Simplification Guide to Medical Terms

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G
gait the way a person walks
galactorrhea too much discharge of milk from the breast
gallbladder small sack under the liver that holds bile
gamma globulin type of pron that helps the body fight infection
ganglion group of nerve cells found outside the central nervous system; or a benign tumor on muscle connective tissue or on a tendon
ganglionectomy surgery to remove a ganglion
ganglionitis inflammation of a ganglion
gangrene death of tissue caused by loss of blood flow and usually followed by infection
gastrectomy surgery to remove all or part of the stomach
gastric lavage washing the stomach out
gastric ulcer sore in the stomach
gastritis inflammation of the stomach
gastriodynia pain in the stomach
gastroenteritis inflammation of the stomach and intestines
gastroscope tool used to look into the stomach
gastrostomy surgery to make an opening from the outside of the body into the stomach
gavage feeding a person through a tube that goes into the stomach
general anesthesia physical state of unconsciousness and loss of pain sensation caused by anesthetic drugs
generic name chmical name for a drug
genes material passed from parent to child that determines the make-up of the body and mind
genetic having to do with the genes
genital having to do with the sex organs
genital herpes disease caused by a herpesvirus in which there are blisters on the genitalia
genitalia male and female sex organs
gingiva the gums
gingivectomy surgery to remove gum tissue
gingivitis inflammation of the gums
gland tissue that produces a material, such as the saliva or a hormone
glans penis end of the penis
glaucoma increased pressure inside the eye that causes visual problems
globulins proteins in the blood
glomerulonephritis inflammation of the kidney
glomerulus place in the kidney where urine is formed
glossitis inflammation of the tongue
glossopathy disease of the tongue
glossorrhaphy surgery to stitch the tongue
glucocorticoids drugs or natural substances made by the adrenal glands that have many effects on body metabolism, raise sugar level in the blood, and reduce inflammation
glucose type of sugar found in the blood
glucose tolerance test test that measures blood sugar levels over a certain amount of time in a patient after he drinks a beverage that contains a measured amount of sugar
glycosuria sugar in urine
gonad sex gland: female ovary or male testicle
gonorrhea type of bacterial infection in the sex organs and sometimes in the skin and joints
gout disorder in which crystals of uric acid deposit in and around joints, causing pain and arthritis
granulocytopenia drop in white blood cell count
growth hormone (GH) hormone made by the pituitary gland that controls the growth of the body
guaiac test test for blood in stool
gynecologist doctor who test disorders of the sex organs of women
gynecology the study of the reproductive system of women
H
hair thin strands of protein that grow up from the hair follicles
heart muscle that moves or pumps blood through the body
heart failure when the heart inadequaately pumps blood through the body
heart murmur swishing sound, heard when listening to the heart through a stethoscope, caused by abnormal flow of blood through the heart
hematemesis blood in vomit
hematocrit the percentage of blood made up of red blood cells
hematocytopenia not enough blood cells
hematologist doctor who treats blood disorders
hematology the study of blood
hematoma pocket of blood caused by bleeding from a broken blood vessel; appears "black and blue"
hematopoiesis the making of blood cells
hematosalpinx blood in the uterine tube
hematuria blood in the urine
hemiparesis muscle weakness or partial paralysis, usually with loss of feeling, on half of the body
hemiplegia total loss of muscle movement, usually with loss of feeling, on half of the body
hemodialysis method used to remove waste material from the blood
hemoglobin (Hgb) substance that carries oxygen and gives blood its red color
hemolysis bursting open of red blood cells
hemophilia genetic defect in which blood clots too slowly
hemorrhage bleeding, escape of blood from blood vessels
hemorrhoidectomy surgery to remove hemorrhoids
hemorrhoids twisted and bulging veins in the rectal area
hemostasis the stopping of bleeding
hemothorax blood in the chest cavity
hepatitis inflammation of the liver
hepatoma growth on the liver
hernia bulging of an organ through an abnormal opening in a muscle wall
herniated disk breaking of a ring-shaped pad in the spine, which often pinches a nerve; slipped disk
herniorrhaphy surgery to fix a hernia
herpes groups of tiny blisters found on the skin caused by infection with a herpesvirus
heterosexual person who is attracted to the opposite sex
hiccup sudden, uncontrolled spasm of the diaphragm
hidradenitis inflammation of a sweat gland
hip bone bone at the lower part of the body trunk
hirsutism abnormal hairiness (in women, an adult male pattern of hair distribution
histology the study of tissue under the microscope
Hodgkin's disease a cancer of white blood cells
homosexual person who is attracted to the same sex
hordeolum infection of the oil glands of the eyelids
hormone substance made by a gland in the body that regulates another part of the body
Hospital Formulary list of drugs and their proper doses maintained by each hospital
humeral having to do with the upper arm bone
humerus upper arm bone
hydrocephalus increase in fluid in usually causing pressure on the brain; water on the brain
hydronephrosis abnormal collection of urine in the kidney causing a swollen kidney
hydrosalpinx fluid in the uterine tube
hymen fold of tissue at the opening of the vagina
hymenectomy surgery to remove the hymen
hypercalcemia too much calcium in the blood
hypercapnia too much carbon dioxide in the blood
hyperesthesia very sensitive to touch
hyperglycemia too much sugar in the blood
hyperkalemia too much potassium in the blood
hyperkinesis overactive movements
hyperopia farsightedness
hyperplasia abnormal increase in the number of normal cells
hypertension high blood pressure
hypertensive heart disease heart problems caused by high blood pressure
hyperthyroidism overactive thyroid gland
hyperventilation breathing that is too fast
hypnotic drug used to make a person sleep
hypocalcemia not enough calcium in the blood
hypocapnia not enough carbon dioxide on the blood
hypochondriac region area to the right or left above the naval
hypodermic under the skin
hypodermic injection injection of a substance under the skin
hypoesthesia state of having less than normal sensitivity to stimulation
hypogastric region area below the naval
hypoglycemia not enough sugar in the blood
hypokalemia not enough potassium in the blood
hyponea weak, slow breathing
hypospadias birth defect in which the urethra opens under the penis instead of the tip of the penis
hypotension low blood pressure
hypothermia low body temperature
hypothyroidism underactive thyroid gland
hypotonia decreased muscle tone
hypoventilation too little air entering the lungs
hypoxemia not enough oxygen in the blood
hypoxia not enough oxygen in the tissues
hysteratresia birth defect in which the uterus does not open to the outside of the body
hysterectomy surgery to remove the uterus
hysteropexy surgery to fasten down the uterus in its normal position
hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy surgery to remove all of the internal female reproductive organs
hysterosalpingography taking an x-ray of the uterus and the uterine tubes using a dye to outline them
hysteroscope tool used to look into the uterus

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Created 4/18/2012