Basic Medical Terminology
What is a diagnosis?
the identification of a disease or condition based on its symptoms and medical tests
What is the abdomen?
the part of the body that contains the stomach, intestines, and other organs
What is anesthesia?
loss of sensation or feeling; usually achieved through medication
What is anticoagulant?
a medication that prevents blood clots
What is arrhythmia?
an irregular heartbeat
What is a virus?
A microscopic infectious agent that can replicate only inside a host cell and causes various diseases
What is an x-ray?
A medical test that uses electromagnetic radiation to produce images of Internal body structures
What is an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)?
a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart
What is embolism?
a blockage in a blood vessel, usually caused by a blood clot or other debris
What is the hemoglobin?
a protein in red cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body
refers to a condition that has a rapid onset and short duration
What is inflammation?
The body’s response to injury or infection, characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain
What is a catheter?
a flexible tube inserted into the body to remove or deliver fluids
What does chronic mean?
a condition or disease that is long-lasting or recurrent
What is diastolic?
the lower number in a blood pressure reading that indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart is resting
What is an artery?
A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to other parts of the body
What does chronic mean?
refers to a condition that lasts a long time or is persistent
What is hypertension?
high blood pressure
a method of delivering fluids or medications directly into a vein
What is palliative care?
specialized care for people with serious illness that focuses on providing relief from symptoms and improving quality of life
What is a symptom?
A physical or mental indication of a disease or condition, such as pain or fatigue
What is anemia?
A condition in which the body lacks enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues
What is systolic?
a higher number in a blood pressure reading that indicates the pressure in the arteries when the heart is contracting
What is Myocardial infarction (MI)?
commonly known as heart attack, occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, causing damage to the heart muscle
What is ischemia?
a lack of blood flow of an area of the body, usually caused by a blockage in a blood vessel