Common Medical Terms To Know

Here are some common Medical terms that every individual has to know. You may come across these words on your prescription or technically a doctor speaking to other medical professionals.

Just take a quick look at it 

Acute: Infection which is sudden in onset.

Abrasion: A scrape that typically only affects the skin.

Abscess: Formation of pus  pocket usually due to infection.

Aneurysm: Weakening of the artery and can lead to rupture.

Aortic dissection: A tear in the inner layer of the aorta.

Bradycardia: Heart rate—typically less than 60 beats per minute for adults.

Benign: Usually in reference to tumors or growth which is not cancerous

Biopsy: Sample of tissue that’s taken for testing to discover the cause of a disease.

Blood culture: A test used to find any unusual bacteria or fungi in blood.

Blood gas: A test to show the gas-phase components of blood including oxygen, carbon dioxide.

Blood pressure: Measure of how well the blood is circulating. Normal blood pressure measure about 120/80 for adults.

Blood swab: A blood sample taken with a cotton-tipped stick.

Bowel disimpaction: Removal of hardened fecal matter from a patient's rectum.

Central line: Catheter placed in a large vein that allows multiple IV fluids.

C-section: Cesarean delivery

Puls/ox: Pulse oximetry, a measure of oxygen saturation in blood.

Dialysis: Procedure to filter blood for patients with kidney failure.

Pulse: Measure of a pulsating artery.

Intubation: Insertion of an endotracheal tube to assist patient breathing.

Laparotomy: Any surgery involving an incision in the abdominal wall.

Lumbar puncture: Withdrawal of cerebrospinal fluid through a hollow needle inserted into the lumbar region.

Sternotomy: Surgical opening of the breast bone.

Thoracotomy: Surgery on the chest cavity.

Ultrasound: Diagnostic imaging that uses high-frequency sound waves.

Venipuncture: The drawing of blood from a vein.

Chronic: Recurring, persistent condition, usually more than three months.

Contusion: Bruise resulting from  impact or force.

Cyanosis: Bluish skin, stems from lack of oxygen in the blood.

Diagnosis: Identification of a condition, disease or disorder by evaluation of symptoms.

Thrombosis: Blood clot 

Edema: Swelling caused by fluid accumulation.

Embolus: A blood clot, air bubble or other obstruction blocking blood flow in the affected blood vessel.

Fracture: Broken bone.

Atrial fibrillation: Heart muscle resulting in an irregular pulse and poor blood flow.

Hypertension: Abnormally high blood pressure.

Hypotension: Abnormally low blood pressure.

Ischemia: Lack of blood flow to an organ or part of the body. Often refers to the heart-cardiac ischemia.

Malignant: Indicating the presence of cancerous cells.

Cancer: Collection of related diseases where some of the body’s cells multiply out of control spreading into surrounding tissues.

Normal sinus rhythm: A normal heartbeat  between 60 and 80 beats per minute in an adult.

Tumor: A swelling or mass, often used in relation to cancer.

Tension pneumothorax: A collapsed lung.

Pericardial effusion: Blood or fluid leaking into the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart.

Endoscope: A long flexible tube with its own special lighting and camera used to look into the body.

Foley: Flexible tube inserted into the urethra to drain the bladder.

Epidural: An injection of a local anesthetic to the lumbar level

Sublingual: Meaning “below the tongue.

Nocte: Latin for at night.

Mane: Latin for in the morning.

OD: Once daily.

BDS : Latin, “bis die sumendum” meaning take two times per day.

TDS: Three times per day.

QDS: 4 times per day

PO: Medication taken by mouth or orally.

NS: Normal saline

Myocardial infarction: Heart attack.

Angina: A disease in which narrowing of the arteries supplying the heart results in reduced blood flow and chest pain. 

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA): Commonly called a stroke. 

Sepsis: A serious condition caused the body’s response to severe infection.

Critical: Patient’s vital signs are out of the normal.

Inpatient: Patient who is admitted in hospital setting

Observation: A patient who vital sign and health condition are observed by a doctor and staff nurse

Outpatient:This can include clinic visits, same-day surgeries, and one-day emergency room visits.

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