Simplification Guide to Medical Terms

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I
iatrology the science of medicine
icterus too much bile in the blood causing a yellow color to the skin, gums, eye, and other tissues
idiopathic of unknown cause
idiosyncrasy rare side effect of a drug; unusual reaction of a person to a drug
ileocecal having to do with the ileum and the cecum
ileum third and last part of the small intestine
ileus blockage of the intestines
iliac regions areas to the right and left below the naval
iliofemoral having to do with the hip and thigh bones
ilium wing-shaped upper part of the hip bone
immune globulins proteins that help protect the body from infection and foreign matter
immune system the cells and substances that protect the body from infection and foreign matter
immunity protection against infection
immunodeficiency weakness of the immune system
impedance plethysmography test used to find blood clots
impetigo skin infection
impotent not able to have or to keep an erection during sexual intercourse
incontinence not able to control bladder or bowel actions
induration hard spot
inferior toward the lower part of the body
inflammation swelling, redness, and pain in tisuues caused by injury or damage
influenza the flu
infusion placing a liquid substance into a vein by letting it flow in with gravity
inhalant substance given through the nose or mouth to reach the lungs
insulin the hormone that controls blood sugar levels
interictal happening between seizures
intermittent claudication pain and weakness in the legs when walking is impossible and then goes away after a rest
intervertebral disks pads found between each ring (bone) in the spine
intracavity injection injection of a substance into a body cavity
intracoronary thrombolytic therapy injection of medicine to dissolve a blood clot in an artery of theheart
intracranial inside the skull
intradermally given into the skin
intradermal injection injection of a substance into the skin
intradermal tests allergy tests performed by injecting allergy-causing substances underneath the skin to see if they cause a reaction
intramuscular injection (IM) injection of a substance into a muscle (e.g., upper arm or backside)
intraocular within the eye
intrathecal injection injection of a substance into the space surrounding the spinal cord (i.e., spinal canal)
intravenous (IV) injection injection of a substance into a vein
intravenous pyelogram x-ray of the kidneys and ureters using dye that is injected into the blood
intussusception telescoping of the intestine into itself
inversion turning inward
investigation study
iritis inflammation of the iris
irritable bowel syndrome bowel disorder in which there is pain and diarrhea or constipation
ischium lower part of the pelvic bone, part you sit on
islets of Langerhans tissue in the pancreas that makes and discharges insulin and other hormones
isthmus thin strip of tissue that joins two parts of the body
J
jaundice too much bile in the blood causing a yellow color to the skin, gums, eye, and other tissues
jejunum second and longest part of the small intestine
K
Kaposi's sarcoma purple or brown cancerous pimples on the skin, often associated with AIDS
karyocyte cell with a center
karyoplasm material inside the center of a cell
keloid type of scar tissue that keeps growing inside
keratin protein that is found in the hair, nails, and skin
keratoplasty surgery to fix the cornea
ketone bodies substances that increase in the blood and urine when too much body fat and too many carbohydrates are being broken down, usually because of starvation or serious, untreated diabetes mellitus
kidney one of two organs in the lower back that filter blood and make urine
knife tool with a sharp blade used for cutting tissue
kyphosis hunchback
L
labyrinth structure in the inner ear
labyrinthectomy surgery to remove the inner ear
labyrinthitis inflammation of the inner ear
laceration torn, ragged cut
lacrimal having to do with the tears
lacrimal duct passageway in the eyelids that drains tears; a type of tear duct
lactating making milk
lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) substance measured in a blood test to assess damage to heart and other organs
lactogenic causing the making of breast milk
lactorrhea too much discharge of milk from the breast
laminectomy surgery to remove the top of vertebra
laparoscope tool used to look into the abdominal cavity
laparotomy surgery to make an opening into the wall of the belly to llok inside with a laparoscope
large intestine the bowel between the small intestine and the anus, including the cecum, colon, and rectum
laryngeal having to do with the voice box
laryngectomy surgery to remove the voice box
laryngitis inflammation of the voice box
laryngocentesis surgery to puncture the voice box
laryngoplasty surgery to fix the voice box
laryngoscope tool used to look into the voice box
laryngospasm sudden, uncontrolled cramp in the voice box
laryngostomy surgery to make an opening into the voice box
laryngotracheobronchitis inflammation of the larynx, windpipe, and bronchi; croup
larynx voice box
laser angioblast using a laser light to open blocked arteries
lateral toward or having to do with the side of the body
latex agglutination test blood test used to detect antibodies
laxative drug used to stop constipation
LE (lupus erythematosus)-cell test blood test used to detect the presence of a certain type of white blood cell seen in people with lupus erythematosus and similar disorders
legionnaires' disease serious disorder caused by bacterial infection in which there is high fever, stomach pain, headache, and pneumonia
leiodermia disorder in which the skin is too smooth and shiny
leiomyoma smooth muscle growth
leiomyosarcoma cancer of smooth muscle
lens structure in the eye that is normally clear and helps to focus light coming into the eye
lesion abnormal area of tissue, such as a wound, sore, rash, or boil
leukemia cancer of white blood cells
leukocoria white pupil
leukocyte one of the infection-fighting cells in the blood and body tissues; white blood cells
leukocyte count number of white blood cells in the blood
leukocytosis increase in number of white blood cells in the blood
leukoderma white skin
leukokoria white pupil
libido sexual desire
ligament elastic tissue that connects bone or cartilage
lipid fat
lipid tests blood tests that measure how much fat is in the blood
lipoid fatty
lipoma growth made up of fat cells
lipoprotein electrophoresis blood test that measures the amounts of fat and protein in the blood
lithotripsy surgery or other method to crush a stone
liver large organ that helps in many body functions, including digestion, metabolism, and storage of substances
lobar pneumonia bacterial infection of one or more sections of the lung
lobectomy surgery to remove a section of the lung
lochia normal discharge from the vagina for 1 to 2 weeks after childbirth
long bone bone that is long and slender, such as a leg or arm bone
lordosis forward curving of the spine, causing saddle back or swayback
Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) muscle disorder
lower GI (gastrointestinal) series x-ray using a dye given as an enema to outline the large intestine
lumbar puncture spinal tap using a needle to remove spinal fluid for testing from the lowerback
lumbar region lower back of the body
lumbar vertebrae bones of the spine in the lower back
lumen the space inside a tube-like body structure, such as a blood vessel
lung lobe one of five sections of the two lungs
lungs the two main organs for breathing
lupus erythematosus (LE) chronic disorders of connective tissue in which there can be skin rash, arthritis, kidney problems, and anemia, among other problems
lymph clear liquid tissue
lymph node tissue that filters disease germs from the blood; also called a lymph gland
lymphadenitis inflammation of the lymph nodes
lymphadenography x-ray of the lymph nodes
lymphocyte type of white blood cell
lymphoid tissue tissue that contains lymphocytes
lymphoma cancerous growth made up of lymphoid tissue, particularly lymphocytes

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Created 4/18/2012