Medical Vocabulary

A diagnosis is the identification of a disease, illness, or condition based on symptoms, medical history, and test results. The word comes from the Greek 'diagignoskein,' meaning 'to distinguish' or 'to discern.'

A chronic illness is one that persists over a long period of time, often for months or years. It contrasts with 'acute,' which describes conditions that are sudden and short-lived. Examples include diabetes and arthritis.

An antibiotic is a medication used to treat infections caused by bacteria. The word literally means 'against life' (anti + bios), referring to its ability to kill or inhibit the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics do not work against viral infections.

The prefix 'cardio-' relates to the heart. It comes from the Greek word 'kardia,' meaning 'heart.' A cardiologist is a heart specialist, and cardiovascular refers to the heart and blood vessel system.

A symptom is a physical or mental feature experienced by a patient that indicates the presence of a disease or condition. Common examples include pain, fever, and fatigue. Symptoms are subjective experiences reported by the patient.

'Benign' means not harmful or not cancerous. A benign tumor, for example, does not invade surrounding tissues or spread to other parts of the body. It is the opposite of 'malignant,' which indicates a cancerous growth.

The suffix '-itis' indicates inflammation. For example, arthritis means inflammation of the joints, bronchitis means inflammation of the bronchial tubes, and tonsillitis means inflammation of the tonsils.

A prognosis is a medical prediction about the likely course, duration, and outcome of a disease or condition. It comes from the Greek 'prognosis,' meaning 'foreknowledge.' A good prognosis means recovery is expected.

'Intravenous' means 'within a vein.' IV therapy involves delivering fluids, medications, or nutrients directly into a patient's vein through a needle or catheter, allowing for rapid absorption into the bloodstream.

The prefix 'neuro-' relates to the nerves and nervous system. A neurologist specializes in disorders of the nervous system, and neuroscience is the study of the brain and nervous system. It comes from the Greek 'neuron,' meaning 'nerve.'

Edema is the medical term for swelling caused by excess fluid accumulating in the body's tissues. It can occur in any part of the body but is most commonly noticed in the hands, arms, feet, ankles, and legs.

Pathology is the branch of medicine that studies the causes, mechanisms, and effects of disease. Pathologists examine tissues, cells, and body fluids to diagnose diseases. The word comes from the Greek 'pathos' (suffering) and 'logos' (study).

The suffix '-ectomy' means the surgical removal of a body part or tissue. For example, an appendectomy is the removal of the appendix, a tonsillectomy is the removal of the tonsils, and a mastectomy is the removal of a breast.

Anesthesia is the medically induced loss of sensation, particularly pain, to allow surgical procedures to be performed. The word comes from the Greek 'anaisthesia,' meaning 'without sensation.' Types include general, local, and regional anesthesia.

Hypertension is the medical term for persistently high blood pressure. 'Hyper' means 'above' or 'excessive,' and 'tension' refers to the pressure within blood vessels. It is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke.