Simplification Guide to Medical Terms

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D
dacryocytitis inflammation of the tear sac
dacryocystorhinostomy surgery to make an opening between the tear sac and the nose
debridement surgery to clean foreign material and dead tissue out of a wound
decubital ulcer bedsore
decubitus ulcer bedsore
deep inside the body
deep vein thrombosis blood clot in a deep vein
defecation making a bowel movement
defribrillation use of electric shock to make the heart start beating, or to correct an abnormal heart rate or rhythm
dementia mental decline
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) material that makes up the genes
depressant drug that slows down the action of the central nervous system
dermabrasion method used to remove scars from the skin
dermatitis skin iflammation
dermatoautoplasty skin grafting using skin from another area of the patient's body
dermatofibroma type of benign skin growth
dermatoheteroplasty skin grafting using skin from another person
dermatologist doctor who treats disorders of the skin
dermatome tool used to cut thin slices of the skin to use as skin grafts
dermatoplasty surgery to repair the skin
dermis inner layer of the skin
detached retina separation of the retina from the middle layer of the eye
determine find out, see if
deviated septum when the inner wall separating the two sides of the nose is off to one side
diabetes insipidus excessive discharge of urine from the body caused by a deficiency in the quantity of antidiuretic hormone being produced in the body
diabetes mellitus disorder in which there is decreased insulin in the body or the body's insulin is not effective, resulting in high blood sugar, increased thirst and urine, and many other side effects
diagnosis determination of the cause of a medical problem
diaphoresis heavy sweating
diaphragm thin flat muscle that helps with breathing and separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity
diaphragmatocele bulging of the abdominal organs into the chest area through a hole in the diaphragm
diaphysis the long part of arm and leg bones
diarrhea frequent, loose bowel movement
diastole the time when the heart rests between contractions and fills with blood
digital rectal exam exam using a finger inside the rectum to fell internal organs such as the prostate gland and uterus
dilation and curettage (D&C) surgery to remove the contents and inner lining of the uterus after a miscarriage or abortion; procedure is also used to treat abnormal bleeding
dilator tool used for stretching or enlarging an opening or tube
diplopia seeing double
Discontinuation of a Trial Subject A subject's participation in a clinical trial may be stopped by the subject or the investigator at any time. Among other things this may be because of side effects, intercurrent illness or withdrawal of consent.
diskectomy surgery to remove one of the rings between the bones that make up the spine
dissector tool used to separate or cut apart tissue
disseminate scatter or spread
distal away from the center of the body; distant
distended stretched out or swollen, such as a full bladder
diuresis increased discharge of urine
diuretic drug used to get excess water out of the body and increase urine; "water pill"
diverticulectomy surgery to remove abnormal pooming off to the colon
diverticulitis inflammation of abnormal pouches coming off of the colon
diverticulosis abnormal pouches coming off the colon
Doppler flow studies use of ultrasonography to see blood flow inside blood vessels
dorsal having to do with the back of the body
double-blind trial test or experiment in which neither the person giving the treatment nor the patient knows which treatment the patient is receiving
Down's syndrome birth disorder in which there is one extra chromosome, mental retardation, and changed appearance of the head, hands, and feet
duct tube that carries a body fluid
ductus deferens tube that carries sperm out of the testicle
dull not sharp
duodenal ulcer sore in the duodenum
duodenum first part of the small intestine
dura mater outer layer of the membranes that surround brain and spinal cord
duritis inflammation of the dura mater
dyscrasia disorder, usually of the blood cells
dysentery inflammation of the intestine, usually the colon, resulting in pain and in blood and mucus in bowel movements
dysmenorrhea painful menstruation
dyspepsia trouble digesting food with discomfort after meals
dysphagia trouble swallowing
dysphasia difficulty speaking and putting words together
dysphonia trouble with the voice and speaking
dysplasia abnormal development or cell growth
dyspnea trouble breathing
dystocia difficult childbirth
dysuria pain when urinating
E
ecchymosis black and blue mark; bruise
echnocardiogram picture of the heart in motion made using ultrasonography
echoencephalography use of ultrasonography to record the shape of the brain
eclampsia convulsions in a pregnant woman caused by high blood pressure and other medical problems
ectopic pregnancy pregnancy growing outside the uterus, often in fallopian tubes
eczema type of itchy skin rash
edema swelling caused by fluid held in the tissues
efferent going away from the center of the body
ejaculation discharge of semen from the penis during the climax of sexual intercourse
electrocardiogram (ECG) picture of the electrical action of the heart
electrocardiograph machine that records the electrical action of the heart
electroencephalogram (EEG) picture of brain wave activity
electroencephalograph machine that records brain wave activity
elevator tool used for lifting tissue
embolectomy surgery to remove a blood clot
embolus blood clot
embryo unborn baby from 2 to 8 weeks after it is formed
embryoid looking like an embryo
embryology the study of the development of the unborn baby
emesis vomiting
emetic drug used to make a person vomit; useful in treating poisoning
emmetropia normal condition of the eye when light focuses correctly on the retina
emollient substance that softens the skin
emphysema disorder in which too much air collects deep in the lungs
encephalitis inflammation of the brain
encephalomyeloradiculitis inflammation of the brain, the spinal cord, and the spinal nerve roots
encephalosclerosis hardening of the brain
endocervicitis inflammation of the inner lining of the cervix
endocrinologist doctor who treats disorders of the glands that make hormones
endocrinopathy disease of the glands that make hormones; hormonal imbalance
endometriosis growths outside of the uterus made up of the tissues that lines the uterus
endometritis inflammation of the inner lining of the uterus
endometrium inner lining of the uterus
endophthalmitis inflammation of the contents of the eye
endorphin substance made by the body to stop pain
endoscope tool used to look into body structures and hollow organs, such as the stomach
endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) x-ray of the bile and pancreatic ducts made using an endoscope
endosteum tissue that lines the inside of bone
endotracheal inside the windpipe
enema liquid that is injected into the rectum to promote bowel movement
enterorrhaphy surgery to stitch the intestine
enucleation surgery to remove the eye
epidermal having to do with the outer layer of the skin
epidermis outer layer of skin
epididymis tubes that stores and carries sperm
epigastric region area above the navel
epiglottis flap of skin that keeps food from going down the windpipe
epiglottitis inflammation of the epiglottis
epilepsy seizure disorder
epinephrine hormone made by the adrenal glands that speeds up body organs and helps the body deal with stress
epiphysis growth area of a long bone
episioperineoplasty surgery to fix the vulva and perineum
episiorrhaphy stitching a tear in the vulva
episiotomy surgical cut in the vagina to keep it from tearing when a baby is being born
epistaxis nosebleed
epithelial having to do with the epithelium
epithelioma benign or malignant growth made up of epithelial tissue
epithelium type of tissue that covers the outside of the body and makes up the lining and outer layers of most body organs and parts
equivalent equal, same
erythema redness
erythrocyte count the number of erythrocytes in the blood
erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) blood test that measures how long it takes for erythrocytes to sink to the bottom of a tube- used to check for inflammation in the body
erythrocytes cells in blood that carry oxygen; red blood cells
erythrocytosis increase in number of red blood cells
erythroderma red skin
esophagogastroduodenoscopy use of an endoscope to look into the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum
esophagoscope tool used to look into the esophagus
estrogen female sex hormone
estrogen receptor assay blood test used to detect tumor cells in patients with breast cancer
etiology the cause or causes of an illness
eupnea normal breathing
eustachian tube tube that connects the middle ear and the throat
eversion turning inside out
excretion the way that substances leave the body
exophthalmic has a bulging eyeball or eyeballs
exophthalmos bulging of one or both eyeballs
exostosis bony growth on the surface of a bone
extension the straight position of an arm or leg
external auditory meatus opening or passageway between the outside of the ear and the eardrum
external ear outside part of the ear
external genitalia sex organs on the outside of the body: penis, scrotum, and urethra in men; vulva, clitoris, and urethra in women
extracorporeal outside of the body
extravasation escape of blood from blood vessels and into tissue
F
fallopian tube tube attached to the uterus down which the egg travels from the ovary to the uterus
fasting blood sugar blood test used to measure the amount of sugar in the blood after not eating or drinking for a set amount of time
feces material excreted during bowel movement
femoral having to do with the thigh area
femoropopliteal bypass surgery to make a passageway from one artery to another in the leg
femur thigh bone
fetus unborn baby from 9 weeks afer it is formed until it is born
fibrillation fast uncontrolled heart beat
fibroid tumor growth made up of fibrous tissue
fibula the lower leg bone behind the shin
fimbria tissue that looks like a fringe on the end of the uterine tubes
fine having thin jaws or tips, such as a tool used for delicate or small procedures
fissure crack or groove in tissue
flatus passing gas
flexion bent position of the arm or leg
fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption (FTA-ABS) test blood test used to detect syphilis
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) government agency that regulates foods and drugs
forceps tool with two blades and a handle used for handling tissue or dressings
foreskin fold of skin that covers the penis and is removed in circumcision
fracture broken bone
fulguration use of electric sparks to remove tissue such as tumors
fundus top of the uterus; or back of the eye
fungal having to do with fungi
fungal test test used to detect and identify a fungus
fungi more than one fungus
fungus type of living organisms, such as yeasts, molds, and mushrooms, some of which cause infection and some of which look like plants
furuncle painful skin boil

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Created 4/18/2012