Medical Term Definitions

When you go to the doctor or get upsetting medical news, your confusion and nervousness can often be compounded by your lack of knowledge of medical terms and vocabulary. This quick reference guide provides definitions to some common medical terms you may encounter.

• A fib – Atrial Fibrillation
• Abd -Abdomen
• Appendectomy – the surgical removal of the appendix of the intestine.
• Auscultation – the process of listening to the internal sounds of the body, usually done by placing a stethoscope over the lungs, heart, or bowels
• Benign – meaning not cancerous. A benign tissue will not spread to other parts of the body and once removed, will not recur.
• Biopsy – an examination of tissue surgically cut from a suspicious area of the body. The pathologist will study the tissue to check for cancer.
• BT – Bleeding time
• Cancer – a disease in which malignant growth forms
• Colostomy – a bag or artificial opening through which the bowel can empty.
• Cyst – an abnormal sac formed in the body. It contains fluid or semi-solid matter.
• Defibrillator –a piece of equipment that provides an electrical shock to a heart to restore its natural rhythm.
• ECT – Electroconvulsive therapy
• ENT – Ear, Nose, Throat
• Fallopian Tube – the passage way connecting the uterus to the ovary
• Femur – thigh bone
• Fibrositis – refers to the inflammation of the fibrous tissues
• Fibula – outer bone of the lower leg
• Fracture – refers to a broken bone
• Frostbite – tissue damage due to freezing temperatures.
• Heart Attack- occurs when the blood vessels which supply blood to the heart are blocked.
• Hypothalamus – an area of the brain that produces hormones that control one’s hunger, mood, and temperature.
• Ileum - The lower portion of the small intestine
• Impotence – the inability of a male to achieve an erection and an orgasm
• Incision - the process of using of a scalpel to cut through the skin during surgery.
• Influenza – a type of contagious and infectious respiratory illness.
• IV – Intravenous 
• IVF - In vitro fertilization
• Leukemia - disease in which the white corpuscles uncontrollably multiply in the body tissues or blood.
• Liposuction – an invasive cosmetic procedure that involves removing fat cells from the body.  
• Lymphoma - a malignant tumor on the lymphoid tissues
• Mastectomy –refers to the surgical removal of one or both breasts, either partially or completely.
• Melanoma – a serious type of skin cancer. It is most likely to spread into the liver and lymph nodes.
• Oncologist –a specialist in cancer
• Parkinson's disease – a disease of the brain
• Pandemic – a widespread epidemic
• Patella – kneecap 
• PIH -Pregnancy-induced hypertension.
• Phlebotomy – the process of using a needle or syringe to obtain a blood sample from a patient.
• Pituitary gland – a small ductless gland at the base of the brain. It influences body metabolism and growth 
• Pulmonary tuberculosis or TB –a bacterial infection that mainly involves the lungs but may spread to other organs of the body.
• Radiology – a branch of medicine that specializes in the usage of x-rays.
• Relapse – refers to the return of a certain disease after its resolution
• Rhinoplasty – refers to the plastic surgery of the nose.
• Schizophrenia – sever mental disorder in which a person becomes unable to act in a rational way, often accompanied by hallucinations or delusions.
• Scurvy - A condition that is caused by a deficiency in vitamin C. Its symptoms include: bleeding gums, loss of appetite, bruising, and irritability. 
• Sebaceous glands –small skin glands that release an oily substance through follicles of the hair
• Seizure – temporary brain dysfunction due to abnormal electrical discharges in the brain
• Stroke – loss of brain function due to the disturbance to the blood flow in the brain.
• Suture – the surgical stitching of a wound.
• Tid – ter in die (three times daily)
• UTI – Urinary Track Infection
• VSS – Vital Signs Stable
• WBC – White Blood Cells
• XRT – X-ray therapy
• YO – Year old
• The following are common medical prefixes followed by the organs they correspond to:
• Broncho - lungs
• Cardio - heart
• Cysto - bladder
• Derma - skin
• Entero - intestines
• Gastro - stomach
• Glosso - tongue
• Hepato - liver
• Masto - breast
• Musculo - muscles
• Neuro - nervous system
• Opthalmo - eyes
• Oto - ear
• Pharyng - throat
• Pulmono - blood vessels in the lungs
• Renal - kidney
• Vascular -blood vessels

Medical Terms on YourDictionary.com

For more medical terms check out YourDictonary.com. YourDictionary features definitions from the The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary which provides students, health care professionals, and general consumers interested in medical vocabulary with a comprehensive reference that reflects the most recent developments in medicine and health care delivery.