HSC 105 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Ascites, Hypertrophy, Appendicitis
Chapter 1 Vocab
abnormal: pertaining to away from the norm or rule. A condition that is considered to be
not normal.
oAbbreviation: “Abn” or “abn”
oAb- :away from
oNorm: rule
o–al: pertaining to
abscess: localized collection of pus, which may occur in any part of the body
oplural is abscesses
plural adds “es”
acute: sudden, sharp, severe; used to describe a disease that has a sudden onset, severe
symptoms, and a short course
oabbreviation: Ac
oEx: Acute Bronchitis vs. Chronic Bronchitis
Adhesion: means a process of being stuck together. An abdominal adhesion usually
involves the intestines and is caused by inflammation of trauma
oEx: adhesions may form after abdominal surgery in which the outside of intestines
could adhere to other parts of the intestine
oAdhes: stuck to
o–ion: process
ambulatory: condition of being able to walk, not confined to bed
oex: Ambulatory Surgical Center is where patients have surgical procedures and
leave the same day
do not stay overnight
oabbreviation: “amb”
antidote: substance given to counteract poisons and their effects
antipyretic: pertaining to an agent that is used to lower an elevated body temperature
(fever)
oa drug that would reduce fever. Physicians may order Tylenol, ibuprofen, and
aspirin
oanti-: against
opyret: fever
o–ic: pertaining to
antiseptic: an agent that works against sepsis (putrefaction); a technique or product used
to prevent or limit infections
oanti- against
osept: putrefaction
o–ic: pertaining to
antitussive: pertaining to an agent that works against coughing
o-anti: against
otuss: cough
o–ive: nature of, quality of
asepsis: without decay; sterile, free from all living microorganisms
oa: without
o–sepsis: decay
biopsy: surgical removal of a small piece of tissue for microscopic examination; used to
determine a diagnosis of cancer or other disease processes in the body
oA biopsy is obtained by a physician who could be a general surgeon, urologist,
dermatologist, gynecologist, etc. The specimen (part removed) that was
obtained by biopsy is sent to a Pathology for interpretation/diagnosis by the
pathologist.
oBx is the abbreviation. Example: Prostate Bx.
oBi(o) life
o–opsy: to view
Cachexia: condition of ill health, malnutrition, and wasting it may occur in chronic
diseases such as cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis
oSeen with patients dying of AIDS or cancer or even debilitating diseases such as
COPD
oCac: bad
o–hexia: condition
Chemotherapy: the use of chemical agents in the treatment or disease, specifically drugs
used in cancer therapy
oUsually refers to treatment of cancer with chemicals and drugs.
oChem/o: chemical
o-therapy: treatment
chronic: pertaining to time; denotes a disease with little change or of slow progression;
the opposite of acute
oA patient can have both an Acute Bronchitis and also have Chronic Bronchitis.
Diagnosis: determination of the cause and nature of a disease, which is most often
determined through the process of knowledge
oAbbreviation: “Dx”
oDia-: through
o–gnosis: knowledge
Diaphoresis: to carry through sweat glands; profuse sweating from areas of the body that
usually doesn’t sweat
oProfuse sweating from areas of body that usually doesn’t sweat. Seen in ‘heart
attack’ and various types of shock.
oDia- through
o–phoresis: to carry
disease: a disruption of normal functioning of the body by a process that can be
congenital, infectious, or the failure of normal activity, to maintain and sustain health.
Etiology: study of the cause(s) of disease
oOne of the topics covered for each disease/condition discussed in a
Pathophysiology course.
oeti/o: cause
o–logy: study of
Excision: process of cutting out, surgical removal
oex-: out
ocis: to cut
o–ion: process
Febrile: pertaining to fever, a sustained body temperature above 98.6 degrees F
illness: state of being sick
incision: process of cutting into
oin-: in, into
ocis: to cut
o–ion: process
malaise: a general feeling of discomfort, uneasiness; often felt by a patient who has a
chronic disease
omacr/o: large
oscop: to examine
o–ic: pertaining to
malignant: pertaining to the spreading process of cancer
oformation of bad kind; growing worse, harmful, cancerous
omalign: bad kind
o–ant: forming
necrosis: abdominal condition of tissue death
onecr- death
o–osis: condition
Oncology: literally means the study of timers; the study of the etiology, the
characteristics, treatments, etc. of cancer
oAn Oncologist is the medical specialist that practices Oncology.
oOnc/o: tumor
o–logy: study of
pallor: paleness; a lack of color
oseen in several medical conditions
Paracentesis: surgical puncture of a body cavity for fluid removal
oA long needle (attached to a large syringe) is inserted into a cavity (usually the
abdomen). Fluid is aspirated (pull out) from the cavity. Example: used to treat
Ascites (abnormal fluid in the abdomen) seen with some liver conditions.
o--There are several terms you will learn in later chapters with the suffix “-
centesis”, such as Thoracentesis and Pericardiocentesis.
oPara-: beside
o–centesis: surgical puncture
Prognosis: means a state of foreknowledge; prediction of the course of a disease and the
recovery rate of the affected person
oPrediction of the course of a disease and the recovery rate. Example: your cold
symptoms will last about a week or you have six months to live.
prophylactic: pertaining to preventing or protecting against disease or pregnancy
oprophylact: guarding
o–ic: pertaining to
pyrogenic: pertaining to the production of heat; a fever
Document Summary
Abnormal: pertaining to away from the norm or rule. A condition that is considered to be not normal. Adhesion: means a process of being stuck together. The specimen (part removed) that was obtained by biopsy is sent to a pathology for interpretation/diagnosis by the pathologist: bx is the abbreviation. Example: prostate bx: bi(o) life, opsy: to view. Cachexia: condition of ill health, malnutrition, and wasting it may occur in chronic diseases such as cancer and pulmonary tuberculosis: seen with patients dying of aids or cancer or even debilitating diseases such as. Diagnosis: determination of the cause and nature of a disease, which is most often determined through the process of knowledge: abbreviation: dx , dia-: through, gnosis: knowledge. Diaphoresis: to carry through sweat glands; profuse sweating from areas of the body that usually doesn"t sweat: profuse sweating from areas of body that usually doesn"t sweat.
