Basic and Nursing Medical Terminology
acute (basic medical terminology)
refers to a condition that has a rapid onset and a short duration
ischemia
a lack of blood flow to an area of the body, usually caused by a blockage in blood vessel
tracheostomy
a surgical procedure in which an opening is made in the neck and a tube is inserted into the windpipe to help with breathing
cerebrovascular accident (CVA or stroke)
a disruption in blood flow to the brain that can cause damage to the brain tissue
osteoporosis
a condition characterized by weak, brittle bones
x-ray
a medical test that uses electromagnetic radiation to produce images of internal body structures
myocardial infarction (MI)
commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, causing damage to the heart muscle
urinary incontinence
a loss of bladder control, resulting in the accidental release of urine
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
a group of lung diseases that make it difficult to breathe
multiple sclerosis (MS)
a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system
diastolic
the lower number in a blood pressure reading that indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart is resting
prophylaxis
a preventative treatment used to protect against a particular disease or infection
ventilation
the process of breathing, or the mechanical assistance of breathing, in patients who are unable to breath on their own
congestive heart failure (CHF)
a condition in which the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs
rheumatoid arthritis
a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation to the joints
inflammation (nursing medical terminology)
a localized response to injury that is characterized by redness, swelling, and warmth
systolic
the higher number in a blood pressure reading that indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart is contracting
wound debridement
the removal of dead or damaged tissue from a wound to promote healing
malaria
a parasitic diseases transmitted by infected mosquitoes
urinary tract infection (UTI)
an infection in any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, and urethra
intravenous (IV)
a method of delivering fluids or medications directly to a vein
thrombosis
the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel
palliative care
specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses that focuses on providing relief from symptoms and improving quality of life
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
a condition in which stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, causing irritation and discomfort
human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
a virus that attacks the immune system and can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)