Here you’ll find a running list of the medical terms I use on this blog, as well as their definitions.
A
Abscess – A symptom consisting of a localized collection of pus surrounded by inflamed tissue
Action Potential – The “electrical current” of a neuron
Allopathic – Traditional healthcare (e.g., MDs, DOs, etc.)
ALT – Alanine Aminotranferase (a particular liver enzyme used for liver disease diagnosis)
Alveoli – The respiratory unit of the lungs where the transfer of oxygen for carbon dioxide occurs between the lungs and the cardiovascular system
Amylase – An enzyme that breaks starch down into sugar (glucose), found in saliva and pancreatic juices.
Analgesic – A chemical given to reduce pain without resulting in loss of consciousness
Angina – Chest pain or discomfort; when the heart does not receive enough oxygenated blood
Antigen – A substance that can induce a detectable immune response when introduced in an animal
Arthralgias – Joint pain
Ataxia – The inability to coordinate voluntary muscle movements; unsteady movements and staggering gait
Autoimmune – The body’s own antibodies start attacking self cells
B
Brachial Plexus – A network of nerves formed by cervical and thoracic spinal nerves and supplying the hand, arm, and parts of the shoulder with motor/muscular movement and general sensation
Bronchitis – The swelling, or inflammation, of the mucous membranes in the bronchial passages of the lungs that close off the airways
C
Carcinoma – A malignancy of epithelial tissue
Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) – The pathology of the heart, arteries, or veins. Examples include: atherosclerosis, which can lead to coronary heart disease or stroke, aneurysms or ruptures, heart failure, and countless others
Cirrhosis – Scarring of the liver and poor liver function as a result of chronic liver disease
Clavicle – Commonly known as the collar bone; part of the shoulder girdle, establishes the connection of the arms to the rest of the skeleton
Complete Blood Count (CBC) Blood Test – A hematological study that measures the amount of red blood cells, hemoglobin, white blood cells, and many other factors
Cor Pulmonale – This is right-sided heart failure, typically due to blockage of the pulmonary artery leading to the lungs or the breakdown of capillaries around the alveoli
D
Diarrhea – Watery, loose stool that takes the shape of a container
Diastolic Pressure (Diastole) – The blood pressure required to refill the chambers of the heart to continue pumping; this is the lowest level, where if the blood pressure goes any lower, no sound is heard
Dysentery – Bloody, mucousy stool
E
Emphysema – The breakdown of elastin surrounding the alveoli of the lungs by the enzyme, elastase; this breakdown causes swelling and decreases the ability to transfer oxygen to the lungs
Enteric Nervous System – A specialized portion of the nervous system, specifically for the GI tract, consisting of the Meissner’s plexus to control the smooth muscles parasympathetically, and the Auerbach’s plexus to control the GI secretions and smooth muscles sympathetically
G
Gastrointestinal (GI) – Referring collectively to the digestive tract, which includes the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestines, the large intestines (colon), and the rectum
Genotype – An organism’s full hereditary information, even if not expressed
GERD (Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease) – The contents of the stomach end up getting into the esophagus due to a dysfunction with the lower esophageal sphincter
Glenoid Fossa – The cavity in which the humerus bone articulates, or fits into
Glucagon – Gets glucose out of storage and into circulation for the body (Opposite of Insulin)
H
Hematocrit (HCT) – The amount of cellular contents of a red blood cell
Hemoglobin (Hg) – The oxygen carrying molecule of the red blood cell, which has an iron core
Humerus – Bone of the arm that is between the shoulder joint and the two forearm bones
Hyperlipidemia -The excess production of LDL cholesterol (too much fat in the blood)
Hypertension – A pathological increase in blood pressure due to various reasons (decreased blood vessel diameter, increased volume, decreased blood passing through capillaries, etc.)
Hypertrophy- The enlargement of cells, thus causing the enlargement of an organ itself
I
Idiopathic – Unknown cause
Incontinence – The inability to control urine or a bowel movement
Insulin – A hormone that distributes glucose to bodily tissues (Opposite of glucagon)
J
Jaundice – The yellowish staining of the skin and sclerae (the whites of the eyes) that is caused by high levels in blood of the chemical bilirubin
L
Leukemia – This is the cancer of white blood cells. This is basically when the growth and development of the blood cells are abnormal.
Ligament – Connective tissue that connects bone to bone to passively ensures that the bones stay together
Lipase – An enzyme secreted in the digestive tract that breaks down fats into individual fatty acids for absorption into the bloodstream
M
Malaise – Tiredness
Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) – The average percentage that hemoglobin comprises as the volume of a red blood cell
Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) – This represents the average size of a red blood cell
Myelin – The insulating cover of the neurons; this insulation helps move the action potentials of nerves
Myocardial Infarction – This is the necrosis of heart muscle (myocardium) due to the blockage of coronary arteries
Myofascial – This is the combination of muscles along with soft tissue like ligaments and fascia
N
Necrosis – Cellular death and destruction
Neurological – Referring collectively to the nervous system, which includes the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nerves
Neurotransmitter – A chemical that is released from a nerve cell, which thereby transmits an impulse from a nerve cell to another nerve, muscle, organ, or other tissue
Nystagmus – Involuntary eye movement
O
Osteophyte – A small, bony outgrowth; many times referred to as a “bone spur”
P
Palpation – a method of examination in which the examiner feels the size, shape, firmness of a body region
Pathogenic – Infective; able to cause disease
Perianal – The area in direct proximity to the anus
Periostitis – Inflammation of the periosteum, a dense membrane composed of fibrous connective tissue that closely wraps around bone
S
Scapula – Commonly known as the shoulder blade; part of the shoulder girdle
Serology – The use of blood serum to identify certain antibodies to diagnose a disease
Sternum – Commonly called the breast bone, or breast plate
Systolic Pressure (Systole) – The blood pressure that pushes against the artery walls from the pumping of blood out of the heart; recorded as the highest level where sound is heard, the start of the sound when listening with a blood pressure cuff.
T
Trypsin – An enzyme secreted by the pancreas into the gastrointestinal tract to break down proteins for absorption into the bloodstream.
Trypsinogen – An inactive precursor of trypsin; a substance secreted by the pancreas
Tunica Adventitia (also called Tunica Externa) – Primarily connective tissue that connects blood vessels to appropriate tissues
Tunica Intima – Inner layer of blood vessels, consisting of the endothelial cells
Tunica Media – A thick region of arteries that contain smooth muscle cells to control the diameter of the vessel
U
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) – This is when a pathogen, such as bacteria, colonizes itself in the urinary tract
