Medical Terminology: A Comprehensive Glossary for Healthcare

Posted on Dec 10, 2024 in Medicine & Health

Urinalysis

  • Urinalysis: The process of analyzing urine using physical or chemical tests.
  • Urine: The fluid which is excreted by the kidneys.
  • Urinal: Also called a bottle; used by male patients to pass urine into.
  • Bed pan: A toileting receptacle which is used by bed-bound patients.
  • Renal: Relating to the kidneys.
  • pH: The measurement of how acidic or alkaline a solution is.
  • Proteinuria: Protein in the urine, also called albuminuria.
  • Hematuria: Blood in the urine.
  • Specimen: A sample, usually of urine or blood.
  • Edema: Excessive accumulation of liquid in the tissues.
  • Anuria: No urine output.
  • Nephrons: Filtering units of the kidney.
  • Oliguria: Low urine output.

Medication

  • Tab: Solid medication, also called a pill.
  • Cap.: Gelatin-coated medication.
  • mg: Milligram – unit of mass which is 1/1000 of a gram.
  • mcg: Microgram – unit of mass which is 1/1000 of a milligram.
  • ml: Milliliter – unit of volume which is 1/1000 of a liter.
  • PO: From the Latin per os – by mouth.
  • SC: Injection given into the subcutaneous layer of the skin.
  • IM: Injection given into the muscle.
  • Mane: In the morning.
  • Nocte: At night.

Hospital and IV Therapy

  • Nosocomial: Contracted in hospital.
  • Phlebitis: Inflammation of the vein.
  • Infiltration: When fluid leaks into surrounding tissues; in nursing jargon: tissued.
  • Staph: Staphylococci bacteria – types of microbes usually found on the skin.
  • IV giving set: Tubing which is spiked into the infusion bag and connected to the IV cannula; also called an IV administration set.
  • Erythema: Redness of the skin which can indicate infection.
  • Aseptic technique: No-touch method used to avoid contamination.
  • Resite an IV cannula: Replace it in a different vein.
  • Positional: Describes an IV line which stops running because the line becomes blocked off due to patient movement.
  • IV: Intravenous.
  • IVC: (IV) cannula.
  • K: Potassium.
  • N/S: Normal Saline.
  • IV Abs: Intravenous antibiotics.
  • KCl: Potassium chloride.
  • MMOLS: Millimols.
  • PICC: Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter.
  • KVO: Keep the vein open.

Surgery and Blood Clots

  • Thrombus: Solid mass which forms in blood vessels; also called a blood clot.
  • Anti-embolic: Stops an embolus from forming.
  • DVT: Deep vein thrombosis.
  • Anticoagulant: Usually refers to a medication which inhibits the formation of thromboses.
  • Coagulation: The process of blood clotting.
  • Gallbladder: Abdominal organ which stores bile.
  • Laparoscope: Surgical instrument which is inserted into the abdomen to visualize the abdominal organs.
  • Anesthetic: Drug which blocks pain and other sensations before an operation is performed.
  • PCA: Patient-controlled analgesia.
  • Overdose: Taking excess amounts of medication with serious health consequences.
  • Lock-out time: Safety measure which prevents patients from continually obtaining analgesia by pressing a patient-control button.
  • Keyhole surgery: Minimally invasive surgery performed with the use of a laparoscope, using small incisions or surgical cuts.
  • Venodilatation: Stretching or widening of a vein.
  • Embolus: A blood clot which breaks off and moves freely along a blood vessel.
  • Embolism: The condition which is caused when a blood clot blocks blood flow.
  • Venous stasis: The pooling of blood in the veins.

Emergency and Pain Management

  • A&E: Accident and Emergency.
  • RTA: Road traffic accident.
  • GCS: Glasgow Coma Scale: records the conscious state of a patient.
  • Neuro obs.: Observations which assess neurological function and include a GCS assessment.
  • Oxygen sats/ SaO2: Measure of the amount of oxygen which is loaded or saturated into the red blood cells as they pass through the lungs.
  • NAD: Non-adhesive dressing.
  • PRN: From the Latin pro re nata – take whenever required.
  • Nociceptor: A receptor which detects painful stimuli.
  • Cutaneous: Relating to the skin.
  • Visceral: Referring to the internal organs of the body.
  • Incision: A cut into the skin; often refers to a surgical cut.
  • Localized pain: Pain which is felt around the site of an injury.
  • Referred pain: Pain which is felt in a part of the body away from the injury site.
  • Pain threshold: Level of stimulation required before pain is felt.
  • Pain tolerance: The most pain which a person can put up with.
  • NSAIDs: Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs; also called non-steroidals.
  • Opioids: Drugs which produce a morphine-like effect.
  • Endorphins: Opiate proteins with pain-relieving properties which occur naturally in the brain.
  • Anti-pyretic: A medication which brings down a high temperature.
  • Background drug: A drug used to support the main analgesic.
  • Multimodal: Treatment which combines several types of pain management.
  • Breakthrough dose: Medication which is given in between doses where more pain relief is needed.

Stroke and Patient Care

  • Hemisphere: One of the 2 regions of the brain; hemi means half.
  • Carotid artery: Either of the two arteries which supply blood to the brain.
  • Circle of Willis: Area underneath the brain where the cerebral arteries are linked.
  • Ischemia: Inadequate blood supply caused by a blockage in the blood vessel; isch means deficiency.
  • CVA: Cerebrovascular accident, or stroke.
  • Ischemic stroke: Type of stroke caused when a thrombus blocks the carotid artery, resulting in ischemia and tissue necrosis; the most common type of stroke.
  • Hemorrhagic stroke: Type of stroke caused when a blood vessel bursts causing blood to leak into the brain: causes around 1/5 of strokes.
  • Hemiparesis: Weakness on one side of the body.
  • Hemiplegia: Paralysis on one side of the body.
  • Hemianopia: Defective vision on one half of the body leads to neglect of one side of the body.
  • Aphasia: Inability to communicate.
  • Dysphasia: Difficulty expressing what you are thinking.
  • Dysphagia: Difficulty swallowing food or fluids.
  • Dysarthria: Motor speech impairment which affects the ability to form words clearly.
  • Emotional lability: Inappropriate emotional responses, for example laughing when the intention is to cry.
  • Cerebral hemisphere One of the two structures which make up the largest part of the brain.
  • EDD: Expected date of discharge.
  • Fasteners: Devices which join 2 pieces of clothing together; for example, buttons.
  • Mechanical transferring aids: Mechanical devices used to transfer disabled patients ; for example, hoists or sit-to-stand lifters.
  • Parenteral: Administered in any other form but orally, for example by injection or through a feeding tube.
  • Continent: Having control of bladder and bowel.

Patient Care and Bodily Functions

  • Supervision: Watching a patient to ensure an action is performed safely.
  • Defecation: The act of passing feces.
  • Incontinent: Not having control of bladder and bowel.
  • Urination: The act of passing urine; also called micturition.