Chapter 1 Terms
Abate
Abnormal (AB)
Abscess
Acute
Adhesion
Afferent
Ambulatory (Amb)
Antidote
Antipyretic
Antiseptic
Antitussive
Apathy
Asepsis
Autoclave
Autonomy
Axillary (ax)
Biopsy (Bx)
Cachexia
Centigrade (C)
Centimeter (cm)
Centrifuge
Chemotherapy
Chronic
Diagnosis
Diaphoresis
Disease
Disinfectant
Efferent
Empathy
Epidemic
Etiology
Excision
Febrile
Gram
Heterogeneous
Illness
Incision
Kilogram
Liter
To lessen, decrease, or cease
Pertaining to away from the normal or rule
Localized collection of pus, which may occur in any part of the body
Sudden, sharp, sever; a disease that has a sudden onset, severe symptoms,
and a short course
Process of being stuck together
Carrying impulses toward a center
Condition of being able to walk, not confined to bed
Substance given to counteract poisons and their effects
Pertaining to an agent that works against fever
Pertaining to an agent that works against sepsis; putrefaction
Pertaining to an agent that works against coughing
Condition in which one lacks feelings and emotions and is indifferent
Without decay; sterile, free from all living microorganisms
Apparatus used to sterilize articles by steam under pressure
Condition of being self-governed; to function independently
Pertaining to the armpit
Surgical removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination;
used to determine a diagnosis of cancer or other disease processes in the
body
Condition of ill health, malnutrition, and wasting. It may occur in chronic
diseases such as cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis
Having 100 steps or degrees, like the Celsius temperature scale
Unit of measurement in the metric system; one hundredth of a meter
Device used in a laboratory to separate solids from liquids
Treatment using chemical agents
Pertaining to time; a disease that continues over a long time, showing little
change in symptoms or course
Determination of the cause and nature of a disease
To carry through sweat glands; profuse sweating
Lack of ease; an abnormal condition of the body that presents a series of
symptoms that sets it apart from normal or other abnormal body states
Chemical substance that can be applied to objects to destroy pathogenic
microorganisms, such as bacteria
Carrying impulses away from a center
State of projecting one’s own personality into the personality of another to
understand the feelings, emotions, and behavior of the person
Pertaining to among people; the rapid, widespread occurrence of an
infectious disease
Study of the cause(s) of disease
Process of cutting out, surgical removal
Pertaining to fever
Unit of weight in the metric system; a cubic centimeter or a milliliter of
water is equal to the weight of a gram
Pertaining to a different formation
State of being sick
Process of cutting into
Unit of weight in the metric system; 1000 g
Unit of volume in the metric system; equal to 33.8 fl oz or 1.0567 qt
Macroscopic
Malaise
Malformation
Malignant
Maximal
Microgram (mcg)
Microorganism
Microscope
Milligram (mg)
Milliliter (mL)
Minimal
Multiform
Necrosis
Neopathy
Oncology
Pallor
Palmar
Paracentesis
Prognosis
Prophylactic
Pyrogenic
Radiology
Rapport
Syndrome
Thermometer
Topography
Triage
Pertaining to objects large enough to be examined by the naked eye
Feeling of discomfort, uneasiness; often felt by a patient who has a chronic
disease
Process of being badly shaped, deformed
Bad wandering; pertaining to the spreading process of cancer from one area
of the body to another area
Pertaining to the greatest possible quantity, number
Unit of weight in the metric system; 0.001 mg
Small living organisms that are not visible to the naked eye
Instrument used to view small objects
Unit of weight in the metric system; 0.001 g
Unit of volume in the metric system; 0.001 L
Pertaining to the least possible quantity, number, or degree
Occurring in or having many shapes
Condition of tissue death
New disease
Study of tumors
Paleness, a lack of color
Pertaining to the palm of the hand
Surgical puncture of a body cavity for fluid removal
Literally means prediction of the course of a disease and the recovery rate;
condition of foreknowledge
Pertaining to preventing or protecting against disease
Pertaining to the production of heat; a fever
Study of radioactive substances
Relationship of understanding between two individuals, especially between
the patient and the physician
Combination of signs and symptoms occurring together that characterize a
specific disease
Instrument used to measure degree of heat
Description of a body part in relation to the anatomic region in which it is
located
Sorting and classifying of injuries to determine priority of need and
treatment
Abbreviations
AB
ABMS
ac
Amb
ax
Bx
C
cm
CV
Derm
Dx
ENT
FACP
abnormal
American Board of Medical Specialties
acute
ambulatory
axillary
biopsy
centigrade, Celsius
centimeter
cardiovascular
dermatology
diagnosis
ear, nose, throat (otorhinolaryngology)
Fellowship of the American College of Physicians
FACS
FP
g
GI
GYN
kg
L
mcg
mg
mL
Neuro
OB
Orth
Path
Peds
Psych
Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
family
gram
gastrointestinal
gynecology
kilogram
liter
microgram
milligram
milliliter
neurology
obstetrics
orthopedics
pathology
pediatrics
psychiatry, psychology
Prefixes
aabantiautocaccentidiaheteromalmicromillimultineoparaprosyndisepiexin-
without
away from
against
self
bad
one hundred, one-hundredth
through
different
bad
small
one thousandth
many, much
new
beside
before
together
apart
upon
out
in, into
Roots & Combining Forms
adhes
axill
centr/i
chem/o
format
gene
kil/o
macr/o
stuck to
armpit
center
chemical
a shaping
formation, produce
a thousand
large
necr
nom
norm
onc/o
organ
pyret
pyr/o
radi/o
scop
sept
therm/o
top/o
tuss
infect
dem
eti/o
cis
malign
maxim
minim
palm
prophylact
death
law
rule
tumor
organ
fever
heat, fire
ray, x-ray
to examine
putrefaction
hot, heat
place
cough
to infect
people
cause
to cut
bad kind
greatest
least
palm
guarding
Suffixes
-al
-ary
-centesis
-drome
-form
-fuge
-genic
-gnosis
-grade
-gram
-graphy
-hexia
-ic
-ion
-ism
-ive
-liter
-logy
-meter
-osis
-ous
-pathy
-phoresis
pertaining to
pertaining to
surgical puncture
a course
shape
to flee
formation, produce
knowledge
a step
a weight
recording
condition
pertaining to
process
condition
nature of, quality of
liter
study of
instrument to measure
condition (usually abnormal)
pertaining to
disease
to carry
-scope
-sepsis
-therapy
-ar
-y
instrument for examining
decay
treatment
pertaining to
condition
Medical and Surgical Specialties
Allergy/Immunology
Anesthesiologist
Bariatrics
Cardiology
Dermatology (Derm)
Endocrinology
Epidemiology
Family Practice (FP)
Gastroenterology
Geriatrics
Gynecology (GYN)
Hematology
Infectious Disease
Internal Medicine
Nephrology
Neurology (Neuro)
Obstetrics (OB)
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedic Surgery (Orth)
Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)
Pathology (Path)
Pediatrics (Peds)
Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation
Proctology
Psychiatry (Psych)
Pulmonary Disease
Radiology
Rheumatology
Urology
Cardiovascular (CV)
Surgery
Colon and Rectum Surgery
Cosmetic, Reconstructive,
and Plastic Surgery
General Surgery
diseases of an allergic nature
appropriate anesthesia for partial or complete loss of sensation
prevention, control, and treatment of obesity
diseases of the heart, arteries, veins, and capillaries
diseases of the skin
diseases of the endocrine system (the glands and the hormones they secrete)
epidemic diseases
care of the members of the family regardless of age and/or sex
diseases of the stomach and intestines
study of aspects of aging
diseases of the female reproductive system
diseases of the blood and blood-forming tissues
diseases caused by the growth of pathogenic microorganisms within the
body
diseases of internal origin not usually treated surgically
diseases of the kidney and urinary system
diseases of the nervous system
treatment of the female during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum
study of tumors
diseases of the eye
diseases and disorders involving locomotor structures of the body
diseases of the ear, nose, and larynx
study of structural and functional changes in tissues and organs caused by
disease
diseases of children
treatment of disease by physical agents
diseases of the colon, rectum, and anus
diseases of the mind
diseases of the lungs
study of radioactive substances and their relationship to prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of disease
rheumatic diseases
diseases of the urinary system
surgical repair and correction of cardiovascular dysfunctions
surgical repair and correction of colon and rectal dysfunctions
surgical repair, reconstruction, revision, or change of the texture,
configuration, or relationship of contiguous structures of any part of the
human body
surgical repair and correction of various body parts and/or organs
Maxillofacial Surgery
Neurologic Surgery
Orthopedic Surgery
Thoracic Surgery
Trauma
Vascular
surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects of the human mouth and
dental structures
surgical repair and correction of neurologic dysfunctions
surgical prevention and repair of musculoskeletal dysfunctions
surgical repair and correction of organs within the rib cage
surgical repair and correction of traumatic injuries
surgical repair and correction of vascular (vessels) dysfunctions