1. Chapter 1 Vocabulary
Medical Terminology

2. Basic Medical Terms
Sign – evidence of disease, such as a fever, that can be observed by the patient and others. This is objective, because it can be measured by others.

3. Symptom – such as a pain or headache, can be observed only by the patient. This is subjective, because it can be evaluated or measured only by the patient.

4. Syndrome – a set of the signs and symptoms that occur together.
Diagnosis – the identification of a disease.
Prognosis – a prediction of the probable course and outcome of a disease or disorder.

5. Acute – rapid onset, severe course, relatively short duration
Acute – rapid onset, severe course, relatively short duration. Examples: flu, chickenpox, appendicitis.
Chronic – disease or symptom of long duration. Although these diseases may be controlled, they are rarely cured. Examples: emphysema, diabetes, liver failure.

6. Remission – the partial or complete disappearance of the symptoms without having achieved a cure. Usually temporary.
Eponym – a disease, structure, operation, or procedure named for the person who discovered it. Example: Alzheimer’s disease is named for Alois Alzheimer, a German neurologist.

7. Acronym – a word formed from the initial letter or letters of the major parts of the term. For example: laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.

8. Look-Alike, Sound-Alike Terms and Word Parts
Arteri/o, Ather/o, Arthr/o
Arteri/o = artery
Ather/o = plaque or fatty substance
Arthr/o = joint

9. Ileum – part of the small intestine
Ilium – part of the hip bone
Infection – invasion of the body by a pathogenic (disease-causing) organism.
Inflammation – a localized response to an injury or destruction of tissues. Signs: redness, heat, swelling, pain.

10. Laceration – a torn, ragged wound.
Lesion – pathologic change of the tissues due to disease or injury.
Mucous – an adjective that describes the specialized mucous membranes that line the body cavities.
Mucus – is a noun and is the name of the fluid secreted by the mucous membranes.

11. Myc/o = fungus
Myel/o = spinal cord OR bone marrow
Palpation = examination technique using hands
Palpitation = a pounding or racing heart
Prostate = male gland
Prostrate = to collapse and lie flat

12. Pyel/o = renal pelvis (part of the kidney)
Py/o = pus
Pyr/o = fever or fire
Supination = rotating the arm so that palm is up, or can mean lying down face up
Suppuration = formation or discharge of pus

13. Suturing = the act of closing a wound or incision by stitching.
Ligation = the act of binding or tying off blood vessels or ducts.

14. Triage = medical screening of patients to determine their relative priority of need.
Trauma = a wound or injury that could occur in an accident, shooting, natural disaster, etc.

15. Viral = pertaining to a virus.
Virile = possessing masculine traits.