Common Medical Conditions: Definitions by Body System
Medical Conditions: Definitions by Body System
Respiratory System Infections and Disorders
The following infectious diseases have a variety of names depending on the location of the infection within the respiratory tract:
- Nasal Catarrh
- Pharyngitis
- Tonsillitis
- Bronchitis
- Pneumonia
- Laryngitis
- Bronchiolitis
- Tracheolitis
Flu (Influenza): A widespread viral disease that often causes a winter pandemic every ten or fifteen years.
Aphonia: Difficulty emitting sounds due to the inflammation of the vocal cords.
Sinusitis: Inflammation of the sinus cavities (air-filled spaces in the skull bones) that are connected to the nostrils.
Asthma: A condition resulting from certain infectious processes or an allergic reaction, complicating the passage of air and making it more difficult to breathe.
Chronic Bronchitis: Irritation of the bronchial lining caused by a variety of factors.
Emphysema: A condition that produces an enlargement of the pulmonary alveoli (air sacs), causing them to break down.
Digestive Health and Gastrointestinal Disorders
Caries (Tooth Decay): The destruction of the tooth enamel caused by the bacterial decomposition of food that remains lodged between the teeth.
Gingivitis: Painful inflammation of the gums, characterized by bleeding and redness.
Ulcers: Wounds caused by the destruction of the gastric mucosa (stomach lining).
Gastritis: Occurs due to an irritation of the gastric mucosa.
Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver caused by certain viruses.
Cirrhosis: A serious illness that destroys hepatic (liver) cells.
Gallstones: Solid particles composed of cholesterol or the minerals found in bile.
Gastroenteritis: An intestinal infection caused by certain bacteria found in contaminated water or food.
Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix, characterized by intense pain and vomiting.
Constipation: Difficulty passing stools due to the low mobility (slow movement) of the large intestine.
Diarrhea: Occurs when food travels through the large intestine very fast, resulting in loose, watery stools.
Musculoskeletal and Joint Conditions
Arthritis: Painful inflammation of the joints.
Osteoarthritis: A type of arthritis; a chronic, non-inflammatory condition characterized by the progressive degeneration of the cartilage and joints.
Gout: A type of arthritis involving a painful inflammation of the joints, often caused by uric acid buildup.
Rheumatism: A general term for conditions causing chronic pain and stiffness. It is sometimes described as a form of arthritis, often affecting individuals between 25 and 55 years old.
Osteoporosis: A decrease in bone mass which weakens the bone structure and promotes bone fractures.
Slipped Disc (Herniated Disc): Occurs when a part of the cartilaginous disc between the vertebrae is displaced, compressing one of the spinal cord’s nerve roots.
Sprains: Twisting or violent strains of a joint that may lead to tearing or fracture of one of the ligaments.
Dislocation: Separation of a bone from its appropriate place within a joint.
Sensory, Skin, and Neurological Conditions
Astigmatism: Defective curvature of the cornea or lens that produces a deformed image on the retina.
Myopia (Nearsightedness): The eyeball is too long, causing the focus of distant objects not to form directly on the retina, creating a blurry image.
Farsightedness (Hyperopia): The eyeball is too short, causing the image of nearby objects to be formed behind the plane of the retina.
Anosmia and Ageusia: Anosmia refers to the inability to smell, and Ageusia refers to the inability to taste.
Psoriasis: A chronic, non-contagious inflammatory skin disease.
Otitis (Ear Infection): Inflammation of the ear.
Ménière’s Disease: A disorder of the inner ear causing loss of balance and hearing.
Deafness: Loss of hearing due to a variety of causes.
Glaucoma: Caused by an increase in pressure of the aqueous humor in the anterior chamber of the eyeball.
Cataracts: The lens becomes opaque, blocking the passage of light.
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye): Inflammation of the conjunctiva of the eye as a result of an infection or an allergy.
Color Blindness (Color Vision Deficiency): A congenital disease characterized by the inability to distinguish certain colors.
Presbyopia: The result of a gradual loss of the eye’s ability to focus and produce a clear image of nearby objects on the retina.