Medical Vocabulary Lesson 2

Front 1

Acromegaly

Back 1

A chronic syndrome of growth hormone excess, most often caused by a pituitary macroadenoma. It is characterized by gradual coarsening and enlargement of bones and facial features.

Front 2

Allodynia

Back 2

The condition in which an ordinarily painless stimulus, once perceived, is experienced as being painful.

Front 3

Amphiarthrosis

Back 3

A form of articulation in which the body surfaces are connected by cartilage; mobility is slight but may be exerted in all directions.
The articulations of the bodies of the vertebrae are examples.

Front 4

Anastomosis

Back 4

1. A natural communication between two vessels; may be direct or by means of connecting channels.
2. The surgical or pathological connection of two tubular structures.

Front 5

Anemic

Back 5

Pert. to anemia; deficient in red blood cells, in hemoglobin, or in volume of blood.

Front 6

Anergia

Back 6

Inactivity; lack of energy.

Front 7

Anodyne

Back 7

A drug that relieves pain.

Front 8

Arthropyosis

Back 8

The formation of pus in a joint

Front 9

Asynergy

Back 9

Lack of coordination among parts or organs normally acting in unison; in neurology, lack of coordination between muscle groups.

Front 10

Cheirology

Back 10

Representing words by signs made with the fingers.

Front 11

cholelithiasis

Back 11

The presence or formation of gallstones.

Front 12

Colicystitis

Back 12

Inflammation of the bladder resulting from Escherichia coli infection.

Front 13

Colonnteritis

Back 13

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the small and large intestines.

Front 14

Colonoscopy

Back 14

Visualization of the lower gastrointestinal tract; most often refers to insertion of a flexible endoscope through the anus to inspect the entire colon and terminal ileum.

Front 15

Colostomy

Back 15

The opening of a portion of the colon through the abdominal wall to its skin surface.

Front 16

Cyanosis

Back 16

A blue, gray, slate, or dark purple discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes caused by deoxygenated or reduced hemoglobin in the blood.

Front 17

Cystoma

Back 17

A cystic tumor; a growth containing cysts.

Front 18

dysentery

Back 18

Diarrhea containing blood and mucus, resulting from inflammation of the walls of the gastrointestinal tract, esp. the colon.

Front 19

Endogastritis

Back 19

Obsolete term for inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach.

Front 20

Enterocholecystostomy

Back 20

A surgically created opening between the gallbladder and small intestine.

Front 21

enterodynia

Back 21

Pain in the intestines; intestinal cramps or colic.

Front 22

epigastrium

Back 22

The superior central portion of the abdomen.

Front 23

eucholia

Back 23

The normal condition of bile regarding its constituents and the amount secreted.

Front 24

gastrocele

Back 24

A hernia of the stomach.

Front 25

gastrolithiasis

Back 25

The formation of calculi in the stomach.

Front 26

hematoma

Back 26

A swelling comprising a mass of extravasated blood (usually clotted) confined to an organ, tissue, or space and caused by a break in a blood vessel.

Front 27

heparin

Back 27

A parenteral anticoagulant drug with a faster onset than warfarin or its derivatives.
It is composed of polysaccharides that inhibit coagulation by forming an antithrombin that prevents conversion of prothrombin to thrombin and by preventing liberation of thromboplastin from platelets. Because heparin is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, it is usually administered intravenously or subcutaneously as a sodium or calcium salt.

Front 28

hepatosplenitis

Back 28

Inflammation of the liver and the spleen.

Front 29

heteroprosopus

Back 29

A congenitally deformed fetus having one head and two faces.

Front 30

hyperemia

Back 30

1. Congestion; an unusual amount of blood in a part.
2. A form of macula; red areas on the skin that disappear on pressure.
3. In physical therapy, an increase in the quantity of blood flowing through any part of the body, shown by redness of the skin caused by the application of heat.

Front 31

lipemia

Back 31

An abnormal amount of fat in the blood.

Front 32

melanoma

Back 32

A malignant tumor of darkly pigmented cells (melanocytes) that often arises in a brown or black mole.
The tumor can spread aggressively throughout the body (e.g., to the brain and other internal organs). The incidence of the disease is rising rapidly in the U.S., esp. among people older than 60 years.

Front 33

metabiosis

Back 33

Dependence of an organism for its existence on another.

Front 34

microbe

Back 34

A unicellular or small multicellular organism including bacteria, protozoa, some algae and fungi, viruses, and some worms, esp. those that are injurious to other organisms.

Front 35

microcephalia

Back 35

Abnormal smallness of head (below 1350 cc capacity) often seen in mental retardation.

Front 36

nephrocystanastomosis

Back 36

A surgical connection between the kidney and the bladder.

Front 37

nephropyosis

Back 37

Purulence of a kidney.

Front 38

nyctalgia

Back 38

Pain occurring at night.

Front 39

pachycephalic

Back 39

Possessing an abnormally thick skull.

Front 40

paracanthoma

Back 40

A tumor involving the prickle-cell layer of the epidermis.

Front 41

Parenteral

Back 41

Denoting any medication route other than the alimentary canal, such as intravenous, subcutaneous, intramuscular, or mucosal.

Front 42

Proencephalus

Back 42

A deformed fetus in which the brain protrudes through a fissure in the frontal area of the skull.

Front 43

protogaster

Back 43

The archenteron or gastrocele; the cavity in a gastrula or developing embryo from which the digestive tract develops.

Front 44

pseudoanemia

Back 44

Pallor of mucous membranes and skin without other signs of true anemia.

Front 45

pyonephrosis

Back 45

Pus accumulation in the pelvis of the kidney.

Front 46

Sarcocarcinoma

Back 46

A malignant tumor of sarcomatous and carcinomatous types.

Front 47

Spasm

Back 47

An involuntary sudden movement or muscular contraction that occurs as a result of some irritant or trauma.
Spasms may be clonic (characterized by alternate contraction and relaxation) or tonic (sustained). They may involve either visceral (smooth) muscle or skeletal (striated) muscle. When contractions are strong and painful, they are called cramps. The effect depends on the part affected. Asthma is assumed to be associated with spasm of the muscular coats of smaller bronchi; renal colic to spasm of the muscular coat of the ureter.

Front 48

Splenomegaly

Back 48

Enlargement of the spleen.

Front 49

Stomatitis

Back 49

Inflammation of the mouth (including the lips, tongue, and mucous membranes).

Front 50

synergy

Back 50

An action of two or more agents, muscles, or organs working with each other, cooperatively.