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Deciphering Medspeak

To top of page Medspeak Terms

Use the alphabetical index to look up a term.

A . B . C . D . E . F . G . H . I . J . K . L . M . N . O . P . Q . R . S . T . U . V . W . X . Y . Z

To top of page P

PALPATION - diagnostic technique of feeling, with the hands, the firmness, texture, or location of various body parts

PALPITATION - pounding or racing of the heart

PARENTERAL - administration of a drug by injection or through any means other than the digestive system, e.g., parenteral nutrition means feeding the patient through a tube inserted into the veins

PERI - when used as a part of a word, means around, e.g., pericardial sac, a protective sac around the heart

PERTUSSIS - acute, contagious respiratory disease usually found in young children, also called whooping cough

PHLEBO - when used as a part of a word, refers to veins

-PLEGIA - when used as a part of a word, means paralysis

POST - after or later, e.g., postmortem (after death)

PRURITUS - itching

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QUARANTINE - isolation of people with contagious disease in an effort to prevent the spread of disease

To top of page R

RACHI, RACHIO - when used as the part of a word, means the spine

REFLEX - involuntary movement in response to certain stimulus

RENAL FAILURE - inability of the kidneys to function and remove waste

RSV - Respiratory Syncytial Virus, any group of viruses that cause respiratory disease in children or adults including Respiratory Distress Syndrome in newborns

RETICULUM - network

RHINITIS - inflammation of the nasal membranes usually caused by allergies or the common cold

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SANGUI , SANGUIO - when used as part of a word, refers to blood

SARCO - when used as a part of a word, refers to flesh

SCHIZO - when used as a part of a word, means division or split

SCLER, SCLERO - when used as a part of a word, means hard, e.g., scleroderma, hardening of the skin

SEPSIS - infection or contamination, e.g., asepsis, which means sterile or uncontaminated

STATIC - unchanging

SUB - when used as a part of a word, means under, e.g., sublingual, under the tongue

To top of page T

TACHY - when used as a part of a word, means swift or rapid, e.g., tachycardia, abnormally fast heartbeat

THERMO - when used as a part of a word, refers to heat, e.g., thermometer, a device for measuring temperature

THROMBO - when used as a part of a word, refers to a blood clot, e.g., thromboectomy, surgical removal of a blood clot

TISSUE - a collection of similar cells acting together to perform a particular function

TOPICAL - surface, e.g., topical ointment is applied to the skin

TRANS - when used as part of a word, means across, through, or over

TRICHI, TRICHO, TRICHIA, TRICHOSIS - when used as a part of a word, refers to hair

To top of page Didn't find it here?

Try the National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus dictionary or medical encyclopedia.

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