Medical Terminology
abdomen
the part of the body that contains the stomach, intestines, and other organs
chronic
refers to a condition that lasts a long time or is persistent
x-ray
a medical test that uses electromagnetic radiation to produce images of internal body structure
catheter
a flexible tube inserted into the body to remove or deliver fluids
hypertension
high blood pressure
refers to a condition that has a rapid onset and short duration
diagnosis
the identification of a disease or condition based on its symptoms and medical tests
the lower number in a blood pressure reading that indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart is resting
intravenous
a lack of blood flow to an area of the body, usually caused by a blockage in a blood vessel
anemia
a condition in which the body lack enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body's tissues
inflammation
the body's response to injury or infection, characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain
anticoagulant
a medication that prevents blood clots
electrocardiogram
a test that measure the electrical activity of the heart
palliative care
specialized medical care for people with serious illnesses that focus on providing relief from symptoms and improving quality of life
artery
a blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to other parts of the body
prognosis
the likely outcome of a disease or condition, such as pain or fatigue
arrhythmia
embolism
a blockage in a blood vessel, usually caused by a blood clot or other debris
prophylaxis
a preventative treatment used to protect against a particular disease or infection
benign
refers to a tumor or growth that is not cancerous and does not invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body
virus
a microscopic infectious agent that can replicate only inside a host cell and causes various diseases
artery
a blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the heart to other parts of the body
a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body
systolic
the higher number in a blood pressure reading that indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart is contracting