AFT ➜ Amniotic Fluid Test

a1c ➜ long-term control of diabetes treatment

abdominal ➜ relating to the abdomen

abortive care theory ➜ therapy intended to stop the further progression of a disease

acute disease ➜ occurs suddenly

adenocarcinoma ➜ various organs; cancerous tumor of glandular structures

aesthetic surgery ➜ another term for plastic surgery

ambulatory ➜ a patient who is able to walk

ambulatory care ➜ provides care on an outpatient basis as the patient is ambulatory

amniocentesis ➜ another term for the amniotic fluid test

amniotic fluid test (AFT) ➜ abdominal puncture to test amniotic fluid

analgesics ➜ drugs that lessen pain

anatomy ➜ the study of the structure of the body + its parts

anesthetics ➜ drugs that cause lack of feeling or awareness, as well as produce the sensation of numbness

antacids ➜ drugs that neutralize gastric acid or decrease gastric acid release

anterior ➜ closer to the front of the body

arthroscopy ➜ a surgical procedure to visualize + treat problems inside of a jointantiarrhythmics ➜ drugs that prevent cardiac irregularities

antibiotics ➜ drugs that destroy or inhibit bacterial growth

anticoagulants ➜ drugs that prevent the formation of blood clots and/or decrease the formation of existing blood clots

anticonvulsants ➜ drugs that reduce the number + severity of seizures in patients with epilepsy

antidepressants ➜ drugs that elevate mood or are used for the treatment of mental illnesses (i.e., depression, anxiety)

antidiabetics ➜ drugs that control blood sugar levels in patients with type II, non-insulin-dependent diabetes

antiemetics ➜ drugs that control nausea, vomiting, + motion sickness

antihistamines ➜ drugs that relieve symptoms of allergies (i.e., sneezing, itchy/watery eyes, runny nose); can also relieve itchiness caused by insect bites + stings

anti-inflammatories ➜ drugs that reduce inflammation

antipsychotics ➜ drugs that reduce delusions + hallucinations seen in psychoses

autosomes ➜ 22 pairs of identical chromosomes that contain the information necessary to run all body functions

aden(o)- ➜ gland

ana- ➜ apart

angi(o)- ➜ vessel

barium enema ➜ to detect tumors, ulcers, and/or diverticula of the intestines

basal cell carcinoma ➜ a skin cancer derived from + preserving the form of the basal cells of the skin

b cell ➜ any lymphocyte that has an antigen-binding antibody molecule on the surface

benign ➜ harmless

blood pressure control ➜ to control or treat high blood pressure

body plane ➜ an imaginary vertical or horizontal line used to divide the body into sections for descriptive purposes

brachial ➜ relating to the arm

breast adenocarcinoma ➜ tumor/cancer of the breast gland

bronchoscope ➜ a thin, lighted tube

bronchoscopy ➜ a surgical procedure to look directly at the airways in the lungs using a bronchoscope

CBC ➜ Complete Blood Count

CC ➜ Chief Complaint

CIS ➜ Cancer In Situ

CT ➜ Computed Tomography

cancer in situ (CIS) ➜ abnormal cells (i.e., cancer) that is growing in place

carcinoma ➜ a malignant tumor of epilelial origin

cardiac muscle ➜ cannot be controlled voluntarily + generates its own contraction rhythm cardiovascular ➜ relating to the heart + the circulation of blood vessels

cardiovascular system ➜ the heart + the blood vessels transport oxygen (O₂), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nutrients, + wastes

cell cycle ➜ a series of changes that a cell goes through from its formation until it reproduces by dividing into two daughter cells

cell membrane ➜ another term for plasma membrane

cellular cell level ➜ consists of cells + their organelles

cervical ➜ relating to the neck or the cervix

chemical causes of disease ➜ chemicals (acids, bases), poison, and/or drug reactions

chemical cell level ➜ consists of atoms + molecules

chemical name ➜ exact molecular formula of a drug (i.e., N-acetyl-para-aminophenol)

chemotherapy ➜ treatment of cancer using drugs that are destructive to malignant cells + tissues

chest x-ray ➜ to detect lung cancer and/or other respiratory diseases

chief complaint ➜ the reason why the patient came to the provider

cholesterol ➜ important building block of the cell membrane that increases membrane stability + fluidity, allowing the cell to change its shape

chondroma ➜ tumor of the cartilage

chondrosarcoma ➜ tumor of the cartilage + surrounding tissue

chromatin ➜ main component of the nucleoplasm, which itself is made up mainly of DNA

chromosomal diseases ➜ diseases caused by changes in chromosomes

chronic disease ➜ takes a prolonged course

coagulation ➜ blood clotting

colonoscopy ➜ to detect cancer of the colon and/or rectum

combination chemotherapy ➜ chemotherapy using multiple drugs at the same time

combination therapy (polytherapy) ➜ use of multiple therapies or drugs at the same time

complete blood count (CBC) ➜ to detect leukemia and/or anemia

computed tomography (CT) ➜ to detect tumors, infarcts, blood clots, fractures, wear-and-tear of joints, and/or acute inflammation (i.e., abscess)

connective tissue ➜ tissue that is the most abundant + widely distributed; supports, protects, + binds other tissues together

contralateral ➜ on opposite sides of the body

coronal plane ➜ another term for frontal plane

cosmetic surgery ➜ another term for plastic surgery

cranial

1. toward the head

2. relating to the skull (cranium)

critical therapy ➜ another term for intensive therapy

curative therapy ➜ therapy intended to cure the root cause of a disease

cystoscope ➜ a thin tube with a camera

cystoscopy ➜ a surgical procedure to look inside the bladder using a cystoscope

cytology ➜ the study of cells

cytoplasm ➜ cellular material inside of the cell membrane

carcin(o)- ➜ cancer

chondr(o)- ➜ cartilage

-centesis ➜ surgical puncture

-cyte ➜ cell