Glossary Of Medical Terms

GLOSSARY OF MEDICAL TERMS

A

ABCESS- bacterial pus-filled pocket caused by bite, scratch, wound. Should be drained & on antibiotics to clear infection, fever.

ABRASION - scraped skin surface

ACTH - adrenal gland test - pituitary gland stimulates adrenal gland to product cortisone-like hormones

ACUPUNCTURE - ancient oriental system of medicine w/needles inserted into body areas to heal

ADDISON’S DISEASE - disease of fatigue, low blood pressure, affected by malfunction of adrenal gland

ADENOVIRUS - respiratory infection like a cold

ADHESION - abnormal sticking together of tissues, i.e. ruptured abscess; surgical procedure in abdomen or chest

ADRENAL GLAND - gland producing adrenaline & cortisone

ADRENALINE - epinephrine hormone produced in adrenal gland

ALOPECIA - loss of hair

ANAL GLAND - small glands on either side of rectum, fill w/fecal matter and when full are squeezed by fecal movement, scooting across floor. Infection or impaction occurs when sac cannot be drained naturally and must be surgical opened or removed.

ANEMIA - decrease in red blood cells

ANESTHESIA - isofluorane (aerrane) used at CAH-pet goes under fast and comes up fast- monitored throughout w/respiratory monitor.

ANGINA - pressure of suffocating, strangulation

ANOREXIA - loss of appetite

APNEA - temporary cessation of breathing

ARRHYTHMIA - abnormal heartbeat

ASCARIDS - round worms - live in intestines

ASPIRATE- draw out fluid from under skin, nasal, etc. in body; suction

ASPIRIN - Do NOT tell clients to give - only can be told by a vet

ASTHMA- difficult breathing, wheezing

ATAXIA - loss of muscle coordination

ATROPHY - shrinking of normal organ or tissue

AUTO-IMMUNE - unable to create immunity to disease

AVID MICROCHIP - tiny microchip implanted under skin to ID a pet if it is lost. Number scans on electronic scanner

BENIGN - mild, not cancerous

BILE - yellow fluid produced in liver - important to absorb fats, make the intestines alkaline

BILIRUBIN - pigment of bile - lab test determines function of liver

BLOOD PROFILE - blood chemistry to test function of organs, body parts and blood components. Includes glucose, total protein, calcium, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, chloride, kidney & liver functions, etc.

BORDETELLA - kennel cough

BRONCHITIS - inflammation of lining of lungs

CALICIVIRUS - feline respiratory disease- affects ulceration's in mouth

CASTRATION - removal of testes in males

CAUTERY - apply heat to destroy or seal bleeding tissue

CERVICAL - pertaining to neck region

CHEMOTHERAPY - treatment of cancer with chemical drugs

CHLAMYDIA - feline respiratory disease

CHRONIC - long term disease, illness

COAGULATION TEST - time it takes for blood to clot

COCCIDIA - bacterial parasite found in stool

COLITIS- inflammation of large bowel (intestine)

CONGENITAL - present at birth

CONJUNCTIVITIS - thin membrane(film) over eye

CONTACT DERMATITIS - skin eruption, redness, inflamed skin

COOMBS TEST - test for allergic disease to own body

CORONA - intestinal virus of dogs. Symptoms - extreme vomiting & diarrhea

CROSS MATCH - test for compatibility for transfusion

CRYPTORCHID - testes not descended from abdominal cavity

CUSHING DISEASE - excessive cortisone output of adrenal gland due to adrenal gland malfunction

CYANOSIS - blue tinge of skin, mucous membranes by lack of oxygen

CYTOLOGY - study of cell structure and functions

DEBRIDE - cleaning wound, remove dead tissue

DECIDUOUS - baby teeth, canine tooth

DECLAW - removal of feline claws. CAH does only front paws

DEWCLAW - claw on side of paw

DEHYDRATION - drying out, loss of body fluid

DERMATITIS - inflammation of skin (eczema), i.e. skin allergies

DEXTROSE - sugar

DISC DISEASE - neuro disease causing pain; paralysis

DORSAL - back

DUODENUM - first part of the small intestine

DYSPEPSIA - disturbed digestion

DYSPNEA - heart or lung difficulty in breathing

DYSURIA - painful, difficult urination

ECTROPION - eyelid turns out

ECZMA - inflamed skin

EDEMA - fluid swelling of tissues

EEG - brain-wave activity test

EKG - heart activity test

EMBOLISM - obstruction of blood vessel

ENCEPHALITIS - inflammation on brain

ENTERITIS - inflammation of intestine

ENUCLEATION - removal of eyeball

EPIPHERA - chronic tearing of eyes

ERYTHEMA - redness of skin

EXCISE - to cut out

EXPECTORANT - softens bronchial distress

FELV - virus affecting white blood cells, causing cancerous tumors, lesions

FIBROIDS - tumor of uterus

FILARIASIS - threadlike worms

FIP - virus w/swollen abdomen, affects circulatory system, breathing & nervous system difficulty

FISSURE - break in skin

FLATULENCE - gas

FLORA - bacteria in intestine

FUSION - union, merging together

FVRCP - feline vaccine covering the following respiratory diseases a cat can get. (Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia)

GRAND-MAL - severe seizure

G. I. - gastro intestinal

HEARTWORM - worms living in the heart, transmitted by mosquitoes

HEATSTROKE - serious reaction to exposure to extreme heat, high temp.

HEMATOMA - blood swelling in ear (cauliflower ear)

HEMATACRIT - percentage of red cells in whole blood

HEMATURIA - blood in urine

HEMOGLOBIN - coloring matter of red cells in blood

HEMOLYSIS - breakdown of red blood cells

HEMORRHAGE - bleeding

HEPATITIS - disease of the liver

HERNIA - protrusion of organ part through weak tissue of that organ

HOOKWORM - parasites of the intestines; they suck blood off intestinal walls

HYPERPLASIA - overgrowth of organ or tissue

HYPERTENSION - high blood pressure (opposite - Hypo)

HYPERTHYROIDISM - overactivity of thyroid gland

HYPODERMIC - under the skin

HYPOGLYCEMIA - low blood sugar

HYPOTENSION - low blood pressure

IAD -inhalant allergy disease

ICTERUS - jaundice

IDIOPATHIC - unknown causes

ILEITIS - inflamed ileum (small intestine)

IMPACTED - lodged in place

INCISORS - cutting teeth

INCONTINENCE - cannot restrain feces or urine

IRRIGATION - washing out

KERATITIS - inflamed cornea

LACERATION - wound, tearing of tissue

LACRIMAL - tears

LAPAROTOMY - opening abdomen

LARYNGECTOMY - surgical removal of larynx

LARYNGOSCOPE - endoscope on throat

LAVAGE - wash out stomach

LEPTOSPIROSIS - canine virus causing jaundice

LESION- scratch, abscess, injury altering tissues

LEUKEMIA - feline cancer of the blood by increased WBC(white cells)

LEUKOCYTES - white blood cells

LIGATE - tie up

LIPOMA - fatty tumor

LUMBAR - mid spine

LYME DISEASE - joint disease caused by tick bite

LYMPHOMA - lymph gland cancer

MALAISE - listless, depression

MALIGNANT - life threatening ; cancerous

MASTITIS - inflamed breasts

MELANOMA - dark color mole

METASTASIS - spread of the disease; cancerous

MYELITIS - inflammation of spinal cord

MYOCARDITIS - inflammation of heart muscle

NARES - nostrils

NECROPSY - autopsy

NECROSIS - death to a portion of a tissue

NEOPLASM - abnormal new growth

NEPHRITIS - inflammation of kidney

NEURALGIA - nerve pain

NEURITIS - inflammation of nerve

OCCLUSION - close or shut off blood vessel, meeting of upper & lower teeth

OCCULT - hidden, not seen

OCULAR - pertaining to eye

ONCOLOGY - study of tumors

OPHTHALMIC - pertaining to eye

OPIATES - narcotics

ORTHOPEDIC - bones, joints, muscles, tendons

OSTEITIS - inflammation of bones

OSTEOCONDRITIS - inflammation of bones & cartilage

OTIS - inflammation of ear

PALPATION - feeling or manipulation of a particular area of body

PAPILLA -pimple

PARESIS - slight paralysis

PARVO - contagious canine virus causing severe bloody diarrhea & vomiting

PERIODONTAL - inflammation of gums

PLEURA - membrane of the lung

POLYPHAGIA - excessive eating

POLYDIPSIA - excessive thirst

POLYURIA - excessive urination

POST PARTUM - post birth

PRURITIS - severe itching/scratching

PYODERMA - skin infection with pustules

RABIES - fatal zoonotic disease

RENAL CARE - kidney care

RHINITIS - inflamed nasal area

RHINOTRACHEITIS - feline virus like a cold ; respiratory/nasal area

RINGWORM - fungal skin disease

RODENT ULCER - skin disease of cats - recurrent

ROUNDWORM - intestinal parasites

SEBACEOUS - benign cyst

SEBORRHEA - dandruff, acne, skin disorder

SEPTICEMIA - generalized internal infection

SHOCK - loss of blood volume causing severe weakness

SPONDYLITIS - inflammation of vertebrae

STASIS - stagnation

STENOSIS - constriction, narrowing

SUB Q (SUBCUTANEOUS) - beneath the skin

SYNCOPE - fainting

TACHYCARDIA - rapid heartbeat

THORAX - chest

THROMBOSIS - clot in a blood vessel

TOXIN - poisonous substance in cells

TYLENOL - DO NOT GIVE TO PETS - is poisonous to pets

ULTRASOUND - sound waves(echoes) to locate organs, tumors, and enlargements by instrument

URINALYSIS - test performed on urine sample to detect blood, infection, glucose, etc.

VASCULAR - pertaining to blood vessels

VENTRAL - bellyside

VESTIBULAR - part of the ear allowing balance/coordination

VISCID - sticky, thick

WBC - white blood cell count

WHIPWORM- intestinal parasites

WOOD’S LIGHT (LAMP) - device to check for ringworm

XANTHOSIS - yellow skin

ZOONOSES - diseases of animals transmitted to humans