Medterms R & S

Front 1

Radiation oncologist

Back 1

Physician trained in the treatment of disease (cancer) with high-energy x-rays or particles.

Front 2

Radiation therapy

Back 2

Treatment of disease (cancer) with high-energy x-rays or particles (photons and protons). Also called radiotherapy.

Front 3

Radiologist

Back 3

Physician trained in the use of x-rays (such as computed tomography and also including ultrasound) to diagnose illness.

Front 4

Radiology

Back 4

Science of using x-rays in the diagnosis of disease.

Front 5

Radiotherapist

Back 5

Physician trained to treat disease (cancer) with high-energy x-rays or particles. See RADIATION ONCOLOGIST.

Front 6

Radiotherapy

Back 6

Treatment of disease (cancer) with high-energy x-rays or particles such as photons and protons. Also called radiation therapy.

Front 7

Radius

Back 7

One of two lower arm bones. The radius is located on the thumb side of the hand.

Front 8

Rectal resection

Back 8

Excision (resection) of the RECTUM.

Front 9

Rectocele

Back 9

Hernia (protrusion) of the rectum into the vagina.

Front 10

Rectum

Back 10

End of the colon. The rectum delivers wastes (feces) to the anus for elimination.

Front 11

Relapse

Back 11

Return of disease after its apparent termination.

Front 12

Remission

Back 12

Lessening of signs and symptoms of a disease.

Front 13

Renal

Back 13

Pertaining to the kidney.

Front 14

Renal calculus

Back 14

Kidney stones.

Front 15

Renal failure

Back 15

Condition in which the kidneys no longer function.

Front 16

Renal pelvis

Back 16

Central section of the kidney where urine collects.

Front 17

Reproductive

Back 17

Pertaining to the process by which living things produce offspring.

Front 18

Research

Back 18

Laboratory investigation of a medical problem.

Front 19

Resection

Back 19

Removal (excision) of an organ or a structure.

Front 20

Residency training

Back 20

Period of hospital work involving the care of patients after the completion of four years of medical school.

Front 21

Respiratory system

Back 21

Organs that control breathing, allowing air to enter and leave the body.

Front 22

Retina

Back 22

Layer of sensitive cells at the back of the eye. Light is focused on the retina and then is transmitted to the optic nerve, which leads to the brains.

Front 23

Retinopathy

Back 23

Disease of the RETINA.

Front 24

Retrogastric

Back 24

Pertaining to behind the stomach.

Front 25

Retroperitoneal

Back 25

Pertaining to behind the PERTONEUM.

Front 26

Rhabdomyosarcoma

Back 26

A malignant tumor of muscle cells (skeletal, voluntary muscle) that occurs most frequently in the head and neck, extremities, body wall, and area behind the abdomen.

Front 27

Rheumatoid arthritis

Back 27

Chronic inflammatory disease of the joints and connective tissue that leads to deformed joints.

Front 28

Rheumatologist

Back 28

Specialist in the treatment of diseases of connective tissue, especially the joints. RHEUMAT/O comes from the Greek rheuma, meaning “that which flows, as a stream or river.” Inflammatory disorders of joints are often marked by a collection of fluid in joint spaces.

Front 29

Rheumatology

Back 29

Branch of medicine dealing with inflammation, degeneration, or chemical changes in connective tissues, such as joints and muscles. Pain, stiffness, or limitation of motion are often characteristics of rheumatologic disorders.

Front 30

Rhinitis

Back 30

Inflammation of the nose.

Front 31

Rhinoplasty

Back 31

Surgical repair of the nose.

Front 32

Rhinorrhea

Back 32

Discharge from the nose.

Front 33

Rhinotomy

Back 33

Incision of the nose.

Front 34

Rib

Back 34

One of twelve paired bones surrounding the chest. Seven ribs (true ribs) attach directly to the breastbone, three (false ribs) attach the seventh rib, and two (floating ribs) are not attached at all.

Front 35

Sacral

Back 35

Pertaining to the SACRUM.

Front 36

Sacral region

Back 36

Five fused bones in the lower back, below the lumbar bones and wedged between two parts of the hip (ilium).

Front 37

Sacrum

Back 37

Triangular bone in the lower back, below the lumbar bones and formed by five fused bones.

Front 38

Sagittal plane

Back 38

An imaginary plane that divides an organ or the body into right and left portions. The midsagittal plane divides a structure equally into right and left halves.

Front 39

Sagittal section

Back 39

Cut (section) through the body, dividing it into a right and left portion.

Front 40

Salpingectomy

Back 40

Removal of a fallopian (uterine) tube.

Front 41

Salpingitis

Back 41

Inflammation of a fallopian (uterine) tube.

Front 42

Sarcoidosis

Back 42

Chronic, progressive disorder of cells in connective tissue, spleen, liver, bone marrow, lungs, and lymph nodes. Small collections of cells (granulomas) form in affected organs and tissues. The cause is unknown but may involve malfunction of the immune system.

Front 43

Sarcoma

Back 43

Cancerous (malignant) tumor of connective tissues, such as bone, muscle, fat, or cartilage.

Front 44

Scapula

Back 44

Shoulder bone.

Front 45

Sclera

Back 45

White, outer coat of the eyeball.

Front 46

Scotoma

Back 46

Defect in vision in a defined area (blind spot).

Front 47

Scrotal

Back 47

Pertaining to the scrotum.

Front 48

Scrotum

Back 48

Sac on the outside of the body that contains the testes.

Front 49

Sebaceous gland

Back 49

Oil-producing (sebum-producing) gland in the skin.

Front 50

Section

Back 50

An act of cutting; a segment or subdivision of an organ.

Front 51

Seizure

Back 51

Convulsion (involuntary contraction of muscles) or attack of epilepsy. A seizure can also indicate a sudden attack or recurrence of a disease.

Front 52

Sella turcica

Back 52

Cup-like depression at the base of the skull that holds the pituitary gland.

Front 53

Semen

Back 53

Fluid composed of sperm cells and secretions from the prostate gland and other male exocrine glands.

Front 54

Seminoma

Back 54

Malignant tumor of the testis.

Front 55

Sense organs

Back 55

Parts of the body that receive messages from the environment and relay them to the brain so that we see, hear, and feel sensations. Examples of sense organs are the eye, the ear, and the skin.

Front 56

Septic

Back 56

Pertaining to infection.

Front 57

Septicemia

Back 57

Infection in the blood. Septicemia is commonly called blood poisoning and is associated with the presence of bacteria or their poisons in the blood.

Front 58

Sexually transmitted disease

Back 58

Contagious disease acquired through sexual intercourse or genital contact.

Front 59

Shock

Back 59

Group of symptoms (pale skin, rapid pulse, shallow breathing) that indicate poor oxygen supply to tissue and insufficient return of blood to the heart.

Front 60

Sigmoid colon

Back 60

S-shaped lower portion of the colon.

Front 61

Sigmoidoscopy

Back 61

Visual examination of the sigmoid colon with an endoscope inserted through the anus and rectum.

Front 62

Sinus

Back 62

A cavity or space, such as in a bone. Also, refers to the sinoatrial node or pacemaker of the heart.

Front 63

Skin

Back 63

Outer covering that protects the body.

Front 64

Skull

Back 64

Bone that surrounds the brain and other organs in the head.

Front 65

Sleep apnea

Back 65

See APNEA.

Front 66

Small intestine

Back 66

Organ that receives food from the stomach. The small intestine is divided into three sections: duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

Front 67

Sonogram

Back 67

Record of sound waves after they bounce off organs in the body; an ULTRASOUND or echogram.

Front 68

Spasm

Back 68

Involuntary, sudden muscle contraction.

Front 69

Spermatozoon

Back 69

Sperm cell (plural: spermatozoa).

Front 70

Spinal

Back 70

Pertaining to the spine (backbone).

Front 71

Spinal cavity

Back 71

Space in the back that contains the spinal cord and is surrounded by the backbones.

Front 72

Spinal column

Back 72

Backbones; vertebrae.

Front 73

Spinal cord

Back 73

Bundle of nerves that extends from the brain down the back. The spinal cord carries electrical messages to and from the spinal cord.

Front 74

Spinal nerves

Back 74

Nerves that transmit messages to and from the spinal cord.

Front 75

Spinal tap

Back 75

See LUMBAR PUNCTURE.

Front 76

Spleen

Back 76

Organ in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen. The spleen stores blood cells and destroys red blood cells while producing white blood cells called LYMPHOCYTES.

Front 77

Splenectomy

Back 77

Removal of the spleen.

Front 78

Splenomegaly

Back 78

Enlargement of the spleen.

Front 79

Spondylitis

Back 79

Chronic, serious inflammatory disorder of backbones involving erosion and collapse of vertebrae. See ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS.

Front 80

Spondylosis

Back 80

Abnormal condition of a vertebra or vertebrae.

Front 81

Sputum

Back 81

Material expelled from the lungs through the mouth.

Front 82

Sternum

Back 82

Breast bone.

Front 83

Stomach

Back 83

Organ that receives food from the esophagus and sends it to the small intestine. Enzymes in the stomach break down food particles during digestion.

Front 84

Stomatitis

Back 84

Inflammation of the mouth.

Front 85

Stroke

Back 85

Trauma to or blockage of blood vessels within the brain, leading to a reduction in the blood supply to brain tissue. This causes nerve cells in the brain to die and results in loss of function to the part of the body controlled by those nerve cells.

Front 86

Stye

Back 86

Infection (pus-filled) of a gland in the eyelid, often caused by bacteria (staphylococci). (Also spelled sty.)

Front 87

Subcostal

Back 87

Pertaining to below the ribs.

Front 88

Subcutaneous tissue

Back 88

Lower layer of the skin composed of fatty tissue.

Front 89

Subdural hematoma

Back 89

Collection of blood under the dura mater (outermost layer of the membranes surrounding the brain).

Front 90

Sub gastric

Back 90

Pertaining to below the stomach.

Front 91

Subhepatic

Back 91

Pertaining to under the liver.

Front 92

Subscapular

Back 92

Pertaining to under the shoulder bone.

Front 93

Subtotal

Back 93

Less than total; just under the total amount.

Front 94

Subungual

Back 94

Pertaining to under (SUB-) a nail (UNGU/O).

Front 95

Suprarenal glands

Back 95

Two endocrine glands, each located above a kidney. Also called adrenal glands.

Front 96

Surgery

Back 96

Branch of medicine that treats disease by manual (hand) or operative methods.

Front 97

Sweat glands

Back 97

Organ in the skin that produces a watery substance containing salts.

Front 98

Syncope

Back 98

Fainting, sudden loss of consciousness.

Front 99

Syndrome

Back 99

Set of symptoms and signs that occur together to indicate a disease condition.

Front 100

Syphilis

Back 100

Sexually transmitted disease caused by infection with a spirochete (type of bacterium).

Front 101

System

Back 101

Group of organs working together to do a job in the body. For example, the digestive system includes the mouth, throat, stomach, and intestines, all of which help to bring food into the body, break it down, and deliver it to the bloodstream.

Front 102

Systemic circulation

Back 102

Passage of blood from the heart to the tissues of the body and back to the heart.

Front 103

Systemic lupus erythematosus

Back 103

Chronic inflammatory disease affecting many systems of the body (joints, skin, kidneys, and nerves). A red (erythematous) rash over the nose and cheeks is characteristic.