Simplification Guide to Medical Terms

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P
pachyderma thickening of the skin
palate roof of the mouth
palatitis inflammation of the roof of the mouth
palatoplasty surgery to fix the roof of the mouth
pallor pale color of the skin
palmar having to do with the palm of the hand
pancreas organ that makes hormones, including insulin, and digestive juices
pancreatic having to do with the pancreas
pancreatitis inflammation of the pancreas
panplegia total loss of muscle control and feeling
pansinusitus inflammation of the all the sinuses on one side of the body
Pap test microscope test used to detect virus infection of the cervix or cancer of the vagina, cervix, or lining of the uterus
papule pimple
para woman who has given birth
paraysis loss of ability to move muscles with loss of feeling also
paranasal sinuses air cavities inside the bones of the face around the nose
paraplegia complete loss of muscle control and total loss of feeling from the waist downward
parasympatholytic drug that blocks a kind of nerve
parasympathomimetic drug that imitates the action of a kind of nerve
parathyroid gland gland that makes and discharges a hormone that helps control the amount of calcium in the blood
parathyroidectomy surgery to remove the parathyroid gland
parathyroidoma growth or cancer on the parathyroid gland
parenteral administration. giving a substance by injection rather by mouth
paresis muscle weakness; partial paralysis
parietal layer layer of tissue in the wall of a cavity
parietal layer of the pericardium layer of tissue in the sack around the heart
Parkinson's disease disorder of the central nervous system, seen usually in older persons, in which there is muscle weakness, trembling, sweating
paronychia inflammation around the nail
paroxysm sudden worsening of an illness; or a spasm or seizure
partial thromboplastin time (PTT) a test of blood clotting time used to measure substances that help the blood to clot
participate take part
parturition childbirth
patch test allergy test performed by putting an allergy-causing material on the skin to see if it causes a reaction
patella kneecap
patellectomy surgery to remove the kneecap
patent open
pathogenic causing disease
pathologist doctor who studies the changes in the body and its tissues caused by disease
pathology the study of the changes in the body and body tissue caused by disease
pediculosis infection with lice, which are tiny bugs
pelvic bone hip bone
pelvic cavity space where the urinary bladder, certain reproductive organs, part of the large intestine, and the rectum are found
pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) infection of any of the female reproductive organs inside the pelvic space, including the uterus, uterine tubes, and ovaries
pelvimetry x-ray of the pelvis of the mother to make sure her pelvis is large enough for the body to come through during birth
pelvis of the kidney place where urine leaves the kidney
penicillin type of antibiotic
penile implant artificial device put into the penis to help a man get an erection
penis outer male sex organ
peptic ulcer sore in the stomach or in the lining of the stomach
percussion tapping of a body surface with the fingers to check the organs under the skin by the sound that is made
percutaneous through the skin
percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedure in which a small balloon is blown up inside the blood vessel to open up a blood vessel
pericardiotomy surgery to make an opening into the pericardium
pericarditis inflammation of the pericardium
pericardium two-layer sack of tissue around the heart
perimetritis inflammation of the perimetrium
perimetrium outer layer of tissue around the uterus
perineorrhaphy stitching a tear in the perineum
perineum area between the vulva and rectum in women and between the scrotum and rectum in men
periosteum layer of tissue that covers bone
pertussis whooping cough
petechia tiny red or purple spot on skin or other tissue caused by bleeding
phacoemulsification method of removing a cataract by using sound waves to break it up
phalanges finger and toe bones
pharmacist person licensed to prepare and dispense drugs and fill prescriptions
pharmacodynamics the study of how drugs act on the body
pharmacokinetics the study of the way a drug enters and leaves the blood and tissues over time
pharyngitis sore throat
pharynx area between the mouth and esophagus that performs the swallowing action; throat
phenothiazines group of drugs used for the control of mental illness
phenylketonuria (PKU) dangerous build-up of toxic materilas in the body resulting from a genetic defect that affects metabolism
phlectomy surgery to remove part or all of a vein
phlebography x-ray of a vein or veins using a dye to outline them
phlebotomy nicking or putting a needle into a vein to remove blood
phonocardiogram detailed record of heart sounds
photophobia irritation of the eye caused by light
photoretinitis inflammation of the back of the eye caused by strong light
phrenic having to do with the mind; or having to do with a diaphragm
phrenopathy mental disorder
pia mater inner layer of the meninges
pinna outer flap of the ear
pituitary gland gland that sits under the brain and makes many hormones, including some that control other glands
placebo a pretend treatment (with no drug in it) that is compared in a clinical trial with a drug to test if the drug has a real effect
placenta tissues that provide food for the unborn baby
plantar having to do with the sole of the foot
plasma liquid part of blood where cells float
plasmapheresis removing plasma from blood that has been drawn from a person
platelet count. the number of platelets in the blood
platelets small structures in blood that help it to clot
pleura thin tissue that covers the lungs and inner walls of the chest
pleural effusion fluid in the chest cavity
pleurisy inflammation of the pleura with discharge in the chest cavity, making breathing painful
pleuropexy surgery to fix the film that covers the lungs
pneumatocele bulging of the lungs through an abnormal opening
pneumobronchotomy incision into the lungs
pneumoconiosis dust in the lungs
Pneumocystis carinii type of parasite or fungus that causes pneumonia in infants and weakended patients, such as those with AIDS
pneumonectomy surgery to remove a lung
pneumonia inflammation of the lungs in which the lungs become heavy
pneumonitis inflammation of the lungs
pneumothorax. free air in the chest cavity
podiatrist foot doctor
poliomyelitis infection with a virus in which there can be fever, headache, and stiff neck followed by paralysis and wasting away of muscles
polyarteritis inflammation of many arteries
polycystic kidney kidney with many cysts in it
polydipsia too much thirst
polymyositis inflammation of more than one muscle
polyneuritis inflammation of several nerves
polyp type of growth that sticks up out of tissue
polypectomy surgery to remove a polyp
polyuria too much urine being made
pons part of the brain through which the two sides and different areas of the brain communicate
porphyria disturbance of metabolism that can be seen as disorders of the skin or other organs
posterior having to do with the back of the body
posterior lobe of the pituitary part of the pituitary gland that discharges oxytocin, vasopressin, and some proteins
postictal happening after a seizure
postpartum after childbirth
potentiation increase in drug action from using two drugs together instead of using each drug alone
preeclampsia serious problem of pregnancy in which there is high blood pressure and excess fluid in the tissues of the mother
pregnancy carrying an unborn baby
preictal happening before a seizure
premature infant infant born before it has fully developed; weight less than 5.5 lbs
prepuce fold of skin (foreskin) that covers the penis and is removed in circumcision
presbycusis loss of hearing because of old age
presbyopia problems with vision because of old age
primigravida woman going through her first pregnancy
primipara woman who has has one pregnancy that lasted at least 20 weeks
proctologist doctor who treats disorders of the rectum and anus
proctology. the study of the disorders of the rectum and anus
proctoptosis fallen anus protruding from the body
proctoscope tool used to look into the rectum
progestins type of female hormones that prepare the uterus for pregnancy
prognosis forecast of the probable outcome of a disease
prolapsed uterus fallen uterus protruding from the body
prone lying face down
prostate gland gland that makes fluid that aids movement of sperm
prostate-specific antigen (PSA) substance in blood that is measured to check for prostatic cancer
prostatectomy surgery to remove all or part of the prostate gland
prostatic cancer cancer of the prostate gland
prostatitis inflammation of the prostate gland
prostatocystitis inflammation of the neck of the bladder and the bladder
prostatolith stone in the prostate gland
prostatorrhea discharge of liquid from the prostate
prosthesis artificial body part
prothrombin time (PT) a test of blood clotting time used to measure substances that help the blood to clot
proximal nearest
pruritus itchiness
pseudocyesis false pregnancy
psoriasis scaly skin rash
psychiatry the study of mental disorders
psychogenic caused by the mind (rather than the body)
psychologist doctor who treats disorders of the mind, thoughts, and behavior
psychology the study of mental action and behavior
psychopathy any disorder of the mind
psychosis severe mental disorder; craziness
psychosomatic having a connection between the mind and physical symptoms
pterygium unusual fold of film on the eye
puberty years when the sex organs mature
puerpera a woman who has just given birth to an infant
puerperal right after childbirth
puerperium the first 3 to 6 weeks after childbirth
pulmonary having to do with the lungs
pulmonary edema fluid in the lungs
pulmonary embolism blood clot in the lungs
pulmonary neoplasm lung tumor
pupil black spot in the middle of the eye, which is the opening in the center of the iris
pupillometer tool that measures how wide the pupil is
purgative drug used to cause the bowels to empty
purified protein derivative (PPD) substance used in tuberculosis skin test
purpura small purple-red marks in skin or other tissue caused by bleeding
pustule pimple filled with pus
pyelitis inflammation of the kidney and its pelvis
pyelogram x-ray of the kidney and ureters
pyelolithotomy surgery to remove a kidney stone
pyelonephritis inflammation of the kidney and its pelvis
pyeloplasty surgery to fix the pelvis of the kidney
pyelostomy surgery to make an opening into the pelvis of the kidney
pyloric sphincter ring of muscles between the stomach and the small intestine
pyloromyotomy surgery to cut muscles of a pyloric sphincter that is too narrow
pyloroplasty surgery to fix the pyloric sphincter
pylorus the opening of the stomach into the small intestine
pyosalpinx pus in the uterine tubes
pyuria pus in the urine

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Created 4/18/2012