There are many terms that are frequently used in clinical settings while describing patient’s examination, patient treatment and other things. These are the terms that are frequently used and would be used on this website.
First a few general things.
There are many suffixes that are frequently used The suffix, ‘-itis’, means inflammation, e.g., appendicitis, tonsillitis, arthritis, neuritis, dermatitis, etc.
* The suffix, ‘-ectomy’, means removal from the body, e.g., appendicectomy , tonsillectomy, gastrectomy, nephrectomy, etc.
* The suffix, ‘-otomy’, means to open and then close a hollow organ, e.g., laparotomy, hysterotomy, cystotomy, cystolithotomy, etc.
* The suffix, ‘-ostomy’, means to open hollow organ and leave it open, e.g., cystostomy, colostomy, tracheostomy, etc.
* The suffix, ‘-oma’, means a tumour, e.g., lipoma, osteoma, neurofibroma, haemangioma, carcinoma, etc.
* Puberty. The age at which the secondary sexual characters develop, being 12-15 years in girls and 13-16 years in boys.
* Symptoms are subjective complains of the patient about his disease.
* Signs (physical signs) are objective findings of the doctor on the patient.
* Diagnosis. Identification of a disease, or determination of the nature of a disease.
* Prognosis. Forecasting the probable course and ultimate outcome of a disease.
* Pyrexia. Fever
* Lesion. Injury, or a circumscribed pathologic change in the tissue.
* Inflammation is the local reaction of the tissue to an injury or an abnormal stimulation caused by a physical, chemical, or biologic agent. It is characterized by:
a. swelling;
b. pain;
c. redness;
d. warmth of heat; and
e. loss of function.
* Oedema. Swelling due to accumulation of fluid in the extracellular space.
* Thrombosis. Intravascular coagulation (solidification) of blood.
* Embolism. Occlusion of a vessels by a detached and circulating thrombus (embolus).
* Haemorrhage. Bleeding which may be external or internal.
* Ulcer. A localized breach (gap, erosion) in the surface continuity of the skin or mucous membrane.
* Sinus. A blind track (open at one end) lined by epithelium.
* Fistula. A track open at both the ends and lined by epithelium.
* Necrosis. Local death of a tissue or organ due to irreversible damage to the nucleus.
* Degeneration. A retrogressive change causing deterioration in the structural and functional qualities. It is a reversible process, but may end in necrosis.
* Gangrene. A form of necrosis (death) combined with putrefaction.
* Infarction. Death (necrosis) of a tissue due to sudden obstruction of its artery of supply (often an end-artery).
* Atrophy. Diminution in the size of cells, tissue, organ, or a part due to loss of its nutrition.
* Dystrophy. Diminution in the size due to defective nutrition.
* Hypertrophy. Increase in the size without any increase in the number of cells.
* Hypoplasia. Incomplete development.
* Hyperplasia. Increase in the size due to increase in the number of cells.
* Aplasia. Failure of development.
* Syndrome. A group of diverse symptoms and signs constituting together the picture of a disease.
* Paralysis. Loss of motor power (movement) of a part of body due to denervation or primary disease of the muscles.
* Hemiplegia. Paralysis of one-half of the body.
* Paraplegia. Paralysis of both the lower limbs.
* Monoplegia. Paralysis of any one limb.
* Quadriplegia. Paralysis of all the four limbs.
* Anaesthesia. Loss of the touch sensibility.
* Analgesia. Loss of the pain sensibility.
* Thermanaesthesia. Loss of the temperature sensibility.
* Hyperaesthesia. Abnormally increased sensibility.
* Paraesthesia. Perverted feeling of sensations.
* Coma. Deep unconsciousness.
* Tumor (neoplasm). A circumscribed, noninflammatory abnormal growth arising from the body tissue.
* Benign. Mild (illness or growth) which does not endanger life.
* Malignant. Serve form of illness or growth, which is resistant to treatment and ends in death.
* Carcinoma. Malignant growth arising from the epithelium (ectoderm or endoderm).
* Sarcome. Malignant growth arising from connective tissue (mesoderm).
* Cancer. A general term used to indicate any malignant neoplasm which shows invasiveness and results in death of the patient.
* Metastasis. Spread of a local disease (like the cancer cells) to distant parts of the body.
* Convalescence. The recovery period between the end of a disease and restoration to complete health.
* Therapy. Medical treatment.
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