| abdomen |
belly |
| ablation |
remove |
| Absorb |
Take up fluids, take in |
| abstain |
avoid |
| acuity |
Clearness |
| acute |
short-term; sudden onset |
| adenopathy |
swollen glands |
| adjuvant |
Helpful, assisting, added |
| adverse effect |
side effect |
| allergic reaction |
rash, trouble breathing |
| alopecia |
hair loss |
| ambulate |
walk, able to walk |
| amnesia |
loss of memory; inability to remember |
| analgesic |
pain relieving medication |
| anaphylaxis |
a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction |
| anemia |
low red blood cell count |
| anesthetize |
to numb; put to sleep |
| angina |
pain from not enough blood to the heart |
| anorexia |
loss of appetite |
| antecubital |
Inside the elbow |
| antibiotic (antimicrobial) |
drug that kills germs |
| antibodies |
natural chemicals in the body that fight infection |
| anticonvulsant |
drug used to prevent seizures |
| antilipidemic |
drug that decreases the level of fat in the blood |
| antiretroviral |
drug that inhibits viruses |
| antitussive |
drug that relieves coughing |
| anus |
rectum |
| arrhythmia or dysrhythmia |
a change from the normal heartbeat |
| artery |
blood vessel |
| arthralgia |
joint pain |
| aspiration |
inhale into the lungs; to suck in; or removal of fluid through tube or needle |
| assess |
to learn about |
| asthenia |
loss of energy; weakness |
| asthma |
lung disease associated with tightening of the air passages |
| asymptomatic |
without symptoms |
| ataxia |
unsteady movement |
| axilla |
armpit |
| bacteria |
germs |
| benign |
not cancerous; without serious consequences |
| BID |
twice a day |
| bioavailability |
the extent to which a drug becomes available to the body |
| biopsy |
the removal and examination of a small part of tissue or organ |
| blood profile |
series of blood tests |
| bolus |
given all at once |
| bone density |
bone thickness; hardness of bone |
| bradycardia |
slow heart rate |
| bronchospasm |
difficulty breathing because the airways have narrowed |
| confidentiality will not be compromised |
other people will not find out |
| carcinogenic |
can cause cancer |
| carcinoma |
a type of cancer |
| cardiac |
heart; involving the heart |
| cardiac catheterization |
a procedure in which a small tube (catheter) is inserted through blood vessels in the groin and into the heart that uses highlighting fluid to look at the blood vessels in the heart |
| cardioversion |
a procedure that uses electricity to simulate the heart and make it return to its normal rhythm |
| catheter |
flexible plastic tube that is inserted into the ( ) |
| central nervous system |
the brain and spinal cord |
| cerebral trauma |
damage to the brain |
| cessation |
stopping |
| chemotherapy |
treatment of disease with chemical agents |
| chronic |
continues for a long time; long-term |
| clinical |
medical care |
| clinically significant |
of major importance for treating or evaluating patients |
| clinical trial |
an experiment in humans |
| coerced |
pressured; forced |
| cognitive status |
levels of awareness and thinking |
| colon |
large intestines; bowel |
| colonoscopy |
procedure to look at the large intestine that uses a special camera at the end of a long tube that is inserted in the rectum |
| coma |
unconscious state |
| congenital |
occurring prior to birth, due to parent’s genetic input |
| conjunctivitis |
irritation and redness in the membrane covering the eye |
| consent |
agreement |
| contrast material |
a fluid that is given into the vein or an area of the body to highlight the blood vessels or body area under x-ray examination |
| convulsions |
seizures |
| coronary |
heart; involving the heart |
| creatinine clearance |
a test of kidney function |
| computed tomography; (CT)Scan |
computer enhanced X-ray; special type of x-ray |
| culture |
a test for the presence of germs |
| cumulative |
total sum (of events, experiences, treatments) |
| cutaneous |
of the skin |
| defecate |
bowel movement; to pass stools |
| defibrillation |
a procedure that uses electricity to stimulate the heart and make it return to its normal rhythm |
| de novo |
new |
| dermatologic |
of the skin |
| deteriorate |
to get worse; to lose function |
| diastolic blood pressure |
the blood pressure when the heart rests between beats; the bottom number of a blood pressure reading |
| diplopia |
double vision |
| distal |
away from the center of the body |
| distensions |
bloated; swollen; inflated |
| diuretic |
drug that causes an increase in urination |
| double-blind |
neither you nor your doctor will know what medicine you are taking (this can be found out easily if necessary) |
| duodenum |
beginning of the small intestine that is attached to the stomach |
| dysfunction |
not functioning properly |
| dyspepsia |
gas; upset stomach |
| dysplasia |
abnormal cells |
| dyspnea |
hard to breathe; short of breath |
| ECG, EKG, or electrocardiogram |
picture and measurement of the heart rhythm |
| echocardiogram |
procedure that uses sound waves to look at the heart; using sound waves to take pictures of the heart chambers and measure it pumping strength |
| EEG |
measurement of electrical activity of the brain |
| edema |
swelling |
| efficacy |
effectiveness; usefulness |
| electrode |
wire |
| electrolyte imbalance |
imbalance of salts or chemicals in the blood |
| electrophysiology study |
heart rhythm study |
| elevation of liver function tests |
evidence of liver or kidney damage |
| elucidate |
to make clear; to determine; to find out |
| embryo |
unborn baby |
| emesis |
vomiting |
| empiric |
based on experience |
| endoscopic exam |
exam of an internal part of the body with a lighted tube |
| enema |
medication given through the rectum that cleans out the bowel |
| enteral |
by way of the intestines |
| enzyme abnormality |
blood test result that suggests abnormal organ function or injured cells |
| epidural |
outside the spinal cord |
| eradicating |
getting rid of |
| exclusion criteria |
reasons for not being included |
| excreted |
made; given off; put off |
| external |
outside of the body |
| extravasate |
to leak outside of a blood vessel |
| fast |
do not eat or drink |
| fatigue |
tire |
| fetus |
unborn baby |
| flatulence |
gas passed through the anus/rectum |
| fibrillation |
irregular beat of the heart or other muscle |
| fibrous |
Having many fibers, like scar tissue |
| flushing |
to become red in the face or other part of the body because of rush of blood to the skin; blushing of the skin |
| fracture |
break |
| gastric |
stomach |
| gastrointestinal |
stomach and intestines |
| gestational |
pertaining to pregnancy |
| glucose |
sugar |
| hematocrit |
amount of red blood cells in the blood |
| hematoma |
a bruise; bleeding into the body tissue around a blood vessel (if at the skin surface, it looks like a bruise) |
| hemodynamic measurement |
test to measure blood flow |
| hemolysis |
breakdown in red blood cells |
| heparin lock |
Needle placed with blood thinner to keep blood from clotting inside the needle or tubing |
| hepatic |
liver |
| hepatitis |
inflammation of the liver |
| hepatoma |
cancer or tumor of the liver |
| heritable disease |
a disease which can be passed to children resulting in damage to future children |
| histopathologic |
pertaining to disease of body tissues or cells |
| history positive |
in past medical history; that you have ever had |
| Holter monitor |
a machine, the size of a pocket radio, that records the beats of the heart |
| hypercalcemia |
high blood calcium level |
| hyperkalemia |
high blood potassium level |
| hypernatremia |
high blood sodium level |
| hypertension |
high blood pressure |
| hypocalcemia |
low blood calcium level |
| hypokalemia |
low blood potassium level |
| hyponatremia |
low blood sodium level |
| hypotension |
low blood pressure |
| hypoxia |
low oxygen level in the blood |
| hysterectomy |
removal of the womb |
| iatrogenic |
caused by a physician or by treatment |
| idiopathic |
of unknown cause |
| immobilization |
unable to move |
| immunological |
relating to the body's ability to fight infection |
| immunosuppressive |
drug which suppresses the body’s immune response |
| immunotherapy |
drug to help the body’s immune system |
| impaired function |
abnormal function |
| implantation |
operation to place a device inside the body |
| incision |
cut |
| indicated |
suggested; necessary |
| induce |
cause |
| induction phase |
beginning phase or stage of treatment |
| induration |
hardening |
| indwelling |
remaining in a given location, such as a catheter |
| inert |
not active; substance that doesn't affect you |
| infectious disease |
disease transmitted from person to person |
| inflammation |
swelling |
| infarct |
Death of tissue because of lack of blood supply |
| inflation |
to put air in |
| infused |
to drip in; to put in |
| ingest |
swallow; eat or drink |
| inject |
to put into by way of a needle or other device |
| insomnia |
unable to sleep |
| instilled |
put into; drip into |
| intensity |
degree; amount |
| interferon |
agent that acts against viruses |
| intermittent |
occurring repeatedly; alternately stopping and starting |
| intramuscular injection |
to put into the muscle with a needle |
| intraperitoneal |
into the abdominal cavity |
| intrathecal |
into the spinal fluid |
| intravenous |
in the blood vessel |
| intravenous infusion |
to drip into the blood vessel through a plastic tube and needle |
| intravesical |
in the bladder |
| intubate |
the placement of a tube into the airway |
| invasive procedure |
puncture, opening or cutting of the skin |
| ischemia |
decreased oxygen in a tissue (usually because of decreased blood flow) |
| isolated |
to separate; to close off |
| lactating |
making breast milk |
| laporatomy |
Incision in the abdominal wall to allow a physician to look at the organs |
| lesion |
site of the injury; site of the disease |
| lethargy |
Sleepiness |
| leukocyte |
blood cells that fight infection |
| leukopenia |
low white blood cell count |
| libido |
sexual desire; sex drive |
| local anesthetic |
medicine to numb an area of the body |
| localized |
restricted to one area |
| lumbar puncture |
spinal tap; a needle inserted between the bones of the spine to put in a drug or take a sample of fluid |
| lumbosacral |
lower back |
| lymphangiography |
an x-ray of the lymph nodes or tissues after injection of dye in lymph vessels |
| lymphocyte |
a type of white blood cell |
| lymphoma |
a cancer of the lymph nodes or tissues |
| maintenance dose |
the usual daily dose |
| malaise |
a vague feeling of discomfort, feeling bad |
| malignancy |
tumor; cancer |
| manifested |
showed |
| medulloblastoma |
type of brain tumor |
| meningitis |
infection or irritation around the brain |
| metabolism |
process by which food is used to supply energy for the body; the energy the body uses when it works; the way the body breaks down food or a drug |
| metastasize |
spread |
| (MRI) Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
procedure that uses magnetic waves to take a picture of various parts of the body (radiation is not used) |
| monitor |
check on; keep track of; watch carefully |
| morbidity |
undesired result or complication; serious disease |
| mortality |
Death or death rate |
| mucosa |
the lining inside the ( ) |
| MUGA (multiple-gated acquisition) |
procedure using a special camera to look at the heart after radioactive dye has been put into it through one of the veins |
| myalgia |
muscle aches |
| myocardial infarction |
heart attack |
| nasal congestion |
stuffiness of the nose |
| nasal |
nose |
| nasogastric tube |
tube from the nose to the stomach |
| nausea |
feel sick to the stomach |
| necrosis |
death of tissue |
| neoplasia |
tumor, may be non-cancerous or cancerous |
| neurological exam |
test of brain, spinal cord, and reflexes |
| neuroblastoma |
cancer of nerve tissue |
| neurological |
pertaining to the nervous system |
| neutropenia |
Decrease in the main part of the white blood cells |
| new indication |
new use |
| non-invasive |
not breaking, cutting or entering the skin |
| nosocomial pneumonia |
pneumonia acquired in the hospital |
| NG tube (nasogastric) |
a flexible plastic tube that is passed through the nose or mouth and into the stomach |
| occlusion |
Closing; obstruction |
| occult blood test |
a test for small amounts of blood in the stool |
| oncology |
the study of tumors or cancer |
| open-label |
a study in which the drug, device, procedure is known to patient and investigator |
| ophthalmic |
pertaining to the eye |
| optimum, optimal |
best |
| oral |
by mouth |
| orthopedic |
pertaining to the bones |
| osteoarthritis |
bone and joint pain |
| osteopetrosis |
bone disorder characterized by dense bone |
| osteoporosis |
bone disorder characterized by loss of bone |
| ovaries |
female sex glands; female organs which release eggs |
| over-the-counter drugs |
medications that you can buy without a doctor's prescription |
| overnight fast |
do not eat or drink after ( ) P.M. |
| palpitations |
irregular heart beats that you can feel |
| parenteral |
administration by injection |
| paresthesia |
tingling in the ( ) |
| partial seizure |
seizure |
| perforation |
puncture, tear of hole |
| Perception |
View |
| patency |
condition of being open |
| pathogenesis |
the initial cause of a disease |
| percutaneous |
through the skin |
| peripheral |
not central |
| PET (Positron Emission Tomography |
special camera that uses radiation to look at the structure and functioning of parts of the body |
| pharmacokinetics |
Study of the what the body does to the drug |
| pharmacological |
effect of the drug |
| phlebitis |
Inflammation of a vein |
| physiologically capable |
able to function |
| placebo |
a pill that does not contain active medicine |
| plasma |
blood |
| platelets |
Small particle in the blood that help with blood clotting |
| pneumonia |
lung infection |
| pneumothorax |
collapsed lung |
| polyps |
abnormal lumps that can sometimes be cancerous |
| potentiate |
increasing effect of a drug by administration of another drug at the same time |
| potentiator |
Agent that helps another agent work better |
| predictive value |
expected value |
| prenatal |
before birth |
| prognosis |
expected course of the disease |
| prone |
to lie flat facing down; to lie on the stomach |
| prophylaxis |
Drug given to prevent disease or infection |
| prospective study |
study following patients forward in time |
| prosthesis |
artificial limbs |
| proximal |
closer to the center of the body |
| psychosocial test |
test of your behavior |
| pulmonary |
lung |
| puncture |
to make a hole |
| pyelogram |
a series of X-rays of the kidneys |
| QD |
every day, daily |
| QID |
four times a day |
| quantify |
to measure |
| radiation therapy |
x-ray or cobalt treatment |
| radioactive isotope |
a chemical or substance that gives off radiant energy rays similar to X-rays |
| randomly |
like picking numbers out of a hat ; by chance |
| recombinant |
formation of new combinations of genes |
| reconstitution |
putting back together the original parts |
| recuperate |
to get better |
| recur |
happen again |
| refractory |
not responding to treatment |
| regeneration |
regrowth of a structure or of lost tissue |
| regimen |
Pattern of administering treatment |
| relapse |
The return or reappearance of disease |
| reliable method of birth control |
[You must indicate what you will accept. ex:]--birth control pills, Norplant7 (levonorgestrel), Depo-Provera7 (medroxyprogesterone), intra-uterine device (IUD) |
| remission |
disappearance of evidence of cancer or other disease |
| renal |
kidney |
| render you ineligible |
make you unable to participate |
| replicable |
capable of being duplicated |
| resect |
remove or cut out (surgically) |
| respiratory |
breathing |
| retrospective study |
study looking back over past experience |
| saline |
salt water |
| sarcoma |
a type of cancer |
| secretion |
one of the fluids made by the body |
| sedation |
to make drowsy/sleepy |
| seminoma |
a type of testes cancer |
| sequentially |
in a row |
| somnolence |
sleepiness |
| spirometer |
instrument to measure the amount of air taken into and exhaled from the lungs |
| sputum |
thick saliva; phlegm |
| staging |
a determination of the extent of the disease |
| standard of care |
the usual treatment for the disease |
| stenosis |
narrowing of a duct, tube, or one of the heart valves |
| stent |
a metal (or plastic) tube placed inside a blood vessel that keeps it open to prevent blockage |
| stomatitis |
mouth sores; inflammation of the mouth |
| stratify |
Arrange in groups fro analysis of results |
| stupor |
stunned state in which it is difficult to get a response |
| subclavian |
under the collarbone |
| subcutaneous |
under the skin |
| superficial |
near the surface |
| supine |
to lie flat facing up; to lie on the back |
| suture |
stitches |
| symptoms |
signs of disease or illness |
| symptomatic |
having symptoms |
| syncope |
fainting or lightheadedness |
| syndrome |
a condition characterized by a set of symptoms |
| systolic blood pressure |
top number of by blood pressure reading |
| tachycardia |
fast heart rate |
| telemetry |
to monitor the ( ) from a distance |
| teratogenic |
can cause malformations in unborn fetuses |
| testes |
male sex glands; male organs which produce sperm |
| therapeutic dose |
the amount of medication needed to treat the condition |
| third party payers |
health insurance; Medicare, Medicaid |
| thrombosis |
blood clotting within blood vessels |
| TID |
three times a day |
| tinnitus |
ringing in the ears |
| titration |
adjusting to the necessary dose |
| T-lymphocytes |
type of white blood cells involved in immune reactions |
| topical |
applied to the surface of the skin |
| toxicity |
side effects or undesirable effects of a drug |
| trachea |
windpipe |
| transdermal |
through the skin |
| transiently |
temporarily |
| trauma |
injury; wound |
| treadmill |
walking machine often used to determine heart function |
| tremor |
shakiness |
| trial |
study |
| triglyceride |
fat in the blood |
| tubal ligation |
having the tubes tied |
| unable to comply with the study requirements |
cannot follow study directions |
| ureter |
the tube that carries urine from the kidneys to by bladder |
| urethra |
the tube that carries urine from the bladder outside the body |
| urinalysis |
urine exam; test of the urine |
| vaginitis |
infection in the vagina or birth canal |
| valvuloplasty |
plastic repair of a valve, especially of the heart |
| varices |
enlarged veins |
| vasospasm |
narrowing of blood vessels due to spasm of vessel walls |
| vector |
A carrier, usually an inset, that carries and transmits disease-causing germs |
| vein |
blood vessel |
| venipuncture |
to put a needle into the blood vessel |
| verbal |
speak; talk |
| vertical transmission |
spread of disease |
| vertigo |
a feeling of losing the balance; dizziness |
| void |
to make or pass urine |
| waive |
to give up |
| withdraw |
leave the study; quit |
