Kerat/o

Back 149

pertaining to the cornea

Front 150

Kerat/otomy

Back 150

incision into the cornea

Front 151

Anisocoria

Back 151

unequal pupil size

Front 152

Cyclo

Back 152

ciliary body

Front 153

Cycloplegia

Back 153

paralysis of the ciliary body

Front 154

Lacrim

Back 154

word root meaning pertaining to tears

Front 155

Dacry/o

Back 155

excessive lacrimation (tearing)

Front 156

Tympan/o

Back 156

pertaining to the ear drum

Front 157

Blephar/o

Back 157

pertaining to the eyelid

Front 158

Blephar/itis

Back 158

inflammation of the eyelid

Front 159

Gloss/o

Back 159

word root for tongue

Front 160

Gloss/itis

Back 160

inflammation of the tongue

Front 161

Cheil/o

Back 161

word root for lip

Front 162

Cheil/itis

Back 162

inflammation of the lips

Front 163

Gingiv/o

Back 163

word root for gum

Front 164

Pleura

Back 164

the serous membrane eveloping the lungs and lining the walls of the pleural cavity

Front 165

Visceral pleura

Back 165

covers the outer surface of each lung

Front 166

Parietal pleura

Back 166

line the inner rib cage and upper surface of the diaphragm

Front 167

Pulmonary

Back 167

relating to the lungs, to the pulmonary artery or to the aperture leading from the right ventricle into the pulmonary artery

Front 168

Horizontal fissure

Back 168

separates the Right Upper Lobe (RUL) from the Right Middle Lobe (RML)

Front 169

Oblique fissure

Back 169

separates the Right Lower Lobe (RLL) from the Right Upper Lobe (RUL) and Right Middle Lobe (RML)

Front 170

Left oblique fissure

Back 170

Separates the Left Lower Lobe (LLL) from the Left Upper Lobe (LUL)

Front 171

Atelectasis

Back 171

reduction or absence of air in part or all of a lung, with resulting loss of lung volume; pulmonary collapse

Front 172

Pneumothorax

Back 172

presence of air or gas in the pleural cavity

Front 173

Pleural effusion

Back 173

increased amounts of fluid within the pleural cavity, usually due to inflammation

Front 174

Pulmonary embolism

Back 174

obstruction of occlusion of pulmonary arteries by an embolus; more frequently detached fragments of thrombus from a leg or pelvic vein; commonly when thrombosis has followed an operation or confinement in bed

Front 175

Supraclavicular

Back 175

above the clavicals

Front 176

Infraclavicular

Back 176

below the clavicals

Front 177

Interscapular

Back 177

between the scapulae

Front 178

Infrascapular

Back 178

below the scapulae

Front 179

Bases of the lungs

Back 179

lowermost portions of lungs

Front 180

Fremitus

Back 180

palpable vibrations transmitted through the bronchopulmonary tree to the chest wall when the patient speaks

Front 181

Flatness

Back 181

relatively soft intensity, high pitch, and short duration

Front 182

Dullness

Back 182

relatively medium intensity, medium pitch, and medium duration

Front 183

Resonance

Back 183

relatively loud intensity, low pitch, and long duration

Front 184

Hyperresonance

Back 184

relatively very loud intensity, lower pitch, longer duration

Front 185

Tympany

Back 185

relatively loud intensity, high pitch; distinguished by its musical timbre

Front 186

Diaphragmatic excursion

Back 186

descent of the diaphragms

Front 187

Crackles

Back 187

Rales; an intermittent (discontinuous), nonmusical and brief adventitious breath sound that may be attributed to a lung or airway abnormality

Front 188

Wheezes

Back 188

a continuous, musical, prolonged relatively high-piched adventitous breath sound with a hissing or shrill quality indicative of a narrowed airway as seen in asthma, COPD, and bronchitis

Front 189

Rhonchi

Back 189

a continuous, musical, prolonged relatively low-pitched adventitous breath sound with a snoring quality indicative of secretion in large airways

Front 190

Carpals

Back 190

small bones of the wrist

Front 191

Tarsals

Back 191

small bones of the foot/ankle

Front 192

Humerus

Back 192

upper arm bone

Front 193

Femur

Back 193

thigh bone

Front 194

Radius and ulnar

Back 194

bones of the forearm

Front 195

Tibia and fibula

Back 195

bones of the lower leg

Front 196

Clavicle

Back 196

collarbone

Front 197

Sternum

Back 197

breast bone

Front 198

Intercostal

Back 198

between the ribs

Front 199

Subcostal

Back 199

under the ribs

Front 200

Cervic/o

Back 200

pertaining to the neck or the cervix of the uterus

Front 201

Thorac/o

Back 201

chest

Front 202

Thoracic vertebrae

Back 202

part of the vertebral collum in the chest (numbered 1-12)

Front 203

Cervical vertebrae

Back 203

vertebrae in the neck (C 1-7)

Front 204

Lumbar vertebrae

Back 204

vertebrae in the lower back (L 1-5)

Front 205

Sacr/o

Back 205

pertaining to the sacrum (5 sacral vertebrae fuse in adults)

Front 206

Rach/i or rach/o

Back 206

pertaining to the spine

Front 207

Ankyl/o

Back 207

stiff

Front 208

Arthr/o

Back 208

articulation, joint

Front 209

-asthenia

Back 209

weakness

Front 210

Burs/o

Back 210

pertaining to a bursa

Front 211

De-

Back 211

down from or reversing

Front 212

Muscul/o or my/o

Back 212

muscle

Front 213

Oste/o

Back 213

bone

Front 214

Para

Back 214

near, beside, or abnormal

Front 215

-poiesis

Back 215

production

Front 216

Ten/o, tend/o, or tendin/o

Back 216

tendon

Front 217

Myasthenia

Back 217

condition of muscle weakness

Front 218

-cele

Back 218

protruding through an opening

Front 219

Myalgia

Back 219

muscle pain

Front 220

Arthralgia

Back 220

joint pain

Front 221

Bursitis

Back 221

inflammation of bursae

Front 222

Hyperuricemia

Back 222

elevated level of uric acid

Front 223

Polyarthritis

Back 223

inflammation of many joints

Front 224

Pauciarthritis

Back 224

inflammation of a few joints

Front 225

Acr/o

Back 225

extremities

Front 226

Neur/o

Back 226

pertaining to nerve

Front 227

-lysis

Back 227

suffix meaning destruction, freeing

Front 228

-centesis

Back 228

surgical puncture to remove fluid

Front 229

-rrhaphy

Back 229

suffix meaning surgical repair

Front 230

-ectomy

Back 230

surgical removal

Front 231

-emia

Back 231

pertaining to the blood

Front 232

-ptosis

Back 232

prolapse or sagging

Front 233

-stasis

Back 233

stopping or controlling

Front 234

-penia

Back 234

deficiency

Front 235

-phobia

Back 235

abnormal fear

Front 236

-ectasis

Back 236

dilation

Front 237

Mal

Back 237

bad, painful

Front 238

a-, ab-

Back 238

prefix meaning without, away from

Front 239

-esthesia

Back 239

sensation

Front 240

Anesthesia

Back 240

without sensation

Front 241

-phagia

Back 241

eating

Front 242

Aphagia

Back 242

unable/ without eating

Front 243

-kinesia

Back 243

movement

Front 244

Bradykinesia

Back 244

slow movement

Front 245

Cephalgia

Back 245

headache

Front 246

-plegia

Back 246

paralysis

Front 247

-opia

Back 247

vision

Front 248

Diplopia

Back 248

double vision

Front 249

dys

Back 249

prefix meaning bad, painful, difficult

Front 250

Dysphagia

Back 250

painful, difficult swallowing

Front 251

Encephal/o

Back 251

brain

Front 252

Encephalitis

Back 252

inflammation of brain

Front 253

Mening/o

Back 253

pertaining to meninges

Front 254

Meningitis

Back 254

inflammation of the meninges

Front 255

Myel/o

Back 255

pertaining to spinal chord

Front 256

Myelitis

Back 256

inflammation of the spinal chord

Front 257

-pathy

Back 257

disease

Front 258

Encephalopathy

Back 258

disease of the brain

Front 259

Hemi-

Back 259

prefix meaning half

Front 260

Hemiplegia

Back 260

paralysis of half the body

Front 261

Neuritis

Back 261

inflammation of nerve

Front 262

Encephalocele

Back 262

herniation of brain through opening in cranium

Front 263

Neurolysis

Back 263

destruction of nerve tissue

Front 264

Neuropathy

Back 264

disease of the nerves

Front 265

Hypo-

Back 265

prefix meaning less than, under

Front 266

Craniotomy

Back 266

surgical incision into the cranium

Front 267

Meso, mid-, medio-

Back 267

middle

Front 268

Trans-

Back 268

across

Front 269

Retro-

Back 269

behind, backward

Front 270

Eu-

Back 270

normal, good

Front 271

Crypt/o

Back 271

hidden

Front 272

Dips/o

Back 272

thirst

Front 273

Dacry/o

Back 273

tear

Front 274

Lacrim/o

Back 274

tear

Front 275

Dacrocystitis

Back 275

inflammation of the tear sac

Front 276

/opsy

Back 276

process of viewing

Front 277

Epi

Back 277

prefix meaning above

Front 278

Ex.

Back 278

prefix meaning out of or away from

Front 279

Exo

Back 279

Prefix meaning out

Front 280

Hyper

Back 280

prefix meaning excessive

Front 281

Pro

Back 281

prefix meaning before

Front 282

Re/

Back 282

prefix meaning back

Front 283

Retro/

Back 283

prefix meaning behind

Front 284

Trans

Back 284

prefix meaning across

Front 285

Dia

Back 285

prefix meaning through

Front 286

Pauci

Back 286

prefix meaning too few

Front 287

/tripsy

Back 287

suffix meaning breaking up

Front 288

/orrhea

Back 288

suffix meaning flow

Front 289

Dys/

Back 289

prefix meaning bad, painful, or difficult

Front 290

Eu/

Back 290

Prefix meaning well, easy

Front 291

melan/o

Back 291

black

Front 292

erythr/o

Back 292

red

Front 293

Cyan/o

Back 293

blue

Front 294

Chlor/o

Back 294

green

Front 295

Xanth/o

Back 295

yellow

Front 296

Vesic/o

Back 296

pertaining to the bladder

Front 297

Viscer/o

Back 297

pertaining to the internal organs

Front 298

Pex/o

Back 298

surgical fixation

Front 299

Hemat/o

Back 299

pertaining to blood

Front 300

Clys/o

Back 300

washing or irrigating

Front 301

Crypt/o

Back 301

hidden

Front 302

Narc/o

Back 302

word root meaning sleep

Front 303

Tympan/o

Back 303

pertaining to the ear drum

Front 304

Omphal/o

Back 304

pertaining to the umbilicus

Front 305

Phob/o

Back 305

fear

Front 306

Angio

Back 306

vessel

Front 307

O/o

Back 307

ovum

Front 308

Phor

Back 308

carries or bears

Front 309

O/ophor

Back 309

organ that bears ova

Front 310

euphoria

Back 310

carrying good (feeling)

Front 311

Dysphoria

Back 311

carrying bad (feeling)

Front 312

/stasis

Back 312

stopping or controlling

Front 313

Esophoria

Back 313

carrying the eye medially (cross-eyed)

Front 314

Exophoria

Back 314

carrying the eye outward

Front 315

Schiz/o, schist/o, and schis/o

Back 315

split, cleft, or fissure

Front 316

Schistocyte

Back 316

fractured or broken cell

Front 317

Anis/o

Back 317

unequal

Front 318

Thromb/o

Back 318

word root meaning clot

Front 319

/lysis

Back 319

suffix meaning breaking up

Front 320

Trich/o

Back 320

hair

Front 321

Semi, hemi

Back 321

half

Front 322

Blast

Back 322

embryonic tissue

Front 323

Gastrectomy

Back 323

removal of the stomach

Front 324

Duoden/o

Back 324

referring to the duodenum

Front 325

Gastroduodenostomy

Back 325

formation of a new opening between stomach and duodenum

Front 326

Troph/o

Back 326

nourishment/growth

Front 327

Gingiv/i

Back 327

gums

Front 328

Enter/o

Back 328

related to the small intestine

Front 329

Jejun/o

Back 329

related to the jejunum

Front 330

Ile/o

Back 330

related to the ileum

Front 331

Col/o

Back 331

related to the colon

Front 332

Rect/o

Back 332

related to the rectum

Front 333

Proct/o

Back 333

related to the anus/rectum

Front 334

Pancreat/o

Back 334

related to the pancreas

Front 335

Hepat/o

Back 335

related to the liver

Front 336

Leukocytopenia

Back 336

not enough white blood cells

Front 337

-mania

Back 337

madness

Front 338

Megalomania

Back 338

mental disorder where patient has delusions of grandeur

Front 339

-gram

Back 339

record

Front 340

Electrocardiogram

Back 340

record of the electrical impulses given off by the heart

Front 341

Gastrectomy

Back 341

removal of the stomach

Front 342

Intercostal

Back 342

between the ribs

Front 343

Malac/o

Back 343

softening

Front 344

Chondro

Back 344

cartilage

Front 345

Abdomin/o

Back 345

abdomen

Front 346

Cyst/o

Back 346

bladder

Front 347

Peps/ia

Back 347

digestion

Front 348

-orrhagia

Back 348

hemorrhage

Front 349

Chol/e

Back 349

gall-bile

Front 350

Lith/o

Back 350

stone or calculus

Front 351

Scler/o

Back 351

hard

Front 352

Pex/y

Back 352

fixation

Front 353

Salpingo

Back 353

fallopian tube

Front 354

Hyster/o

Back 354

uterus

Front 355

Ptosis

Back 355

prolapse

Front 356

Nephr/o

Back 356

kidney

Front 357

Nephrolithiasis

Back 357

kidney stone

Front 358

Ureter/o

Back 358

ureter

Front 359

Pyel/o

Back 359

renal pelvis

Front 360

Myc/o

Back 360

fungus

Front 361

Estas/ia

Back 361

Dilatation-stretch

Front 362

-orrhaphy

Back 362

suture

Front 363

-orrhexis

Back 363

rupture

Front 364

Cholecystitis

Back 364

inflammation of gallbladder

Front 365

Cholecystectomy

Back 365

removal of gallbladder

Front 366

Amb/l

Back 366

both

Front 367

Cocc/o

Back 367

coccus

Front 368

-tripsy

Back 368

surgical crushing

Front 369

Lithotripsy

Back 369

surgical crushing of stone

Front 370

-plas/o

Back 370

formation/development

Front 371

Dysplasia

Back 371

abnormal development

Front 372

Psych/o

Back 372

mind or soul

Front 373

Pyr/o

Back 373

fever, fire

Front 374

Orchid/o

Back 374

testis, testicles

Front 375

Syn

Back 375

with

Front 376

Dips/o

Back 376

thirst, drink

Front 377

Phil/o

Back 377

attraction

Front 378

Men/o

Back 378

menses/menstruation

Front 379

-stasis

Back 379

halt-control

Front 380

Pseud/o

Back 380

false

Front 381

Edema

Back 381

swelling

Front 382

Lapar/o

Back 382

abdominal wall