The descriptions are of commonly encountered terms and conditions. They include text entries but not all items from the tables. Infective diseases are not included, but see appendix 4 for their classification
Abscess – localized collection of pus. The site is added (sometimes with a prefix): subphrenic, subungual, subcutaneous (under the diaphragm, nail, skin); intrahepatic (in the liver), para/perinephric (around the kidney); retrocecal, retroperitoneal (behind the cecum, peritoneum)
Acanthocytosis – crenated red cells on a blood film
Acanthosis nigricans – skin pigmentation, often associated with malignancy
Accommodation – the process of focusing an image onto the retina, through ciliary muscle contraction
Accommodation reflex – changes in the pupil size that occur on changing between distant and near vision
Achalasia – failure of muscle relaxation, usually with reference to the esphagogastric junction
Achondroplasia – hereditary disorder of epiphyseal ossification, resulting in dwarfism
Acidosis – reduction of normal tissue pH (usually measured in the serum)
Acquired immunodeficiency disease (AIDS) – viral infection producing a defect in cell-mediated immunity
Acromegaly – clinical syndrome due to increased growth hormone
Acute – sudden onset; also used to define severe and to differentiate an acute inflammatory response to certain bacteria from the chronic inflammatory granuloma produced by others
Addison’s disease – clinical syndrome due to adrenal cortical insufficiency
Adenoids – enlargement of the lymphatic tissue in the roof of the nasopharynx
Adhesions – sticking together of two normally separate parts, e.g. loops of gut, visceral and parietal, pleura and pericardium
Agenesis – failure of development
Ageusia – loss of taste
Agnosia – inability to interpret a sensation, e.g. visual
Agraphia – inability to write
Alexia – inability to read aloud
Allen’s test – test of hand blood flow
Allergy – body’s reaction to foreign material (the substance may not be identified)
Alveolitis – inflammation of the alveoli
Amnesia – loss of memory
Amniocentesis – withdrawal of amniotic fluid
Anacrotic – abnormal pulse wave, with an additional notch on the ascending limb
Anaphylaxis – acute hypersensitivity to a foreign substance, such as a protein, drug or mismatched transfusion, giving rise to a state of shock
Anarthria – inability to articulate Anatomy – study of body form
Anemia – reduction of circulating red cells, hemoglobin or packed red cell volume
Anencephaly – congenital absence of the brain
Anesthesia – loss of sensation, local or general
Auscultation – listening to sounds produced by the body, usually through a stethoscope
Aneurysm – localized dilatation of a blood vessel, usually an artery
Angina – chest pain from myocardial ischemia
Angioma – benign tumor of blood or lymphatic vessels
Ankylosis – fusion of parts, usually a joint
Anosmia – loss of smell
Aortic incompetence – see incompetence
Apgar score – scoring system of physical activity in the newly born
Aphasia – inability to speak; may be partial, as in nominal (loss of names), jargon (senseless speech)
Aphthous – small idiopathic mouth ulcer Apnea – cessation of breathing
Apraxia – impaired voluntary control of an otherwise intact motor function
Arteriovenous malformation/fistula – abnormal communication between arteries and veins, may be congenital/acquired (including surgically produced)
Arthritis – inflammation of a joint, usually qualified by the type, e.g. osteoarthritis – wear and tear of cartilage covering the articular surface; rheumatoid arthritis – a chronic inflammation involving cartilage and soft tissues
Ascites – collection of intraperitoneal serous fluid (table 6; page 301)
Asystole – cardiac rest
Ataxia – loss of control of voluntary movement
Atelectasis – collapsed, non-aerated lung, usually due to a blocked bronchus, but may be congenital
Atheroma/atheromatous/arteriosclerosis – arterial occlusive disease Athetosis/athetoid – abnormal involuntary movement
Atresia – congenital failure to open, or pathological closure, of a lumen, e.g. gut or vessel
Atrial septal defect (ASD) – abnormal opening between the two atrial cavities of the heart
Atrophy – wasting of a tissue, as in malnutrition or muscle denervation Audiometry – test of hearing
Autopsy – postmortem examination of a body to determine or confirm the cause of death
Babinski response – extensor plantar response; occurs in pyramidal tract disease, on stroking the lateral aspect of the sole of the foot there is spontaneous dorsiflexion of the great toe, with “fanning” of the toes
Bacteriology – study of bacteria
Balanitis – inflammation of the glans penis and prepuce
Balotting – feeling an object bouncing within a fluid collection, e.g. on tapping of fetal head or an abdominal mass within ascites
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) – malignant skin lesion
Baus lines – transverse ridges in a nail, indicating periods of defective growth
Benign – non-malignant tumor; a disease with mild characteristics or with a good prognosis
Biopsy – tissue sample taken from known or suspected disease for classification
Bjerrum screen – black screen with a central white target, used for mapping the visual fields
Blood dyscrasia – disorder of the blood
Borborygmi – rumbling or gurgling sounds made by passage of flatus through the intestines
Bovine cough – cattle-like cough due to vocal cord paralysis, secondary to recurrent laryngeal nerve damage
Bradycardia – slowing of the heart
Bronchiectasis – bronchial dilatation with infection
Bronchitis – inflammation of bronchial mucosa
Bronchoscopy – examination of the bronchial tree with a bronchoscope
Bruising – bleeding into tissues
Bruit – abnormal sound heard with a stethoscope over a large (usually narrowed) artery
Bryant’s triangle – anatomical marking made in the supine position, by dropping a vertical line from the anterior superior iliac spine to a horizontal line through the greater trochanter; used to detect shortening of the femoral neck
Bulbar palsy – paralysis from damage to the cranial nerve nuclei in the brain stem
Bursa – cushioning synovial lined cavity over or between pressure points
Carcinoma – malignant epithelial tumors, characterized by invasion and metastasis
Caries – tooth decay
Cataract – opacity of the lens and/or its capsule Celiac – malabsorption disease of gut
Chalasion – see meibomian cyst
Cheyne-Stokes respiration – rythmical alternation of rapid and absent periods of respiration, due to damage to the respiratory centre: usually a preterminal state
Cholecystitis – inflammation of the gall bladder
Chorea – neurological disorder, characterized by irregular involuntary (choreiform) movements of the limbs and face
Chronic – persistent, e.g. pain, discharge or infection. In the latter, the term has a specific pathological meaning, with production of a granuloma
Circumcision – surgical removal of the prepuce of the glans penis
Cirrhosis – chronic perilobular fibrosis of the connective tissue of the liver
Cleft Lip – congenital malformation of the upper lip, due to failure of fusion of the maxillary and frontonasal processes; frequently associated with cleft palate
Clonus – increased reflex activity, characterized by repetitive muscular contraction induced by stretch: usually occurring with upper motor neuron lesions
Cachexia – extreme general state of ill-health, with malnutrition, wasting, anemia and muscle weakness
Clubbing – digital disorder, usually of the fingers, characterised by longitudinal and lateral curving of the nails, and bulbous endings: occurring in a number of conditions, including congenital cardiac, chronic pulmonary and inflammatory bowel disease
Cesarian section – delivery of the fetus through a uterine incision Calcemia – calcium level in the body: hyper- (excess) or hypo- (reduced)
Calculus – an abnormal concretion, usually of inorganic matter; occurring in reservoir organs and ducts
Coarctation of the aorta – congenital narrowing of the aorta
Campbell de Morgan spots – small red hemangiomas, usually on the trunk, having no pathological significance
Colic – painful powerful contractions of a muscular tube, usually due to obstruction of the intestine, ureter or biliary tree
Cannula – hollow tube placed within or introduced into a cavity or vessel, for withdrawal or delivery of fluid
Colonoscopy – examination of the colon with a colonoscope Coma – unrousable state of consciousness
Congenital defect – developmental abnormality, present at birth
Caput medusa – periumbilical network of veins, secondary to hepatic venous obstruction (portal hypertension)
Coning – compression of the brain through the tentorium cerebelli or the foramen magnum, secondary to raised intracranial pressure – usually a terminal event. NB it can be precipitated by lumbar puncture
Conjunctivitis – inflammation of the conjunctiv
Consensual – reflex excitement of a part, in response to stimulation of another, as with a contralateral pupil response to light
Consolidation – conversion into a firm mass, as occurs in the lung in pneumonia
Contracture – deformity, usually due to muscle shortening. This may be permanent, when fibrosis is present, or temporary if in respose to a stimulus such as anasthesia or cold
Contralateral – occurring on the opposite side of the bod
CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Craniotomy – operation on the skull
Crepitus – irregular noise or palpable feeling on moving abnormal tissues, as with a fractured bone, osteoarthritic joints, inflamed tendons or gas in tissues
Cricothyroidotomy – opening into the trachea through the cricothyroid membrane, usually undertaken as an emergency for an obstructed airway
Crohn’s disease – inflammatory bowel disease
Cryptorchid – bilateral absence of testes within the scrotum, due to non-descent or congenital absence
Cushing’s disease – clinical syndrome due to hypersecretion of adrenal cortical hormones, in response to a local abnormality, an extrinsic stimulus, or from an ectopic site
CVP – central venous pressure
Cyanosis – blue discolouration of the skin and mucous membranes due to an abnormal amount of reduced hemoglobin, usually due to pulmonary or cardiac disease
Cyst – retained collection of fluid, from a variety of sources, e.g. exocrine and endocrine glands, congenital rests (dermoid, thyroglossal), degenerative, e.g. pancreatitis and parasitic (hydatid)
Cystocele – bladder bulging into the vagina, usually a complication of vaginal childbirth
Dacrocystitis – inflammation of the lacrimal apparatus
Decussation – crossing, usually referring to a neural pathway
Dehydration – reduced body fluid due to low intake or loss
Demyelination – removal or destruction of the myelin of nerve tissue
De Quervain’s synovitis – inflammation of the tendons on the lateral
Diabetes insipidus – clinical syndrome due to the lack of antidiuretic hormone
Diabetes mellitus – clinical syndrome due to the lack of, or of an abnormal response to, insulin
Diastole – period of the cardiac cycle from the closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves to the beginning of the next ventricular contraction
Discharge – leaking of fluid from the body through a normal (e.g. nose or anus) or an abnormal opening (e.g. an ulcer or fistula)
Dislocation – loss of the normal proximity of structures, usually the bones of a joint
Divarication – separating or stretching, as between the rectus abdominus muscles
Diverticulum – pouch or cul-de-sac from a hollow organ or duct
Douglas (pouch of) – rectouterine/rectovescical peritoneal pouch, palpable on rectal examination
Dupuytren’s contracture – thickening and contraction of the palmer fascia, causing a digital flexion deformity, usually of the ring and little finger
DVT – deep vein thrombosis
Dysdiadochokinesis – impared voluntary movement of cerebellar origin
Dyskinesia – impairment of voluntary movement
Dacrocystitis – inflammation of the lacrimal apparatus
Decussation – crossing, usually referring to a neural pathway Dehydration – reduced body fluid due to low intake or loss Demyelination – removal or destruction of the myelin of nerve tissue
Dyspareunia – difficulty or pain on intercourse
Diarrhea – increased frequency and/or quantity, and looseness of stool (but document precisely the patient’s description)
Diplopia – double vision
Down’s syndrome – clinical syndrome of genetic origin
Dysarthria – difficulty in articulation
Dysfunction – general term for impaired activity of an organ or part
Dysmenorrhea – pain occurring at or about the time of menstuation
Dyspepsia – general term covering symptoms from the upper alimentary tract
Dysphagia – difficulty or pain on swallowing
Dysphasia – difficulty in speaking
Dyspnea – difficulty or discomfort in breathing; paroxysmal nocturna dyspnea – dyspnea occurring when supine, usually secondary to left heart failure
Dysuria – pain or difficulty in passing urine
Ectropion – eversion of the edge of an eyelid
Ectopic – inappropriately sited tissues or organs, as with an ectopic pregnancy
Esophagoscopy – examination of the esophagus through an esophagoscope
Eczema – non-contagious inflammatory disease of the skin
Exophthalmos – prominence or protrusion of the eyeball
Expansile – expanding, usually an aneurysm or pulsatile vascular mass
Edema – excess of tissue fluid
Effusion – fluid collection, such as in a joint or pleural cavity
Egophony – sound of speech through a pleural effusion: like the bleat of a goat
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome – inherited disorder of elastic tissue, producing laxity of tissues
Electrocardiogram (ECG) – a record of the electrical activity of heart muscle
Embolism – sudden blocking of a blood vessel, usually an artery, by blood clot, clumps of bacteria or other foreign marerial transported in the circulation
Emphysema – dilatation of pulmonary alveoli
Empyema – pus in the pleural cavity
Encephalitis – inflammation of the brain
Endocarditis – inflammation of the endocardium, usually involving the valve cusps
Endometriosis – ectopic endometrium, usually within the pelvis or abdominal wall
Enophthalmos – recession of the eyeball into the orbit
Entropion – inversion of the edge of an eyelid
Epididymo-orchitis – inflammation of the epididymis and the testis
Epilepsy – cerebral disorder producing excessive and disordered discharge of cerebral neurons, resulting in paroxysmal recurrent movements, often with tongue biting and incontinence, and usually accompanied by unconsciousness – the epileptic fit
Epistaxis – bleeding from the nose
Epispadius – congenital malformation of the urethra, opening on the dorsal aspect of the penis
Erythema – redness of the skin due to hyperemia
Erythema ab igne – pigmented reticular cutaneous discoloration, due to exposure to heat; often on the shins from sitting in front of a fire, or on the abdomen, from a hot water bottle, applied for pain relief
Esophagoscopy – examination of the esophagus through an esophagoscope
Exophthalmos – prominence or protrusion of the eyeball
Expansile – expanding, usually an aneurysm or pulsatile vascular mass
Failure – end stage loss of function of an organ, e.g. cardiac, pulmonary, hepatic or renal failure
Fallot’s tetralogy – congenital cardiac anomaly, the classical four abnormalities are pulmonary artery stenosis; ventricular septal defect; an overriding aorta and an enlarged right ventricle
Fasciculation – involuntary ripple-like twitching of voluntary muscles Fatigue – tiredness and lethargy that usually accompany cardiac failure Feculent – like feces
Fibrillation – spontaneous independent contraction of the auricular or ventricular cardiac muscle; spontaneous contraction of recently denervated skeletal muscle
Fibroid – resembling fibrous tissue; smooth muscle tumor (fibroma) commonly of the uterus
Fibrosis – abnormal production of fibrous (scar) tissue, often interfering with function
Fissure – deep groove, may be normal, e.g. in the brain, but may be a breach of a normal lining, e.g. the longitudinal ulcer of an anal fissure
Fistula – an abnormal connection between epithelial/endothelial surfaces, e.g. anal (from anal canal to external skin), between two loops of gut or arteriovenous
Fit – see epilepsy
Forceps – gripping instrument used in surgery; obstetric forceps applied to the fetal head to facilitate delivery
Fracture – discontinuity of a structure usually a broken bone
Froment’s sign – use of flexion of the interphalangeal joint of the thumb to grip, when the adductor pollicis is paralyzed
Galactorrhea – excessive lactation or milk discharge outside the normal period of lactation
Gallstone – concretion within the biliary tree
Gangrene – death and anerobic putrefaction of ischemic tissue
Gas gangrene – infection with gas producing organisms, notably Clostridium perfringens, but also anaerobic staphylococci and streptococci; a potentially lethal condition
Gastroduodenoscopy – endoscopic inspection of the stomach and duodenum
Gastroenteritis – inflammation of the stomach and intestine Gibbus – prominent hump/lump on the back
Glands of Montgomery – prominent sebaceous glands of the areola of the breast; they enlarge in pregnancy
Glasgow coma scale (GCS) – system of assessing cerebral damage Glaucoma – increased intraocular pressure
Glossitis – inflammation of the tongue
Goiter – enlargement of the thyroid gland
Granuloma – small tumor produced by the chronic cellular response to certain infections and other agents, such as tuberculosis and foreign bodies
Graphesthesia – the ability to recognize letters or figures traced on the skin by blunt pressure
Guarding – voluntary contraction of abdominal wall muscles in response to painful palpation
Hemianopia – loss of half of the visual field, of one or both eyes, e.g. homonymous hemianopia – to one side (nasal of one eye and temporal of the other), seen in unilateral cortical lesions; bitemporal hemianopia – due to lesions of the optic chiasm
Hemochromatosis – deposition of iron throughout the body, due to metabolic defect or excess transfusion
Hemodialysis – removal of waste products from the body by an external devise, in patients with renal failure
Hemoglobinopathy – abnormal hemoglobin
Hemolysis – release of hemoglobin from damaged red cells
Hemoptysis – coughing of bright red blood from the lungs, bronchi or trachea
Hemorrhage – bleeding; the escape of blood from any part of the vascular system; splinter hemorrhage – linear hemorrhage under the nails, seen in bacterial endocarditis
Hepatitis – inflammation of the liver
Hepatoma – tumor originating in the hepatic parenchyma
Hernia – protrusion of the contents of a cavity through its wall
Halitosis – fetid or offensive breath
Hickman line – external catheter devise for long term venous access, often passed into the subclavian or internal jugular veins
Hashimoto’s disease – chronic thyroiditis associated with autoimmune antibodies to thyroxin
Hodgkin’s disease – tumor of lymphatic tissue
Heart block – condition in which the transmission of impulses from the sinuatrial node through the atria, atrioventricular node and bundle of His, to the ventricles, is delayed or interrupted
Horner’s syndrome – damage of the cervical sympathetic chain producing: enophthalmos, meiosis, ptosis, with narrowing of the palpebral fissure, facial flushing, loss of sweating and stuffiness of the nose, on the side of the lesion
Heberden’s nodes – bony phalangeal nodules of osteoarthritis Hemangioma – benign tumor of blood vessels
Hemarthrosis – bloody joint effusion
Hematoma – discreet collection of blood in the body following a bleed Hematuria – blood in the urine
Howell-Jolly bodies – spherical, eccentrically placed granules or nuclear remnants in red blood corpuscles, usually in hemolytic or toxic anemia, and after splenectomy
Hemiplegia – paralysis of one side of the body
Hemorrhoid (pile) – swelling at the anal margin
Hemothorax – collection of blood in the pleural cavity
Hepatocellular dysfunction – abnormal liver function
Hepatosplenomegaly – enlarged condition of the liver and spleen
Hydradenitis – inflammation of the sweat glands
Hydrocele – circumscribed collection of fluid, usually in the tunica vaginalis of the testis
Hydrocephalus – abnormal increase of cerebrospinal fluid within the skull
Hydronephrosis – obstructed dilated renal pelvis filled with urine
Hypospadius – congenital malformation of the urethra, opening onto the ventral aspect of the penis
Hydrosalpinx – obstructed dilated uterine tube filled with clear fluid
Hyper/hypo – abnormal increase/low level (e.g. cholesterol, sodium, calcium, glucose)
Hypothyroidism – clinical syndrome, due to thyroid hormone insufficiency
Hyperdynamic – abnormally great muscular or nervous activity; extreme functional energy
Hypotonia – reduced tension in a body structure, such as in arteries, muscles and the eye
Hyperemia – excess of blood in any part of the body; reactive hyperemia – increased blood flow after temporary ischemia
Hypoxemia/hypoxia – insufficient oxygen to maintain normal tissue respiration
Hyperesthesia – excessive sensitiveness of the skin, due to local causes or to peripheral nerve damage
Hyperhidrosis – excess sweating
Hyperkalemia – high body potassium level
Hyperkeratinization – horny thickening of epithelium, particularly of the palms and soles; characteristic of chronic arsenical poisoning and vitamin A deficiency
Hyperkinesia – abnormally powerful movement, as in muscular spasm
Hyperparathyroidism – abnormally increased activity of the parathyroid glands due to a neoplasm or to hyperplasia
Hyperpnea – increased rate/depth of respiration
Hypertension – high arterial blood pressure usually in the systemic circulation. It may also be in the pulmonary arteries, secondary to lung disease, and in the portal venous system, due to liver disease
Hypertonia – excessive tension, as in arteries, muscle or intraocular
Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) – congenital overgrowth of cardiac muscle, particularly affecting the left ventricle and interventricular septum
Hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy – proliferative periostitis at the distal end of long bones, particularly of the wrist and ankle, always associated with gross clubbing, and usually indicative of carcinoma of the bronchus
Hypertrophy – an increase in the size of the cells of a tissue; ventricular hypertrophy – enlargement of heart muscle
Hypocarbia – low carbon dioxide on blood gas analysis Hypoglycemia – low blood sugar concentration
Hypokalemia – low body potassium Hyporeflexia – reduced reflex action
Hypospadius – congenital malformation of the urethra, opening onto the ventral aspect of the penis
Hypothyroidism – clinical syndrome, due to thyroid hormone insufficiency
Hypotonia – reduced tension in a body structure, such as in arteries, muscles and the eye
Hypoxemia/hypoxia – insufficient oxygen to maintain normal tissue respiration
Iatrogenic – disorder produced by therapy Idiopathic – disease of unknown cause
Ileus (paralytic) – obstructed gut (non-motile)
Impaction – forceful driving of one structure into another, such as broken bones, a misdirected tooth or feces into a poorly evacuating rectum
Imperforate anus – congenital defect of anal canal development Impotence – inability to perform the sexual act
Incompetence – regurgitation through a defective valve, e.g. related to the heart or varicose veins
Infarct – area of dead tissue, with or without hemorrhage, produced by obstruction of an end-artery
Infection – invasion of the body by pathogenic organisms, and their subsequent multiplication
Inflammation – body’s response to cellular damage, whether this be physical or chemical injury, bacterial invasion or other disease
Innervation – nerve supply
Intermittent claudication – skeletal muscle pain on exercise, due to inadequate blood supply
Intracranial pressure – pressure within the skull: if there is free circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid and the patient is recumbent, this is the same as the pressure measured by lumbar puncture
Intubation – passage of a therapeutic tube; this is usually through an existing anatomical pathway, such as the trachea or urethra
Intussusception – invagination of a loop of proximal into distal bowel
Ipsilateral – occurring on the same side of the
Ischemia – insufficient blood supply to a part to sustain its normal function
Ishihara chart – multi-colored dotted charts, designed to identify color- blind subjects
Jaundice – clinical syndrome of excessive circulating bile pigments, giving rise to yellow discoloration of the sclera, skin and mucous membranes
Kernig sign – reflex contraction of neck muscles in meningitis Ketosis – excessive ketones within the body
Klinefelters syndrome – congenital chromosomal defect of gonadal hormone production
Koilonychia – spoon shaped nails related to certain forms of anemia
Koplik spots – whitish-blue specks on the oral mucous membrane in measles
Korotkoff – sounds heard on release of a cuff when measuring blood pressure
Kussmaul breathing – rapid breathing of diabetic coma
Kyphosis – spinal curvature in which the concavity of the curve is in a forward direction, generally seen in the thoracic region
Laparoscopy – inspection of the contents of the peritoneal cavity by means of a laparoscope
Laparotomy – inspection of the peritoneal contents through an exploratory abdominal incision
Left bundle branch block – see heart block
Lesion – non-specific term for a pathological abnormality
Leukemia – disease of the white blood cells
Leukonychia – white spots on a nail
Leukoplakia – thickened white patches on mucous membranes, the lesions are chronic inflammatory but have malignant potential
Lichen planus – disorder of skin and mucous membranes, producing patchy discoloration
Lordosis – spinal curvature in which the convexity of the curve is in a forward direction, generally found in the lumbar region
Lymphadenitis – inflammation of lymph nodes
Lymphadenopathy – enlargement of lymph nodes
Lymphedema – excess tissue fluid, due to failure of lymphatic drainage
Lymphoma – tumor of lymphatic tissue
Macrognathia – abnormal enlargement of the jaw
Malabsorption – defective absorption of fluids and other nutrients from the gut
Malgaigne’s bulge – muscular bulge along the line of the inguinal canal, due to tissue laxity rather than an underlying hernia
Malignant – life threatening pathological process, usually characterized by invasion and metastasis
Malnutrition – insufficient nutriment, due to inadequate intake or failed absorption
Mammography – soft tissue radiographic technique for examining the breasts
Marfan’s syndrome – congenital hereditary disorder of mesodermal tissue, its features include tall stature, increased span, long thin digits, subluxation of the lens and arterial dissection
Mass – non-specific term of a collection of cells or tissues, usually implies a palpable or visible abnormality
McMurray test – test to demonstrate damage to the knee menisci Meconium – gut content of the newly born
Meconium ileus – bowel obstruction of the newborn, due to inspisated meconium
Mediastinoscopy – examination of the mediastinum by means of an endoscope inserted suprasternally
Mediterranean disease (thalassemia) – a congenital hemoglobin abnormality
Meiosis – process of cell division with reduction of diploid status
Menarche – onset of the menses
Menopause – cessation of the menses
Menorrhagia – excessive and/or prolonged menstrual bleeding
Mesothelioma – malignancy of pleura, pericardium and peritoneum, due to exposure to asbestos
Metastasis – spread of malignant disease from its primary site to distant parts of the body, by way of natural passages, blood vessels, lymphatics or by direct continuity.
Methemoglobin – congenital hemoglobin abnormality, when part of the iron molecule is in the oxidized ferric form and unavailable for oxygen transport
MI (myocardial infarction) – death of a segment of heart muscle due to ischemia
Microcephalus – small sized head
Microcytosis – small red blood cells
Micrognathia – undersized jaw, usually applied to the mandible
Mikulicz’s syndrome – symmetrical enlargement of the lacrimal and salivary glands
Mitral incompetence – see incompetence
Mole/nevus – congenital benign pigmented skin lesion; hydatidiform mole – abnormal intrauterine fetal development, producing a polycystic mass of chorionic villi
Motor neuron disease – progressive degeneration of motor neurons Mucocele – mucus filled cyst, e.g. in the mouth or the gall bladder Mucoid – of the nature of mucus
Methemoglobin – congenital hemoglobin abnormality, when part of the iron molecule is in the oxidized ferric form and unavailable for oxygen transport
MI (myocardial infarction) – death of a segment of heart muscle due to ischemia
Microcephalus – small sized head
Microcytosis – small red blood cells
Micrognathia – undersized jaw, usually applied to the mandible
Mikulicz’s syndrome – symmetrical enlargement of the lacrimal and salivary glands
Mitral incompetence – see incompetence
Mole/nevus – congenital benign pigmented skin lesion; hydatidiform mole – abnormal intrauterine fetal development, producing a polycystic mass of chorionic villi
Motor neuron disease – progressive degeneration of motor neurons Mucocele – mucus filled cyst, e.g. in the mouth or the gall bladder Mucoid – of the nature of mucus
Mucopurulent – containing mucus and pus
Mucus – viscous secretion of mucus membranes
Multiple myeloma – tumor arising from the bone marrow
Multiple sclerosis – demyelinating disease of the brain and spinal cord
Murmur – sound related to blood flow and heard on auscultation, usually indicating an abnormality of heart valve origin. A machinery (continuous) murmur may be heard over arteriovenous malformations. Other blood vessel sounds are usually referred to as bruits
Murphy’s sign – subcostal tenderness elicited on inspiration, in patients with cholecystitis
Myasthenia gravis – disorder of the motor end-plate, giving rise to abnormal muscle fatigability
Myelocele – see spina bifida
Myelodysplasia – imperfect development of any part of the spinal cord
Myelopathy – impaired function of striated muscle
Myocardial infarct (MI) – death of a segment of heart muscle due to ischemia
Myotonia – abnormality of muscle relaxation after effort
Myxedema – a clinical syndrome, due to reduced thyroid hormone
Nausea – feeling of sickness with the desire to vomit
Nelaton’s line – line joining the anterior superior iliac spine and the ischial tuberosity on radiograph
Neoplasia – generic term for a new growth, whether benign or malignant
Nephritis – inflammation of the kidney; may be congenital or acquired
Nephrotic syndrome – degenerative renal disease
Neuritis – inflammation of a nerve
Neuroma – non-specific term for a benign neural tumor, or a painful post-traumatic mass of disorganized regenerating nerve endings
Neuron – functional unit of the nervous system: upper motor neuron – passing from the cortex to the spinal cord; lower motor neuron – from the spinal cord to the muscle
Nevus (strawberry) – congenital benign pigmented cutaneous lesion of vascular origin
Nevi (spider) – acquired cutaneous capillary dilatation, with central spot and radiating capillaries, often seen in hepatic failure
Neuropathy – altered neuronal function
Niemann-Pick disease – abnormality of reticuloendothelium Nocturia – getting up at night to pass urine
Nodule – a small aggregation of cells
Nystagmus – congenital or acquired involuntary eye movement, particularly in horizontal plane, usually related to labyrinthine or cerebellar disease
Orthopnea – breathlessness on lying flat
Osler’s nodes – painful digital nodules of infective endocarditis Osteomalacia – decalcification of the bones
Osteomalacia – decalcification of the bones
Osteitis fibrosa cystica – generalized rarefaction of bone, with cyst formation and fibrous replacement, due to excess parathormone production
Osteoarthritis – degenerative joint disease associated with wear, tear and aging
Osteochondroma – benign tumor of bone and cartilage
Osteomyelitis – bone infection
Osteoporosis – rarefaction of bone
Otitis – inflammation of the external (externa) or middle (media) ear
Paget’s disease – of the nipple: periareolar, eczematous skin changes related to an underlying carcinoma; of bone (osteitis deformans): inflammatory disorder producing bowing of long bones and skull thickening
Palpitations – awareness of the heart-beat, often because of increased force, rate or irregularity
Pancreatitis – inflammation of the pancreas
Pancost syndrome – apical lung tumor, producing a Horner’s syndrome and damage to the T1 root of the brachial plexus
Papilledema – edema of the optic disc, observed on ophthalmoscopy
Paracentesis – sampling or removing abnormal peritoneal fluid, usually through a wide bore needle
Paresthesia – abnormal somatic sensation, usually numbness or tingling
Paralysis – weakness of neural or neuromuscular origin
Paralytic ileus – see ileus
Paraphimosis – constriction ring of the prepuce, proximal to the glans penis
Parkinson’s disease – chronic neurological disease producing muscle weakness, rigidity and tremor (parkinsonism)
Paronychia – infection around the nail
Patent ductus arteriosus – persistence of fetal communication between the aorta and the left pulmonary artery
Pathological – disease state
Pathology – study of disease
Peau d’orange – obstructive edema, producing dimpling of the skin, typically in infiltrating carcinoma of the breast
Pectus carinatum – pigeon chest
Pectus excavatum – depressed anterior chest wall
Percussion – process of striking the surface of the body to hear and feel the underlying resonant effects
Perforation – hole through the full thickness of a tissue, such as the gut wall
Pericardial rub – noise produced by movement of inflamed layers of pericardium
Pericardial tamponade – compression of the heart by fluid within the pericardial cavity
Pericarditis – inflammation of the pericardium
Perimetry – use of a perimeter to measure visual fields
Peristalsis – wave like contraction of a hollow organ
Peritoneal rub – noise produced by movement of inflamed layers of peritoneum
Peritonism – abdominal tenderness associated with peritonitis. Guarding is usually present, as may be percussion rebound (pain on percussing the abdomen)
Peritonitis – inflammation of the peritoneum
Perseveration – a repetitive activity without an appropriate exciting stimulus
Perthe’s – disease of the neck of the femur; test of lower limb deep vein patency
Phaeochromocytoma – tumor of the adrenal medulla
Philadelphia Chromosome – usually found in bone marrow cells of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia
Phimosis – narrowing of the preputial orifice, preventing retraction of the foreskin and, in its extreme, the passage of urine
Pile – see hemorrhoid
Pleurisy – inflammation of the pleura
Pneumonia – inflammation of the lung
Pneumoperitoneum – gas within the peritoneal cavity
Pneumothorax – gas within the pleural cavity
Polycystic – multiple cysts, may be congenital or acquired, e.g. kidney, ovary, pancreas
Polycythemia – increase in the number of circulating red blood cells usually associated with an increase in hemoglobin, packed red cell volume and blood viscosity
Polyhydramnios – excessive amniotic fluid
Polyp – pedunculated epithelial tumor
Polypectomy – removal of a polyp
Polyuria – increased urine excretion
Priapism – persistent penile erection
Primary biliary cirrhosis – imflammation of the bile ducts, producing fibrosis and destruction, with associated jaundice
Procidentia – complete prolapse, e.g. uterus or rectum
Proctoscopy – examination of the anal canal and lower rectum by means of a proctoscope
Prolapse – bulging of a lax wall, e.g. vagina into the rectum, or of cardiac valves, e.g. mitral valve
Proptosis – bulging of eyeball
Pruritus – itching (table 11, page 339)
Pseudobulbar palsy – upper motor neuron paralysis of the cranial nerve nuclei, in the brain stem. This indicates bilateral cerebral lesions, as the lower cranial nerve nuclei are bilaterally innervated
Pseudocyst – fluid collection lined by diseased tissue of varied origin
Ptosis – prolapse or dropping of an organ, such as the upper eyelid
Pulsatile – beating with the pulse (see also expansile)
Pulsus paradoxus – pulse becoming less pronounced with inspiration rather than expiration
Purulent – containing pus
Pyemia – pus forming organism in the blood stream
Pyo– purulent infection of an organ
Pyonephrosis – obstructed dilated renal pelvis filled with pus
Pyosalpinx – obstructed dilated uterine tube filled with pus
Pyrexia – raised temperature
Râles – fine pulmonary added sounds
Ramsay Hunt syndrome – herpes zoster infection of the geniculate ganglion
Rash – cutaneous eruption
Rebound – reflex response to withdrawal of a stimulus, e.g. sudden pain on withdrawal of the hand in deep palpation of a painful abdomen
Rectocele – prolapse of the rectum into the vagin
Reflex – involuntary response to a stimulus, e.g. knee extension to a patellar tap
Reflux – back flow, e.g. through an incompetent gastroesophageal junction, or through valve-less lower limb veins
Regurgitation – reversal of flow, as with swallowed food into the mouth or through incompetent cardiac valves
Resuscitation – restoration of life or consciousness, in the apparently dead or collapsed patient
Retention – retaining substances in the body that are normally excreted Retinopathy – disorder of the retina
Rhabdomyoma – tumor of striated muscle; rhabdomyosarcoma, malignant form
Rheumatic fever – infection accompanied by abnormalities of cardiac valves
Rheumatism – non-specific term applied to pain of musculoskeletal origin
Rheumatoid nodules – aggregations of cells and tissues, situated in various soft tissues of the body, often over bony prominences
Riedel’s lobe – a congential anomalous lobe of the liver, projecting downwards from the right side anteriorly
Right bundle branch block – see heart block Rigidity – state of stiffness and inflexibility Rinne’s test – auditory test
Romberg’s sign – with the feet together the patient closes their eyes: swaying or falling is indicative of sensory ataxia, due to loss of position sense in the lower limbs; rombergism – exhibiting a positive Romberg’s sign
Ronchi – coarse pulmonary added sounds
Rub – audible movement of inflamed surfaces, e.g. pericardium, pleura
Salpingitis – inflammation of the uterine tubes
Sarcoid – systematic inflammatory disease, characterized by non- caseating granulomas
Sarcoma – malignancy of non-epithelial tissue
Scar – connective-tissue replacement of mesodermal or ectodermal tissue that has been destroyed by injury or other disease
Scoliosis – lateral curvature of the spine Scotoma – loss of part of the visual field
Secondary – see matastasis
Seminoma – malignancy of the testis
Septal defect – hole in the interatrial or interventricular septum, or both
Septicaemia – severe infective state, in which the blood stream is invaded by large numbers of bacteria
Sickle cell – hereditary abnormality of hemoglobin
Sigmoidoscopy – inspection of the rectum and pelvic colon with a sig- moidoscope
Sinus – infected tract communicating with the skin, or the lumen of a hollow viscus
Sinus arrhythmia – irregularity of heart rhythm, caused by changes in vagal stimulation of the sinuatrial node during respiration
Sinus rhythm – normal heart rhythm, due to conduction of impulses from the sinuatrial node to the atrioventricular node, through the atrial muscle, and thence the conducting system
Sister Joseph’s nodule – umbilical metastasis
Sjogren’s syndrome – syndrome characterized by deficient secretion of the lacrimal, salivary or other glands, giving rise to keratoconjunctivitis sicca, dry tongue and hoarse voice
Snellen chart – test of visual acuity
Spasm – sudden, powerful, involuntary contraction of muscle
Spastic hemiplegia – hemiplegia with increased muscle tone
Spasticity – persistent muscle contraction, producing stiffness and rigidity, or loss of controlled movement, usually following an upper motor neuron lesion
Speculum – instrument for the inspection of a tube or passage
Spherocytosis – abnormal thick, almost spherical, red blood cells (spherocytes)
Sphincterotomy – incision of a sphincter
Spider nevus – small red, cutaneous vascular dilatation from which capillaries radiate, and resemble a spider
Spina bifida – imperfect development of the spinal cord and vertebral covering
Splitting – of the heart sounds: due to asynchronous closure of the mitral and tricuspid, and the pulmonary and aortic valves
Splenomegaly – enlarged spleen
Splinter hemorrhages – longitudinal hemorrhagic subungual streaks usually due to bacterial endocarditis
Spondylolisthesis – subluxation of the lower lumbar vertebrae on the sacrum
Sputum – material expelled from the respiratory passages by coughing or clearing the throat
Squint – condition in which one eye deviates from the point of fixation
Status epilepticus – recurrent epileptic fits without any periods of recovery or regain of consciousness
Steatorrhea – excessive fat in the stool, as in celiac disease
Stenosis – narrowing of an orifice or a lumen, as with a cardiac valve, an atheromatous artery, or benign and malignant lesions of the gut
Stereognosis – ability to recognize the shape and character of an object by means of touch
Stoma – opening, such as a colostomy on the abdominal wall
Strangulated hernia – gut ischemia due to constriction of the lumen and blood vessels at the neck of a hernial sac
Stricture (stenosis) – narrowing of a lumen, e.g. gut or duct, may be congenital or acquired
Stridor – harsh respiratory sounds due to an obstructed airway
Stroke – sudden paralysis, due to cerebral damage; stroke volume – blood ejected by a contraction of the left ventricle
Stye – inflamed eyelid sebaceous cyst
Subluxation – partial dislocation
Subungual – beneath a nail
Sulfhemoglobin – abnormal hemoglobin produced by hydrogen sulphide
Suppuration – production or exudation of pus
Syncope – transient loss of consciousness, as with a faint, but may also accompany cardiac disease
Synovitis – inflammation of the synovial membrane, of a joint or tendon sheath
Systolic – relating to cardiac systole
Tachycardia – rapid beating of the heart
Tachypnea – rapid respiration
Talipes – congenital deformity of the foot
Tamponade – pathological compression of an organ, e.g. the heart from a pericardial effusion
Target cell – abnormal red blood cell, with a ringed appearance on staining, assocated with certain types of anemia and postsplenectomy
Telangiectasia – dilated capillaries, often multiple forming an angiomatous mass: hereditary telangiectasia (Rendu-Osler-Weber disease) there is often a secondary anemia, due to recurrent mucosal bleeding in the gut
Tenesmus – painful, often unsuccessful attempts at defecation or urination
Tenosynovitis – inflammation of a tendon sheath
Teratoma – congenital embryonic cell malignancy of the testis or ovary
Thalassemia – hereditary anemia, due to a hemoglobin abnormality
Thomas’ test – test for fixed hip flexion
Thoracotomy – surgical exposure of the thorax
Thrill – palpable vibration of abnormal blood flow, such as through a diseased heart valve or arteriovenous malformation
Thrombembolic disease – passage of blood clot through the circulation
Thrombosis – intravascular coagulation
Thyrotoxicosis – clinical syndrome, due to an overactive thyroid gland
Tic – uncontrolled local repetative movement, commonly affecting the face
Tinel’s sign – tingling sensation on percussion of a regenerating nerve ending
Tinnitus – subjective noise in the ear
Tone – tension in normal muscle; altered by neuromuscular disorders
Tophi – sodium biurate deposits in gout, often subcutaneous on the ear
Torsion – twisting, usually of the stalk of a structure, e.g. of a cyst, ovary or testis
Tracheostomy – opening in the trachea, usually to relieve an obstructed airway
Traction – act of pulling
Tremor – rhythmic, involuntary, purposeless, oscillating movement, resulting from the alternate contraction and relaxation of opposing muscle groups
Trendelenburg sign – dipping of the contralateral side of the pelvis when standing on an abnormal hip; Trendelenburg gait – spastic gait
Trendelenburg test – a tourniquet test for determining the competency of superficial veins of the lower leg
Tricuspid incompetence – see incompetence
Trigger finger – nodule in a long flexor tendon in the palm, clicking through a concomitant stricture of its sheath
Trophic changes – wasting of tissues, due to ischemia or denervation
Tumor – swelling
Turgor – increased tissue tension, usually due to edema
Turner’s syndrome – congenital genetic abnormality affecting gonadal development
Tympanitic – hyper-resonant
Ulcer/ulceration – discontinuity of epithelial surface
Ulcerative colitis – inflammatory bowel disease, characterised by ulceration with passage of blood and mucus, and variable systemic effects
Uremia – terminal stage of renal failure, with retention of waste products
Urethritis – inflammation of the urethra
Urinalysis – analysis of urine
Valgus – displacement away from the midline, the distal portion projecting laterally, as with hallux valgus
Valsalva maneuver – forcible exhalation against a closed airway, used to produce vagal stimulation
Valvotomy – operation of splitting a stenosis, as with a diseased heart valve
Varicocele – abnormal plexus of varicose veins of the pampiniform plexus around the spermatic cord
Varicose veins – dilated thin tortuous superficial veins, usually of the lower limb
Varix (saphena) – tortuous dilated vein segment (at the saphenous opening)
Varus – displacement towards the midline, the proximal portion projecting laterally, as with bow legs (genu varus)
Venereal – sexually transmitted
Venepuncture – puncture of a vein to withdraw blood, or introduce fluids or drugs
Ventricular septal defect – abnormal opening between the ventricular cavities of the heart
Vertigo – giddiness, a sense of instability, often with a sense of rotation
Virology – study of viruses
Viscus – internal organ
Vocal fremitus – palpable chest wall vibration produced by speech
Vocal resonance – sounds heard over the chest while a patient is talking, when markedly increased it is termed bronchophony
Volvulus – torsion of a loop of gut
Vomiting – oral evacuation of gastric contents
Warts – cutaneous circumscribed lesions, usually of viral origin, e.g. on hands, soles (verruca); perianal – of venereal origin
Weber’s test – auditory test
Wegener’s granuloma – destructive granulomatous disease of soft tissue
Whispering pectoriloquy – prominence of whispering over diseased lung, heard through a stethoscope
Wilson’s disease – degenerative cerebral disease due to abnormal copper metabolism
Xanthoma (xanthelasma) – yellowish-brown cutaneous nodules, frequently periorbital, and usually associated with raised lipids
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome – association of peptic ulceration with a secreting pancreatic adenoma