Terminology

Cardiology- study of the heart.

  1. antiarrhythmic - drug used to treat an abnormal cardiac rhythym (Greek; anti - against, rhythmos - rhythym)
  2. antianginal - dilates coronary arteries to oxygenate the myocardium, thereby relieving symptoms of angina pectoris
  3. arteriosclerosis - hardening of the arteries
  4. bradycardia - slow heart condition.
  5. cardiomyopathy - disease of the heart muscle
  6. diastolic - blood pressure when heart is relaxed. Blood pressure is expressed as sytolic/diastolic
  7. hypertension - high blood pressure
  8. hypotension - low blood pressure
  9. phlebitis - inflamed vein
  10. systolic - blood pressure when heart is contracted
  11. tachycardia - fast heart condition
Dermatology - study of the skin.
  1. dermatitis - skin inflammation
  2. erythroderma - red skin
  3. lactation - secreting milk
  4. mastectomy - breast removal
  5. subcutaneous - pertaining to under the skin
  6. transdermal - pertaining to through the skin
Endocrinology - study of the endocrine system. the endocrine system secretes substances into the blood or lymph that affects another part of the body.
  1. antilipemic agent - drug used to treat high cholesterol (Greek; anti - against, lipos - fat, haima - blood)
  2. diabetes mellitis - a condition of hyperglycemia that is either classified as type I or type II
  3. endocrine - pertaining to glands that secrete into the body
  4. hyperglycemia - high blood sugar
  5. hyperlipidemia - high blood lipids
  6. hyperthyroidism - high thyroid condition
  7. hypoglycemia - low blood sugar
  8. hypothyroidism - low thyroid condition
  9. somatic - pertaining to the body
  10. thyroid - gland in the neck that produces thyroxin and other thyroid hormones. removal of this gland causes hypothyroidism, a disease characterized by low metabolism.
  11. type I diabetes - insulin dependent diabetes mellitis (IDDM). needs insulin. usually juvenile onset.
  12. type II diabetes - non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitis (NIDDM). usually no need for insulin. usually maturity onset.
Gastroenterology - study of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. the GI tract includes; bile duct, gall bladder, small intesting, large intesting, and stomach.
  1. anorexia - no appetite
  2. antiemetic - drug that treats nausea and vomiting (Greek; anti - against, emesis - vomiting)
  3. aphagia - not able to swallow
  4. colitis - inflammation of the colon
  5. diarrhea - liquid discharge of bowel movement
  6. duodenal - pertaining to the duodenum
  7. peptic ulcer - a loss of the mucous membrane in any part of the digestive system that is exposed to gastric juices containing acid and pepsin. this causes circular lesions that are usually located in the stomach or duodenum.
  8. gastroenteritis - stomach & intestinal inflammation, usually causing discomfort in the abdominal area
  9. gastritis - stomach inflammation
  10. hematemesis - vomiting blood
  11. hepatitis - liver inflammation
  12. hepatoma - liver tumor
  13. hyperacidity - too much acid. this term is often used to describe a condition where the stomach produces an excess of acid. hyperacidity may be a cause or contributing cause of peptic ulcers.
Gynecology - study of feminine health, including the female reproductive system.
  1. amenorrhea - no menstrual discharges
  2. dysmenorrhea - difficult or painful menstrual discharges
  3. endometriosis - an abnormal growth in the uterus
  4. estrogen - female reproductive hormones
  5. gynecology - study of women's reproductive organs
  6. mastitis - breast inflammation
  7. progesterone - female reproductive hormone
  8. vaginitis - vaginal inflammation
Immunology - study of how the immune sytem reacts to antigens.
  1. adenopathy - disease where lymphatic gland is enlarged
  2. AIDS - acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. when HIV is no longer dormant and the patient experiences a severe shortage of T-lymphocytes.
  3. hematoma - a lump or tumor of clotted blood resultant of internal bleeding
  4. hemophilia - a hereditary bleeding disorder where the blood doesn't clot due to a missing clotting factor
  5. HIV - human immunodeficiency virus. deadly viral sexually transmitted disease that causes a severe decrease in immune function mainly caused by the decrease in T-lyphocytes, a type of white blood cell
  6. leukemia - a malignant abnormal growth of new tissue of blood forming tissues that causes a diseased proliferation of immature white blood cells or leukocyte precursors
  7. lymphoma - lymph tissue tumor
  8. thymoma - thymus tumor
Neurology - study of the nervous system.
  1. anticonvulsant - drug that reduces epileptic and other convulsive seizures (Greek: anti - against, Latin: convellere - to shake)
  2. encephalitis - brain inflammation
  3. meningitis - infection or inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
  4. neuralgia - nerve pain
  5. neuroma - nerve tumor
Ophthalmology - study of the eye.
  1. amblyopia - a decrease or dulling in vision
  2. blepharitis - eyelid inflammation
  3. blepharoptosis - upper eyelid dropping
  4. conjunctivitis - conjunctiva inflammation
  5. cornea - transparent outer part of the eye
  6. glaucoma - elevated pressure within the eye due to obstruction of the outflow of aqueous humor
  7. retina - consists of the optic nerve, rods, and cones. rods and cones actually detect light and colors, respectively. optic nerve sends visual signals to the brain.
  8. retinopathy - a disease of the retina caused by non-inflammatory changes in the blood vessels of the retina. the most common cause retinopathy leading to blindness is diabetes. diabetics should have regular eye exams.
Osteology - study of bone.
  1. arthralgia - jointpain
  2. arthritis - joint inflammation. there's osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
  3. carpal tunnel syndrome - extreme hand and wrist pain caused by compression of the median nerve between the carpal ligament and other structures within the carpal tunnel
  4. osteoarthritis - degenerative joint disease
  5. osteocarcinoma - cancerous bone tumor
  6. osteoporosis - condition of porous bones. this often happens to post-menopausal women and patients on long-term steroid therapy. this can often lead to lower back pain and a deformed posture.
  7. rheumatoid arthritis - autoimmune disorder where the joints progressively degenerate
Otology - study of ears. Pulmonology - study of lungs.
  1. apnea - no breathing
  2. bronchitis - bronchial inflammation
  3. bronchodilator - drugs that widen the airways of the lungs (Greek: bronchos, Latin: dilatare)
  4. cyanosis - blue skin condition caused by shortage of oxygen
  5. dyspnea - difficult breathing, shortness of breath
  6. hypoxia - condition of low oxygen
  7. laryngitis - larynx inflammation
  8. paranasal - around the nose
  9. pectoralgia - chest pain
  10. pneumonia - a condition of acute inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by pneumococci bacteria
  11. pulmonary - pertaining to the lungs
  12. sinusitis - inflammation of the sinuses
Mens' Health
  1. aspermia - medical condition where the man produces no sperm
  2. erectile dysfunction (male) - penis has a difficult or impossible time attaining or maintaining an erection. also known as ED.
  3. prostatitis - prostate inflammation that may cause urine to be obstructed in a man
Sports Medicine
  1. fibromyalgia - chronic muscle fiber pain
  2. myoplasty - muscle repair
  3. sprain - pain, swelling, and discoloration of a joint caused by injury to the tendons, muscles, or ligaments around a joint
  4. strain - excessive physical effort causing a muscular injury
  5. tendinitis - tendon inflammation
Urology - study of the urinary tract in both sexes and study of the male genital tract.
  1. anticholinergic - blocks acetylcholine receptors to relax smooth muscles in the bladder, bronchi, and intestine. some anticholinergic drugs are used to treat an overactive bladder. may cause dry mouth, urinary retention, and blurry vision (relaxes the iris sphincter).
  2. anuria - no urine
  3. cystitis - bladder inflammation
  4. nephritis - kidney inflammation
  5. polyuria - a lot of urine
  6. uremia - toxic blood caused by kidney failure
Abbreviations
 
aa. - of each
a.c. - before meals
ad - up to 
a.d. - right ear
ad lib. - at pleasure, freely
AIDS - acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
a.m. - morning
AMI - acute myocardial infarction
amp. - ampul
ANS - autonomic nervous system
aq. - water
a.s. - left ear
ASA - aspirin
ATC - around the clock
a.u. - each ear
b.i.d. - two times a day
BM - bowel movement
BP - blood pressure
BS - blood sugar
BSA - body surface area
c. - with
CA - cancer
cap. - capsule
cc. or cc - cubic centimeter
CHF - congestive heart failure
comp. - compound
COPD - chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CV - cardiovascular
CVA - cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
DI - diabetes insipidus
dil. dilute
disc or D.C. - discontinue
disp. - dispense
div. divide
DOB - date of birth
DW - distilled water
DX - diagnosis
D5W - dextrose 5% in water
ECG or EKG - electrocardiogram
elix. - elixir
e.m.p. - as directed
et - and
ex aq. - in water
ext - extract
fl or fld - fluid
ft. - make
g. or Gm. or g - gram
GERD - gastroesophageal reflux disease
GI - gastrointestinal
gr. or gr - grain
gtt. - drop
H - hypodermic
h. or hr. - hour
HA - headache
HBP - high blood pressure
HC - hydrocortisone
HDL - high density lipoprotein
HI - infectious hepatitis
HIV - human immunodeficiency virus
h.s. - at bedtime
HT - hypertension
IC - intracardiac
ID - intradermal
IH - infectious hepatitis
IM intramuscular
inj. -injection
IO, I/O - fluid intake and output
IT - intrathecal
IV - intravenous
IVP - intravenous push
IVPB - intravenous piggy back
M² or M² - square meter
mcg - microgram
mEq - milliequivalent
mg. or mg - milligram
MI - myocardial infarction
ml. - milliliter
mOsm or mOsmol - milliosmoles
MS morphine sulfate		 noct. - night
non rep. or N.R. - do not repeat
NPO - nothing by mouth
N.S. or NS - normal saline
1/2NS - half-strength normal saline
NTG - nitroglycerin
O. - pint
o.d. - right eye
oint. - ointment
o.l. - left eye
o.s. - left eye
o.u. - each eye
o2 - both eyes
p.c. - after meals
p.m. - afternoon; evening
p.o. - by mouth
p.r.n. - when required
PUD - peptic ulcer disease
pulv. - powder
q.d. - every day
q.h. - every hour
q.i.d. - four times a day
q.o.d. - every other day
q.s. - a sufficient quantity
q.s. ad - a sufficient quantity
q wk - every week
R, rect - rectal
RBC - red blood cell
R.L. or R/L - Ringer's Lactate
s. - without
Sig. - write on label
SL - sublingual
SOB - shortness of breath
sol. - solution
s.o.s. - if there is need
ss. - one-half
stat. - immediately
subc or subq or s.c. - subcutaneously
sup. - suppository
susp. - suspension
syr. - syrup
T - temperature
tab. - tablet
tal. - such
tal. dos. - such doses
TB - tuberculosis
tbsp. - tablespoonful
t.i.d. - three times a day
tinct - tincture
t.i.w. - three times a week
top - topically
TPN - total parenteral nutrition
tr. - tincture
tsp. - teaspoonful
U or u - unit
u.d. - as directed
ung. - ointment
URI - upper respiratory infection
USP - United States Pharmacopeia
UTI - urinary tract infection
VD - venereal disease
WBC - white blood cell count or white blood cell
WT - weight
XX - female sex chromosome
XY - male sex chromosome

 

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