Medical Terms

The branch of medicine dealing with disorders of the heart

Disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood

Abnormally rapid heart rate, typically over 100 beats per minute

Abnormally slow heart rate, typically under 60 beats per minute

Procedure to open narrowed or blocked arteries, typically using a balloon and sometimes a stent.

Hardening and narrowing of arteries due to plaque buildup

Persistently elevated blood pressure in the arteries

Abnormally low blood pressure

Formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel

Obstruction of a blood vessel by a traveling clot or foreign matter

Inflammation of a vein

Incision into a vein to draw blood

Excessive bleeding from blood vessels

Deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood

Recording of the electrical activity of the heart

Inflammation of the pericardium surrounding the heart

Death of heart muscle tissue due to blocked blood supply; heart attack

Irregular heartbeat or abnormal heart rhythm

Abnormal enlargement of the heart

Imaging of blood vessels using contrast dye and X-rays

Infection causing inflammation of the air sacs in one or both lungs

Inflammation of the bronchial tubes

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath

Temporary cessation of breathing

Abnormally rapid breathing

Inflammation of the larynx (voice box)

Inflammation of the pharynx (throat)

Surgical creation of an opening in the trachea

Visual examination of the bronchi using an endoscope

Collapsed lung due to air in the pleural cavity

Inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes

Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses

Medical specialty dealing with diseases of the lungs

Surgical puncture of the chest wall to remove fluid

Inflammation of the pleura surrounding the lungs

Deficiency of oxygen reaching body tissues

Measurement of breathing capacity and lung function

Chronic dilation of the bronchi

Collapse or incomplete expansion of lung tissue

Normal, easy breathing

Inflammation of the stomach lining

Study of the stomach and intestines

Inflammation of the liver

Abnormal enlargement of the liver

Inflammation of the gallbladder

Surgical removal of the gallbladder

Visual examination of the colon using an endoscope

Inflammation of the colon

Surgical removal of the appendix

Inflammation of the appendix

Difficulty swallowing

Indigestion or upset stomach

Inflammation of the pancreas

Presence of gallstones in the gallbladder

Inflammation of the esophagus

Surgical removal of all or part of the stomach

Inflammation of the mouth

Inflammation of the gums

Surgical creation of an opening from the colon to the body surface

Inflammation of the peritoneum

Medical specialty dealing with the nervous system

Disease or dysfunction of peripheral nerves

Inflammation of the brain

Inflammation of the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord

Paralysis of one side of the body

Paralysis of the lower body including both legs

Paralysis of all four limbs

Loss or impairment of the ability to use or understand language

Learning disorder affecting reading ability

Loss of sensation, especially pain, induced for medical procedures

Intense pain along the course of a nerve

Surgical incision into the skull

X-ray imaging of the spinal cord using contrast dye

Headache; pain in the head

Recording of electrical activity in the brain

Inflammation of one or more joints

Condition of porous, brittle bones due to loss of bone density

Infection and inflammation of bone and bone marrow

Visual examination of the interior of a joint using an endoscope

Muscle pain

Inflammation of a tendon

Inflammation of a bursa

Inflammation of the vertebrae

Softening of cartilage

Surgical repair or replacement of a joint

Surgical cutting of bone

Disease of muscle tissue

Abnormal outward curvature of the upper spine; hunchback

Abnormal inward curvature of the lower spine; swayback

Abnormal lateral curvature of the spine

Medical specialty dealing with the skin

Inflammation of the skin

Malignant tumor of melanocytes; skin cancer

Fungal infection of the nails

Excessive sweating

Excessive secretion of sebum by the sebaceous glands

Benign fatty tumor under the skin

Bluish discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes due to low oxygen levels.

Redness of the skin due to increased blood flow

Beneath the skin

Medical specialty dealing with the kidneys

Inflammation of the kidney

Inflammation of the bladder

Laboratory analysis of urine

Blood in the urine

Excessive urination

Decreased urine production

Absence of urine production

Kidney stones

Visual examination of the bladder using an endoscope

Inflammation of the kidney and renal pelvis, usually due to infection

Surgical removal of a kidney

Medical specialty dealing with the female reproductive system

Surgical removal of the uterus

Surgical removal of the breast

X-ray imaging of the breast

Surgical removal of an ovary

Absence of menstruation

Painful menstruation

Abnormally heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding

Inflammation of the prostate gland

Inflammation of the testis

Medical specialty dealing with hormones and glands

Overactivity of the thyroid gland

Underactivity of the thyroid gland

Surgical removal of the thyroid gland

Abnormally high blood sugar levels

Abnormally low blood sugar levels

Abnormal enlargement of extremities due to excess growth hormone

Surgical removal of an adrenal gland

Cancer of the lymphatic system

Disease of the lymph nodes

Enlargement of the spleen

Surgical removal of the spleen

Surgical removal of the tonsils

Impaired immune system function

Swelling due to blocked lymphatic drainage

Medical specialty dealing with the eyes

Inflammation of the conjunctiva (pink eye)

Inflammation of the eyelid

Disease of the retina

Inflammation of the ear

Medical specialty dealing with the ear

Incision into the eardrum

Measurement of hearing ability

Surgical repair of the cornea; corneal transplant

Surgical removal of part of the iris

Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart

Surgical repair of a heart valve

Surgical incision into an artery

Widening of blood vessels

Narrowing of blood vessels

Surgical removal of plaque from an artery

X-ray imaging of veins using contrast dye

Hardening of the arterial walls

Cancer of blood-forming tissues characterized by abnormal white blood cells

Abnormal increase in red blood cells

Deficiency of platelets in the blood

Physician specializing in blood disorders

Stoppage of bleeding; clot formation

Disorder affecting blood clotting

Narrowing of the aortic valve opening that restricts blood flow from the heart to the aorta.

Chronic lung condition with damage to air sacs

Chronic inflammatory disease of the airways causing breathing difficulty

Viral infection causing swelling in the upper airway with barking cough

Whooping cough; bacterial respiratory infection

Coughing up blood from the respiratory tract

Nosebleed

Surgical removal of a lobe of the lung

Surgical removal of an entire lung

Measurement of oxygen saturation in the blood

Difficulty breathing except in an upright position

Excessive carbon dioxide in the blood

Deficiency of carbon dioxide in the blood

High-pitched breathing sound indicating airway obstruction

Crackling lung sounds heard during breathing (also called crackles).

Low-pitched, snoring or gurgling lung sounds caused by airway obstruction or secretions.

Chronic liver disease with scarring and impaired function

Inflammation of small pouches in the intestinal wall

Inflammation of the small intestine

Inflammation of the rectum

Visual examination of the rectum

Visual examination of the sigmoid colon

Surgical removal of hemorrhoids

Surgical repair of a hernia

Surgical creation of an opening from the ileum

Surgical creation of an opening from the jejunum

Surgical incision into the abdominal wall

Visual examination of abdominal organs through a small incision

Abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity

Black, tarry stool indicating upper GI bleeding

Passage of fresh blood in stool

Neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures

Abnormal sensation such as tingling or numbness

Increased sensitivity to sensory stimuli

Difficulty speaking due to muscle weakness

Lack of muscle coordination during voluntary movements

Temporary loss of consciousness; fainting

Sensation of spinning or loss of balance

Disease affecting spinal nerve roots

Disease affecting multiple peripheral nerves

Pertaining to blood vessels of the brain

Accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain

Inflammation of the spinal cord

Viral infection affecting the spinal cord gray matter

Tumor arising from glial cells in the brain

Surgical removal of part of a vertebral lamina

Inflammation of bone and cartilage

Malignant bone tumor

Chronic condition with widespread muscle pain and fatigue

Pain in a bone

Joint pain

Stiffness or fixation of a joint

Inflammation of the synovial membrane

Surgical incision into fascia

Surgical removal of meniscus

Inflammation of cartilage connecting ribs to sternum

Pain in the lower back region

Surgical fracture of a bone to correct deformity

Medical specialty dealing with arthritis and joint diseases

Medical specialty dealing with bones and muscles

Inflammation of muscle tissue

Chronic skin condition with scaly patches

Inflammatory skin condition causing itchy, red patches

Bacterial infection of skin and subcutaneous tissue

Cluster of boils with multiple drainage sites

Localized collection of pus in tissues

Thick raised scar caused by excessive fibrous tissue growth, often extending beyond the original wound boundary

Wart caused by human papillomavirus

Hair loss or baldness

Loss of skin pigmentation in patches

Hives; itchy welts on the skin

Severe itching of the skin

Abnormal dryness of the skin

Condition causing dry, scaly skin

Surgical procedure to remove skin surface

Surgical removal of wrinkles; facelift

Painful or difficult urination

Excessive urination at night

Pus in the urine

Excessive protein in the urine

Glucose in the urine

Stone in the ureter

Inflammation of the urethra

Surgical creation of an opening for urine drainage

Breaking up kidney stones using shock waves

Toxic condition due to kidney failure; urea in blood

Inflammation of kidney glomeruli

Distension of kidney with urine due to obstruction

Artificial filtering of blood when kidneys fail

Visual examination of the cervix and vagina

Surgical removal of a fallopian tube

Inflammation of the fallopian tube

Inflammation of the vagina

Inflammation of the cervix

Endometrial tissue growing outside the uterus

Inflammation of the uterus

Low sperm count

Absence of sperm in semen

Surgical cutting of the vas deferens

Surgical incision of the perineum during childbirth

Minimally invasive surgical removal of uterus

Surgical removal of one or both testicles

Undescended testicle

Abnormal breast enlargement in males

Inflammation of the thyroid gland

Enlargement of the thyroid gland

Surgical removal of parathyroid gland

Overactivity of parathyroid glands

Tumor of the adrenal medulla causing excess hormones

Tumor of insulin-producing cells in pancreas

Underactivity of the pituitary gland

Excess cortisol production; Cushing syndrome

Underactivity of the adrenal glands

Excessive thirst

Excessive hunger or eating

Dangerous buildup of ketones in blood

Surgical removal of the thymus gland

Tumor of the thymus gland

X-ray imaging of lymphatic vessels

Surgical removal of lymph nodes

Infection with abnormal lymphocytes

Immune system attacking body's own tissues

Severe allergic reaction

Antibody protein made by B cells and plasma cells that helps the body fight infection.

Group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve and can cause vision loss, often linked to high eye pressure.

Clouding of the lens of the eye

Deterioration of central vision area of retina

Double vision

Nearsightedness

Farsightedness

Age-related loss of near focusing ability

Irregular curvature of cornea causing blurred vision

Ringing or buzzing in the ears

Age-related hearing loss

Infection of the mastoid bone behind the ear

Surgical removal of the stapes bone in ear

Ultrasound technique to break up cataracts

Surgical repair of the eardrum

Lazy eye; reduced vision in one eye

Predicted outcome of a disease

Identification of a disease through examination

Cause or origin of a disease.

Development of disease

Of unknown cause.

Caused by medical treatment

Acquired in a hospital setting

Prevention of disease

Non-cancerous; not harmful

Cancerous; tending to spread

Spread of cancer to distant sites

New abnormal tissue growth; tumor

Malignant tumor of epithelial tissue

Malignant tumor of connective tissue

Benign tumor of glandular tissue

Removal of tissue for microscopic examination

Examination of a body after death

Death of tissue

Life-threatening medical emergency where the body's extreme response to infection can cause tissue damage and organ failure.

Swelling due to fluid accumulation

Fever; elevated body temperature

Abnormally low body temperature

Abnormally high body temperature

Profuse sweating

Unusual paleness of the skin

Inflammation of the heart muscle

Ultrasound imaging of the heart

Enlarged, twisted veins, usually in the legs.

Sensation of a rapid, strong, or irregular heartbeat.

Chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to heart muscle.

Threading a catheter into the heart and blood vessels to diagnose or treat heart conditions.

Treatment that uses thrombolytic drugs to dissolve blood clots.

Abnormal narrowing of a passage or opening

Insufficient blood supply to tissues

Rapid, irregular, uncoordinated heart contractions due to abnormal electrical activity.

Fluid buildup in the air sacs (alveoli) of the lungs that can make breathing difficult.

Short, discontinuous crackling lung sounds heard during breathing.

High-pitched whistling sound from narrowed airways during breathing.

Insertion of tube into trachea for ventilation

Vomiting of blood

Presence of pouches in intestinal wall

Backflow of stomach contents into esophagus

Visual examination using a flexible scope

Yellow discoloration of skin from bilirubin

Temporary loss of normal bowel movement (peristalsis) without a mechanical blockage.

Blood collection beneath the dura mater

Upon or outside the dura mater

Pain along the sciatic nerve

Surgical cutting of a nerve

Chronic decline in cognitive function

Needle insertion into spinal canal for CSF

Degenerative joint disease

Autoimmune inflammatory joint disease

Wasting or decrease in size of tissue

Increase in size of tissue or organ

Abnormal development of tissue

Stretching or tearing of ligaments

Stretching or tearing of muscles or tendons

Partial dislocation of a joint

Death of bone tissue

Surgical removal of intervertebral disk

Inflammation of fascia tissue

Visual examination of the ureter

Genetic disorder that causes many fluid-filled cysts to grow in the kidneys

Excess nitrogen waste in blood

Involuntary urination; bedwetting

Insertion of tube into bladder for drainage

Area of skin supplied by sensory fibers from a single spinal nerve root

Within the skin

Through the skin

Small fluid-filled blister

Small pus-filled skin elevation

Flat, discolored skin spot

Small, raised skin lesion

Common skin growth or lesion formed by clusters of melanocytes; some are congenital birthmarks.

Removal of dead or damaged tissue

Uterine bleeding between periods

Benign uterine muscle tumor; fibroid

Hormonal disorder with irregular ovulation/periods, excess androgens, and/or polycystic ovaries.

Pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure and signs of organ involvement, often protein in urine, usually after 20 weeks.

Seizures (or coma) in someone with preeclampsia during pregnancy or soon after delivery.

Pregnancy outside the uterus

Sampling of amniotic fluid for testing

Woman who has never given birth

Woman who has given birth once

Woman who has given birth multiple times

After childbirth

Drug treatment for cancer

Treatment using radiation

Decrease or disappearance of disease symptoms

Return of disease after treatment

Loss of cell differentiation in cancer

Increase in cell number

Abnormal cell development

Failure of organ or tissue development

Care focused on relief of symptoms, side effects, and stress during serious illness, with or without curative treatment.

Determining extent of cancer spread

Classifying cancer cell abnormality

Spread or accumulation of cells within tissue, often describing tumor invasion.

Surgical removal by cutting

Surgical cut into tissue

Surgical removal of part of an organ

Narrowing of arteries that supply the heart

Heart unable to pump blood effectively

Narrowing of arteries to limbs

Abnormal bulging of the aorta wall

Sudden stoppage of heart function

Fluid buildup around the lungs

Progressive lung disease limiting airflow

Blood clot blocking lung artery

Medication that relaxes airway muscles and opens the bronchial tubes.

Incision into the trachea

Chronic inflammatory bowel disease

Chronic inflammation of colon lining

Inflammation of bile ducts

Delayed stomach emptying

Autoimmune disease affecting nerve coverings

Progressive movement disorder

Progressive dementia affecting memory

Severe recurring headache disorder

Lower than normal bone density

Compression of the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel at the wrist

Shoulder tendon injury

Spinal disk bulging or rupturing

Sudden loss of kidney function

Gradual loss of kidney function

Group of symptoms from kidney damage that include heavy protein in the urine, low blood protein, and swelling.

Artificial filtering of blood

Autoimmune thyroid inflammation

Autoimmune hyperthyroidism

Adrenal gland insufficiency

Excess cortisol production

Life-threatening diabetes complication where lack of insulin leads to high blood sugar and a buildup of ketones that make the blood acidic.

Autoimmune disease affecting multiple organs

Cancer of lymphatic system

Lymphatic cancer not Hodgkin type

Pain-relieving medication

Medication used to treat bacterial infections by killing bacteria or preventing bacteria from growing and multiplying

Blood-thinning medication

Blood pressure lowering medication

Medication increasing urine output