Medical Definitions

Medical Definitions

1. Abrasion: A cut or scrape that typically isn’t serious.

2. Abscess: A tender, fluid-filled pocket that forms in tissue, usually due to infection.

3. Acute: Signifies a condition that begins abruptly and is sometimes severe, but the duration is short.

4. Benign: Not cancerous.

5. Biopsy: A small sample of tissue that’s taken for testing.

6. Chronic: Signifies a recurring, persistent condition like heart disease.

7. Contusion: A bruise.

8. Defibrillator: A medical device that uses electric shocks to restore normal heartbeat.

9. Edema: Swelling caused by fluid accumulation.

10. Embolism: An arterial blockage, often caused by a blood clot.

11. Epidermis: The outer layer of the skin.

12. Fracture: Broken bone or cartilage.

13. Gland: An organ or tissue that produces and secretes fluids that serve a specific function.

14. Hypertension: High blood pressure.

15. Inpatient: A patient who requires hospitalization.

16. Intravenous: Indicates medication or fluid that’s delivered by vein.

17. Malignant: Indicates the presence of cancerous cells.

18. Outpatient: A patient who receives care without being admitted to a hospital.

19. Prognosis: The predicated outcome of disease progression and treatment.

20. Relapse: Return of disease or symptoms after a patient has recovered.

21. Sutures: Stitches, which are used to join tissues together as they heal.

22. Transplant: The removal of an organ or tissue from one body that is implanted into another.

23. Vaccine: A substance that stimulates antibody production to provide immunity against disease.

24. Zoonotic disease: A disease that is transmissible from animals to humans.

25. A-, an-: Lack of or without.

26. -ation: Indicates a process.

27. Dys-: Abnormal, difficult, or painful.

28. -ectomy: Surgical removal of something.

29. -ismus: Indicates a spasm or contraction.

30. -itis: Signifies inflammation.

31. -lysis: Decomposition, destruction, or breaking down.

32. Macro-: Large in size.

33. Melan/o-: Black or dark in color.

34. Micro-: Small in size.

35. -ology: The study of a

 particular concentration.

36. -osis: Indicates something that is abnormal.

37. -otomy: To cut into.

38. -pathy: Disease or disease process.

39. -plasty: Surgical repair.

40. Poly-: Many.

41. Pseudo-: False or deceptive, usually in regard to appearance.

42. Retro-: Behind or backward.

43. Cardi/o: Related to the heart.

44. Derm/a/o, dermat/o: Pertaining to the skin.

45. Encephal/o: Related to the brain.

46. Gastr/o: Related to the stomach.

47. Hemat/o: Pertaining to blood.

48. My/o: Related to muscle.

49. Oste/o: Related to bone.

50. Pulmon/o: Refers to the lungs.

51. Rhin/o: Related to the nose.

52. Sclerosis: Hard or hardening.

53. Stasis: Slowing or stopping the flow of a bodily fluid.

54. Therm/o: Indicates heat.