<< Back to Newsletter Abduction (sometimes emphasized as "A-B-duction"): Movement of an arm or leg away from the body Acute: having a rapid or sudden onset, or a short course. The timeframe over which something might be considered acute varies from disease to disease, but a rough guide might be less than 2 weeks. Adduction (sometimes emphasized as "A-D-duction"): Movement of an arm or leg toward the body. Autoimmune: A condition when the body's immune system recognizes a part of the body as ‘foreign' and attacks it. CABG: Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting; a procedure wherein blood vessels are attached to diseased coronary vessels to divert blood flow away from them. Commonly called a "bypass." Cholecystitis: inflammation of the gallbladder Chronic: long lasting. The timeframe over which something might be considered chronic also varies from disease to disease, but a rough guide might be more than 6 weeks. Congenital: conditions that exist at birth; this term includes hereditary conditions as well as those acquired during the pregnancy. Contralateral: on the opposite side; affecting the opposite side of the body. CVA: Cerebrovascular Accident. Commonly known as a "stroke." Distal: a relative position further from the midline of the body. Dorsalis Pedis: an artery of the upper surface of the foot, used to determine blood flow to the feet. Dysphagia: an inability to swallow, or difficulty in swallowing. Dyspnea: the subjective experience of being unable to catch one's breath. Ecchymosis: A bruise, generally larger than 1 cm. Edema: An abnormal accumulation of fluid within tissues or body cavities. Eczema: a general term for an itchy red rash on the skin, initially weeping or oozing, later crusting over or becoming thickened or scaly. Fibrillation: Fine, rapid twitching of individual muscle fibers with little or no movement of the muscle as a whole. GERD: an abbreviation for Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease, a common condition in which stomach contents flow back into the esophagus causing discomfort and, in some cases, damage to the esophageal lining. Hashimoto's thyroiditis: An autoimmune disease where one's body attacks the thyroid gland, causing fatigue, constipation, cold sensitivity, puffiness, and other symptoms of hypothyroidism. Hemorrhage: Profuse bleeding. Hippopotomonstrosesquipedaliophobia: Fear of long words. Hyper: a prefix meaning above, excessive, or beyond. Hypertension: high blood pressure, generally defined as a systolic pressure greater than 140mm of mercury or a diastolic pressure greater than 90 mm of mercury as recorded on two or more separate occasions "I's and O's": A term referring to a patient’s intake and output (of fluids) in a given 24-hour period. Hypo: a prefix meaning less than, below, or under. Iatrogenic: adverse outcomes as a result of medical care Ichthyosis vulgaris: an inherited condition characterized by rough, dry, scaly skin. The name is derived from the ancient Greek root ichthys, meaning fish. Idiopathic: a condition that arises spontaneously, or without a known cause. Ipsilateral: On the same side; affecting the same side of the body. Mitochondria: Organelles within the body's cells that generate energy and heat Murphy’s sign: pain on deep inspiration when the gallbladder is palpated; a relatively sensitive test for cholecystitis. Muscle spasm: Medical term for a "Charley Horse": uncontrolled, often painful contraction of a muscle. Neurocysticercosis: infestation of the brain or spinal cord by larva of the pig tapeworm Taenia solium. The larva become encased in cysts which, particularly as they rupture, can cause a variety of neurological symptoms including headaches, nausea, vomiting, and seizures. Orthopnea: dyspnea that occurs when lying flat. As a result, many patients will sleep propped up on pillows, and the severity of the orthopnea is measured by the number of pillows needed e.g., "3 pillow orthopnea" Petechia: A small bruise, 1-2 mm. Proximal: a relative position closer to the midline of the body. Psoriasis: An autoimmune condition that causes redness and itching of the skin, along with white, crusty patches, most commonly on the elbows and knees. Sclerosis: Hardening of a tissue or passage. "s/p": Status-post; A patient's state following a particular procedure or diagnostic intervention. Stenosis: an abnormal constriction or narrowing of a passage; can be applied to blood vessels, tubular organs, and bony structures. Syncope: a sudden, transient loss of consciousness due to cerebral hypoperfusion; commonly known as "fainting" or "blacking out". Tinea versicolor: a fungal infection of the skin that can result in (generally temporarily) hypo- or hyper-pigmented patches of skin. Viscus (pl:"viscera"): an internal organ Vitiligo: a skin condition in which the pigment producing cells of the skin (melanocytes) are destroyed, resulting in patchy loss of skin pigment. The cause is unknown, but may involve some autoimmune process. << Back to Newsletter | 
