Essential Medical Terminology: Clinical Vocabulary and Definitions
A
ABSCESS
A collection of pus.
ACHE
Pain.
AGENCY NURSE
A nurse who works for an agency.
AGGRAVATE
To make worse.
AIRWAY
The trachea or an instrument used for ventilation.
ALLEVIATE
To relieve; to make better.
AMBULANT
Able to walk.
ANESTHETIC
A drug which produces a lack of feeling.
ANGIOGRAM
A type of X-ray procedure.
ANOXAEMIA
A condition characterized by a lack of oxygen in the blood.
ANTENATAL
Before birth.
ANTERIOR
In front of.
ANTIBIOTIC
A drug that destroys bacteria.
ANTIEMETIC
A drug that stops nausea.
ANURIA
A lack of urine production.
APNOEA
A temporary cessation of breathing.
APRON
A piece of clothing worn in front of the body for protection (e.g., plastic apron, lead apron).
ATAXIA
Uncoordinated or clumsy movement.
AURISCOPE
An instrument for examining the ear; also known as an otoscope.
B
BACTERICIDE
A substance that kills bacteria.
BACTERIOSTATIC
A substance which stops the growth of bacteria.
BARRIER NURSING
Measures taken to look after an infectious patient.
BEDPAN
A pot used by bedridden patients for excretion.
BEDRIDDEN
Bed bound.
BENIGN
Not threatening to life or health.
BILE
A liquid produced by the liver.
BILIRUBIN
A product resulting from the breakdown of hemoglobin.
BLISTER
A vesicle in the skin containing watery fluid.
BLOOD VESSEL
A small tube through which blood flows.
BLURRED
Unclear (e.g., blurred vision).
BREAKTHROUGH MEDICATION
An extra dose to relieve severe pain.
BREAST
The front of the chest; the mammary gland.
BREATH
Air inhaled.
BREATHLESSNESS
Being short of breath, experiencing breathing difficulty, or dyspnoea.
BRUISE
The rupture of small blood vessels, resulting in a small hematoma.
BUTTOCKS
The muscles of the bottom.
C
CALF
The back of the leg below the knee.
CANNULATE
To introduce an IV line.
CARCINOMA
A malignant tumor or growth.
CAST
Plaster of Paris, also known as a plaster cast.
CATHETER
A tube used to drain urine.
CHEWING
Mastication.
CHICKENPOX
Varicella.
CLINICAL
Relating to the observation and treatment of patients.
CLOT
An intravascular coagulum; a thrombus.
COLLAPSE
To faint, lose consciousness, to pass out, or to black out.
COMMODE
A mobile toilet.
COMPOUND FRACTURE
A fracture where a broken bone breaks the surrounding tissue (also known as an open fracture).
CONSCIOUSNESS
The state of being aware of one’s surroundings; alertness.
CONSENT FORM
A document that the patient signs authorizing a procedure.
CONSTIPATION
Difficulty in passing faeces.
CONVALESCENCE
Rest after illness.
CORPUSCLES
Red and white cells found in the blood.
CRAMP
Spasmodic pain in the abdomen, or a painful sensation in muscles after excessive exercise.
CROWN
The visible part of a tooth.
CROSS INFECTION
Infection passed from one patient to another.
CROUP
A severe barking cough, usually from a viral infection in the larynx.
CRUTCH
A long stick made of metal used as a support under the armpit to help a patient walk.
CYANOSED, CYANOTIC
A bluish color of the skin, especially the lips.
CYST
A sac containing liquid or semisolid material.
D
DAZED
Temporarily confused.
DEFAECATE
To pass faeces from the body; to open the bowels.
DERANGED
Out of the correct range; an abnormal result.
DERMIS
The layer of the skin just below the surface.
DIARRHOEA
Liquid faeces.
DISCHARGE
An excretion or substance evacuated, or the release from hospital or specialty care.
DISCOMFORT
Mild pain.
DISINFECT
To kill germs.
DISLOCATION
Displacement of a bone from its normal position; luxation.
DISPOSABLE
One use only.
DISTENSION
Swelling or enlargement, often due to internal pressure.
DISTRICT NURSE
A community nurse who works in Primary Care.
DIZZINESS
Vertigo; a feeling of being unstable or about to fall.
DRAINAGE
Any method of extracting fluid from a cavity.
DRIP STAND
An IV pole; a metal pole used to hang IV infusions.
DROWSY
Sleepy.
DUCT
A tube or vessel that carries the secretion of a gland.
DUODENUM
The first part of the small intestine.
DYSPNOEA
Difficult breathing.
DYSURIA
Difficult, painful urination.
E
ELATED
Unusually or extremely happy; euphoric.
EPIDERMIS
The superficial layer of skin.
ERRATIC
Irregular or inconsistent (e.g., heartbeat, blood results).
EXCISE
To cut away.
EXCRETA
Waste matter (faeces, urine).
EXCRUCIATING
Extremely painful; severe pain.
EXPECTORATE
To discharge matter from the throat or lungs by coughing up.
F
FAECES
Solid waste matter discharged through the anus.
FASTING
Abstaining from eating.
FATIGUE
Tiredness.
FLANK
The side of the abdomen.
FLATUS
Gas in the stomach or intestines; flatulence.
FLUSH
A transitory sensation of extreme heat, often causing the skin to go red.
FORCEPS
A two-pronged surgical instrument used to hold or extract tissue or objects.
FRACTURE
A break in a bone.
G
GAG REFLEX
Reflex contraction of the muscles of the throat when stimulating the pharynx.
GAIT
Manner of walking.
GALL
Bile.
GAUZE
A sterile surgical dressing made of woven cotton.
GENITALS
Sexual organs.
GERIATRICS
The medical care of the elderly (Care of the Elderly).
GIVING SET
Plastic tubing that connects the IV line with the IV drip.
GLAND
An organ or structure that produces a secretion.
GLUCOSURIA
The presence of abnormal amounts of sugar (glucose) in the urine.
GO DOWNHILL (COLLOQUIAL)
To deteriorate.
GRAZE
A scrape or scratch.
GUMS
Fleshy tissue enveloping the necks of the teeth; gingiva.
GYNAECOLOGY
The study of the diseases and routine care of the reproductive system of women.
H
HAEMATEMESIS
Bloody vomitus (vomiting blood).
HAEMOPTYSIS
Expectoration of blood from the respiratory tract.
HEALTHCARE ASSISTANT (HCA)
A nursing auxiliary.
HOIST
A device to lift patients off their beds, especially heavy patients.
HOUSE OFFICER
A houseman; a junior hospital doctor.
HYPERPNOEA (HYPERVENTILATION)
Breathing that is deeper and more rapid than normal.
HYPERPYREXIA
Abnormally high temperature.
I
IMMERSE
To place below the surface of a liquid or gas.
IMMUNISE
To protect against a specific disease, usually by injection.
IMPROVE
To get better.
INCONTINENCE
The inability to control the emptying of the bladder or bowels.
INDIGESTIBLE
Difficult to digest.
INFANT
A baby less than a year old, typically before being able to walk.
INFARCTION
The death of a piece of tissue because the blood supply has stopped.
INFECTION
Invasion of the body by a germ.
INFLAMMATION
The reaction of living tissue to an injury, often characterized by swelling.
INFUSION (DRIP, IV BAG)
A liquid solution (normally glucose or salt) introduced mainly into a vein.
INJECTION (JAB, SHOT)
The act of introducing a fluid into the tissues using a needle.
INTUBATION
Putting a breathing tube into the trachea.
IODINE
An antiseptic used for cleaning wounds.
IRRIGATE
To pour liquid in to wash out a foreign body (e.g., eye irrigation, bladder irrigation).
IRRITANT
A substance that causes an itch, stinging, or burning sensation.
ISCHAEMIA
A lack of blood supply to an organ.
J
JAUNDICE
Raised bilirubin in the blood, which causes yellowing of the skin.
JOINT
Articulation.
L
LACERATE
To cut or tear the skin.
LAXATIVE
A drug used to open the bowels.
LETHARGIC
Lacking energy, sleepy, or drowsy.
LIFE SUPPORT
Measures that sustain or substitute essential body functions.
LIFE-THREATENING
Endangering life.
LINE
An intravenous catheter.
LINEN
Clothes and bedding used by patients (often stored in a linen room).
LOBE
Any of the subdivisions of an organ delineated by shape or tissue (e.g., ear, lung, liver).
LONG STAY ADMISSION
A patient who will remain in the hospital for an extended period.
LOTION
Liquid medicine applied to the skin or scalp.
LOWER (INFERIOR)
Situated below (e.g., lower leg).
LUMP
Swelling or tumor.
M
MALAISE
General bodily weakness or discomfort, often marking the onset of a disease.
MALIGNANT
Likely to be incurable, uncontrollable, or resistant to therapy; rapidly spreading.
MELAENA
Black, tarry faeces (indicating digested blood).
MEASLES (RUBEOLA)
A contagious viral disease displaying a characteristic skin rash.
MEMBRANE
A thin lining or covering.
MICRO-ORGANISM
A cell that can only be seen under a microscope.
MICTURITION
Urination.
MIDWIFE
A professional trained to supervise pregnancy, assist in childbirth, and manage the puerperium period.
MILD
Not severe or serious; slight.
MONITOR
To check and document the patient’s vital signs.
MONKEY POLE
A bar over the patient’s bed used to help them sit up.
MRSA (METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS)
A bacterium resistant to most antibiotics.
MUCOPURULENT
Containing pus in the mucus.
MUCOSA
The lining of the internal surfaces of the body.
MUCUS
A slimy substance lubricating the respiratory and digestive surfaces.
MUMPS
Contagious viral inflammation of the parotid and salivary glands, and sometimes the testes and ovaries.
N
NAPE
The back of the neck.
NAUSEA
A feeling of sickness.
NAVEL (UMBILICUS)
A depression in the abdominal muscle wall.
NEBULISER
A device that converts liquid medication into a fine mist, which is breathed in through a mask or mouthpiece.
NEUROPATHY
An abnormality in the nervous system.
NIPPLE
The pigmented area on the surface of each breast, surrounded by the areola.
NODE
A small gland (e.g., lymph node).
NUMBNESS
A lack of physical sensation or feeling.
O
OBSERVATION CHART
A document where the patient’s vital signs are documented.
OBSTETRICS
Medical care during pregnancy and childbirth.
OCCLUDE
To block.
ODOUR
A smell, usually unpleasant.
OEDEMA
Swelling caused by excessive fluid in the tissues.
OLIGURIA
Insufficient secretion of urine (less than 30 ml/h).
OPTIMAL
Best possible.
ORTHOPNOEA
Breathing difficulty that requires an upright sitting position.
OTALGIA
Earache.
OXYGEN MASK
A device placed over the nose and mouth that allows the patient to breathe oxygen.
P
PARAMEDIC
An ambulance technician trained to give emergency treatment.
PASS AWAY
To die.
PASS URINE
To urinate.
PATSLIDE
A hard, thin board used to transfer patients from trolleys to beds or vice versa.
PLASTER
A band-aid.
PENICILLIN
The first antibiotic discovered.
PHLEBOTOMIST
A technician whose job is to draw blood.
PHLEGM
Mucus originating from the bronchus.
PHYSIOLOGY
The study of the normal functions of the body.
PHYSIOTHERAPY
Treatment of pain, disease, or injury using controlled exercises and physical means.
PILL (TABLET)
A solid dosage form of medication.
PNEUMONIA
Inflammation of the lungs due to infection.
PODIATRIST
A specialist in caring for the feet.
POLYDIPSIA
Abnormally excessive thirst as a symptom of a disease.
POLYPHAGIA
Abnormally excessive hunger as a symptom of a disease.
POLYURIA
Production of an abnormally large volume of urine.
POSTERIOR
At the back.
POSTURE
The way the body is held.
PREMEDICATION
A drug given before the administration of general anesthetic.
PRESCRIPTION
A medical written instruction stating the drug, dose, form, and frequency.
PRIME
To purge; to ensure that there is no air inside an IV line or giving system.
PROBE
An instrument for investigating the depth and direction of a wound.
PROCTOSCOPE
An instrument for examining the rectum.
PROTEINURIA
Protein present in the urine.
PSYCHIATRY
The science of diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.
PSYCHOLOGY
The science which studies human behavior.
PUMP
A medical device for administering medication from a drip.
PURULENT
Containing pus.
PUS
A yellowish fluid that comes from an infected wound.