Anatomy and Physiology
What is a muscular, four-chambered organ that serves as the central pump for the entire circulatory system in humans and other animals.
Heart
This medical professional diagnoses and treats illnesses and injuries, and typically requires the most years of post-graduate education.
Physician or doctor
Meaning above or excessive, this prefix is used in terms like hypertension.
Hyper
A doctor uses a long, flexible tool with a light to look inside your body for this general procedure.
Scopes
A child falls off a bike and lands hard on their arm. They cry and refuse to move the arm, which now looks bent or oddly shaped. The initial diagnosis would likely
Broken bone
The basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms.
Cell
Often called the backbone of the healthcare system, this licensed professional provides direct patient care, administers medication, and educates patients and families.
Registered Nurse or RN
This suffix means "inflammation" and is seen in terms like appendicitis and bronchitis.
Itis
This non-invasive imaging test uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed pictures of organs and tissues within the body, especially the brain and joints.
MRI
A 65-year-old patient reports sudden, severe, crushing chest pain that radiates to their left arm and jaw. An initial EKG and elevated Troponin levels strongly suggest this even
Heart attack
The largest artery in the human body, it carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle of the heart to the rest of the body.
Aorta
These professionals conduct and analyze laboratory tests on blood, tissues, and fluids to help physicians diagnose and treat diseases.
Medical Laboratory Scientist (or Technologist)
This common root word refers to the heart, as seen in words like tachycardia.
Cardio or cardi
Used to measure the heart's electrical activity, this simple test involves placing electrodes on the chest and limbs.
ECG or EKG (Electrocardiogram)
A 35 year old women presents to the emergency room with a high fever, a very sore throat, and white patches on their tonsils. The doctor suspects a common bacterial infection which is:
Strep throat
This type of muscle tissue is striated, involuntary, and only found in the walls of the heart.
Cardiac muscle
Working under a physician's supervision, this mid-level practitioner is trained in medical diagnosis and treatment and can prescribe medication in most states.
Physician Assistant (PA)
The surgical repair or reconstruction of a body part, denoted by the suffix -plasty, as in rhinoplasty.
What is a plastic repair (or surgical reconstruction)?
This imaging technique uses a small, flexible camera on a tube to view and diagnose problems inside a hollow organ or body cavity, such as the colon or stomach.
endoscopy
A 72-year-old patient is rushed to the hospital with sudden-onset unilateral facial drooping, inability to raise one arm, and severe slurred speech. This acute medical event is officially known by the abbreviation CVA.
Cerebrovascular Accident or Stroke
The primary role of the loop of Henle in the nephron is to create a concentration gradient in the renal medulla, enabling the kidney to reabsorb this specific substance and concentrate urine.
Water
This specialist helps patients recover or improve the skills needed for daily living and working, such as dressing, eating, or performing fine motor tasks.
Occupational Therapist (OT)
A condition where a patient has a higher than normal body temperature, often referred to simply as a fever.hyperthermia
hyperthermia
In a complete blood count (CBC), this diagnostic test measures the percentage of the volume of blood that is made up of red blood cells.
hematocrit
A patient presents with a triad of symptoms including polyuria (excessive urination), polydipsia (excessive thirst), and unexplained weight loss. Labs confirm extremely high blood glucose levels and the presence of ketones in the urine, indicating an inability of the body to produce or effectively use insulin.
Diabetes Mellitus or Diabetic Ketoacidosis/DKA