GLOSSARY OF MEDICAL TERMS
- abscess
- localized collection of pus produced by pyrogenic (heat, or fever, producing) organisms
- acute transverse myelitis
- syndrome transecting, or cutting across, both internal and external areas of the spinal
cord
- alveolar hemorrhage
- bleeding of the airsacs in the lung
- aneurysm
- a segment of weakened blood vessel (usually an artery) which has filled with blood and
ballooned outward
- arrhythmia
- deviation of normal rhythm, e.g. of the heart
- ascending aorta
- the largest ascending (rising) blood vessel of the arterial system, stemming from the
main artery leaving the heart
- aspiration pneumonia
- pathological consequence of abnormal entry of fluids, particulate matter, or secretions
into lower airways; e.g. inhalation of vomitus
- atelectasis
- airlessness of the lung's alveoli; "solid lung"
- brachial and lumbar plexus
- the part of the central nervous system (spinal cord) innervating the limbs
- barotrauma
- injury due to a change of air or water pressure, e.g. ruptured eardrum
- bronchospasm
- sudden constriction of bronchial tubes (windpipe)
- Brown-Sequard syndrome
- spinal cord damage hallmarked by spasms and decreased sense of posture, heat, cold, and
pain
- candida
- a fungus (also known as yeast or thrush) of the human mouth, throat, vagina, gut and
skin which can spread or overgrow, producing infection and disease
- carotid and subclavian arteries
- arteries bringing blood to the head, neck and upper trunk
- carbonaceous sputum
- black, tarry sputum (chest mucus)
- cellulitis
- inflammation of connective tissue, frequently loose subcutaneous tissue
- COPD
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (also called chronic obstructive lung disease);
generalized small airway obstruction associated with chronic bronchitis, asthma and
emphysema
- disease
- a particular destructive process, with characteristic symptoms, and a specific cause
- dissection
- separation of tissues (by cutting); arterial dissection = longitudinal cleavage of the
blood vessel
- dyspnea
- difficulty in, or labored, breathing
- edema
- abnormal accumulation of fluid in body tissues
- embolism
- an air bubble or solid particle (ex: blood clot, fat globule, tumor cells, insoluble
contaminants of inoculum) impacted in, and causing obstruction of, a blood vessel
encephalopathy
- general term describing any disease of the brain
- endocarditis
- inflammation of the membrane which lines the heart and covers the heart valves
- endophthalmitis
- infection of internal eyeball
- fibrosis
- formation of excessive fibrous tissue in a body structure
- gangrene
- death of a portion of body tissue, due to inadequate blood supply, direct traumatic
injury or infection
- gastrointestinal tract
- digestive tract: stomach and intestines
- granuloma
- a tumor, caused by an outgrowth of new capillaries and connective tissue cells from the
surface of an open wound
- granulomatous rhinitis
- inflammation and granuloma formation of the nasal mucosa, sometimes causing destruction
of soft tissue, cartilage and bone
- hemopneumothorax
- blood and air in the pleural (chest) cavity causing compression of lung tissue
- hypothermia
- below normal body temperature, undercooling
- idiopathic
- of unknown origin
- laryngeal edema
- excess fluid in the larynx (voicebox)
- leukoencephalopathy
- rare, rapidly progressive, viral central nervous system disorder, destructive to nerve
fiber and occurring typically in those with immune system disorders (for example:
leukemia, lymphoma, or HIV disease)
- myelitis
- inflammation of the spinal cord
- myocardial infarction
- a "heart attack" caused by occlusion (closure, blockage) of the coronary
arteries
- necrosis
- localized death of body tissue
- optic neuropathy
- inflammation of part of the optic nerve causing partial or total visual loss
- pericardium
- the doublemembrane sac containing the heart
- pneumonia
- inflammation of the lung in which fluid and cells from the inflamed tissues fill the air
spaces, making breathing difficult
- pneumothorax
- air or gas in pleural (chest) cavity compressing and sometimes collapsing the lung(s)
- pneumomediastinum
- free air in the central space of chest (the space between lungs)
- pneumopericardium
- air or gas between the layers of the membrane encasing the heart
- pseudoaneurysm
- a bloodclotlined cavity in an arterial wall, caused by rupture of the blood vessel
- pulmonary edema
- leakage of extravascular fluid into lung tissue and air vesicles (alveoli); waterlogged
lungs
- pulmonary embolism
- obstruction of the lung vessel(s) by solid or gaseous matter, for example: a blood clot
or air bubble
- pulmonary talcosis
- talc granulomatosis causing pulmonary fibrosis; accumulations of connective tissue in
the alveoli, reducing (and potentially blocking) oxygen uptake from inhaled air
- reactive airway disease
- diffuse, intermittent, reversible airway obstruction caused by the inhalation of
irritant or allergenic particles or vapors
- renal failure
- general term for the derangement and insufficiency of renal excretory and regulatory
function; kidney failure
- retinal embolus
- emboli blocking one of the tiny blood vessels in the retina (the lightsensitive internal
coat of the eyeball)
- rhabdomyolysis
- a type of acute renal failure (seen in "crush" syndrome and paroxysmal
idiopathic myoglobinuria) causing extensive trauma to, or destruction of, muscle tissue
- rhinitis
- inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane characterized by vasodilation, edema, nasal
discharge and obstruction
- septic arthritis
- inflammation of a joint secondary to infection with any pathogenic bacteria, fungus,
virus or parasite
- sinusitis
- inflammation of the paranasal sinuses (the cavities near the nose)
- syndrome
- a group of coinciding symptoms which produce a pattern typical of a particular condition
or disease
- thrombocytopenic purpura
- a syndrome characterized by low blood platelet count, intermittent mucosal bleeding, and
purple patches (purpura) on skin
- thrombophlebitis
- inflammation of a vein wall caused by a blood clot in the vein
- toxic amblyopia
- damage to the optic nerve and reduced ability to see caused by reaction to a poisonous
substance
- Valsalva maneuver
- 1) forcible inflation of the middle ear by strong expiratory effort made with a closed
mouth and pinched nostrils (what airplane passengers do during landing) or 2) forcible
exhalation against closed glottis (closed "throat"); the increased chest
pressure which develops causes increased heart rate and blood pressure
- wound botulism
- neuromuscular poisoning resulting from infection with (C. botulinum) an anaerobic
bacteria
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