Medical

Etymology

By Teresa Marcotte &

Beth Boyer

PREGNANCY..................................................................................................................................................... 24

AFTERBIRTH......................................................................................................................................................... 24

1|Page
AMNIOCENTESIS................................................................................................................................................... 24

AMNIOTIC FLUID..................................................................................................................................................24

ANEMIA................................................................................................................................................................. 24

APGAR SCORE....................................................................................................................................................... 24

AUTISM..................................................................................................................................................................25

BABY BLUES..........................................................................................................................................................25

BAG OF WATERS....................................................................................................................................................25

BRAXTON-HICKS CONTRACTIONS........................................................................................................................25

BREECH PRESENTATION....................................................................................................................................... 25

CEREBRAL PALSY (CP)........................................................................................................................................ 26

CHROMOSOME......................................................................................................................................................26

CONGENITAL ANOMALIES....................................................................................................................................26

CROWNING............................................................................................................................................................26

DOULA...................................................................................................................................................................26

DOWN SYNDROME.................................................................................................................................................27

ECLAMPSIA........................................................................................................................................................... 27

ECTOPIC PREGNANCY...........................................................................................................................................27

EFFACEMENT........................................................................................................................................................ 27

ELECTRONIC FETAL MONITOR.............................................................................................................................27

EPISIOTOMY..........................................................................................................................................................27

FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME...............................................................................................................................28

FETAL DISTRESS................................................................................................................................................... 28

FOLIC ACID........................................................................................................................................................... 28

GENETIC COUNSELING.........................................................................................................................................28

INCUBATOR...........................................................................................................................................................28

JAUNDICE..............................................................................................................................................................28

KARYOTYPE..........................................................................................................................................................29

2|Page
LABOR...................................................................................................................................................................29

LACTATION...........................................................................................................................................................29

LOW BIRTH WEIGHT.............................................................................................................................................29

MIDWIFE............................................................................................................................................................... 29

MISCARRIAGE.......................................................................................................................................................29

MORNING SICKNESS..............................................................................................................................................30

PLACENTA............................................................................................................................................................. 30

POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION...................................................................................................................................30

PRE-ECLAMPSIA....................................................................................................................................................30

PREMATURE LABOR...............................................................................................................................................31

PROLONGED LABOR...............................................................................................................................................31

RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME.....................................................................................................................31

STILLBIRTH............................................................................................................................................................31

SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME (SIDS).........................................................................................................31

TOXEMIA................................................................................................................................................................31

TRIMESTER............................................................................................................................................................ 31

ULTRASOUNDS.......................................................................................................................................................32

VACUUM EXTRACTION..........................................................................................................................................32

VAGINAL BIRTH AFTER CESAREAN.......................................................................................................................32

VIABLE.................................................................................................................................................................. 32

CHOLESTORAL.................................................................................................................................................32

ANGINA..................................................................................................................................................................32

ARTERIOSCLEROSIS..............................................................................................................................................32

ATHEROSCLEROSIS............................................................................................................................................... 33

BODY MASS INDEX (BMI)................................................................................................................................... 33

CALORIE................................................................................................................................................................33

CARDIOVASCULAR (CV).......................................................................................................................................33

3|Page
CHOLESTEROL...................................................................................................................................................... 33

CORONARY ARTERY..............................................................................................................................................33

CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE (CAD)...................................................................................................................34

DIABETES.............................................................................................................................................................. 34

HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIA.................................................................................................................................. 34

HYPERTENSION (HTN).........................................................................................................................................34

LIPID..................................................................................................................................................................... 34

METABOLIC SYNDROME....................................................................................................................................... 35

OBESE.................................................................................................................................................................... 35

OBSTRUCTION....................................................................................................................................................... 35

PLAQUE................................................................................................................................................................. 35

DIABETES........................................................................................................................................................... 35

HEMOGLOBIN (HB, HGB).....................................................................................................................................36

ACE INHIBITOR.................................................................................................................................................... 36

ADVANCED GLYCATION END-PRODUCTS..............................................................................................................36

AMYOTROPHY.......................................................................................................................................................37

ATHEROSCLEROSIS...............................................................................................................................................37

AUTOIMMUNE....................................................................................................................................................... 37

BETA CELL OF PANCREAS.....................................................................................................................................37

BLADDER............................................................................................................................................................... 37

BLOOD PRESSURE (BP).........................................................................................................................................37

BLOOD SUGAR....................................................................................................................................................... 37

CALLUS................................................................................................................................................................. 38

CHOLESTEROL...................................................................................................................................................... 38

CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY.................................................................................................................................. 38

CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFT (CABG).....................................................................................................38

DIABETES.............................................................................................................................................................. 38

4|Page
DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS (DKA).........................................................................................................................38

DIALYSIS............................................................................................................................................................... 39

DIPHTHERIA..........................................................................................................................................................39

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY...........................................................................................................................................39

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM (ECG, EKG).................................................................................................................39

FLU........................................................................................................................................................................ 39

GESTATIONAL DIABETES MELLITUS (GDM).......................................................................................................39

GINGIVITIS............................................................................................................................................................39

GLUCAGON........................................................................................................................................................... 40

HEART ATTACK.................................................................................................................................................... 40

HORMONE.............................................................................................................................................................40

HYPERGLYCEMIA.................................................................................................................................................40

HYPERTENSION (HTN)......................................................................................................................................... 41

HYPOGLYCEMIA....................................................................................................................................................41

IMMUNIZATION......................................................................................................................................................41

IMPOTENCE............................................................................................................................................................41

INFLUENZA............................................................................................................................................................42

INSULIN................................................................................................................................................................. 42

INSULIN RESISTANCE............................................................................................................................................42

KIDNEY................................................................................................................................................................. 42

METABOLIC SYNDROME.......................................................................................................................................43

MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION (MI)..........................................................................................................................43

NEPHROPATHY......................................................................................................................................................43

NEUROPATHY........................................................................................................................................................43

PANCREAS.............................................................................................................................................................43

PERIODONTITIS.....................................................................................................................................................43

PREDIABETES........................................................................................................................................................44

5|Page
RETINOPATHY...................................................................................................................................................... 44

RETROGRADE EJACULATION................................................................................................................................44

RISK FACTOR........................................................................................................................................................44

STROKE.................................................................................................................................................................44

TYPE 1 DIABETES..................................................................................................................................................44

TYPE 2 DIABETES..................................................................................................................................................45

ULCER................................................................................................................................................................... 45

VITRECTOMY........................................................................................................................................................ 45

ALLERGIES........................................................................................................................................................45

ADENOIDECTOMY................................................................................................................................................. 45

ALLERGEN............................................................................................................................................................ 45

ALLERGEN IMMUNOTHERAPY..............................................................................................................................45

ALLERGIC RHINITIS..............................................................................................................................................46

ALLERGY.............................................................................................................................................................. 46

ANAPHYLAXIS.......................................................................................................................................................46

ANGIOEDEMA....................................................................................................................................................... 46

ANTIBODY (AB).....................................................................................................................................................47

ANTIGEN (AG)...................................................................................................................................................... 47

ANTIHISTAMINES.................................................................................................................................................. 47

ANTIINFLAMMATORY...........................................................................................................................................47

ASTHMA................................................................................................................................................................ 47

BRONCHODILATOR...............................................................................................................................................48

BRONCHOSPASM...................................................................................................................................................48

CONJUNCTIVITIS...................................................................................................................................................48

DANDER................................................................................................................................................................ 48

DECONGESTANT................................................................................................................................................... 48

DERMATITIS..........................................................................................................................................................48

6|Page
DESENSITIZATION.................................................................................................................................................49

DRUG ALLERGY....................................................................................................................................................49

ECZEMA................................................................................................................................................................ 49

ENDOSCOPY..........................................................................................................................................................49

ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY (ELISA)..........................................................................................49

EPINEPHRINE........................................................................................................................................................49

HISTAMINE (H)..................................................................................................................................................... 50

HIVES.................................................................................................................................................................... 50

IMMUNE SYSTEM...................................................................................................................................................50

IMMUNOTHERAPY.................................................................................................................................................50

LATEX................................................................................................................................................................... 50

MAST CELL............................................................................................................................................................ 51

METERED-DOSE INHALER (MDI)..........................................................................................................................51

MOLD..................................................................................................................................................................... 51

POLLEN.................................................................................................................................................................. 51

PULMONARY FUNCTION TEST (PFT).....................................................................................................................51

RADIOALLERGOSORBENT TEST (RAST)...............................................................................................................51

SINUSITIS............................................................................................................................................................... 52

URTICARIA............................................................................................................................................................ 52

DEPRESSION......................................................................................................................................................52

ACUPUNCTURE......................................................................................................................................................52

AGORAPHOBIA...................................................................................................................................................... 52

ANOREXIA NERVOSA.............................................................................................................................................52

ANTIDEPRESSANT..................................................................................................................................................53

ANXIETY DISORDERS.............................................................................................................................................53

BODY DYSMORPHIC DISORDER.............................................................................................................................53

BULIMIA NERVOSA................................................................................................................................................53

7|Page
DEPRESSION.......................................................................................................................................................... 53

EATING DISORDERS (ED)......................................................................................................................................53

MAJOR DEPRESSION............................................................................................................................................. 54

MANIC-DEPRESSIVE DISORDER............................................................................................................................54

MAOI................................................................................................................................................................... 54

MENOPAUSE..........................................................................................................................................................54

OBSESSIVE-COMPULSIVE DISORDER (OCD)........................................................................................................54

PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER (PMDD)...............................................................................................54

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME (PMS).....................................................................................................................55

PSYCHIATRIST.......................................................................................................................................................55

PSYCHOLOGIST.....................................................................................................................................................55

PSYCHOSIS.............................................................................................................................................................55

PSYCHOTHERAPY..................................................................................................................................................56

REFLEXOLOGY......................................................................................................................................................56

REGISTERED NURSE (RN).....................................................................................................................................56

SCHIZOPHRENIA................................................................................................................................................... 56

SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITOR....................................................................................................56

SEXUAL ABUSE...................................................................................................................................................... 56

SOCIAL PHOBIA.....................................................................................................................................................57

TOURETTE SYNDROME..........................................................................................................................................57

TRICHOTILLOMANIA.............................................................................................................................................57

SEXUAL CONDITIONS.....................................................................................................................................57

AMENORRHEA.......................................................................................................................................................57

ANORGASMY......................................................................................................................................................... 57

BACTERIAL VAGINOSIS.........................................................................................................................................58

BISEXUAL.............................................................................................................................................................. 58

CHLAMYDIA.......................................................................................................................................................... 58

8|Page
CIRCUMCISION......................................................................................................................................................58

CLITORIS...............................................................................................................................................................58

CONDYLOMA.........................................................................................................................................................58

EJACULATE........................................................................................................................................................... 58

EMERGENCY HORMONAL CONTRACEPTION........................................................................................................59

ENDOMETRIOSIS................................................................................................................................................... 59

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION......................................................................................................................................59

FEMALE CIRCUMCISION.......................................................................................................................................59

FORESKIN..............................................................................................................................................................59

GENDER................................................................................................................................................................ 59

GLANS................................................................................................................................................................... 59

GONORRHEA.........................................................................................................................................................60

HEPATITIS.............................................................................................................................................................60

HERPES................................................................................................................................................................. 60

HETEROSEXUAL....................................................................................................................................................60

HOMOSEXUAL.......................................................................................................................................................60

HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY...................................................................................................................60

HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS....................................................................................................................61

HUMAN PAPILLOMA VIRUS.................................................................................................................................. 61

HYSTERECTOMY....................................................................................................................................................61

IMPOTENCE............................................................................................................................................................61

MASTURBATION.................................................................................................................................................... 61

MENOPAUSE.......................................................................................................................................................... 61

MONOGAMY.......................................................................................................................................................... 61

ORGASM................................................................................................................................................................ 62

PARAPHILIA.......................................................................................................................................................... 62

PEDOPHILIA.......................................................................................................................................................... 62

9|Page
PELVIC INFLAMMATORY DISEASE........................................................................................................................62

PENETRATION....................................................................................................................................................... 62

PREMATURE EJACULATION..................................................................................................................................62

PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER (PMDD)...............................................................................................63

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME (PMS).....................................................................................................................63

RAPE..................................................................................................................................................................... 63

SADISM.................................................................................................................................................................. 63

SEXUAL ORIENTATION..........................................................................................................................................63

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE (STD)...........................................................................................................63

SYPHILIS............................................................................................................................................................... 64

TESTOSTERONE.................................................................................................................................................... 64

TRANSSEXUAL...................................................................................................................................................... 64

TRICHOMONIASIS.................................................................................................................................................64

UNDESCENDED TESTIS..........................................................................................................................................64

URINARY TRACT INFECTION (UTI)......................................................................................................................65

VAGINITIS............................................................................................................................................................. 65

VAGINOPLASTY.....................................................................................................................................................65

VASECTOMY..........................................................................................................................................................65

VULVA................................................................................................................................................................... 65

VULVOVAGINITIS..................................................................................................................................................65

DENTISTRY....................................................................................................................................................... 66

ABSCESS:.............................................................................................................................................................. 66

ACRYLIC RESIN:................................................................................................................................................... 66

ALVEOLAR BONE:.................................................................................................................................................66

ANESTHESIA:........................................................................................................................................................ 66

APEX:.................................................................................................................................................................... 66

APHTHOUS ULCERS (CANKER SORES):.................................................................................................................67

10 | P a g e
ARTIFICIAL CROWN:............................................................................................................................................ 67

BABY BOTTLE SYNDROME:...................................................................................................................................67

BICUSPID:..............................................................................................................................................................67

BITEWING X-RAY:................................................................................................................................................ 67

BONDING:..............................................................................................................................................................67

BONE RESORPTION:..............................................................................................................................................67

BRACES:................................................................................................................................................................68

BRIDGE:................................................................................................................................................................68

CALCIUM:.............................................................................................................................................................68

CANINE TOOTH:....................................................................................................................................................68

CAP:......................................................................................................................................................................68

CARIES:.................................................................................................................................................................68

CLEFT LIP:...........................................................................................................................................................68

CLEFT PALATE:....................................................................................................................................................69

CROWN:................................................................................................................................................................ 69

DECAY:................................................................................................................................................................. 69

DENTAL FLOSS:....................................................................................................................................................69

DENTIN:................................................................................................................................................................ 69

DENTURE:.............................................................................................................................................................69

ENAMEL:...............................................................................................................................................................69

EXTRACATION:.....................................................................................................................................................70

FILLING:............................................................................................................................................................... 70

FLUORIDE:............................................................................................................................................................ 70

GINGIVITUS:......................................................................................................................................................... 70

HYGIENIST:...........................................................................................................................................................70

IMMEDIATE DENTURE:.........................................................................................................................................70

IMPLANT:............................................................................................................................................................... 71

11 | P a g e
IMPRESSION:.......................................................................................................................................................... 71

INCISION:............................................................................................................................................................... 71

INCISOR TOOTH:....................................................................................................................................................71

MANDIBLE:............................................................................................................................................................ 71

MOLAR:................................................................................................................................................................. 71

MOUTH GUARD:.....................................................................................................................................................71

NIGHT GUARD:......................................................................................................................................................72

ORTHODONTICS:...................................................................................................................................................72

ORTHODONTIST:...................................................................................................................................................72

OVERBITE:............................................................................................................................................................ 72

PALATE:................................................................................................................................................................ 72

PANORAMIC X-RAY FILM:.....................................................................................................................................72

PARTIAL DENTURE:...............................................................................................................................................72

PEDODONTICS:......................................................................................................................................................73

PERMANENT TOOTH:............................................................................................................................................73

PLAQUE:................................................................................................................................................................ 73

RETAINTER:.......................................................................................................................................................... 73

SCALING:............................................................................................................................................................... 73

TARTAR:................................................................................................................................................................73

THRUSH:............................................................................................................................................................... 74

TRANSCUTANEOUS ELECTRICAL NERVE STIMULATION (TENS):.......................................................................74

UNDERBITE:.......................................................................................................................................................... 74

VENEER:................................................................................................................................................................74

DERMATOLOGY...............................................................................................................................................74

ACNE:.................................................................................................................................................................... 74

ALLERGEN:........................................................................................................................................................... 75

ALOE:.................................................................................................................................................................... 75

12 | P a g e
ANGIOMA:.............................................................................................................................................................75

ATOPY:.................................................................................................................................................................. 75

BIOPSY:................................................................................................................................................................. 75

CANCER:............................................................................................................................................................... 75

CHEMOTHERAPY:................................................................................................................................................. 76

CALLOGEN:...........................................................................................................................................................76

CYST:.................................................................................................................................................................... 76

DERMABRASION:.................................................................................................................................................. 76

DERMATITUS.........................................................................................................................................................76

DERMATOFIBROMA:.............................................................................................................................................76

DERMATOPATHOLOGY:........................................................................................................................................76

DERMATOSCOPY:..................................................................................................................................................77

DERMIS:................................................................................................................................................................ 77

DERMOID CYST:................................................................................................................................................... 77

ECZEMA:............................................................................................................................................................... 77

EPIDERMIS:........................................................................................................................................................... 77

LYMPH NODE:.......................................................................................................................................................78

MOLE:................................................................................................................................................................... 78

NODULE:............................................................................................................................................................... 78

PHOTOSENSITIVITY:.............................................................................................................................................78

PRECANCEROUS:...................................................................................................................................................78

PUNCH BIOPSY:.....................................................................................................................................................78

PUNCH GRAFTS:....................................................................................................................................................78

RADIATION THERAPY:..........................................................................................................................................79

RECURRENCE:...................................................................................................................................................... 79

RISK FACTOR:.......................................................................................................................................................79

SEBACEOUS GLANDS:............................................................................................................................................79

13 | P a g e
SPF:...................................................................................................................................................................... 79

SUBCUTANEOUS:...................................................................................................................................................79

SUNSCREEN:..........................................................................................................................................................80

TUMOR:................................................................................................................................................................ 80

WART:.................................................................................................................................................................. 80

ZINC OXIDE:......................................................................................................................................................... 80

EMERGENCY ROOM.......................................................................................................................................80

ACUTE:................................................................................................................................................................. 80

ANESTHETICS:...................................................................................................................................................... 80

AMBULANCE:.........................................................................................................................................................81

ARRHYTHMIA:.......................................................................................................................................................81

BLOOD LOSS:.........................................................................................................................................................81

CAST:.....................................................................................................................................................................81

CATHETER:............................................................................................................................................................81

DEAD ON ARRIVAL:...............................................................................................................................................81

IV:.........................................................................................................................................................................82

EMT:.................................................................................................................................................................... 82

HYPOXIA:..............................................................................................................................................................82

PANCREATITIS:..................................................................................................................................................... 82

PALPATIONS:.........................................................................................................................................................82

SECOND DEGREE BURN:.......................................................................................................................................82

SEPSIS:.................................................................................................................................................................. 83

THIRD DEGREE BURN:......................................................................................................................................... 83

TOX SCREEN:........................................................................................................................................................83

TRACHEOSTOMY:................................................................................................................................................. 83

TRAUMA:...............................................................................................................................................................83

WAITING ROOM:.................................................................................................................................................. 83

14 | P a g e
PHYSICAL.......................................................................................................................................................... 83

BLOOD PRESSURE:...............................................................................................................................................84

DRUG TEST:..........................................................................................................................................................84

EAR CHECK:.........................................................................................................................................................84

HEART:................................................................................................................................................................. 84

HEIGHT:................................................................................................................................................................84

LUNGS:..................................................................................................................................................................84

PULSE:...................................................................................................................................................................85

SHOT:.................................................................................................................................................................... 85

SPINE CHECK:....................................................................................................................................................... 85

TEMPERATURE:.................................................................................................................................................... 85

VISION:................................................................................................................................................................. 85

WEIGHT:............................................................................................................................................................... 85

OPTOMETRY.....................................................................................................................................................85

ASTIGMATISM.......................................................................................................................................................86

BIFOCALS..............................................................................................................................................................86

BINOCULAR VISION..............................................................................................................................................86

BLIND SPOT...........................................................................................................................................................86

CATARACT............................................................................................................................................................ 86

CENTRAL VISION..................................................................................................................................................86

COLOR BLINDNESS...............................................................................................................................................86

CORNEA................................................................................................................................................................86

CRYSTALLINE LENS..............................................................................................................................................86

DOUBLE VISION.................................................................................................................................................... 86

GLAUCOMA........................................................................................................................................................... 87

HYPEROPIA...........................................................................................................................................................87

IRIS........................................................................................................................................................................87

15 | P a g e
LENS, CRYSTALLINE LENS....................................................................................................................................87

LOW VISION..........................................................................................................................................................87

MYOPIA.................................................................................................................................................................87

OPTOMETRIST.......................................................................................................................................................87

PERIPHERAL VISION............................................................................................................................................. 87

PRESBYOPIA..........................................................................................................................................................87

PUPIL.....................................................................................................................................................................87

REFRACTION.........................................................................................................................................................88

RETINA..................................................................................................................................................................88

TRIFOCAL............................................................................................................................................................. 88

20/20..................................................................................................................................................................... 88

AUDIOLOGY......................................................................................................................................................88

ACOUSTIC MEATUS:.............................................................................................................................................88

ACUITY:................................................................................................................................................................ 88

AIR-CONDUCTION THRESHOLDS:........................................................................................................................88

AMPLIFIER:.......................................................................................................................................................... 89

ANACUSIS:............................................................................................................................................................ 89

ATRESIA:.............................................................................................................................................................. 89

AUDIOGRAM:........................................................................................................................................................ 89

AUDIOMETER:...................................................................................................................................................... 89

AUDIOLOGIST:......................................................................................................................................................89

AURICLE:.............................................................................................................................................................. 89

BEHAVIORAL AUDIOMETRY:...............................................................................................................................89

BILATERAL:.......................................................................................................................................................... 89

BINAURAL:............................................................................................................................................................90

BONE-CONDUCTION THRESHOLDS:.....................................................................................................................90

CALIBRATION:......................................................................................................................................................90

16 | P a g e
CENTRAL AUDITORY PROCESSING:.....................................................................................................................90

CERUMEN:............................................................................................................................................................ 90

CHOLESTEATOMA:............................................................................................................................................... 90

COCHLEA:.............................................................................................................................................................90

COCHLEAR IMPLANT:..........................................................................................................................................90

CONCHA:............................................................................................................................................................... 91

CONDUCTIVE HEARING LOSS:..............................................................................................................................91

CONGENITAL HEARING LOSS:..............................................................................................................................91

DECIBEL:...............................................................................................................................................................91

DEGENERATIVE HEARING LOSS:..........................................................................................................................91

DEGREE OF HEARING LOSS:................................................................................................................................91

DIPLACUSIS:.......................................................................................................................................................... 91

DIRECT AUDIO INPUT:..........................................................................................................................................91

DISCRIMINATION:.................................................................................................................................................92

DYNAMIC RANGE:................................................................................................................................................ 92

EAR CANAL:......................................................................................................................................................... 92

EARDRUM:............................................................................................................................................................ 92

EIGHTH CRANIAL NERVE (CN VIII):..................................................................................................................92

EQUILIBRIUM:.......................................................................................................................................................92

ETIOLOGY:............................................................................................................................................................92

EUSTACHIAN TUBE:..............................................................................................................................................92

EUSTACHIAN TUBE DYSFUNCTION:.....................................................................................................................92

EVOKED POTENTIALS:......................................................................................................................................... 93

EXOSTOSIS:........................................................................................................................................................... 93

FEEDBACK:........................................................................................................................................................... 93

FLAT AUDIOGRAM:.............................................................................................................................................. 93

FREQUENCY:......................................................................................................................................................... 93

17 | P a g e
GENETIC HEARING LOSS:....................................................................................................................................93

HAIR CELLS:.........................................................................................................................................................93

HARD OF HEARING:.............................................................................................................................................93

HEARING AID:...................................................................................................................................................... 94

HEARING LOSS:....................................................................................................................................................94

HELIX:.................................................................................................................................................................. 94

HEREDITARY HEARING LOSS:.............................................................................................................................94

HERTZ (HZ):.........................................................................................................................................................94

INCUS:...................................................................................................................................................................94

INDUCTION COIL:.................................................................................................................................................94

INNER EAR:.......................................................................................................................................................... 94

INTENSITY:........................................................................................................................................................... 94

LABYRINTH:......................................................................................................................................................... 94

LATERALIZATION:................................................................................................................................................95

LISTENING STETHOSCOPE:.................................................................................................................................. 95

LOBULE:................................................................................................................................................................95

LOCALIZATION:....................................................................................................................................................95

MALINGERING:.....................................................................................................................................................95

MALLEUS:............................................................................................................................................................. 95

MASKING NOISE:..................................................................................................................................................95

MASTOID BONE:................................................................................................................................................... 95

MICROPHONE:......................................................................................................................................................96

MICROTIA:........................................................................................................................................................... 96

MIDDLE EAR:.......................................................................................................................................................96

MIDDLE EAR EFFUSION:......................................................................................................................................96

MIXED HEARING LOSS:....................................................................................................................................... 96

MONAURAL:......................................................................................................................................................... 96

18 | P a g e
MOST COMFORTABLE LEVEL (MCL):................................................................................................................96

NOISE-INDUCED HEARING LOSS:........................................................................................................................96

OCCLUSION:......................................................................................................................................................... 96

ORGAN OF CORTI:...............................................................................................................................................97

OSSICULAR CHAIN:..............................................................................................................................................97

OSCILLATOR:........................................................................................................................................................97

OTALGIA:..............................................................................................................................................................97

OTITIS MEDIA:.....................................................................................................................................................97

OTOLARYNGOLOGIST:..........................................................................................................................................97

OTOLOGIST:..........................................................................................................................................................97

OTORRHEA:.......................................................................................................................................................... 97

OTOSCOPE:........................................................................................................................................................... 97

OTOSCOPIC EXAMINATION:.................................................................................................................................98

OTOSCLEROSIS:....................................................................................................................................................98

OUTER EAR:......................................................................................................................................................... 98

OVAL WINDOW:................................................................................................................................................... 98

PERFORATED TYMPANIC MEMBRANE:...............................................................................................................98

PERIPHERAL HEARING LOSS:..............................................................................................................................98

P.E. TUBES:.......................................................................................................................................................... 98

PINNA:...................................................................................................................................................................98

POWER HEARING AID:.........................................................................................................................................98

PRELINGUAL HEARING LOSS:.............................................................................................................................99

PRESBYCUSIS:.......................................................................................................................................................99

PURE TONE AUDIOMETRY:..................................................................................................................................99

PURE TONE AVERAGE (PTA):.............................................................................................................................99

RECEIVER:............................................................................................................................................................99

RECRUITMENT:.................................................................................................................................................... 99

19 | P a g e
RETROCOCHLEAR:...............................................................................................................................................99

REVERSE-SLOPE AUDIOGRAM:............................................................................................................................99

SCREENING (HEARING):......................................................................................................................................100

SEMICIRCULAR CANALS:....................................................................................................................................100

SENSORI-NEURAL HEARING LOSS:....................................................................................................................100

SOUND BOOTH:................................................................................................................................................... 100

SOUND FIELD HEARING AID TESTING:..............................................................................................................100

SPEECH AUDIOMETRY:.......................................................................................................................................100

SPEECH READING:.............................................................................................................................................. 100

SPEECH RECEPTION THRESHOLD:......................................................................................................................101

STAPES:................................................................................................................................................................ 101

TELECOIL:............................................................................................................................................................101

THRESHOLD OF HEARING:..................................................................................................................................101

TRANSMITTER:.....................................................................................................................................................101

TTS (TEMPORARY THRESHOLD SHIFT):............................................................................................................101

TYMPANIC MEMBRANE:......................................................................................................................................101

TYMPANOGRAM:..................................................................................................................................................101

TYMPANOMETRY:................................................................................................................................................102

UNCOMFORTABLE LOUDNESS LEVEL (UCL):....................................................................................................102

UNILATERAL:...................................................................................................................................................... 102

VERTIGO:.............................................................................................................................................................102

VESTIBULAR SYSTEM:.........................................................................................................................................102

VESTIBULOCOCHLEAR NERVE:..........................................................................................................................102

VISUAL REINFORCEMENT AUDIOMETRY:..........................................................................................................102

WORD RECOGNITION SCORE:............................................................................................................................102

CANCER.............................................................................................................................................................103

ABSCESS:..............................................................................................................................................................103

20 | P a g e
ADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY:.............................................................................................................................103

APNAPLASTIC:..................................................................................................................................................... 103

ANDROGEN:......................................................................................................................................................... 103

ANTIEMETIC:.......................................................................................................................................................103

ASCITES:..............................................................................................................................................................104

AUTOLOGOUS:.....................................................................................................................................................104

BENIGN:............................................................................................................................................................... 104

BIOPSY:................................................................................................................................................................104

BONE MARROW:.................................................................................................................................................. 104

CEREBROSPINAL FLUID:..................................................................................................................................... 104

CHEMOTHERAPY:................................................................................................................................................104

CLINICAL TRIAL:.................................................................................................................................................105

COLONOSCOPE:...................................................................................................................................................105

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CAT SCAN):...........................................................................................................105

CYTOTOXIC:........................................................................................................................................................105

DEHYDRATION:....................................................................................................................................................105

DIGITAL RECTAL EXAMINATIONS DRE:............................................................................................................106

DYSPLASIA:......................................................................................................................................................... 106

EDEMA:................................................................................................................................................................106

EMBOLUS:............................................................................................................................................................106

ENCAPSULATED:..................................................................................................................................................106

ENDOMETRIUM:.................................................................................................................................................. 106

ENDOSCOPY:........................................................................................................................................................106

ESOPHAGUS:........................................................................................................................................................ 107

ESTROGEN:.......................................................................................................................................................... 107

FLUOROSCOPY:................................................................................................................................................... 107

GAMMA RAYS:.....................................................................................................................................................107

21 | P a g e
GENE THERAPY:.................................................................................................................................................. 107

GLIOMA:.............................................................................................................................................................. 107

GRAFT:................................................................................................................................................................ 108

HODGKIN DISEASE:.............................................................................................................................................108

HORMONE:..........................................................................................................................................................108

IMMUNE SYSTEM:...............................................................................................................................................108

INCISION BIOPSY:................................................................................................................................................108

INFORMED CONSENT:..........................................................................................................................................108

INVASIVE CARCINOMA:.......................................................................................................................................109

LAPAROSCOPY:...................................................................................................................................................109

LAPAROTOMY:.................................................................................................................................................... 109

LEUKEMIA:..........................................................................................................................................................109

LUMPECTOMY:....................................................................................................................................................109

LYMPH NODE:..................................................................................................................................................... 109

MALIGNANT:........................................................................................................................................................ 110

MASTECTOMY:.....................................................................................................................................................110

MELANOMA:.........................................................................................................................................................110

MRI:.....................................................................................................................................................................110

NECROSIS:............................................................................................................................................................ 110

NEUROMA:............................................................................................................................................................ 111

ONCOLOGY:.......................................................................................................................................................... 111

PHLEBITIS:............................................................................................................................................................ 111

PLATELET:............................................................................................................................................................ 111

POLYP:.................................................................................................................................................................. 111

PROGNOSIS:...........................................................................................................................................................111

PROSTHESIS:......................................................................................................................................................... 111

RADIATION:.......................................................................................................................................................... 112

22 | P a g e
RECURRENCE:......................................................................................................................................................112

REMISSION:.......................................................................................................................................................... 112

SARCOMA:............................................................................................................................................................ 112

SEMINOMA:.......................................................................................................................................................... 112

SHUNT:..................................................................................................................................................................112

STAGING:.............................................................................................................................................................. 113

STEROIDS:.............................................................................................................................................................113

STOMATITIS:.........................................................................................................................................................113

TUMOR MARKER:................................................................................................................................................. 113

ULTRASOUND:...................................................................................................................................................... 113

23 | P a g e
PREGNANCY

Afterbirth
Pronunciation (af'ter-berth)

1. The placenta and fetal membranes that are extruded from the uterus after birth.

Syn: secundina, secundines

Amniocentesis
Pronunciation (am'ne-o-sen-te'sis)

1. Transabdominal aspiration of fluid from the amniotic sac.

Amniotic Fluid
Pronunciation (am-nee-ot-ik floo-id)

1. The fluid bathing the fetus and serving as a shock absorber.

Anemia
Pronunciation (ă-nē′mē-ă)

1. Any condition in which the number of red blood cells/mm3, the amount of hemoglobin in
100 mL of blood, and/or the volume of packed red blood cells/100 mL of blood are less
than normal; clinically, generally pertaining to the concentration of oxygen-transporting
material in a designated volume of blood, in contrast to total quantities as in
oligocythemia, oligochromemia, and oligemia. Anemia is frequently manifested by pallor
of the skin and mucous membranes, shortness of breath, palpitations of the heart, soft
systolic murmurs, lethargy, and tendency to fatigue.

Apgar score
Pronunciation (ap'gar)

1. evaluation of a newborn infant's physical status by assigning numerical values (0–2) to

each of five criteria: heart rate, respiratory effort, muscle tone, response stimulation, and
skin color; a score of 8–10 indicates the best possible condition.

24 | P a g e
Autism
Pronunciation (aw′tizm)

1. A mental disorder characterized by severely abnormal development of social interaction

and of verbal and nonverbal communication skills. Affected people may adhere to
inflexible, nonfunctional rituals or routines. They may become upset with even trivial
changes in their environment. They often have a limited range of interests but may
become preoccupied with a narrow range of subjects or activities. They appear unable to
understand others' feelings and often have poor eye contact with others. Unpredictable
mood swings may occur. Many demonstrate stereotypical motor mannerisms such as
hand or finger flapping, body rocking, or dipping. The disorder is probably caused by
organically based central nervous system dysfunction, especially in the ability to process
social or emotional information or language. Cf.: Asperger disorder

Baby Blues
Pronunciation (bey-bee blooz)

1. Sadness that a new mother may feel soon after her baby is born; the feelings are usually
temporary.

Bag of waters
1. colloquialism for the amniotic sac containing amniotic fluid.

Braxton-Hicks contractions
Pronunciation (brack-stuhn hiks kuhn-trak-shuhnz)

1. These feel like labor pains, but are not. They are considered "false labor."

Breech presentation
1. presentation of any part of the pelvic extremity of the fetus, the nates, knees, or feet;
more properly only of the nates; frank breech presentation occurs when the fetus presents
by the pelvic extremity; the thighs may be flexed and the legs extended over the anterior
surfaces of the body; in full breech presentation, the thighs may be flexed on the
abdomen and the legs upon the thighs; and in footling presentation, foot presentation, the
feet may be the lowest part; in incomplete foot presentation, incomplete knee
presentation, one leg may retain the position that is typical of one of the above-mentioned
presentations, while the other foot or knee may present.

25 | P a g e
Cerebral palsy (CP) 
1. a generic term for various types of nonprogressive motor dysfunction present at birth or
beginning in early childhood. Causes are both hereditary and acquired; depending on
cause, classified as intrauterine, natal, and early postnatal; motor disturbances include
diplegia, hemiplegia, quadriplegia, choreoathetosis, and ataxia.

Cesarean Section
Delivery of a baby through an incision in the womb.

Chromosome
Pronunciation (kro'mo-som)

1. One of the bodies (normally 46 in somatic cells in humans) in the cell nucleus that is the
bearer of genes, has the form of a delicate chromatin filament during interphase, contracts
to form a compact cylinder segmented into two arms by the centromere during metaphase
and anaphase stages of cell divison, and is capable of reproducing its physical and
chemical structure through successive cell divisons. In bacteria and other prokaryotes, the
chromosome is not enclosed within a nuclear membrane and not subject to a mitotic
mechanism. Prokaryotes may have more than one chromosome.

Congenital Anomalies
Pronunciation (kuhn-jen-i-tl uh-nom-uh-leez)

1. Defects present at birth.

Crowning
Pronunciation (krown'ing)

1. That stage of childbirth when the fetal head has negotiated the pelvic outlet and the
largest diameter of the head is encircled by the vulvar ring.

Doula
Pronunciation (du'lah)

1. A woman who assists at labor and birth and in postpartum care of mother and baby.
Doulas are trained and certified according to various requirements of local jurisdictions.

26 | P a g e
 They are helpful in educating the new family and in helping build their confidence as
new parents.

Down syndrome
Pronunciation (down)

1. a chromosomal dysgenesis syndrome consisting of a variable constellation of

abnormalities caused by triplication or translocation of chromosome 21. The
abnormalities include mental retardation, retarded growth, flat hypoplastic face with short
nose, prominent epicanthic skin folds, small low-set ears with prominent antihelix,
fissured and thickened tongue, laxness of joint ligaments, pelvic dysplasia, broad hands
and feet, stubby fingers, and transverse palmar crease. Lenticular opacities and heart
disease are common. The incidence of leukemia is increased and Alzheimer disease is
almost inevitable by age 40 years.

Eclampsia
Pronunciation (ek-lamp'se-a)

1. Occurrence of one or more convulsions, not attributable to other cerebral conditions such
as epilepsy or cerebral hemorrhage, in a patient with preeclampsia.

Ectopic pregnancy
1. the implantation and development of a blastocyst outside the cavity of the uterus

Effacement
Pronunciation (e-fas'ment)

1. The thinning out of the cervix just before or during labor.

Electronic fetal monitor

1. an instrument for continuous monitoring of the fetal heart before or during labor.

Episiotomy
Pronunciation (e-piz′ē-ot′ŏ-mē)

1. Surgical incision of the vulva to prevent laceration at the time of delivery or to facilitate
vaginal surgery.

27 | P a g e
Fetal alcohol syndrome
1. A pattern of malformation with growth deficiency, craniofacial anomalies, and functional
deficits including mental retardation that can result when a woman drinks alcohol during
pregnancy.

Fetal distress
1. Syn: nonreassuring fetal status

Folic acid
Pronunciation (fō′lik as′id)

1. A collective term for pteroylglutamic acids and their oligoglutamic acid conjugates. N-[p-
[[(2-Amino-4-hydroxypteridin-6- yl)methyl]amino]benzoyl]-L(+)-glutamic acid;
specifically, pteroylmonoglutamic acid. See also: homocysteine
2. The growth factor for Lactobacillus casei, and a member of the vitamin B complex
necessary for the normal production of red blood cells. It is a hemopoietic vitamin
present, with or without L-(+)-glutamic acid moieties, in peptide linkages in liver, green
vegetables, and yeast; used to treat folate deficiency and megaloblastic anemia, and to
assist in lowering homocysteine levels. Syn: Lactobacillus casei factor, liver
Lactobacillus casei factor, pteroylmonoglutamic acid

Genetic counseling
1. the process whereby an expert in genetic disorders provides information about risk and
clinical burden of a disorder or disorders to patients or relatives in families with genetic
disorders as an aid to making informed and responsible decisions about marriage,
children, early diagnosis, and prognosis.

Incubator
Pronunciation (in'kyu-ba'tor)

1. An apparatus for maintaining an infant (usually premature) in an environment of proper

oxygenation, humidity, and temperature.

Jaundice
Pronunciation (jawn′dis)

28 | P a g e
 1. A yellowish staining of the integument, sclerae, deeper tissues, and excretions with bile
pigments, resulting from increased levels in the plasma.

Karyotype
Pronunciation (kar'e-o-tip)

1. The chromosome characteristics of an individual cell or of a cell line arranged in

descending order of size and according to the position of the centromere. Usually
presented as a systematized array of metaphase chromosomes from a photomicrograph of
a single cell nucleus.

Labor
Pronunciation (la'bor)

1. The process of expulsion of the fetus and the placenta from the uterus. The stages of
labor include: first stage, beginning with the onset of uterine contractions through the
period of dilation of the os uteri; second stage, the period of expulsive effort, beginning
with complete dilation of the cervix and ending with expulsion of the infant; third stage
or placental stage, the period beginning at the expulsion of the infant and ending with the
completed expulsion of the placenta and membranes.

Lactation
Pronunciation (lak-ta'shun)

1. Period following birth during which milk is secreted in the breasts.

Low birth weight

Pronunciation (loh burth weyt)

1. The category of babies weighing less than 2500 grams at birth

Midwife
Pronunciation (mid'wif)

1. A person qualified to practice midwifery, having received specialized training in

obstetrics and child care.

Miscarriage
29 | P a g e
Pronunciation (mis-kar′ăj)

1. Layperson's term for spontaneous expulsion of the products of pregnancy before the
middle of the second trimester; no longer accepted in clinical usage.

Morning sickness
1. The nausea and vomiting of early pregnancy.

Placenta
Pronunciation (pla-sen'ta)

1. Fetomaternal organ of metabolic interchange between the embryo or fetus and mother. It
has a portion of embryonic origin, derived from a highly developed area of the outermost
embryonic membrane (chorion frondosum), and a maternal portion formed by a
modification of the part of the uterine mucosa (decidua basalis) in which the chorionic
vesicle is implanted. Within the placenta, the chorionic villi, with their contained
capillaries carrying blood of the embryonic circulation, are exposed to maternal blood in
the intervillous spaces in which the villi lie; no direct mixing of fetal and maternal blood
occurs, but the intervening tissue (the placental membrane) is sufficiently thin to permit
the absorption of nutritive materials, oxygen, and some harmful substances, like viruses,
into the fetal blood and the release of carbon dioxide and nitrogenous waste from it. At
term, the human placenta is disc shaped, about 4 cm in thickness and 18 cm in diameter,
and averages about 1/6–1/7 the weight of the fetus; its fetal surface is smooth, being
formed by the adherent amnion, with the umbilical cord normally attached near its center;
the maternal surface of a detached placenta is rough because of the torn decidual tissue
adhering to the chorion and shows lobular elevations called cotyledons or lobes.

Postpartum depression
Pronunciation (pohst-pahr-tuhm di-presh-uhn)

1. Depression that develops after a woman gives birth

Pre-eclampsia
Pronunciation (pree-i-klamp-see-uh)

1. Serious condition during pregnancy, with symptoms including high blood pressure,
edema, and protein in the urine.

30 | P a g e
Premature labor
1. Onset of labor after 20 weeks' gestation and before the 37th completed week of
pregnancy dated from the last normal menstrual period.

Prolonged labor
Pronunciation (pruh-lawng-d ley-ber)

1. A drawn out labor lasting more than eighteen to twenty-four hours.

Respiratory distress syndrome

Pronunciation (res-per-uh-tawr-ee di-stres sin-drohm)

1. One of the most common lung disorders in premature infants; causes increasing difficulty
in breathing.

Stillbirth
Pronunciation (stil'berth)

1. The birth of an infant who has died before delivery.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) 

1. The sudden death of an apparently healthy infant that remains unexplained after all
known possible causes have been ruled out through autopsy, death scene investigation,
and review of the medical history.

Toxemia
Pronunciation (tok-se'me-a)

1. A lay term referring to the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Trimester
Pronunciation (tri'mes-ter, tri-mes'ter)

1. A period of 3 months; one third of the length of a pregnancy.

31 | P a g e
Ultrasounds
Pronunciation (uhl-truh-sound)

1. The use of sound waves to form an image of internal organs.

Vacuum extraction
Pronunciation (vak-yoom ik-strak-shuhn)

1. A process utilizing a suction device that is attached to the baby's head to help bring the
baby out of the birth canal during labor

Vaginal birth after cesarean

Pronunciation (vaj-uh-nl burth si-zair-ee-uhn)

1. Vaginal delivery after having had a cesarean section previously

Viable
Pronunciation (vi'a-bel)

1. Capable of living; denoting a fetus sufficiently developed to live outside of the uterus.

CHOLESTORAL
Angina
Pronunciation (an′ji-nă, an-jī′nă)

1. A severe, often constricting pain or sensation of pressure, usually referring to angina

pectoris.

Arteriosclerosis
Pronunciation (ar-tēr′ē-ō-skler-ō′sis)

1. Hardening of the arteries; types generally recognized are: atherosclerosis, Mönckeberg

arteriosclerosis, and arteriolosclerosis.

32 | P a g e
Atherosclerosis
Pronunciation (ath′er-ō-skler-ō′sis)

1. Arteriosclerosis characterized by irregularly distributed lipid deposits in the intima of

large and medium-sized arteries, causing narrowing of arterial lumens and proceeding
eventually to fibrosis and calcification. Lesions are usually focal and progress slowly and
intermittently. Limitation of blood flow accounts for most clinical manifestations, which
vary with the distribution and severity of lesions. In lower animals, atherosclerosis of
swine and fowl closely resemble human atherosclerosis.

Body mass index (BMI) 

1. An anthropometric measure of body mass, defined as weight in kilograms divided by
height in meters squared; a method of determining caloric nutritional status.

Calorie
Pronunciation (kal′ō-rē)

1. A unit of heat content or energy. The amount of heat necessary to raise 1 g of water from
14.5–15.5°C (small calorie). Calorie is being replaced by joule, the SI unit equal to 0.239
calorie. See also: British thermal unit

Cardiovascular (CV) 
Pronunciation (kar′dē-ō-vas′kyū-lăr)

1. Relating to the heart and the blood vessels or the circulation.

Cholesterol
Pronunciation (kō-les′ter-ol)

1. 5-cholesten-3β-ol (cholestane with a 5,6 double bond and a 3β-hydroxyl group); the most
abundant steroid in animal tissues, especially in bile and gallstones, and present in food,
especially food rich in animal fats; circulates in the plasma complexed to proteins of
various densities and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atheroma formation
in arteries; a precursor of steroid hormones. See also: lipoprotein

Coronary artery

33 | P a g e
 1. (obsolete) Syn: left gastric artery

Coronary artery disease (CAD) 

1. narrowing of the lumen of one or more of the coronary arteries, usually due to
atherosclerosis; myocardial ischemia; can cause congestive heart failure, angina pectoris,
or myocardial infarction.

Diabetes
Pronunciation (dī′ă-bē′tēz)
Font Size

1. Either diabetes insipidus or diabetes mellitus, diseases having in common the triad of
symptoms polyuria, weight loss, and significant glucosuria; when used without
qualification, refers to diabetes mellitus.

Hypercholesterolemia
Pronunciation (hī′pĕr-kō-les′tĕr-ol-ē′mē-ă, hī′per-kō-les′ter-ē′mē-ă, hī′per-kō-les′ter-i-nē′mē-ă)

1. The presence of an abnormally large amount of cholesterol in the blood.

Hypertension (HTN) 
Pronunciation (hī′pĕr-ten′shŭn)

1. High blood pressure; transitory or sustained elevation of systemic arterial blood pressure
to a level likely to induce cardiovascular damage or other adverse consequences.
Hypertension has been arbitrarily defined as a systolic blood pressure above 140 mmHg
or a diastolic blood pressure above 90 mmHg. Consequences of uncontrolled
hypertension include retinal vascular damage (Keith-Wagener-Barker changes),
cerebrovascular disease and stroke, left ventricular hypertrophy and failure, myocardial
infarction, dissecting aneurysm, and renovascular disease. An underlying disorder (e.g., 
renal disease, Cushing syndrome, pheochromocytoma) is identified in fewer than 10% of
all cases of hypertension. The remainder, traditionally labeled “essential” hypertension,
probably arise from a variety of disturbances in normal pressure-regulating mechanisms
(which involve baroreceptors, autonomic influences on the rate and force of cardiac
contraction and vascular tone, renal retention of salt and water, formation of angiotensin
II under the influence of renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme, and other factors
known and unknown), and most are probably genetically conditioned.

Lipid

34 | P a g e
Pronunciation (lip′id)

1. “Fat-soluble,” an operational term describing a solubility characteristic, not a chemical

substance, i.e., denoting substances extracted from animal or vegetable cells by nonpolar
solvents; included in the heterogeneous collection of materials thus extractable are fatty
acids, glycerides and glyceryl ethers, phospholipids, sphingolipids, long-chain alcohols
and waxes, terpenes, steroids, and “fat-soluble” vitamins such as A, D, and E.

Metabolic syndrome
1. a group of metabolic risk factors linked to insulin resistance and associated with
increased risk of cardiovascular disease. It is defined as the presence of any three of the
following: 1) increased waist circumference (>102 cm for men, >88 cm for women), 2)
elevated triglycerides >150 mg/dL, 3) low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL for men,
less than 50 mg/dL for women), 4) hypertension (systolic BP >130 and/or diastolic >85)
or antihypertensive medication use, 5) impaired fasting glucose (>110 mg/dL).

Obese
Pronunciation (ō-bēs′)

1. Excessively fat.

Obstruction
Pronunciation (ob-strŭk′shŭn)

1. Blockage, clogging, or impeded flow, e.g., by occlusion or stenosis.

Plaque
Pronunciation (plak)

1. A patch or small differentiated area on a body surface (e.g., skin, mucosa, or arterial

endothelium) or on the cut surface of an organ such as the brain; in skin, a circumscribed,
elevated, superficial, and solid area exceeding 1 cm in diameter.
2. An area of clearing in a flat confluent growth of bacteria or tissue cells, such as that
caused by the lytic action of bacteriophage in an agar plate culture of bacteria, by the
cytopathic effect of certain animal viruses in a sheet of cultured tissue cells, or by
antibody (hemolysin) produced by lymphocytes cultured in the presence of erythrocytes
and to which complement has been added.

DIABETES
35 | P a g e
Hemoglobin (Hb, Hgb) 
Pronunciation (hē′mō-glō′bin)

1. The red respiratory protein of erythrocytes, consisting of approximately 3.8% heme and
96.2% globin, with a molecular weight of 64,450, which as oxyhemoglobin (HbO2)
transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues where the oxygen is readily released and
HbO2 becomes Hb. When Hb is exposed to certain chemicals, its normal respiratory
function is blocked; e.g., the oxygen in HbO2 is easily displaced by carbon monoxide,
thereby resulting in the formation of fairly stable carboxyhemoglobin (HbCO), as in
asphyxiation resulting from inhalation of exhaust fumes from gasoline engines. When the
iron in Hb is oxidized from the ferrous to ferric state, as in poisoning with nitrates and
certain other chemicals, a nonrespiratory compound, methemoglobin (MetHb), is formed.
In humans there are at least five kinds of normal Hb: two embryonic Hb's (Hb Gower-1,
Hb Gower-2), fetal (Hb F), and two adult types (Hb A, Hb A2). There are two α globin
chains containing 141 amino acid residues, and two of another kind (β, γ, ΄, ε, or ζ), each
containing 146 amino acid residues in four of the Hb's. Hb Gower-1 has two ζ chains and
two ε chains. The production of each kind of globin chain is controlled by a structural
gene of similar Greek letter designation; normal individuals are homozygous for the
normal allele at each locus. Substitution of one amino acid for another in the polypeptide
chain can occur at any codon in any of the five loci and have resulted in the production of
many hundreds of abnormal Hb types, most of no known clinical significance. In
addition, deletions of one or more amino acid residues are known, as well as gene
rearrangements due to unequal crossing over between homologous chromosomes. The
Hb types below are the main abnormal types known to be of clinical significance. Newly
discovered abnormal Hb types are first assigned a name, usually the location where
discovered, and a molecular formula is added when determined. The formula consists of
Greek letters to designate the basic chains, with subscript 2 if there are two identical
chains; a superscript letter (A if normal for adult Hb, etc.) is added, or the superscript may
designate the site of amino acid substitution (numbering amino acid residues from the N-
terminus of the polypeptide) and specifying the change, using standard abbreviations for
the amino acids. There is an exhaustive listing of variant Hb's in MIM in which a
composite numbering system is used.

ACE inhibitor
1. A class of drugs (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors) that block the conversion of
angiotensin I to angiotensin II, used in the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart
failure and in the prevention of microvascular complications of diabetes mellitus (DM).

Advanced glycation end-products

1. glycation adducts of sugars and proteins involved in the collagen cross-linking occurring
with aging.

36 | P a g e
Amyotrophy
Pronunciation (ă′mī′ot′rō-fē)

1. Muscular wasting or atrophy.

Atherosclerosis
Pronunciation (ath′er-ō-skler-ō′sis)

1. Arteriosclerosis characterized by irregularly distributed lipid deposits in the intima of

large and medium-sized arteries, causing narrowing of arterial lumens and proceeding
eventually to fibrosis and calcification. Lesions are usually focal and progress slowly and
intermittently. Limitation of blood flow accounts for most clinical manifestations, which
vary with the distribution and severity of lesions. In lower animals, atherosclerosis of
swine and fowl closely resemble human atherosclerosis.

Autoimmune
Pronunciation (aw′tō-i-mūn′)

1. Term describing cells and antibodies arising from and directed against the individual's
own tissues, as in autoimmune disease.

Beta cell of pancreas

1. the predominant cell of the pancreatic islets that secretes insulin.

Bladder
Pronunciation (blad′er)

1. A distensible musculomembranous organ serving as a receptacle for fluid, such as the

urinary bladder or gallbladder. See: detrusor

Blood pressure (BP) 
1. the pressure or tension of the blood within the systemic arteries, maintained by the
contraction of the left ventricle, the resistance of the arterioles and capillaries, the
elasticity of the arterial walls, as well as the viscosity and volume of the blood; expressed
as relative to the ambient atmospheric pressure.

Blood sugar
37 | P a g e
 1. See: D-glucose

Callus
Pronunciation (kal′ŭs)

1. A composite mass of tissue that forms at a fracture site to establish continuity between
the bone ends; it is composed initially of uncallused fibrous tissue and cartilage, and
ultimately of bone. Syn: fracture callus

Cholesterol
Pronunciation (kō-les′ter-ol)

1. 5-cholesten-3β-ol (cholestane with a 5,6 double bond and a 3β-hydroxyl group); the most
abundant steroid in animal tissues, especially in bile and gallstones, and present in food,
especially food rich in animal fats; circulates in the plasma complexed to proteins of
various densities and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atheroma formation
in arteries; a precursor of steroid hormones. See also: lipoprotein

Coronary angiography
1. imaging of the circulation of the myocardium by injection of contrast medium, usually by
selective catheterization of each coronary artery, formerly by nonselective injection at the
root of the aorta.

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) 

1. a surgical procedure in which damaged sections of the coronary arteries are replaced with
new articular of venous graftings to increase rate of cardiac blood flow.

Diabetes
Pronunciation (dī′ă-bē′tēz)

1. Either diabetes insipidus or diabetes mellitus, diseases having in common the triad of
symptoms polyuria, weight loss, and significant glucosuria; when used without
qualification, refers to diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) 
1. buildup of ketones in blood due to breakdown of stored fats for energy; a complication of
diabetes mellitus. Untreated, can lead to coma and death.

38 | P a g e
Dialysis
Pronunciation (dī-al′i-sis)

1. A method of artificial kidney function.

Diphtheria
Pronunciation (dif-thēr′ē-ă)

1. A specific infectious disease due to the bacterium Corynebacterium diphtheriae and its
highly potent toxin; marked by severe inflammation that can form a membranous coating,
with formation of a thick fibrinous exudate, of the mucous membrane of the pharynx, the
nose, and sometimes the tracheobronchial tree; the toxin produces degeneration in
peripheral nerves, heart muscle, and other tissues, diphtheria had a high fatality rate,
especially in children, but is now rare because of an effective vaccine.

Echocardiography
Pronunciation (ek′ō-kar′dē-og′ră-fē)

1. The use of ultrasound in the investigation of the heart and great vessels and diagnosis of
cardiovascular lesions.

Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) 
Pronunciation (ē-lek′trō-kar′dē-ō-gram)

1. Graphic record of the heart's integrated action currents obtained with the
electrocardiograph displayed as voltage changes over time.

Flu
Pronunciation (flū)

1. Syn: influenza

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) 

1. carbohydrate intolerance of variable severity with onset or first recognition during
pregnancy.

Gingivitis
39 | P a g e
Pronunciation (jin′ji-vī′tis)

1. Inflammation of the gingiva as a response to bacterial plaque on adjacent teeth;

characterized by erythema, edema, and fibrous enlargement of the gingiva without
resorption of the underlying alveolar bone.

Glucagon
Pronunciation (glū′kă-gon)

1. A hormone consisting of a straight-chain polypeptide of 29 amino acyl residues,

extracted from pancreatic alpha cells. Parenteral administration of 0.5–1 mg results in
prompt mobilization of hepatic glycogen, thus elevating blood glucose concentration. It
activates hepatic phosphorylase, thereby increasing glycogenolysis, decreases gastric
motility and gastric and pancreatic secretions, and increases urinary excretion of nitrogen
and potassium; it has no effect on muscle phosphorylase. As the hydrochloride, it is used
in the treatment of type I glycogenosis (von Gierke disease) and hypoglycemia,
particularly hypoglycemic coma due to exogenously administered insulin.

Heart attack
1. Syn: myocardial infarction

Hormone
Pronunciation (hōr′mōn)

1. A chemical substance, formed in one organ or part of the body and carried in the blood to
another organ or part where they exert functional effects; depending on the specificity of
their effects, hormones can alter the functional activity, and sometimes the structure, of
just one organ or tissue or various numbers of them. Various hormones are formed by
ductless glands, but molecules such as secretin, cholecystokinin/somatostatin, formed in
the gastrointestinal tract, by definition are also hormones. The definition of hormone has
been recently extended to chemical substances formed by cells and acting on neighboring
cells (i.e., paracrine function) or the same cells that produce them (i.e., autocrine
function). For hormones not listed below, see specific names.

Hyperglycemia
Pronunciation (hī′pĕr-glī-sē′mē-ă)

1. An abnormally high concentration of glucose in the circulating blood, seen especially in

patients with diabetes mellitus.

40 | P a g e
Hypertension (HTN) 
Pronunciation (hī′pĕr-ten′shŭn)

1. High blood pressure; transitory or sustained elevation of systemic arterial blood pressure
to a level likely to induce cardiovascular damage or other adverse consequences.
Hypertension has been arbitrarily defined as a systolic blood pressure above 140 mmHg
or a diastolic blood pressure above 90 mmHg. Consequences of uncontrolled
hypertension include retinal vascular damage (Keith-Wagener-Barker changes),
cerebrovascular disease and stroke, left ventricular hypertrophy and failure, myocardial
infarction, dissecting aneurysm, and renovascular disease. An underlying disorder (e.g., 
renal disease, Cushing syndrome, pheochromocytoma) is identified in fewer than 10% of
all cases of hypertension. The remainder, traditionally labeled “essential” hypertension,
probably arise from a variety of disturbances in normal pressure-regulating mechanisms
(which involve baroreceptors, autonomic influences on the rate and force of cardiac
contraction and vascular tone, renal retention of salt and water, formation of angiotensin
II under the influence of renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme, and other factors
known and unknown), and most are probably genetically conditioned.

Hypoglycemia
Pronunciation (hī′pō-glī-sē′mē-ă)

1. Symptoms resulting from low blood glucose (normal glucose range 60–100 mg/dL [3.3–
5.6 mmol/L]), which are either autonomic or neuroglycopenic. Autonomic symptoms
include sweating, trembling, feelings of warmth, anxiety, and nausea. Neuroglycopenic
symptoms include feelings of dizziness, confusion, tiredness, difficulty speaking,
headache, and inability to concentrate.

Immunization
Pronunciation (im′myū-ni-zā′shŭn)

1. Protection of susceptible patients from communicable diseases by administration of a

living modified agent (e.g., yellow fever vaccine), a suspension of killed organisms
(e.g., pertussis vaccine), a protein expressed in a heterologous organism (e.g., hepatitis B
vaccine), or an inactivated toxin (e.g., tetanus). See also: vaccination, allergization

Impotence
Pronunciation (im′pŏ-tens, -ten-sē)

1. Weakness; lack of power.

41 | P a g e
 2. Specifically, inability of the male to achieve or maintain penile erection and thus engage
in copulation; a manifestation of neurologic, vascular, or psychological dysfunction.

Influenza
Pronunciation (in′flū-en′ză)

1. An acute infectious respiratory disease, caused by Influenza viruses, which are in the
family Orthomyxoviridae, in which the inhaled virus attacks the respiratory epithelial
cells of those susceptible and produces a catarrhal inflammation; characterized by sudden
onset, chills, fever of short duration (3–4 days), severe prostration, headache, muscle
aches, and a cough that usually is dry and may be followed by secondary bacterial
infections that can last up to 10 days. The disease commonly occurs in epidemics,
sometimes in pandemics, which develop quickly and spread rapidly; the mortality rate is
usually low, but may rise in patients with secondary bacterial pneumonia, particularly in
old people and those with underlying debilitating diseases; strain-specific immunity
develops, but mutations in the virus are frequent, and such immunity usually does not
affect antigenically different strains.

Insulin
Pronunciation (in′sŭ-lin)

1. A polypeptide hormone, secreted by β cells in the islets of Langerhans, which promotes

glucose use, protein synthesis, and the formation and storage of neutral lipids; available
in various preparations including genetically engineered human insulin, which is
currently favored. Insulin is used parenterally in the treatment of diabetes mellitus.

Insulin resistance
1. diminished effectiveness of insulin in lowering plasma glucose levels, arbitrarily defined
as a daily requirement of at least 200 units of insulin to prevent hyperglycemia or ketosis;
usually due to binding of insulin or insulin receptor sites by antibodies; associated with
obesity, ketoacidosis, and infection. See also: metabolic syndrome

Kidney
Pronunciation (kid′nē)

1. One of the paired organs that excrete urine, remove nitrogenous wastes of metabolism,
reclaim important electrolytes and water, contribute to blood pressure control(renin-
angiotensin system) and erythropoiesis (via erythropoietin production). The kidneys are
bean-shaped organs about 11-cm long, 5-cm wide, and 3-cm thick, lying on either side of

42 | P a g e
 the vertebral column, posterior to the peritoneum, opposite the 12th thoracic and 1st–3rd
lumbar vertebrae. In animals, the kidney has variable size and location.

Metabolic syndrome
1. a group of metabolic risk factors linked to insulin resistance and associated with
increased risk of cardiovascular disease. It is defined as the presence of any three of the
following: 1) increased waist circumference (>102 cm for men, >88 cm for women), 2)
elevated triglycerides >150 mg/dL, 3) low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL for men,
less than 50 mg/dL for women), 4) hypertension (systolic BP >130 and/or diastolic >85)
or antihypertensive medication use, 5) impaired fasting glucose (>110 mg/dL).

Myocardial infarction (MI) 
1. infarction of a segment of heart muscle, usually due to occlusion of a coronary artery.

Nephropathy
Pronunciation (ne-frop′ă-thē)

1. Any disease of the kidney.

Neuropathy
Pronunciation (nū-rop′ă-thē)

1. A classic term for any disorder affecting any segment of the nervous system.
2. In contemporary usage, a disease involving the cranial nerves or the peripheral or
autonomic nervous system.

Pancreas
Pronunciation (pan′krē-as, pan-krē-ā′tă)

1. An elongated lobulated retroperitoneal gland, devoid of a distinct capsule, extending

from the concavity of the duodenum to the spleen; it consists of a flattened head within
the duodenal concavity, a neck connecting the head and body, an elongated three-sided
body extending transversely across the abdomen, and a tail in contact with the spleen.
The gland secretes from its exocrine part pancreatic juice that is discharged into the
intestine, and from its endocrine part the internal secretions insulin and glucagon.

Periodontitis

43 | P a g e
Pronunciation (per′ē-ō-don-tī′tis)

1. Inflammation of the periodontium.

2. A chronic inflammatory disease of the periodontium occurring in response to bacterial
plaque on the adjacent teeth; characterized by gingivitis, destruction of the alveolar bone
and periodontal ligament, apical migration of the epithelial attachment resulting in the
formation of periodontal pockets, and ultimately loosening and exfoliation of the teeth.

Prediabetes
Pronunciation (pre′dī-ă-bē′tēz)

1. A state of potential diabetes mellitus, with normal glucose tolerance but with an increased
risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, (e.g., family history).

Retinopathy
Pronunciation (ret′i-nop′ă-thē)

1. Noninflammatory degenerative disease of the retina.

Retrograde ejaculation
1. delivery of semen ejaculate into the bladder; seen in neurologic disease, diabetes, and
occasionally after prostate surgery.

Risk factor
1. a characteristic statistically associated with, although not necessarily causally related to,
an increased risk of morbidity or mortality, e.g.,  smoking as a risk factor for heart
disease.

Stroke
Pronunciation (strōk)

1. Any acute clinical event, related to impairment of cerebral circulation, that lasts longer
than 24 hours. Syn: apoplexy, brain attack

Type 1 diabetes
1. a condition characterized by high blood glucose levels caused by a total lack of insulin.
Occurs when the body's immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells in the

44 | P a g e
 pancreas and destroys them. The pancreas then produces little or no insulin. Type 1
diabetes develops most often in young people but can appear in adults.

Type 2 diabetes
1. a condition characterized by high blood glucose levels caused by either a lack of insulin
or the body's inability to use insulin efficiently. Type 2 diabetes develops most often in
middle-aged and older adults but can appear in young people.

Ulcer
Pronunciation (ŭl′sĕr)

1. A lesion through the skin or a mucous membrane resulting from loss of tissue, usually
with inflammation. See: erosion

Vitrectomy
Pronunciation (vi-trek′tŏ-mē)

1. Removal of the vitreous by means of an instrument that simultaneously removes vitreous

by suction and cutting, and replaces it with saline or some other fluid.

ALLERGIES
Adenoidectomy
Pronunciation (ad′ĕ-noy-dek′tŏ-mē)

1. An operation for the removal of adenoid tissue from the nasopharynx.

Adenoids
Glands or lymphoid tissue in the upper part of the throat behind the nose.

Allergen
Pronunciation (al′er-jen)

1. An antigen that induces an allergic or hypersensitive response.

Allergen immunotherapy
45 | P a g e
 1. a process of administering allergenic extracts to patients who suffer from allergic
rhinoconjunctivitis and allergic asthma to decrease the degree of hypersensitivity and
symptoms by reducing immunologic responses to environmental allergens like pollen,
dust, animal dander, and molds; also highly effective for preventing anaphylaxis in
patinets allergic to bee venom.

Allergic rhinitis
1. rhinitis associated with hay fever; allergic rhinitis is manifest by sneezing, rhinorrhea,
nasal congestion, pruritus of the nose, ears, palate; may also occur concurrently with
allergic conjunctivitis.

Allergy
Pronunciation (al′er-jē)

1. Hypersensitivity caused by exposure to a particular antigen (allergen) resulting in a

marked increase in reactivity to that antigen on subsequent exposure, sometimes resulting
in harmful immunologic consequences. See also: allergic reaction, anaphylaxis, immune
Syn: acquired sensitivity, induced sensitivity
2. That branch of medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of allergic
manifestations.
3. An acquired hypersensitivity to certain drugs and biologic materials.

Anaphylaxis
Pronunciation (an′ă-fi-lak′sis)

1. An induced systemic or generalized sensitivity; at times the term anaphylaxis is used for
anaphylactic shock. The term is commonly used to denote the clinical reaction seen with
system IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction. Multivalent antigen crosslinks IgE on the
surface of tissues mast cells, causing degranulation with release of preformed mediators
(e.g., histamine). Generation of newly synthesized mediators occurs rapidly. The
physiologic manifestations reflect the biologic effects of these mediators. Cutaneous
symptoms include pruritus, erythema, urticaria, and angioedema. Respiratory
compromise can come from laryngeal obstruction or bronchospasm. Cardiac effects
include arrhythmia, hypotension, and shock. The reaction may be fatal if asphyxiation or
cardiovascular collapse occurs.

Angioedema
Pronunciation (an′jē-ō-ĕ-dē′mă)

46 | P a g e
 1. Recurrent large circumscribed areas of subcutaneous or mucosal edema of sudden onset,
usually disappearing within 24 hours; frequently, an allergic reaction to foods or drugs.

Antibody (Ab) 
Pronunciation (an′tē-bod′ē)

1. An immunoglobulin molecule produced by B-lymphoid cells that combine specifically

with an immunogen or antigen. Antibodies may be present naturally, their specificity is
determined through gene rearrangement or somatic replacement or may be synthesized in
response to stimulus provided by the introduction of an antigen; antibodies are found in
the blood and body fluids, although the basic structure of the molecule consists of two
light and two heavy chains, antibodies may also be found as dimers, trimers, or
pentamers. After binding antigen, some antibodies may fix, complement, bind to surface
receptors on immune cells, and in some cases may neutralize microorganisms. See also:
immunoglobulin

Antigen (Ag) 
Pronunciation (an′ti-jen)

1. Any substance that, as a result of coming in contact with appropriate cells, induces a state
of sensitivity or immune responsiveness and that reacts in a demonstrable way with
antibodies or immune cells of the sensitized subject in vivo or in vitro. Modern usage
tends to retain the broad meaning of antigen, employing the terms “antigenic
determinant” or “determinant group” for the particular chemical group of a molecule that
confers antigenic specificity. See also: hapten

Antihistamines
Pronunciation (an′tē-his′tă-mēnz)

1. Drugs having an action antagonistic to that of histamine on either H1 or H2 receptors.

Antiinflammatory
Pronunciation (an′tē-in-flam′ă-tō-rē)

1. Reducing inflammation by acting on body responses, without directly antagonizing the

causative agent; denoting agents such as glucocorticoids and aspirin.

Asthma
Pronunciation (az′mă)

47 | P a g e
 1. An inflammatory disease of the lungs characterized by (in most cases) reversible airway
obstruction. Originally, a term used to mean “difficult breathing”; now used to denote
bronchial asthma.

Bronchodilator
Pronunciation (brong′kō-dī-lā′ter, -tōr)

1. Causing an increase in caliber of a bronchus or bronchial tube.

2. An agent that possesses this power (e.g.,  epinephrine, albuterol).

Bronchospasm
Pronunciation (brong′kō-spazm)

1. Contraction of smooth muscle in the walls of the bronchi and bronchioles, causing
narrowing of the lumen. Cf.: bronchoconstriction

Conjunctivitis
Pronunciation (kon-jŭnk′ti-vī′tis)

1. Inflammation of the conjunctiva.

Dander
Pronunciation (dan′dĕr)

1. A fine scaling of the skin and scalp. See also: dandruff

2. A normal effluvium of animal hair or coat capable of causing allergic responses in atopic
persons.

Decongestant
Pronunciation (dē′kon-jes′tant)

1. An agent that possesses this action.

Dermatitis
Pronunciation (der′mă-tī′tis, -tit′i-dēz)

1. Inflammation of the skin.

48 | P a g e
Desensitization
Pronunciation (dē-sen′si-ti-zā′shŭn)

1. The reduction or abolition of allergic sensitivity or reactions to the specific antigen

(allergen). Syn: antianaphylaxis

Drug allergy
1. sensitivity (hypersensitivity) to a drug or other chemical.

Eczema
Pronunciation (ek′zĕ-mă, eg′zĕ-mă, eg-zē′mă)

1. Generic term for inflammatory conditions of the skin, particularly with vesiculation in the
acute stage, typically erythematous, edematous, papular, and crusting; followed often by
lichenification and scaling and occasionally by duskiness of the erythema and,
infrequently, hyperpigmentation; often accompanied by sensations of itching and
burning; the vesicles form by intraepidermal spongiosis; often hereditary and associated
with allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Endoscopy
Pronunciation (en-dos′kŏ-pē)

1. Examination of the interior of a canal or hollow viscus by means of a special instrument,

such as an endoscope. See: endoscope

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) 

1. an in vitro binding assay in which an enzyme and its substrate (rather than a radioactive
substance) serve as the indicator system; in positive test results, the two yield a colored or
other easily recognizable substance; tests are made in wells in polystyrene or other
material to which immunoglobulins or antigenic preparations readily adsorb; the enzyme
is linked to known immunoglobulin (or antigen) and in positive test results remains in the
well as part of the antigen-antibody complex available to react with its substrate when
added.

Epinephrine
Pronunciation (ep′i-nef′rin)

49 | P a g e
 1. A catecholamine that is the chief neurohormone of the adrenal medulla of most species;
also secreted by certain neurons. The L-isomer is the most potent stimulant
(sympathomimetic) of adrenergic α- and β-receptors, resulting in increased heart rate and
force of contraction, vasoconstriction or vasodilation, relaxation of bronchiolar and
intestinal smooth muscle, glycogenolysis, lipolysis, and other metabolic effects; used in
the treatment of bronchial asthma, acute allergic disorders, open-angle glaucoma, cardiac
arrest, and heart block, and as a topical and local vasoconstrictor. Generally used salts are
epinephrine hydrochloride and epinephrine bitartrate, the latter most frequently used in
topical preparations. See also: emergency theory, fight or flight response

Histamine (H) 
Pronunciation (his′tă-mēn)

1. A vasodepressor amine derived from histidine by histidine decarboxylase and present in

ergot and in animal tissues. It is a powerful stimulant of gastric secretion, a constrictor of
bronchial smooth muscle, and a vasodilator (capillaries and arterioles) that causes a fall in
blood pressure. Histamine, or a substance indistinguishable in action from it, is liberated
in the skin as a result of injury. When injected intradermally in high dilution, it causes the
triple response.

Hives
Pronunciation (hīvz)

1. Syn: urticaria Syn: wheal

Immune system
1. an intricate complex of interrelated cellular, molecular, and genetic components that
provides a defense, the immune response, against foreign organisms or substances and
aberrant native cells.

Immunotherapy
Pronunciation (im′yū-nō-thār′ă-pē)

1. Originally, therapeutic administration of serum or immune globulin containing preformed

antibodies produced by another individual. Currently, immunotherapy includes
nonspecific systemic stimulation, adjuvant, active specific immunotherapy, and adoptive
immunotherapy. New forms of immunotherapy include the use of monoclonal antibodies.

Latex

50 | P a g e
Pronunciation (lā′teks)

1. An emulsion or suspension produced by some seed plants; it contains suspended

microscopic globules of natural rubber.
2. Similar synthetic materials such as polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, etc.

Mast cell
1. a connective tissue cell that contains coarse, basophilic, metachromatic secretory granules
that contain, among other pharmacologic agents, heparin, histamine, and eosinophilic
chemotactic factor. These cells are involved in immediate hypersensitivity reactions and
play a role in the regulation of the composition of ground substance.

Metered-dose inhaler (MDI) 
1. a device used to administer a defined dose of medication for inhalation; used frequently
in the treatment of asthma and other respiratory conditions.

Mold
Pronunciation (mōld)

1. A filamentous fungus, generally appearing as a circular colony that may be cottony,

wooly, or glabrous, but with filaments that are not organized into large fruiting bodies,
such as mushrooms.

Pollen
Pronunciation (pol′ĕn)

1. Microspores of seed plants carried by wind or insects before fertilization; important in the
etiology of hay fever and other allergies.

Pulmonary function test (PFT) 

1. an assessment of the respiratory system that provides information about ventilation,
airflow, lung volumes and capacity, and the diffusion of gas incorporating spirometry,
peak flow meters, and the body plethysmograph.

Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) 
1. a radioimmunoassay test to detect specific IgE antibodies responsible for
hypersensitivity: the allergen is bound to insoluble material and the patient's serum is

51 | P a g e
 reacted with this conjugate; if the serum contains antibody to the allergen, it will be
complexed to the allergen. Radiolabeled anti-human IgE antibody is added where it
reacts with the bound IgE. The amount of radioactivity is proportional to the serum IgE.

Sinusitis
Pronunciation (sī′nŭs-ī′tis)

1. Inflammation of the mucous membrane of any sinus, especially the paranasal. See also:
rhinosinusitis

Urticaria
Pronunciation (ŭr′ti-kar′i-ă)

1. An eruption of itching wheals, collquially called hives, usually of systemic origin; it may
be due to a state of hypersensitivity to foods or drugs, foci of infection, physical agents
(heat, cold, light, friction), or psychic stimuli.

DEPRESSION
Acupuncture
Pronunciation (ak′yū-punk′chŭr)

1. An ancient Asian system of therapy in which long, fine needles are inserted into discrete
areas of the body that are considered linked to symptoms or disease.
2. More recently, acupuncture anesthesia or analgesia.

Agoraphobia
Pronunciation (ag′ōr-ă-fō′bē-ă)

1. A mental disorder characterized by an irrational fear of leaving the familiar setting of

home, or venturing into the open, so pervasive that a large number of external life
situations are entered into reluctantly or are avoided; often associated with panic attacks.

Anorexia nervosa
1. a mental disorder manifested by extreme fear of becoming obese and an aversion to food,
usually occurring in young women and often resulting in life-threatening weight loss,
accompanied by a disturbance in body image, hyperactivity, and amenorrhea.

52 | P a g e
Antidepressant
Pronunciation (an′tē-dē-pres′ănt)

1. Counteracting depression.
2. A pharmacologic agent used in treating depression.

Anxiety disorders
1. a group of disorders involving various manifestations of anxiety that are grouped together
nosologically in the DSM. These include panic disorder (see also panic attack), specific
phobia, formerly simple phobia (see phobia); social phobia that was formerly called
social anxiety disorder; obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); (see also obsession,
compulsion, obsessive-compulsive); posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD); acute stress
disorder; generalized anxiety disorder (GAD); and anxiety disorders secondary to
medical conditions or substance-induced or not otherwise specified. See: neurosis See
also: neurosis, anxiety

Body dysmorphic disorder

1. a psychosomatic (somatoform) disorder characterized by preoccupation with some
imagined defect in appearance in a person who looks normal.
2. a DSM diagnosis that is established when the specified criteria are met.

Bulimia nervosa
1. a chronic morbid disorder involving repeated and secretive episodic bouts of eating
characterized by uncontrolled rapid ingestion of large quantities of food over a short
period of time (binge eating), followed by self-induced vomiting, use of laxatives or
diuretics, fasting, or vigorous exercise to prevent weight gain; often accompanied by
feelings of guilt, depression, or self-disgust.

Depression
Pronunciation (dĕ-presh′ŭn)

1. A mental state or chronic mental disorder characterized by feelings of sadness, loneliness,

despair, low self-esteem, and self-reproach; accompanying signs include psychomotor
retardation (or less frequently agitation), withdrawal from social contact, and vegetative
states such as loss of appetite and insomnia. Syn: dejection (1) , depressive reaction,
depressive syndrome

Eating disorders (ED) 
53 | P a g e
 1. a group of mental disorders including anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, pica, and
rumination disorder of infancy.

Major depression
1. a mental disorder characterized by sustained depression of mood, anhedonia, sleep and
appetite disturbances, and feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and hopelessness. Diagnostic
criteria for a major depressive episode (DSM-IV) include a depressed mood, a marked
reduction of interest or pleasure in virtually all activities, or both, lasting for at least 2
weeks. In addition, 3 or more of the following must be present: gain or loss of weight,
increased or decreased sleep, increased or decreased level of psychomotor activity,
fatigue, feelings of guilt or worthlessness, diminished ability to concentrate, and recurring
thoughts of death or suicide. See: endogenous depression, exogenous depression, bipolar
disorder

Manic-depressive disorder
1. older term for bipolar disorder.

MAOI
1. Abbreviation for monoamine oxidase inhibitor.

Menopause
Pronunciation (men′ō-pawz)

1. Permanent cessation of the menses due to ovarian failure; termination of the menstrual
life.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) 
1. a type of anxiety disorder the essential features of which include recurrent obsessions,
persistent intrusive ideas, thoughts, impulses or images, or compulsions (repetitive,
purposeful, and intentional behaviors performed to decrease anxiety in response to an
obsession) sufficiently severe to cause marked distress, be time-consuming, or
significantly interfere with the person's normal routine, occupational functioning, or usual
social activities or relationships with others.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) 

1. a pervasive pattern occurring during the last week of the luteal phase in most menstrual
cycles for at least a year and remitting within a few days of the onset of the follicular

54 | P a g e
 phase, with some combination of depressed mood, mood lability, marked anxiety, or
irritability; various specific physical symptoms; and significant functional impairment;
the symptoms are comparable in severity with those seen in a major depressive episode,
distinguishing this disorder from the far more common premenstrual syndrome. See also:
premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) 
1. in women of reproductive age, a constellation of emotional, behavioral, and physical
symptoms that occur in the luteal (premenstrual) phase of the menstrual cycle and
subside with the onset of menstruation; characterized by swelling and weight gain due to
fluid retention, breast tenderness, irritability, mood swings, anxiety, depression,
drowsiness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and changes in appetite and libido.

Psychiatrist
Pronunciation (sī-kī′ă-trist)

1. A physician who specializes in psychiatry.

Psychologist
Pronunciation (sī-kol′ŏ-jist)

1. A specialist in psychology licensed to practice professional psychology (e.g., clinical

psychologist), or qualified to teach psychology as a scholarly discipline (academic
psychologist), or whose scientific specialty is a subfield of psychology (research
psychologist).

Psychosis
Pronunciation (sī-kō′sis, -sēz)

1. A mental and behavioral disorder causing gross distortion or disorganization of a person's

mental capacity, affective response, and capacity to recognize reality, communicate, and
relate to others to the degree of interfering with that person's capacity to cope with the
ordinary demands of everyday life. The psychoses are divided into two major
classifications according to their origins: those associated with organic brain syndromes
(e.g., Korsakoff syndrome); and those less clearly organic and having some functional
component(s) (e.g., the schizophrenias, bipolar disorder).
2. Generic term for any of the so-called insanities, the most common forms of which are the
schizophrenias.
3. A severe emotional and behavioral disorder.

55 | P a g e
Psychotherapy
Pronunciation (sī-kō-thār′ă-pē)

1. Treatment of emotional, behavioral, personality, and psychiatric disorders based

primarily on verbal or nonverbal communication and interventions with the patient, in
contrast to treatments using chemical and physical measures. See entries under:
psychoanalysis; psychiatry; psychology; therapy

Reflexology
Pronunciation (rē′flek-sol′ŏ-jē)

1. The study of reflexes.

Registered nurse (RN) 
1. a nurse who has graduated from an accredited nursing program, has passed the state
examination for licensure, and has been registered and licensed to practice by a state
authority.

Schizophrenia
Pronunciation (skiz′ō-frē′nē-ă, skit-sō-)

1. A term coined by Bleuler, synonymous with and replacing dementia praecox, denoting a
common type of psychosis, characterized by abnormalities in perception, content of
thought, and thought processes (hallucinations and delusions) and by extensive
withdrawal of interest from other people and the outside world, with excessive focusing
on one's own mental life. Now considered a group or spectrum of disorders rather than a
single entity, with distinction sometimes made between process schizophrenia and
reactive schizophrenia. The “split” personality of schizophrenia, in which individual
psychic components or functions split off and become autonomous, is popularly but
erroneously identified with multiple personality, in which two or more relatively
complete personalities dominate by turns the psychic life of a patient.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

1. a class of chemical compounds that selectively, to varying degrees, inhibit the reuptake of
serotonin by presynaptic neurons and are posited to exert their antidepressant effect by
this mechanism.

Sexual abuse
56 | P a g e
 1. See: domestic violence

Social phobia
1. a persistent pattern of significant fear of a social or performance situation, manifesting in
anxiety or panic on exposure to the situation or in anticipation of it, which the person
realizes is unreasonable or excessive and interferes significantly with the person's
functioning;

Tourette syndrome
Pronunciation (tur'et)

1. a tic disorder appearing in childhood, characterized by multiple motor tics and vocal tics
present for longer than 1 year. Obsessive-compulsive behavior, attention-deficit disorder,
and other psychiatric disorders may be associated; coprolalia and echolalia rarely occur;
autosomal dominant inheritance.

Trichotillomania
Pronunciation (trik′ō-til′ō-mā′nē-ă)

1. A compulsion to pull out one's own hair.

SEXUAL CONDITIONS
Amenorrhea
Pronunciation (ă-men′ō-rē′ă)

1. Absence or abnormal cessation of the menses.

Anorgasmy
Pronunciation (an′ōr-gaz′mē, -gaz′mē-ă)

1. Failure to experience an orgasm; may be biogenic, secondary to a physical disorder or

medication (e.g., SSRIs or possibly some psychotropics) or drug of abuse, or
psychogenic, secondary to psychological or situational factors, or have a multifactorial
cause.

57 | P a g e
Bacterial vaginosis
1. infection of the human vagina that may be caused by anaerobic bacteria, especially by
Mobiluncus species or by Gardnerella vaginalis. Characterized by excessive, sometimes
malodorous, discharge.

Bisexual
Pronunciation (bī-sek′shū-ăl)

1. Having gonads of both sexes. See also: hermaphroditism

2. Denoting a person who engages in both heterosexual and homosexual activities.

Chlamydia
Pronunciation (kla-mid′ē-ă, -mid′ē-ē)

1. A vernacular term used to refer to any member of the genus Chlamydia.

Circumcision
Pronunciation (ser′kŭm-sizh′ŭn)

1. Operation to remove part or all of the prepuce.

2. Cutting around an anatomic part (e.g., the areola of the breast). Syn: peritectomy (2)

Clitoris
Pronunciation (klit′ō-ris, -tōr′i-dēz; klī′tō-ris)

1. A cylindric, erectile body, rarely exceeding 2 cm in length, situated at the most anterior
portion of the vulva and projecting between the branched limbs or laminae of the labia
minora, which form its prepuce and frenulum. It consists of a glans, a corpus, and two
crura, and is the homologue of the penis in the male, except that it is not perforated by the
urethra and does not possess a corpus spongiosum.

Condyloma
Pronunciation (kon′di-lō′mă, -mah′tă)

1. A wartlike excrescence at the anus or vulva, or on the glans penis.

Ejaculate
58 | P a g e
Pronunciation (ē-jak′yū-lāt)

1. To expel suddenly.
2. Semen expelled in ejaculation. See: ejaculation

Emergency hormonal contraception

1. Syn: morning-after pill

Endometriosis
Pronunciation (en′dō-mē′trē-ō′sis)

1. Ectopic occurrence of endometrial tissue, frequently forming cysts containing altered

blood.

Erectile dysfunction
1. inability to achieve or maintain penile tumescence sufficient for sexual intromission or
for achieving orgasm.

Female circumcision
1. a broad term referring to many forms of female genital cutting, ranging from removal of
the clitoral prepuce to the removal of the clitoris, labia minora and parts of the labia
majora, and infibulation; done for cultural, not medical, reasons.

Foreskin
Pronunciation (fōr′skin)

1. Syn:  * official alternate term for prepuce

Gender
Pronunciation (jen′dĕr)

1. Category to which an individual is assigned by self or others, on the basis of sex. Cf.: sex,
gender role

Glans
Pronunciation (glanz, glan′dēz)

59 | P a g e
 1. A conic or acorn-shaped structure.

Gonorrhea
Pronunciation (gon-uh-ree-uh)

1. Sexually transmitted disease (STD) that is spread primarily by intercourse. []

Hepatitis
Pronunciation (hep′ă-tī′tis)

1. Inflammation of the liver, due usually to viral infection but sometimes to toxic agents

Herpes
Pronunciation (her′pēz)

1. An inflammatory skin disease caused by herpes simplex virus or varicella-zoster virus; an

eruption of groups of deep-seated vesicles on erythematous bases.

Heterosexual
Pronunciation (het′ĕr-ō-seks′yū-ăl)

1. A person whose sexual orientation is toward people of the opposite sex.

2. Relating to or characteristic of heterosexuality.
3. One whose interests and behavior are characteristic of heterosexuality.

Homosexual
Pronunciation (hō′mō-seks′yū-ăl)

1. Relating to or characteristic of homosexuality.

2. One whose interests and behavior are characteristic of homosexuality. See: gay, lesbian

Hormone replacement therapy

Pronunciation (hawr-mohn ri-pleys-muhnt ther-uh-pee)

1. The use of hormones, usually estrogen and progesterone, as a therapy; often used to treat
the discomforts of menopause or to replace hormones (especially estrogen) lost after
menopause.

60 | P a g e
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Pronunciation (hyoo-muhn im-yuh-noh-di-fish-uhn-see di-zeez)

1. The virus that causes AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome).

Human Papilloma Virus

Pronunciation (hyoo-muhn pap-uh-loh-muh vahy-ruhs)

1. Viruses that generally cause warts. Some papilloma viruses are sexually transmitted.
Some of these sexually transmitted viruses cause wartlike growths on the genitals, and
some are thought to cause abnormal changes in cells of the cervix.

Hysterectomy
Pronunciation (his′ter-ek′tŏ-mē)

1. Removal of the uterus; unless otherwise specified, usually denotes complete removal of
the uterus (corpus and cervix).

Impotence
Pronunciation (im′pŏ-tens, -ten-sē)

1. Weakness; lack of power.

2. Specifically, inability of the male to achieve or maintain penile erection and thus engage
in copulation; a manifestation of neurologic, vascular, or psychological dysfunction.

Masturbation
Pronunciation (mas′tŭr-bā′shŭn)

1. Self-stimulation of the genitals for erotic pleasure, often resulting in orgasm.

Menopause
Pronunciation (men′ō-pawz)

1. Permanent cessation of the menses due to ovarian failure; termination of the menstrual
life.

Monogamy
61 | P a g e
Pronunciation (mŏ-nog′ă-mē)

1. The marriage or mating system in which each partner has but one mate.

Orgasm
Pronunciation (ōr′gazm)

1. The acme of the sexual act.

Paraphilia
Pronunciation (par′ă-fil′ē-ă)

1. A condition, in either men or women, of compulsive responsivity and obligatory

dependence on an unusual or personally or socially unacceptable external stimulus or
internal fantasy for sexual arousal or orgasm.
2. In legal parlance, a perversion or deviancy.

Pedophilia
Pronunciation (pē′dō-fil′ē-ă)

1. In psychiatry, an abnormal attraction to children by an adult for sexual purposes.

Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pronunciation (pel-vik in-flam-uh-tawr-ee di-zeez)

1. An infection of the female reproductive organs usually contracted through sexual contact.

Penetration
Pronunciation (pen′ĕ-trā′shŭn)

1. A piercing or entering.
2. Mental acumen. Syn: focal depth

Premature ejaculation
1. during sexual intercourse, too rapid achievement of climax and ejaculation in the male
relative to his own or his partner's wishes.

62 | P a g e
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) 
1. a pervasive pattern occurring during the last week of the luteal phase in most menstrual
cycles for at least a year and remitting within a few days of the onset of the follicular
phase, with some combination of depressed mood, mood lability, marked anxiety, or
irritability; various specific physical symptoms; and significant functional impairment;
the symptoms are comparable in severity with those seen in a major depressive episode,
distinguishing this disorder from the far more common premenstrual syndrome. See also:
premenstrual syndrome

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) 
1. in women of reproductive age, a constellation of emotional, behavioral, and physical
symptoms that occur in the luteal (premenstrual) phase of the menstrual cycle and
subside with the onset of menstruation; characterized by swelling and weight gain due to
fluid retention, breast tenderness, irritability, mood swings, anxiety, depression,
drowsiness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and changes in appetite and libido.

Rape
Pronunciation (rāp)

1. Sexual intercourse by force, duress, intimidation, or without legal consent (as with a
minor).
2. The performance of such an act.

Sadism
Pronunciation (sā′dizm, sad′izm)

1. A form of perversion, often sexual in nature, in which a person finds pleasure in inflicting
abuse and maltreatment. Cf.: masochism

Sexual orientation
1. concept that includes the permutations among body morphology, gender identity, gender
role, and sexual preference.

Sexually transmitted disease (STD) 

1. any contagious disease acquired during sexual contact (e.g., syphilis, gonorrhea,
chancroid).

63 | P a g e
Syphilis
Pronunciation (sif′i-lis)

1. An acute and chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum
and transmitted by direct contact, usually through sexual intercourse. After an incubation
period of 12–30 days, the first symptom is a chancre, followed by slight fever and other
constitutional symptoms (primary syphilis), followed by a skin eruption of various
appearances with mucous patches and generalized lymphadenopathy (secondary
syphilis), and subsequently by the formation of gummas, cellular infiltration, and
functional abnormalities usually resulting from cardiovascular and central nervous
system lesions (tertiary syphilis).

Testosterone
Pronunciation (tes-tos′tĕ-rōn)

1. The most potent naturally occurring androgen, formed in greatest quantities by the
interstitial cells of the testes, and possibly secreted also in small amounts by the ovary
and adrenal cortex; may be produced in nonglandular tissues from precursors such as
androstenedione; used in the treatment of hypogonadism, cryptorchism, certain
carcinomas, and menorrhagia. Various preparations are used therapeutically.

Transsexual
Pronunciation (trans-sek′shū-ăl)

1. A person with the external genitalia and secondary sexual characteristics of one gender,
but whose personal identification and psychosocial configuration are that of the opposite
gender; a study of morphologic, genetic, and gonadal structure may be genitally
congruent or incongruent.
2. Denoting or relating to such a person.
3. Relating to medical and surgical procedures designed to alter a patient's external sexual
characteristics so that they resemble those of the opposite gender.

Trichomoniasis
Pronunciation (trik′ō-mō-nī′ă-sis)

1. Disease caused by infection with a species of protozoon of the genus Trichomonas or

related genera.

Undescended testis

64 | P a g e
 1. a testis that has not descended into the scrotum; palpable and nonpalpable (impalpable)
variants exist.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) 

1. microbial infection, usually bacterial, of any part of the urinary tract; may involve the
parenchyma of the kidney, the renal pelvis, the ureter, the bladder, the urethra or
combinations of these organs. Often, the entire urinary tract is affected; the most common
organism causing such infection is Escherichia coli.

Vaginitis
Pronunciation (vaj′i-nī′tis, -nī′ti-dēz)

1. Inflammation of the vagina.

Vaginoplasty
Pronunciation (vaj′i-nō-plas′tē)

1. Surgery involving the vagina.

Vasectomy
Pronunciation (va-sek′tŏ-mē)

1. Excision of a segment of the vas deferens, performed in association with prostatectomy

or to produce sterility.

Vulva
Pronunciation (vŭl′vă)

1. The external genitalia of the female, composed of the mons pubis, the labia majora and
minora, the clitoris, the vestibule of the vagina and its glands, and the opening of the
urethra and of the vagina.

Vulvovaginitis
Pronunciation (vŭl′vō-vaj′i-nī′tis)

1. Inflammation of both vulva and vagina.

65 | P a g e
DENTISTRY

Abscess:

An abscess is a localized collection of pus in any part of the body that is surrounded by swelling

Acrylic resin:

1. A circumscribed collection of purulent exudate frequently associated with swelling and other

signs of inflammation.2. A cavity formed by liquefactive necrosis within solid tissue.

Alveolar bone:

in dentistry, the specialized bony structure that supports the teeth; it consists of the cortical bone

that comprises the tooth socket into which the roots of the tooth fit, and is supported by the

trabecular bone.

Anesthesia:

general or local insensibility, as to pain and other sensation, induced by certain interventions or

drugs to permit the performance of surgery or other painful procedures.

Apex:

tip of a pyramidal or rounded structure

66 | P a g e
Aphthous ulcers (canker sores):

small ulcer crater in the lining of the mouth

Artificial crown:

a fixed restoration of the major part of the entire coronal part of a natural tooth; usually of gold,

porcelain, or acrylic resin.

Baby bottle syndrome:

is a syndrome where your child's teeth decay.

Bicuspid:

A tooth with two cusps; a premolar tooth.

Bitewing X-ray:

radiograph; another name for x-ray

Bonding:

cements that act through infiltration and polymerization within the dentinal matrix and are used

for dental restoration.

Bone resorption:

67 | P a g e
the removal of osseous tissue by osteoclasts

Braces:

Colloquialism for orthodontic appliances.

Bridge:

The upper part of the ridge of the nose formed by the nasal bones.

Calcium:

An element taken in through the diet that is essential for a variety of bodily functions, such as

neurotransmission, muscle contraction and proper heart function

Canine tooth:

a tooth having a crown of thick conic shape and a long, slightly flattened conic root

Cap:

Abbreviation for capsule.

Caries:

Microbial destruction or necrosis of teeth.

Cleft Lip:

68 | P a g e
a congenital facial abnormality of the lip (usually of the upper lip) resulting from failure of union

of the medial and nasal prominences with maxillary prominence

Cleft palate:

a congenital fissure in the median line of the palate, often, but not necessarily associated with

cleft lip.

Crown:

that part of a tooth that is covered with enamel

Decay:

To deteriorate; to undergo slow combustion or putrefaction.

Dental Floss:

an untwisted thread made from fine, short, silk or synthetic fibers, frequently waxed

Dentin:

The ivory forming the mass of the tooth

Denture:

An artificial substitute for missing natural teeth and adjacent tissues

Enamel:
69 | P a g e
The hard, glistening substance covering the coronal dentin of the tooth

Extracation:

Luxation and removal of a tooth from its alveolus

Filling:

Lay term for a dental restoration.

Fluoride:

A compound of fluorine with a metal, a nonmetal, or an organic radical.

Gingivitus:

Inflammation of the gingiva as a response to bacterial plaque on adjacent teeth

Hygienist:

One who is skilled in the science of health and its maintenance.

Immediate Denture:

a complete or partial denture constructed for insertion immediately following the removal of

natural teeth.

Impacted tooth a tooth the normal eruption of which is prevented by adjacent teeth or bone

70 | P a g e
Implant:

A surgically inserted or imbedded graft or device

Impression:

An imprint or negative likeness

Incision:

A cut; a surgical wound; a division of the body parts, usually made with a knife.

Incisor tooth:

a tooth with a chisel-shaped crown and a single conical tapering root

Mandible:

A U-shaped bone (in superior view), forming the lower jaw,

Molar:

a tooth having a somewhat quadrangular crown with four or five cusps on the grinding surface

Mouth guard:

A pliable plastic device, adapted to cover the maxillary teeth, which is worn to reduce potential

injury to oral structures during participation in contact sports.

71 | P a g e
Night guard:

A device used to stabilize the teeth and reduce the traumatic effects of bruxism.

Orthodontics:

That branch of dentistry concerned with the correction and prevention of irregularities and

malocclusion of the teeth.

Orthodontist:

A dental specialist who practices orthodontics.

Overbite:

vertical overlap

Palate:

The bony and muscular partition between the oral and nasal cavities

Panoramic x-ray film:

in dentistry, a radiograph taken to give a panoramic view of the entire upper and lower dental

arch as well as the temporomandibular joints.

Partial denture:

72 | P a g e
a dental prosthesis that restores one or more, but not all, of the natural teeth or associated parts

and that is supported by the teeth or the mucosa

Pedodontics:

The branch of dentistry concerned with the dental care and treatment of children.

Periodontist dentist who specializes in periodontics.

Permanent tooth:

1 of 32 teeth belonging to the second, or permanent, dentition;

Plaque:

A patch or small differentiated area on a body surface

Retainter:

Any type of clasp, attachment, or device used for the fixation or stabilization of a prosthesis

Root canal therapy dental therapy for damaged pulp by removal of the pulp and sterilization and

filling of the root canal.

Scaling:
removal of accretions from the crowns and roots of teeth by use of special instruments.

Tartar:

73 | P a g e
A white, brown, or yellow-brown deposit at or below the gingival margin of teeth, chiefly

hydroxyapatite in an organic matrix

Thrush:

Infection of the oral tissues with Candida albicans; often an opportunistic infection in humans

with AIDS or those suffering from other conditions that depress the immune system; also

common in normal infants who have been treated with antibiotics.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS):

a method of reducing pain by passage of an electric current

Underbite:

A nontechnical term applied to mandibular underdevelopment or to excessive maxillary

development.

Veneer:

In dentistry, a layer of tooth-colored material, usually porcelain or composite resin, attached to

and covering the surface of a metal crown or natural tooth structure.

DERMATOLOGY

Acne:

74 | P a g e
An inflammatory follicular, papular, and pustular eruption involving the pilosebaceous apparatus

Allergen:

An antigen that induces an allergic or hypersensitive response

Aloe:

An antigen that induces an allergic or hypersensitive response

Angioma:

A swelling or tumor resulting from proliferation, with or without dilation, of the blood vessels

Atopy:

A genetically determined state of hypersensitivity to environmental allergens

Biopsy:

Process of removing tissue from patients for diagnostic examination.

Cancer:

General term frequently used to indicate any of various types of malignant neoplasms, most of

which invade surrounding tissues, may metastasize to several sites, and are likely to recur after

attempted removal and to kill the patient unless adequately treated; especially, any such

carcinoma or sarcoma, but, in ordinary usage, especially the former.

75 | P a g e
Chemotherapy:

Treatment of disease by means of chemical substances or drugs; usually used in reference to

neoplastic disease. See also: pharmacotherapy

Callogen:

The major protein (comprising over half of that in mammals) of the white fibers of connective

tissue, cartilage, and bone;

Cyst:

An abnormal sac containing gas, fluid, or a semisolid material, with a membranous lining

Dermabrasion:

Operative procedure to efface acne scars or pits

Dermatitus
: Inflammation of the skin.

Dermatofibroma:

slowly growing benign skin nodule consisting of poorly demarcated cellular fibrous tissue

enclosing collapsed capillaries, with scattered hemosiderin-pigmented and lipid macrophages

Dermatopathology:

76 | P a g e
Histopathology of the skin and subcutis, and study of the causes of skin disease.

Dermatoscopy:

Inspection of the skin, usually with the aid of a lens or by epiluminescence microscopy

Dermis:

A layer of skin composed of two zones

Dermoid Cyst:

a tumor consisting of displaced ectodermal structures along lines of embryonic fusion, the wall

being formed of epithelium-lined connective tissue, including skin appendages and containing

keratin, sebum, and hair

Eczema:

Generic term for inflammatory conditions of the skin, particularly with vesiculation in the acute

stage, typically erythematous, edematous, papular, and crusting; followed often by

lichenification and scaling and occasionally by duskiness of the erythema and, infrequently,

hyperpigmentation; often accompanied by sensations of itching and burning; the vesicles form

by intraepidermal spongiosis; often hereditary and associated with allergic rhinitis and asthma.

Epidermis:

The superficial epithelial portion of the skin

77 | P a g e
Lymph node:

One of numerous round, oval, or bean-shaped bodies located along the course of lymphatic

vessels, varying greatly in size

Mole:

An intrauterine mass formed by the degeneration of the partly developed products of

conception.

Nodule:

A small node; in skin, a node up to 1.0 cm in diameter, solid, with palpable depth

Photosensitivity:

Abnormal sensitivity to light, especially of the eyes.

Precancerous:

Pertaining to any lesion that is interpreted as precancer.

Punch biopsy:

any method that removes a small cylindric specimen for biopsy by means of a special instrument

that pierces the organ directly, or through the skin, or a small incision in the skin.

Punch grafts:
78 | P a g e
harvesting technique in which small full-thickness grafts are removed with a circular punch for

transplantation.

Radiation therapy:

treatment with x-rays or radionuclides

Recurrence:

A return of the symptoms, occurring as a phenomenon in the natural history of the disease

Risk factor:

a characteristic statistically associated with, although not necessarily causally related to, an

increased risk of morbidity or mortality

Sebaceous glands:

numerous holocrine glands in the dermis that usually open into the hair follicles and secrete an

oily semifluid, sebum.

SPF:

Abbreviation for sun protection factor

Subcutaneous:

located, living, or made beneath the skin

79 | P a g e
Sunscreen:

A topical product that protects the skin from ultraviolet-induced erythema and resists washing

off; its use also reduces formation of solar keratoses and reduces ultraviolet-B-induced

melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers and wrinkling.

Tumor:

Any swelling or tumefaction

Wart:

a small benign rough lump that grows, usually, on the hands, feet, or genitals, caused by a virus

Zinc oxide:

used as a protective in ointment, as a dusting powder; also used in paint as a substitute for lead

carbonate.

EMERGENCY ROOM

Acute:

extremely serious, severe, or painful

Anesthetics:

80 | P a g e
a substance that reduces sensitivity to pain and may cause unconsciousness, especially a drug

used in medicine

Ambulance:

vehicle designed and equipped for carrying people to and from a hospital

Arrhythmia:

an irregularity in the rhythm of the heartbeat

Blood Loss:

blood leaving the body

Cast:

to pour something such as molten metal or plaster into a mold and allow it to solidify in order to

create an object

Catheter:

a thin flexible tube that is inserted into a part of the body to inject or drain away fluid or to keep

a passage open

Dead on arrival:

patient is already dead when medical personnel show up

81 | P a g e
IV:

intravenous; injection of quantities of a therapeutic fluid such as blood, plasma, saline, or

glucose directly into somebody's vein at an adjustable rate

EMT:

Emergency Medical Technician; medical professional specializing in emergency situations;

usually the person in the ambulance.

Hypoxia:

an inadequacy in the oxygen reaching the body's tissues

Pancreatitis:

inflammation of the pancreas

Palpations:

a method of clinical examination using gentle pressure of the fingers to detect growths, changes

in the size of underlying organs, and unusual tissue reactions to pressure

Second Degree Burn:

a burn that causes blistering on the skin but does not damage the deeper layers of the skin or

require grafting

82 | P a g e
Sepsis:

the condition or syndrome caused by the presence of microorganisms or their toxins in the tissue

or the bloodstream

Third Degree Burn:

a burn of the most serious kind, in which the skin and the tissues beneath it are severely damaged

Tox Screen:

toxicology test checks blood or urine for the presence of drugs

Tracheostomy:

a hole cut in the trachea, e.g. to ensure the airway is unblocked or to suck out secretions

Trauma:

an extremely distressing experience that causes severe emotional shock and may have long-

lasting psychological effects

Waiting Room:

a room in which people may wait, e.g. for a doctor's appointment

PHYSICAL

83 | P a g e
Blood Pressure:

the pressure exerted by the blood against the walls of blood vessels. Blood pressure depends on

the strength of the heartbeat, thickness and volume of the blood, the elasticity of the artery walls,

and general health.

Drug test:

an examination given to find out if one is on drugs (marijuana, narcotics, etc.)

Ear Check:

When the doctor checks the ears; otoscopic examination

Heart:

a hollow muscular organ that pumps blood around the body, in humans situated in the center of

the chest with its apex directed to the left

Height:

the distance that somebody or something is above the ground, sea, or another reference point

Lungs:

in air-breathing vertebrate animals, either of the paired spongy respiratory organs, situated

inside the rib cage, that transfer oxygen into the blood and remove carbon dioxide from it

84 | P a g e
Pulse:

the regular expansion and contraction of an artery, caused by the heart pumping blood through

the body. It can be felt through an artery that is near the surface such as the one in the wrist on

the same side as the thumb.

Shot:

medicine an injection of a medication or vaccine

Spine check:

making sure one’s spinal column is in line

Temperature:

the degree of heat in a living organism; 98.6 is the norm

Vision:

one’s eyesight; ability to see

Weight:

the heaviness of a particular object or person, especially as measured by a particular system of

weight

OPTOMETRY
85 | P a g e
Astigmatism
(uh-STIG-muh-tiz-um). A Refractive Error of the eye in which refractive power is not uniform
in all directions (meridians). Light rays entering the eye are refracted unequally through different
meridians, which prevents formation of a sharp image focus on the retina.  Correctable with a
cylindrical lens.

Bifocals.
A lens having two separate and distinct points of focus (focal lengths) which incorporate two
different powers in each lens, usually for near and distance corrections.

Binocular vision.
Focusing and fusing of the separate images seen by each eye into one single binocular image.

Blind spot.
Sightless area within the visual field of a normal eye, where the optic disc attaches the optic
nerve to the eye.  Caused by absence of light sensitive photoreceptors where the optic nerve
enters the eye.

Cataract.
Clouding of the crystalline lens, which may prevent a clear image from forming on the retina. If
visual loss becomes significant, surgical removal is required. Types of cataracts include
traumatic, congenital and age-related. 

Central vision.
An eye's best vision; used for reading and discriminating fine detail and color. 

Color blindness.
Decreased ability to determine differences between colors, especially shades of red and green.
Usually hereditary.

Cornea
(KOR-nee-uh). Transparent membrane in the front of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and
anterior chamber and provides most of an eye's optical power.

Crystalline lens.
The natural lens inside of the eye. Transparent, biconvex intraocular tissue that converges light
to helps bring rays of light to the retina.

Double vision.
A visualization of two images from one object; images may be horizontal, vertical or oblique.

86 | P a g e
Glaucoma
(glaw-KOH-muh). A disease of the eye characterized by increased intraocular pressure. A
common cause of preventable vision loss. May be treated by prescription drugs or surgery.

Hyperopia
(hi-pur-OH-pee-uh), farsightedness. Focusing defect in which an eye is underpowered. Light
rays coming from a distant object strike the retina before coming to sharp focus,  causing blurred
vision. Corrected with plus (convex) lenses.

Iris.
Pigmented tissue lying behind the cornea that gives color to the eye (e.g., blue eyes) Controls
light by contracting and constricting the opening (pupil).

Lens, crystalline lens.

The natural lens inside the eye. Transparent, biconvex intraocular tissue that helps refract  rays of
light to a point focus on the retina.

Low vision.
Term usually used to indicate vision of less than 20/200.  May require additional optical aids,
especially for near point tasks.

Myopia
(mi-OH-pee-uh), nearsightedness. A Refractive Error in which the eye over focuses light. Rays
of light traveling  from a distant object are brought to focus in front of the retina. Requires a
minus (concave) lens to correct.

Optometrist
(ahp-TAHM-uh-trist). Doctor of optometry (OD) specializing in vision problems, treating vision
conditions with spectacles, contact lenses, low vision aids and vision therapy, and prescribing
medications for certain eye diseases.

Peripheral vision.
Side vision; vision, caused by stimuli falling on retinal areas distant from the macula, toward the
sides of the globe.

Presbyopia
(prez-bee-OH-pee-uh). Refractive condition in which there is a diminished power of
accommodation arising from loss of elasticity of the crystalline lens, as occurs with aging.
Usually becomes significant after age 40.

Pupil.

87 | P a g e
 An opening in the center of the iris, of variable sizes, that regulates the amount of light that
enters the eye.

Refraction.
A test to determine the refractive state of the eye, and the best corrective lenses required to aid
in clear vision.  A series of lenses in graded powers are offered to determine which provide
sharpest, clearest vision.

Retina
(RET-ih-nuh). Light sensitive with photoreceptors in the eye that converts images from the eye's
optical system into electrical impulses that are sent to the brain where the image is formed.

Trifocal
(TRI-foh-kul).  An ophthalmic lens that incorporates three lenses of different powers. The main
portion is usually focused for distance (20 ft.), the center segment for about 2 ft., and the lower
segment for near (40 cm, or 16 inches).

20/20.
“Normal” vision. Upper number is the standard distance (20 feet) between an eye being tested
and the eye chart; lower number indicates that a tested eye can see the same small standard-sized
letters or symbols as an emmetropic eye at 20 feet.

AUDIOLOGY

Acoustic Meatus:
Another name for the external ear canal through which sound travels from the concha of the
pinna to the eardrum.

Acuity:
In hearing terms, it refers to the clarity or audibility of sound.

Air-Conduction Thresholds:
The lowest level that an individual can hear a pure tone stimulus presented through headphones
or insert earphones. During a hearing test a patient's air-conduction thresholds are measured at
several frequencies associated with the normal pitch range of the human voice and graphed out
onto an audiogram.

88 | P a g e
Amplifier:
An electronic sound processor located inside of a hearing aid that increases the incoming signal
to improve the audibility of the outgoing signal.

Anacusis:
Absence of sound. Deafness.

Atresia:
The absence or closure of the external auditory meatus (ear canal).

Audiogram:
A chart onto which is graphed the results of a hearing test. The chart has intensity levels listed
on one axis and frequencies (pitches) listed on the other axis.

Audiometer:
The electronic piece of equipment employed by a hearing healthcare professional to assess the
hearing thresholds and speech awareness / processing ability of an individual.

Audiologist:
A hearing healthcare professional who has earned a Masters Degree (M.S. or M.A.) or Doctorate
Degree (Au.D. or Ph.D.) in audiology or a related field of study. Some activities that audiologists
are involved with are the assessment and treatment of hearing and vestibular disorders, the
dispensing of hearing aids, research, industrial consultation, and/or teaching.

Auricle:
The pinna. The cartilaginous structures of the external ear located peripheral to the skull.

Behavioral Audiometry:
A hearing test that requires some type of visible and voluntary response from the individual
being evaluated.

Bilateral:

89 | P a g e
 A term used to signify that both ears or both sides of the head are involved (i.e., He has bilateral
hearing loss.).

Binaural:
Refers to when sound is presented to both ears (i.e., She wears binaural amplification.).

Bone-Conduction Thresholds:
The lowest level that an individual can hear a pure-tone stimulus presented through a vibrator
placed on the mastoid bone or forehead. Bone-conduction threshold testing attempts to assess the
ability of the sensory and neural auditory systems without the sound passing through the outer
and middle ear.

Calibration:
The regular tuning of an audiometer to set the presentation values at levels consistent with
(inter)national standards.

Central Auditory Processing:

The awareness of an auditory signal in the central nervous system, that occurs beyond the
peripheral auditory system (outer ear, middle ear, and cochlea), and the interpretation /
processing of that signal.

Cerumen:
Earwax.

Cholesteatoma:
A benign expanding mass which can form in the middle ear cavity. It is made up of skin and
cholesterol crystals. The mass can become infected and cause other problems in the middle ear.

Cochlea:
The snail-shaped portion of the inner ear that contains the hair cells and nerve endings that
convert a sound from the mechanical/vibratory movements present in the middle ear into an
electrical charge, as the sound travels to the brain for processing.

Cochlear Implant:

90 | P a g e
An electronic device, a portion of which is surgically implanted into the inner ear, that is
designed to provide a sensation of sound to deaf individuals.

Concha:
The bowl area of the pinna (auricle) that channels sound from the environment to the ear canal.

Conductive Hearing Loss:

A decrease in an individual's ability to hear a particular sound due to an inefficiency or
disruption in the outer ear or middle ear system. A conductive hearing loss is when the sounds
are somehow "blocked" as they travel from the pinna to the cochlea.

Congenital Hearing Loss:

The presence of hearing loss at or before birth.

Decibel:
A decibel is a unit for expressing the relative loudness of a sound. One-tenth of a bel, the decibel
is a designation of a unit of intensity on a logarithmic (non-linear) scale.

Degenerative Hearing Loss:

A hearing impairment that worsens over time.

Degree Of Hearing Loss:

Terms utilized to represent the thresholds of hearing graphed onto an audiogram to help describe
the different degrees of hearing impairment expected. One commonly used scale is: mild = 25 to
40 dB, moderate = 41 to 55 dB, moderately-severe = 56 to 70 dB, severe = 71 to 90 dB, and
profound = greater than 90 dB.

Diplacusis:
Perceiving a single tone as multiple tones or multiple harmonics.

Direct Audio Input:

A port on a hearing aid that allows a hard-wired input of sound directly from an assistive
listening device into the hearing aid's electronic mechanisms (bypassing the external
microphone).

91 | P a g e
Discrimination:
In hearing terms, it refers to the ability to distinguish between various tonal or speech sounds.

Dynamic Range:
Refers to the range of volume between the level at which an individual first hears a sound and
the level at which that individual perceives the sound to be uncomfortably loud.

Ear Canal:
The external auditory meatus. The hole in the temporal bone that tunnels the sound from the
pinna to the ear drum (tympanic membrane).

Eardrum:
The tympanic membrane. A thin layer of skin that separates the ear canal from the middle ear
cavity. The eardrum converts sound waves into vibrations.

Eighth Cranial Nerve (CN VIII):

The acoustic or auditory nerve which runs from the inner ear to the brainstem which contains
fibers that carry auditory and vestibular information.

Equilibrium:
A body's ability to maintain physical balance by using vestibular, visual and proprioceptive
(sense of touch) input.

Etiology:
In hearing terms, the source or cause of a hearing loss.

Eustachian Tube:
A small connection between the throat and the middle ear cavity which in the normal human ear
system is utilized to equalize the pressure in the middle ear cavity to the pressure in the
atmosphere surrounding the body.

Eustachian Tube Dysfunction:

92 | P a g e
 When the tube that connects the throat and the middle ear cavity becomes inflamed or blocked.
Eustachian tube dysfunction can lead to negative pressure, fluid in the middle ear, and/or middle
ear infections.

Evoked Potentials:
Electrical activity in the body measured by electrodes that occurs as a result of a stimulus.

Exostosis:
A bony growth in the ear canal.

Feedback:
The high-pitched whistling sound that can be emitted by a hearing aid when the hearing aid's
microphone picks up its own output, thus re-amplifying itself.

Flat Audiogram:
A description of the graph of an individual's hearing thresholds in which the degree of loss
present is similar or equal for low, mid and high frequencies.

Frequency:
Cycles per second. The number of vibrations occurring during a second, resulting in the
perceived "pitch" of a sound.

Genetic Hearing Loss:

Congenital hearing loss. Hearing loss that is present at or before birth.

Hair Cells:
Cells present in the cochlea that convert the mechanical energy present in sound vibrations into
electrical activity. Hair cells have cilia on one side which are stimulated by movement and on the
other side are connected to fibers of the VIIIth cranial nerve, which carries the impulse to the
brain.

Hard Of Hearing:
A term used to describe hearing-impaired individuals with mild to severe / profound hearing
impairment who are not deaf.

93 | P a g e
Hearing Aid:
An electronic device which is utilized by an individual with hearing loss to amplify sound and
therefore make the sound more audible.

Hearing Loss:
The inability to perceive the presence of a sound at normal hearing levels.

Helix:
The curved / raised rim of the external ear (pinna)

Hereditary Hearing Loss:

A hearing loss or a propensity for hearing loss that is transferred via genes from parent to
offspring.

Hertz (Hz):
Cycles per second. A name given to describe the frequency or pitch of a sound.

Incus:
The middle bone of the ossicular chain.

Induction Coil:
The telecoil inside of a hearing aid that is activated by electro-magnetic energy coming from a
telephone or assistive listening device.

Inner Ear:
The cochlea. The snail-like portion of the ear system that converts mechanical sound energy
coming from the middle ear into an electrical impulse prior to transmission to the brain.

Intensity:
The loudness or volume of a sound.

Labyrinth:
94 | P a g e
 The hollowed-out area of the skull's temporal bone that contains the cochlea and parts of the
balance system.

Lateralization:
The perception by an individual that a sound is being heard on one side due to a timing and
intensity difference, when in fact the sound was presented bilaterally.

Listening Stethoscope:
A device used by hearing healthcare professionals to listen to a hearing aid for the purpose of
assessing the hearing aid's performance and adjustments / repairs.

Lobule:
The ear lobe. The bottom part of the pinna which does not contain cartilage.

Localization:
The ability of the brain to determine the direction from which the sound originated by utilizing
differences between the timing and intensity of a sound as perceived in one ear compared to the
other ear.

Malingering:
The faking of a hearing loss for social or financial reasons.

Malleus:
The first / hammer-shaped bone in the ossicular chain, that is attached to the eardrum.

Masking Noise:
A sound introduced into an ear system for the purpose of covering up an unwanted sound.
Masking noises are used during hearing tests to cover-up unwanted responses from a non-test
ear. Tinnitus maskers also utilize a masking noise to cover-up tinnitus.

Mastoid Bone:
A portion of the temporal bone that is located behind the external ear. The bone conduction
vibrator employed during bone conduction testing is usually placed on the mastoid.

95 | P a g e
Microphone:
The entry point for sound into a hearing aid. The mechanism inside a hearing aid that converts
sound waves into an electrical signal.

Microtia:
A congenital malformation of the external ear. A condition in which an individual is born with
an abnormally small pinna and often a very small or absent ear canal.

Middle Ear:
The portion of the human auditory system located between the outer and inner ear, which uses
the tympanic membrane (eardrum) and ossicles (malleus, incus, and stapes) to transfer the sound
via vibration from the ear canal to the cochlea.

Middle Ear Effusion:

When the body discharges fluid into the middle ear cavity.

Mixed Hearing Loss:

A hearing loss that has both conductive and sensori-neural components.

Monaural:
Refers to when sound is presented only to one ear (i.e., A monaural hearing aid fitting involves
only one ear.).

Most Comfortable Level (MCL):

A measurement that is often made prior to the ordering of or programming of a hearing aid that
determines, for speech or tones, the intensity level that a patient considers to be the most
acceptable in regards to the overall comfort of the signal.

Noise-Induced Hearing Loss:

A type of hearing loss caused by the introduction of intense volumes into a human ear system
over long periods of time or very intense volumes for a short period of time. The hearing loss
often is worse on the side of exposure and is most pronounced in the higher frequencies.

Occlusion:
96 | P a g e
The sensation that results from "plugging up" the ear canal with cerumen, an un-vented hearing
aid, or a foreign body.

Organ Of Corti:
The structure built upon the basilar membrane inside of the spiral cochlea that contains the
special sensory receptors (hair cells).

Ossicular Chain:
The three very small bones located in the middle ear that are connected together to form a link
between the tympanic membrane (eardrum) and the cochlea. The three ossicles, called the
malleus, incus and stapes (hammer, anvil, and stirrup), transfer the sound through the middle ear
via vibrations.

Oscillator:
A device that is used to produce vibrations, such as the bone conduction oscillator used during
bone conduction threshold testing.

Otalgia:
Ear pain or earache.

Otitis Media:
Inflammation and/or infection of the middle ear.

Otolaryngologist:
An Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) physician.

Otologist:
An ENT physician who specializes in the evaluation and treatment of the ear.

Otorrhea:
Drainage from the ear often caused by an external ear infection or a middle ear problem with a
tympanic membrane (eardrum) perforation.

Otoscope:
97 | P a g e
A magnifying and lighting tool utilized by health care workers to look into the ear canal.

Otoscopic Examination:
The use by a healthcare professional of the lighted and magnified vision provided by an
otoscope to evaluate the integrity of the pinna, ear canal and eardrum

Otosclerosis:
An abnormal condition of the middle ear in which there is a formation of spongy bone onto the
footplate of the stapes, resulting in a conductive hearing loss.

Outer Ear:
The most peripheral aspect of the human auditory system that includes the auricle (pinna) and
external auditory meatus (ear canal).

Oval Window:
A connection between the stapes footplate of the middle ear and the fluid filled inner ear through
which sound vibrations pass in a normal auditory system.

Perforated Tympanic Membrane:

A hole in the eardrum.

Peripheral Hearing Loss:

Hearing loss due to a dysfunction of the auditory structures located outside of the central nervous
system.

P.E. Tubes:
Pressure equalization tubes placed into the tympanic membrane (eardrum) for the purpose of
keeping pressure levels in middle ear cavity equal to atmospheric pressure.

Pinna:
The auricle. The cartilaginous structures of the external ear located peripheral to the skull.

Power Hearing Aid:

98 | P a g e
A hearing aid designed specifically for individuals with severe to profound hearing losses to
provide the appropriate amount of extra gain needed to match their specific losses.

Prelingual Hearing Loss:

Hearing loss that occurs prior to a child developing speech and language skills.

Presbycusis:
Hearing loss that is attributed to the aging process.

Pure Tone Audiometry:

Refers to the part of a complete hearing evaluation that includes the measuring of air-conduction
and bone-conduction thresholds while using non-complex (pure) tones.

Pure Tone Average (PTA):

The average of the air-conduction thresholds of the three middle frequencies, usually 500 Hz,
1000 Hz, and 2000 Hz. For flat or gently-sloping shaped hearing losses the Pure Tone Average
often correlates with the Speech Reception Threshold. Sometimes the average includes other
combinations of frequencies (i.e., a high frequency average may include 3000 Hz or 4000 Hz).

Receiver:
The speaker inside a hearing aid that converts the amplified electrical energy to sound waves.

Recruitment:
A condition often occurring with a sensori-neural hearing loss that results in an abnormal
growth in loudness. For someone with hearing loss who experiences recruitment, a specific
increase in intensity is perceived as a significantly larger increase in loudness than a normal
hearing individual would perceive the same increase in intensity.

Retrocochlear:
A designation for the part of the human auditory system that includes the acoustic nerve, the
brainstem and the brain.

Reverse-Slope Audiogram:

99 | P a g e
 A description of the graph of an individual's thresholds in which the hearing is poorer in the
lower frequencies and the hearing loss is less pronounced or the hearing is normal in the higher
frequencies

Screening (Hearing):
An evaluation of the auditory system that is generally not as in-depth as a traditional hearing test
and often does not include the actual assessment of an individual's thresholds, but instead results
in "pass" or "fail".

Semicircular Canals:
The three fluid-filled tubes in the vestibular portion of the inner ear that helps with equilibrium
and the interpretation of the body's position.

Sensori-Neural Hearing Loss:

A decrease in an individual's ability to hear a particular sound due to a problem in the inner ear
(cochlea) or the neural system (Cranial Nerve VIII). The designation of a hearing loss as sensori-
neural suggests that the sound makes it way through the outer and middle ear systems efficiently,
but is not picked-up by the hair cells in the cochlea or transmitted by the hearing nerves as well
as an average normal human ear's system.

Sound Booth:
A sound treated enclosure that is designed to attenuate the interference of extraneous sounds
during a hearing test. Sound booths lessen but do not eliminate reverberant and ambient noises.

Sound Field Hearing Aid Testing:

The analysis of the performance of a hearing aid in which a patient's thresholds are measured,
while in a sound booth with the stimuli presented through a speaker system, with and without a
hearing aid inserted.

Speech Audiometry:
The portion of an audiological evaluation that uses speech stimuli to measure the auditory
system. Speech audiometry testing often includes the measurement of Speech Reception
Thresholds (SRTs) utilizing two-syllable spondee words and the assessment of Word
Recognition / Speech Discrimination scores utilizing single syllable words in a carrier phrase.
Some speech audiometry tests use sentence materials instead of single word materials.

Speech Reading:
100 | P a g e
The use of lip reading and other visual cues produced by a speaker to help with the
understanding of spoken words.

Speech Reception Threshold:

The use of familiar two-syllable spondee words by a hearing healthcare professional to assess
the lowest intensity level at which an individual can repeat the words more than half of the time.

Stapes:
The smallest and last bone in the ossicular chain. It attaches to the oval window of the inner ear.

Telecoil:
A coil placed inside of a hearing aid that picks up electro-magnetic energy emitted by certain
telephones and assistive listening devices.

Threshold Of Hearing:
The lowest level that a particular sound's presence can be perceived by an individual more than
half of the time.

Transmitter:
The portion of a CROS system that picks up a signal on one side of the head and sends it via a
hard wire or an FM signal to the receiver on the other side of the head.

TTS (Temporary Threshold Shift):

The presence of some degree of hearing loss, often induced by noise or chemical exposure, that
recovers over time.

Tympanic Membrane:
Another name for an eardrum. It is the membrane that separates the ear canal and the middle ear
cavity. The tympanic membrane vibrates when hit with sound waves, causing the ossicular chain
to vibrate.

Tympanogram:
A chart onto which the compliance results of tympanometry are graphed.

101 | P a g e
Tympanometry:
A test, also referred to as immittance testing, done during an audiological evaluation that helps to
assess the integrity of the tympanic membrane (eardrum) and the middle ear cavity. During
tympanometry testing, a probe is inserted into and sealed in the ear canal and then a reflected
tone is measured as the pressure in the ear canal is changed. The results are often graphed onto a
tympanogram, showing the compliance at various positive and negative pressure levels.

Uncomfortable Loudness Level (UCL):

A measurement that is often made prior to the ordering of or programming of a hearing aid that
determines, for speech or tones, the intensity level at which a patient judges a particular signal to
be uncomfortably loud.

Unilateral:
Pertaining to only one ear or one side of the head (i.e., The person with a hearing loss on the
right but not the left has a unilateral hearing loss.).

Vertigo:
A sensation of spinning experienced by individuals with vestibular problems.

Vestibular System:
The inner ear portion of the balance system.

Vestibulocochlear Nerve:
Another name for the auditory nerve or the VIIIth cranial nerve which connects the cochlea to
the brainstem and is made up of both auditory and vestibular nerve fibers.

Visual Reinforcement Audiometry:

A procedure used when testing the hearing of very young patients. The young patient is trained
to associate a sound with an interesting visual experience (such as a flashing light or an animated
stuffed animal) so that future presentations of audible sounds elicit head movements

Word Recognition Score:

The percentage of a list of speech stimuli that an individual is able to repeat.

102 | P a g e
CANCER

Abscess:

A circumscribed collection of purulent exudate frequently associated with swelling and other

signs of inflammation. 2. cavity formed by liquefactive necrosis within solid tissue

Adjuvant Chemotherapy:

chemotherapy given in addition to surgical therapy, in order to reduce the risk of local or

systemic relapse.

Apnaplastic:

1. Characterized by or pertaining to anaplasia.

2. Growing without form or structure.

Androgen:

Generic term for an agent, usually a hormone (e.g., androsterone, testosterone), which stimulates

activity of the accessory male sex organs, encourages development of male sex characteristics, or

prevents changes in the latter due to castration; natural androgens are steroids, derivatives of

androstane.

Antiemetic:

103 | P a g e
Preventing or arresting vomiting.

2. A remedy that tends to control nausea and vomiting

Ascites:

Accumulation of serous fluid in the peritoneal cavity.

Autologous:

Occurring naturally and normally in a certain type of tissue or in a specific structure of the body

Benign:

Denoting the mild character of an illness or the nonmalignant character of a neoplasm.

Biopsy:
Process of removing tissue from patients for diagnostic examination.

Bone marrow:

the soft, pulpy tissue filling the medullary cavities of bones, having a stroma of reticular fibers

and cells; it differs in consistency by age and location

Cerebrospinal fluid:
a fluid largely secreted by the choroid plexuses of the ventricles of the brain, filling the ventricles
and the subarachnoid cavities of the brain and spinal cord.

Chemotherapy:

104 | P a g e
Treatment of disease by means of chemical substances or drugs; usually used in reference to

neoplastic disease

Clinical trial:

controlled experiment involving a defined set of human subjects, having a clinical event as an

outcome measure, and intended to yield scientifically valid information about the efficacy or

safety of a drug, vaccine, diagnostic test, surgical procedure, or other form of medical

intervention.

Colonoscope:

A long, flexible fiberoptic endoscope

Computed tomography (CAT scan):

imaging anatomic information from a cross-sectional plane of the body, each image generated

by a computer synthesis of x-ray transmission data obtained in many different directions in a

given plane

Cytotoxic:

Detrimental or destructive to cells

Dehydration:

Deprivation of water

105 | P a g e
Digital rectal examinations DRE:

a manual examination done with the physician's hand gloved to check anatomic structures about

the pelvis and lower abdomen.

Dysplasia:

Abnormal tissue development

Edema:

An accumulation of an excessive amount of watery fluid in cells or intercellular tissues.

Embolus:

A plug, composed of a detached thrombus or vegetation, mass of bacteria, or other foreign body,

occluding a vessel

Encapsulated:

Enclosed in a capsule or sheath

Endometrium:

The mucous membrane comprising the inner layer of the uterine wall

Endoscopy:

106 | P a g e
Examination of the interior of a canal or hollow viscus by means of a special instrument

Esophagus:

The portion of the alimentary canal between the pharynx and stomach

Estrogen:
Generic term for any substance, natural or synthetic, that exerts biologic effects characteristic of
estrogenic hormones such as 17β-estradiol. They control the course of the menstrual cycle.
Fibroid: Resembling or composed of fibers or fibrous tissue.

Fluoroscopy:

Examination of the tissues and deep structures of the body by x-ray, using the fluoroscope or its

successor, video fluoroscopy

Gamma rays:
electromagnetic radiation emitted from radioactive substances; they are high-energy x-rays but
originate from the nucleus rather than the orbital shell and are not deflected by a magnet.

Gene therapy:

alteration of somatic or germ-line DNA to correct or prevent disease

Glioma:

Any neoplasm derived from one of the various types of cells that form the interstitial tissue of

the brain, spinal cord, pineal gland, posterior pituitary gland, and retina.

107 | P a g e
Graft:

Any tissue or organ for transplantation.

Hodgkin Disease:

disease marked by chronic enlargement of the lymph nodes, often local at the onset and later

generalized, together with enlargement of the spleen and often of the liver, no pronounced

leukocytosis, and commonly anemia and continuous or remittent (Pel-Ebstein) fever;

Hormone:

chemical substance, formed in one organ or part of the body and carried in the blood to another

organ or part where they exert functional effects; depending on the specificity of their effects,

hormones can alter the functional activity, and sometimes the structure, of just one organ or

tissue or various numbers of them

Immune System:

an intricate complex of interrelated cellular, molecular, and genetic components that provides a

defense, the immune response, against foreign organisms or substances and aberrant native cells.

Incision Biopsy:

removal of only a part of a lesion by cutting into it.

Informed consent:

108 | P a g e
Voluntary agreement given by a person or a patients' responsible proxy (e.g., a parent) for

participation in a study, immunization program, treatment regimen, invasive procedure, etc.,

after being informed of the purpose, methods, procedures, benefits, and risks.

Invasive carcinoma:

a neoplasm in which collections of epithelial cells infiltrate or destroy the surrounding tissue

Laparoscopy:

Examination of the contents of the abdominopelvic cavity with a laparoscope passed through the

abdominal wall

Laparotomy:

Incision into the loin.

Leukemia:

Progressive proliferation of abnormal leukocytes found in hemopoietic tissues, other organs, and

usually in the blood in increased numbers.

Lumpectomy:

Removal of either a benign or malignant lesion from the breast with preservation of essential

anatomy of the breast

Lymph node:
109 | P a g e
One of numerous round, oval, or bean-shaped bodies located along the course of lymphatic

vessels, varying greatly in size (1–25 mm in diameter) and usually presenting a depressed area,

the hilum, on one side through which blood vessels enter and efferent lymphatic vessels emerge.

Malignant:

Resistant to treatment; occurring in severe form, and frequently fatal; tending to become worse

and leading to an inravescent course.

Mastectomy:

Excision of the breast.

Melanoma:

A malignant neoplasm, derived from cells that are capable of forming melanin, arising most

commonly in the skin of any part of the body, or in the eye, and, rarely, in the mucous

membranes of the genitalia, anus, oral cavity, or other sites

MRI:

Abbreviation for magnetic resonance imaging.

Necrosis:

Pathologic death of one or more cells, or of a portion of tissue or organ, resulting from

irreversible damage

110 | P a g e
Neuroma:

General term for any neoplasm derived from cells of the nervous system

Oncology:
The study or science dealing with the physical, chemical, and biologic properties and features of
neoplasms, including causation, pathogenesis, and treatment.
Palliative treatment: treatment to alleviate symptoms without curing the disease.

Phlebitis:

Inflammation of a vein.

Platelet:

An irregularly shaped, disclike cytoplasmic fragment of a megakaryocyte that is shed in the

marrow sinus and subsequently found in the peripheral blood, where it functions in clotting

Polyp:

A general descriptive term used with reference to any mass of tissue that bulges or projects

outward or upward from the normal surface level

Prognosis:

A forecast of the probable course and/or outcome of a disease.

Prosthesis:

111 | P a g e
Fabricated substitute used to assist a damaged or replace a missing body part; or to augment or

stabilize a hypoplastic structure.

Radiation:

The sending forth of light, short radio waves, ultraviolet rays or x-rays, or any other rays for

treatment, diagnosis, or another purpose.

Recurrence:

A return of the symptoms, occurring as a phenomenon in the natural history of the disease, as

seen in recurrent fever

Remission:
Abatement or lessening in severity of the symptoms of a disease.

Sarcoma:

A connective tissue neoplasm, usually highly malignant, formed by proliferation of mesodermal

cells.

Seminoma:

A radiosensitive malignant neoplasm usually arising from germ cells in the testis of young male

adults that metastasizes to the paraortic lymph nodes; a counterpart of dysgerminoma of the

ovary.

Shunt:

112 | P a g e
bypass or divert

Staging:

The determination or classification of distinct phases or periods in the course of a disease or

pathologic process.

Steroids:

A large family of chemical substances, comprising many hormones, body constituents, and

drugs, each containing the tetracyclic cyclopenta[a]phenanthrene skeleton.

Stomatitis:

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth

Tumor marker:

a substance, released into the circulation by tumor tissue, the detection of which in the serum

indicates the presence of tumor.

Ultrasound: a substance, released into the circulation by tumor tissue, the detection of
which in the serum indicates the presence of tumor.

113 | P a g e