 | Term | Definition |
| |
Agglutinate |
to glue together |
| |
Barium |
heavy metal used for constrast studies with radiography (x-rays) |
| |
Baroreceptor |
monitor tissue for blood pressure |
| |
Callus |
hard thickening of skin or bone |
| |
Callous |
to become hardened |
| |
Cerumen |
earwax |
| |
Ceruminolytic |
agent that dissolves earwax |
| |
Colloid |
jelly-like mixture of particles in a liquid medium |
| |
Collodion |
nitrocellulose solution in ether or alcohol (drug solvent or wound sealant) |
| |
Crystalluria |
crystals in the urine |
| |
Dura mater |
tough, fibrous outer coat of the meninges of the brain and spinal cord |
| |
Indurated |
made hard |
| |
Eburnation |
to make hard and dense like ivory |
| |
Glioma |
brain tumor composed of neuroglia cells |
| |
Neuroglia |
cells that support and insulate nerve cells |
| |
Gluten |
tough, viscous material left after wheat is washed to remove starch |
| |
Hyalosis |
a degenerative change in the vitreous humor |
| |
Inspissated |
to become thicker as if with dehydration |
| |
Leptospirosis |
slender spiral bacteria that causes inflammation of the kidney |
| |
Leptomeningitis |
inflammation of the pia mater or arachnoid membrane of the meninges surrounding the brain or spinal cord |
| |
Osteomalacia |
softening of bone |
| |
Emollient |
a soothing (feels soft) agent |
| |
Oleoresin |
an oily plant sap that may cause contact allergy (capsaicin is an oleoresin from peppers used as a liniment) |
| |
Pachyderm |
“thick skin” |
| |
Pachymeningitis |
inflammation of the dura mater of the meninges |
| |
Petrous |
pertaining to the hard part of the temporal bone |
| |
Petrosal |
referring to the petroustemporal bone |
| |
Osteoporosis |
demineralization of bone |
| |
Scirrhous |
firm and fibrous |
| |
Sclera |
dense white outer covering of most of the eye |
| |
Spongiosis |
edema of the spongy layer of the skin |
| |
Cholesterol |
a solid alcohol first discovered in gallstones |
| |
Stereoscopic |
pertaining to 3-dimensional vision |
| |
Viscous |
sticky, thick, and resistant to flow |
| |
Viscosity |
measuring the resistance to flow |
| |
Abducent |
drawing away from the midline; also the VI cranial nerve |
| |
Abduction |
(also) drawing away from the midline |
| |
Adrenal |
next to the kidney |
| |
Adduction |
drawing toward the midline |
| |
Actinic |
relating to the chemical changes caused by radiant energy (sunlight) |
| |
Actinodermatitis |
skin inflammation caused by exposure to sunlight |
| |
Anatomy |
dissecting the body to study shape and structure (dissection for a positive reason) |
| |
Anterior |
placed in front of |
| |
Anterolateral |
in front of and away from midline |
| |
Apocrine |
a (pinched off) portion of a cell is released with a secretory product |
| |
Aponeurosis |
a sheet of fibrous tissue binding muscles together or muscle to bone |
| |
Cathode |
negatively charged electrode |
| |
Caudal |
Of, at, or near the tail |
| |
Caudad |
toward the tail |
| |
Caudectomy |
surgical removal of the tail |
| |
Cranial |
relating to the skull |
| |
Craniotomy |
surgical incision into the skull |
| |
Decompose |
to break down into various compartments |
| |
Dehydrate |
to deplete of body water |
| |
Dextrose |
structural form of glucose that rotates to the right |
| |
Dexterity |
grace in physical movement |
| |
Diuresis |
excessive discharge of urine |
| |
Distal |
away from reference point |
| |
Disinfection |
treatment to destroy harmful organisms |
| |
Dissect |
to cut apart for the study of anatomy |
| |
Dorsal |
of or near the back |
| |
Eccentric |
deviating from a circle |
| |
External |
outside |
| |
Ectoparasite |
a parasite that lives on the outside of the body |
| |
Deflection |
deviation from expectation |
| |
Flexion |
the act of bending a joint or limb |
| |
Inferolateral |
lower and away from middle |
| |
Lateral |
situated at or on the side |
| |
Lateroabdominal |
on the side of the abdomen |
| |
Levorotation |
counterclockwise rotation |
| |
Levothyroxine |
left directed isomer of thyroid hormone (active form) |
| |
Medial |
relating to the middle |
| |
Median |
a midline that divides the body into equal right and left halves |
| |
Occlude |
to obstruct |
| |
Opisthotonus |
a spasm of the body with the head and heels bent backward |
| |
Palmar |
relating to the palm of the hand |
| |
Pernasal |
performed through the nose |
| |
Peracute |
very rapid and violent |
| |
Percutaneous |
passed through the skin |
| |
Plantar |
relating to the sole of the foot |
| |
Plantigrade |
walking on the sole of the foot |
| |
Posterior |
relating to the caudal end of quadrapeds and the dorsal area of primates |
| |
Posterolateral |
caudal (or dorsal) and away from the midline |
| |
Pronate |
to turn the palmar surface down or back |
| |
Proximal |
nearer to a reference point |
| |
Irradiation |
the use of ionizing radiation |
| |
Relapse |
to regress after a partial recovery |
| |
Reflex |
an automatic response or reaction |
| |
Regurgitation |
act of flowing backward |
| |
Retrograde |
reverting to an earlier or inferior condition |
| |
Rostral |
referring to the nasal region |
| |
Rotary |
something that moves around an axis |
| |
Rotator |
a muscle that aids in rotating a part of the body |
| |
Sagittal |
a plane parallel to the median plane |
| |
Sinister |
on the left side (also means treatening evil) |
| |
Sinistromanual |
left-handed |
| |
Sternum |
breastbone |
| |
Sternomastoid |
a structure that runs from the sternum to the base of the skull |
| |
Superior |
in a higher location |
| |
Superjacent |
lying immediately above |
| |
Supinate |
to turn the palmar surface up or forward |
| |
Transverse |
lying across |
| |
Treponema |
a genus of spiral bacteria (one causes syphilis) |
| |
Ventral |
relating to the abdominal area |
| |
Ventrodorsal |
extending from the abdominal surface to the dorsal surface |
| |
Versicolor |
having a variety of colors or changing in color |
| |
Acromegaly |
large extremities |
| |
Acral |
referring to extremities (hands, feet) |
| |
Antebrachium |
forearm (from elbow to wrist) |
| |
Antemortem |
before death |
| |
Anteroventral |
lower aspect of front |
| |
Antibiotic |
against microbes |
| |
Antisepsis |
against infection |
| |
Apicotomy |
incision into a pointed structure |
| |
Archencephalon |
primitive front and middle part of brain |
| |
Axilla |
armpit area |
| |
Basisphenoid |
relating to the body of the sphenoid bone |
| |
Basioccipital |
bone in the base of the skull in front of foramen magnum |
| |
Bathypnea |
deep breathing |
| |
Cecal |
relating to saclike cavity with one opening; blind ended pouch |
| |
Centrifugal |
fleeing the center |
| |
Circumferential |
a line around a closed circle |
| |
Circumcision |
circular incision to remove the prepuce (penile sheath) |
| |
Cortex |
outer layer of an organ |
| |
Bicuspid |
having two points (e.g. bicuspid teeth, biscuspid valves) |
| |
Tricuspid |
having three points |
| |
Decubital |
relating to a bedsore |
| |
Ectopic |
an abnormal location for an organ or body part |
| |
Empyema |
pus in a body cavity, especially the chest |
| |
Endometrium |
glandular mucous membrane that lines the inside of the uterus |
| |
Epidural |
on or over the dura mater of the spinal cord |
| |
Epidermis |
outermost part of skin |
| |
Epidemiology |
study of the cause, distribution, and control of diseases in groups of people (Note: if groups of animals – epizootiologyis the proper term) |
| |
Esophoria |
tendency for eyes to deviate inwardly |
| |
Exocytosis |
intracellular vesicles are secreted by fusion with the outer cell membrane |
| |
Exophthalmos |
an abnormal protrusion of the eyeball |
| |
Extracorporeal |
located or occurring outside the body |
| |
Extravasation |
forcing blood or lymph out of vessels and into the surrounding tissue |
| |
Fundus |
portion of a hollow organ that is furthest from its opening (e.g. fundus of eye, fundus of the stomach) |
| |
Hypsodont |
teeth with high crowns and short roots |
| |
Inferolateral |
lower and to the side |
| |
Infraorbital |
located beneath the orbit of the eye |
| |
Infraspinatus |
muscle beneath the spine of the scapula (shoulder blade) |
| |
Inguinal |
referring to the groin |
| |
Intercostal |
between the ribs |
| |
Intercellular |
between cells |
| |
Intracerebral |
within the cerebrum (large globe of brain) |
| |
Intracellular |
within a cell |
| |
Juxtaposition |
located or placed side-by-side |
| |
Juxtaglomerulus |
near the glomerulus (kidney filter) |
| |
Locus |
a place, a location |
| |
Locomotor |
relating to movement from one place to another |
| |
Macula lutea |
a yellow spot on the retina that mediates the clearest, most detailed vision |
| |
Macula densa |
a spot of dense cells near the glomerulus that secretes the hormone renin |
| |
Mediolateral |
from the middle toward the side |
| |
Medulla |
the inner core of an organ |
| |
Mesentery |
folds of peritoneum that connect organs to the dorsal, inner abdominal wall |
| |
Mesojejunum |
mesentery of the jejunum portion of the small intestines |
| |
Nidus |
a point of origination or accumulation |
| |
Tentorium |
a membranous covering or partition |
| |
Sensorium |
sensory portion of the body |
| |
Parathyroid |
by the thyroid(glands that control calcium balance) |
| |
Paresthesia |
a skin sensation without any apparent cause |
| |
Periosteum |
a dense fibrous covering of bone, except at the joints |
| |
Peribronchial |
surrounding a bronchus (lower airway in lungs) |
| |
Perineum |
area between the anus and genitals |
| |
Popliteal |
hollow back part of knee area |
| |
Postprandial |
after eating |
| |
Postoperative |
after surgery |
| |
Postpartum |
after birth |
| |
Premaxillary |
in front of the maxillary bones |
| |
Prognosis |
a prediction of the probable course or outcome of disease |
| |
Prosodemic |
disease that is transmitted from person to person |
| |
Hemostasis |
the stoppage of bleeding |
| |
Hypostatic |
the settling of blood in a lower aspect of an organ due to poor blood flow |
| |
Astigmatism |
unequal curvature of the cornea that prevents clear focus on one point on retina |
| |
Subcutaneous |
under the skin |
| |
Subarachnoid |
beneath the arachnoid membrane (web part) of the meninges of the spinal cord |
| |
Synapse |
junction in which a nerve impulse passes to another nerve, muscle, or gland |
| |
Ataxia |
loss of the ability to coordinate muscular movement |
| |
Chemotaxis |
movement of a cell or organism toward or away from a chemical stimulus |
| |
Phototaxis |
movement of a cell or organism toward or away from a lightstimulus |
| |
Telecardiogram |
an electrocardiogram obtained at a distance from the patient |
| |
Telemetry |
automatic measurement of data and transmission over distances by wire, radio, or other means |
| |
Telangiectasis |
chronic dilation of a group of capillaries causing small dark red blotches on the skin |
| |
Topology |
anatomic structure of a specific area or part of the body |
| |
Transection |
to divide or cut transversely |
| |
Abdomen |
cavity between thoracic and pelvic cavities |
| |
Arthritis |
inflammation of a joint |
| |
Arthrocentesis |
puncture and aspiration of joint fluid |
| |
Articulate |
united by joints |
| |
Auricle |
ear or ear-like appendage |
| |
Auricular |
pertaining to the ear |
| |
Blepharospasm |
twitch in eyelid |
| |
Blepharoptosis |
droopy upper eyelid |
| |
Brachiocephalic |
pertaining to arm and head |
| |
Antebrachium |
forearm to wrist (carpus) |
| |
Buccal |
pertaining to or directed toward the cheek |
| |
Calcaneus |
heel bone |
| |
Canthus |
corner of the eyelid (medial or lateral canthus) |
| |
Caput |
head of a structure |
| |
Capitulum |
small head or rounded articular process of bone |
| |
Carpus |
wrist |
| |
Celiotomy |
incision into the abdomen |
| |
Encephalitis |
inflammation inside skull |
| |
Cerebellospinal |
from the cerebellum (small globe on back of brain) to the spinal cord |
| |
Cerebrum |
main portion (large globe) of the brain |
| |
Cervicofacial |
pertaining to neck and face |
| |
Cervix |
neck-like entrance to the uterus |
| |
Cheilitis |
chapped or inflammed lips |
| |
Chiropractor |
person who attempts to heal by manipulation of the spine and other body parts |
| |
Cheirology |
signing for the deaf |
| |
Superciliary |
above the eyelashes…eyebrow |
| |
Corpuscle |
“little body”…a blood cell or globular structure such as nerve pressure receptors |
| |
Corpse |
a dead body |
| |
Crus |
leg from knee to ankle |
| |
Antecubital |
pertaining to in front of (distal to) the elbow |
| |
Dentoalveolar |
pertaining to the teeth and their sockets |
| |
Facioplasty |
plastic surgery on the face |
| |
Femur |
thigh bone |
| |
Frontotemporal |
pertaining to forehead and temples of the skull |
| |
Hypoglossal |
under the tongue (12thcranial nerve) |
| |
Glossopharyngeal |
pertaining to the tongue and throat (9th cranial nerve) |
| |
Glottis |
opening of upper larynx |
| |
Epiglottis |
thin cartilage at base of tongue and above the larynx that flaps over the larynx during swallowing |
| |
Hepatoma |
benign tumor of the liver |
| |
Hepatotoxic |
poisonous to the liver |
| |
Labial |
pertaining to lips |
| |
Laparotomy |
surgical incision through the flank |
| |
Laparoscopy |
examination of the interior of the abdomen with a scope (usually fiberoptic) |
| |
Latissimus dorsi |
broadest muscle of back |
| |
Lienopathy |
disease of the spleen |
| |
Lingual |
referring to the tongue |
| |
Longissimus muscles |
long muscles along spine |
| |
Lumbar |
pertaining to the loins |
| |
Lumbosacral |
pertaining to the lumbar and sacral vertebrae |
| |
Manipulate |
to handle |
| |
Melosalgia |
pain in the lower limbs |
| |
Meloplasty |
reconstructive surgery of the cheek |
| |
Myelin |
a white fatty material that covers nerves with fast conduction of impulses |
| |
Myelogenous |
produced in the bone marrow |
| |
Myelogram |
radiograph of spinal cord after administering surrounding constrastmedia |
| |
Neural |
pertaining to nerves |
| |
Neurohypophysis |
posterior part of pituitary that consists of nerve cells from the base of the brain |
| |
Notochord |
rod-like structure that forms the spinal column |
| |
Odontectomy |
tooth extraction |
| |
Omalgia |
shoulder pain |
| |
Omphalitis |
inflammation of the umbilicus (navel) |
| |
Onychophagia |
nail chewing |
| |
Onychectomy |
declaw |
| |
Oropharynx |
mouth and throat |
| |
Palpebral |
pertaining to eyelids |
| |
Pancreatectomy |
surgical removal of the pancreas |
| |
Pectoral |
pertaining to the breast |
| |
Pellagra |
rough skin from niacin (B vitamin) deficiency |
| |
Peritoneum |
lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs |
| |
Peroneal |
pertaining to the fibula |
| |
Pharyngeal |
pertaining to the throat |
| |
Pharyngitis |
sore throat |
| |
Phrenic |
pertaining to the diaphragm |
| |
Phrenospasm |
hiccups |
| |
Pinealoma |
tumor of a pine cone-shaped gland of the brain |
| |
Pleural |
relating to the inner lining of the chest and outer lining of lungs |
| |
Pleuritis |
inflammation of the chest lining |
| |
Podiatrist |
specialist in foot problems |
| |
Podalgia |
pain in the foot |
| |
Proctoscopy |
examination of the anus and rectum with a scope |
| |
Proctologist |
medical specialist in the anus and rectum |
| |
Prosopoplegia |
facial paralysis |
| |
Pygostyle |
spinal tail of birds |
| |
Renal |
pertaining to the kidney |
| |
Rhinoplasty |
reconstructive surgery of the nose |
| |
Rhinitis |
inflammation of the nose |
| |
Sarcoma |
malignant tumor of flesh tissue (not from lining cells of the body, those are carcinomas) |
| |
Scelalgia |
pain in the lower part of the leg |
| |
Psychosomatic |
mental or emotional problems that act as a physical problem |
| |
Somatotropin |
growth hormone |
| |
Splanchnic |
pertaining to the viscera (soft internal organs) |
| |
Splenomegaly |
enlarged spleen |
| |
Thelorrhagia |
bloody discharge from nipple |
| |
Thoracotomy |
surgical incision into the pleural cavity |
| |
Thoracolumbar |
pertaining to the junction of the chest and loin |
| |
Thymoma |
tumor of the thymus gland |
| |
Trachelorrhapy |
suture of torn or lacerated cervix |
| |
Tracheobronchitis |
inflammation of the windpipe and its branches |
| |
Uranoschisis |
cleft palate |
| |
Uvula |
little grape-like flesh that hangs from the soft palate in humans |
| |
Visceroparietal |
pertaining to soft internal organs and the abdominal wall |
| |
Alimentary |
concerned with nutrition |
| |
Dyschezia |
difficulty in defecation |
| |
Hematochezia |
(red) blood in the feces |
| |
Colon |
lower intestine |
| |
Adipsia |
not drinking |
| |
Polydipsia |
excessive drinking |
| |
Duodenum |
upper small intestine about 12 finger widths long |
| |
Emetic |
causing vomiting |
| |
Emesis |
act of vomiting |
| |
Enteritis |
inflammation of the intestines |
| |
Esophagus |
food tube from pharynx to stomach |
| |
Gingival |
pertaining to the gums |
| |
Ileum |
last part of small intestines before the colon |
| |
Masseter |
chewing muscle of the jaw |
| |
Jejunum |
Middle segment of small intestines |
| |
Borborygmus |
Digestive Rumbling |
| |
Molar |
tooth than grinds like a millstone |
| |
Opsonin |
enticing to phagocytosis |
| |
Anorexia |
lack of appetite |
| |
Pepsin |
enzyme for digestive process |
| |
Dyspeptic |
discomfort following a meal |
| |
Postprandial |
following a meal |
| |
Ptyalin |
an enzyme in saliva |
| |
Purgative |
causing the bowels to empty |
| |
Pylorus |
gate from stomach to duodenum |
| |
Pyloromyotomy |
cutting the muscle at the end of the stomach |
| |
Scatoscopy |
examing the feces for diagnostic evidence |
| |
Trismus |
spasm of the chewing muscles |
| |
Atrophy |
wasting away, as if from no nutrition |
| |
Hypertrophy |
excessive growth requiring excess nutrients |
| |
Villi |
surface protrusions that are like tufts of hair |
| |
Ambulate |
to walk |
| |
Ambulance |
vehicle to transport patients that cannot walk |
| |
Chondrosarcoma |
malignant tumor of cartilage |
| |
Cleidocranial |
pertaining to clavicle and head |
| |
Femoral condyle |
rounded projections on end of the thigh bone |
| |
Costochrondral |
pertaining to a rib and its cartilage |
| |
Coxofemoral |
pertaining to the hip and the thigh bone |
| |
Coxalgia |
pain in the hip |
| |
Craniotomy |
incision into the skull |
| |
Craniospinal |
pertaining to the skull and bones of the spine |
| |
Polydactyly |
excessive number of fingers or toes |
| |
Fibula |
smaller outer bone of leg below kneecap |
| |
Genioplasty |
reconstructive surgery on the chin |
| |
Genucubital |
pertaining to the knees and elbows |
| |
Brachygnathia |
short jawed |
| |
Ilium |
upper part of hip bone |
| |
Ischium |
lower part of hip bone |
| |
Kinesiology |
study of the body’s movement |
| |
Mandible |
lower jawbone |
| |
Maxilla |
upper jawbone |
| |
Ossification |
forming bone |
| |
Osteoarthritis |
inflammation of the bones of a joint |
| |
Phalanx |
finger or toe bones |
| |
Rachiotome |
instrument for cutting the spine |
| |
Rhabdomyolysis |
breaking up of skeletal muscle |
| |
Sacrum |
triangular bone below lumbar vertebrae |
| |
Sacroiliac |
junction of the end of the spine and the hip bone |
| |
Scapula |
shovel-shaped bone (shoulder blade) |
| |
Pylorospasm |
involuntary contraction of the end of the stomach |
| |
Spasmolytic |
stopping an involuntary contraction |
| |
Cerebrospinal |
pertaining to the brain and spinal cord |
| |
Spondylopathy |
disease of the spine |
| |
Sternocostal |
pertaining to the breastbone and ribs |
| |
Syndesmorrhaphy |
suturing of a ligament |
| |
Talotibial |
pertaining to the ankle and large lower leg bone |
| |
Talus |
highest of the ankle bones |
| |
Tarsus |
ankle, bones in angle between tibia and metatarsals of foot |
| |
Tarsalgia |
pain in the ankle |
| |
Tendotome |
an instrument used to cut a tendon |
| |
Tibia |
inner, larger bone below knee |
| |
Tibiotarsal |
junction between large shin bone and ankle |
| |
Tonometer |
instrument for measuring eye tension (pressure) |
| |
Ulna |
bone of forearm from elbow to little finger side of wrist |
| |
BPH |
Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy |
| |
CRD, CRF |
Chronic Renal (Disease or Failure) |
| |
BUN |
Blood Urea Nitrogen |
| |
Nocturnal enuresis |
bed wetting |
| |
GFR |
Glomerular Filtration Rate |
| |
IVP |
Intravenous Pyelography |
| |
Nephropathy |
disease of the kidney |
| |
Pollakiuria |
abnormally frequent urination |
| |
Spectrometer |
instrument that measures index of light reflection |
| |
Anuresis |
urine retention |
| |
Ureter |
urine tube from the kidney to the bladder |
| |
Ureterolith |
a calculus (stone) in the ureter |
| |
Urethra |
urine tube from the bladder to the outside |
| |
Hematuria |
blood in the urine |
| |
Pyuria |
pus in the urine |
| |
Vesicorenal |
pertaining to the kidney and urinary bladder |
| |
AED |
Automated External Defibrillator |
| |
Angiogram |
a radiograph after administering an contrast media in the vessel |
| |
Angiogenesis |
growing new blood vessels |
| |
Artery |
blood vessel that carries air (oxygenated blood) |
| |
Arterial |
pertaining to carrying of oxygenated blood |
| |
Atherosclerosis |
yellow plaques in arteries |
|
