Simplification Guide to Medical Terms

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M
macro- describes something that is large or long
macule flat, colored spot on the skin
magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) the use of magnetic wves to look at soft tissues of the body
malignant cancerous
mallet hammer-like tool used for striking objects
mammary glands milk-producing tissue in the breasts
mammary papilla breast nipple
mammogram x-ray of the breast
mammoplasty surgery to reconstruct the breast
mandible lower jaw bone
Mantoux test skin test used to check for tuberculosis
mastalgia pain in the breast
mastectomy surgery to remove a breast
mastitis inflammation of the mammary gland or of the breast
mastoid cells air spaces inside the mastoid process
mastoid process protruding part of a bone located in the skull behind the ear
mastoidectomy surgery to remove the mastoid process or mastoid cells
mastoiditis inflammation of the air spaces in the mastoid process that communicate with the middle ear
mastoidotomy surgery to cut into the mastoid process
mastoptosis drooping breasts
maxilla upper jaw bone
maxillectomy surgery to remove the upper jaw bone
maxillitis inflammation of the upper jaw bone
meconium first stool of the newborn
medial toward or having to do with the middle of the body
medications medicines, drugs
mediastinum tissue and organs in the middle of the chest between the two lungs
medulla oblongata part of the brain that controls breathing, blood pressure, and otherimportant body functions; brain stem
meibomian cyst pimple on the eyelid caused by an inflamed gland (stye)
melanin material that makes the color of the skin and hair
melanoma cancerous black growth on the skin
melasma a blotchy brown stain on the skin, usually over the cheeks, forehead, or neck; often associated with pregnancy, menopause, or the use of oral contraceptives
menarche time in life when a girl starts having a menstrual period
Meniere's disease disorder of the inner ear in which there is dizziness, ringing in the ears, and loss of hearing
meninges three-layered tissue that covers the brain and spinal cord
meningitis inflammation of the meninges
meningocele bulging of the meninges through a hole in bone
meningomyeloradiculitis inflammation of the meninges and roots of the spinal nerves
meniscectomy surgery to remove a meniscus
meniscitis inflammation of the meninges and roots of the spinal nerves
meniscus one of two crescent-shaped pads inside the knee joint
menometrorrhagia too much bleeding from the uterus during menstruation and at other times
menopause time in life when a woman stops having a menstrual period
menses discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus that happens about every 4 weeks in women who are not pregnant
menstrual having to do with menstruation
menstrual period the time of menstruation
menstruation discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus that happens about every 4 weeks in women who are not pregnant
metabolism total of all the important actions in the body that keep it alive
metacarpal bones .bones of the hand between the wrist and fingers
metastasis spread of disease from one place in the body to another place in the bosy that is not nearby
matatarsal bones foot bones
metrorrhea discharge from the uterus
micro- describes something that is small or delicate
microcephalus person with a very small head
micturate urinate
middle ear the space between the eardrum and the inner ear
migraine type of severe headache that occurs periodically and is often associated with nausea, vomiting, sight or hearing sensitivities
miotic substance that makes the pupil of the eye smaller (e.g., narcotic)
miscarriage loss of an unborn baby from the uterus before it is able to survive outside the mother's body
mitral commissurotomy surgery to repair the mitral valve to enlarge the opening between the two parts of the left side of the heart
mitral valve valve between two chambers on the left side of the heart
molecular pharmacology the study of the action between two parts of the left side of the heart

monoparesis

weak muscle movement and loss of feeling in one arm or one leg
monoplegia loss of movement and loss of feeling in one arm or one leg
motility ability to move
mouth opening through which food passes into the body to be digested
mucopurulent slimy and with pus in it
mucus slimy fluid

multigravida

women who has been pregnant two or more times
multipara woman who has given birth two or more times

multiple sclerosis (MS)

slowly worsening disorder of the central nervous system that causes weakness, incoordination, numbness, and probh talking and seeing
muscle type of tissue that causes movement
muscular dystrophy (MD) genetic problem resulting in muscle weakness and atrophy

myasthenia

muscle weakness
myasthenia gravis disorder that causes muscles to get tired quickly
mydriatic substance that makes the pupil of the eye bigger
myelogram x-ray of the spinal cord using dye that is injected into the spinal area
myeloma cancer of the types of cells normally found in bone marrow
myelomalacia softening of the spinal cord
myocardial infarction (MI) heart attack
myocardial ischemia not enough blood going to the heart
myocarditis inflammation of the heart muscle

myocardium

muscle of the heart
myoma growth made up of muscle tissue
myomectomy surgery to remove a myoma or a piece of muscle
myometritis inflammation of the muscle of the uterus
myometrium muscle of the uterus
myopathy muscle disorder
myopia nearsightedness
myoplasty surgery to fix a muscle
myorrhaphy surgery to stutch a muscle
myringitis inflammation of the eardrum
myringoplasty surgery to fix a ruptured eardrum
myxedema disorder caused by lack of thyroid hormone in which areas of the skin are swollen
N
nail tough plate of tissue covering the top of the end of each finger and toe
narcotic strong habit-forming drug that stops pain and depresses the central nervous system
nasal having to do with the nose
nasal septum wall that divides the nose into two sides
nasogastric tube tube that goes through the nose and into the stomach; used for feeding liquid food to a patient
nasolacrimal duct tube that drains tears from the eye into the nose; tear duct
nasopharyngeal having to do with the nasopharynx
nasopharyngitis inflammation of the nasopharynx
natal having to do with childbirth
nausea sick to the stomach
nebulizer device used to turn liquids into mists for breathing treatments
necrosis death of tissue or skin
neonate newborn infant
neonatology the study of disorders of newborn infants
neoplasm new growth that is not normal; tumor
nephrectomy surgery to remove a kidney
nephritis kidney inflammation
nephroblastoma type of malignant kidney tumor
nephrogram x-ray of the kidney
nephrohypertrophy overgrowth of the kidney
nephrolithiasis stones in the kidney
nephroma growth in the kidney
nephromegaly overgrowth of the kidney
nephropexy surgery to tie down a kidney
nephroptosis sagging kidney
nephrosonography use of ultrasonography
nerve string-like tissue that carries messages to and away from the brain and spinal cord and tells muscles to move
nervous tissue type of tissue that makes up the central nervous system and nerves
neuralgia nerve pain
neurectomy surgery to remove part of a nerve
neuritis inflammation of a nerve
neuroarthropathy disorder of the joints and the central nervous system or nerves
neuroblast cell that will develop into a nerve
neurohypophysis part of the brain that discharges hormones including oxytocin and vasopressin
neuroid like a nerve
neurologist doctor who treats disorders of the central nervous system and nerves
neurolysis surgery to open the covering of a nerve to destroy a nerve
neuroma growth made up of nerve tissue
neuropathy a disturbance in the function of the brain or spinal cord that may affect the nerves and muscles of the body
neuropharmacologic drug drug that acts on the nervous system
neuroplasty surgery to fix a nerve
neurorrhaphy stitching a cut nerve
neurosis mental and emotional disorder
neurotomy surgery to make a break in a nerve
nevus mole; birthmark
nocturia too much urination at night
norepinephrine hormone discharged from nerves, the brain, and the adrenal glands that helps the body deal with stress and low blood pressure
nucleus center of a cell
nulligravida woman that has never given birth
nullipara woman that has never given birth to an infant that lived
nyctalopia difficulty seeing at night

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Created 4/18/2012