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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 U

ULCER - sore of lesion of the skin or membrane of an organ caused by infection or disease

URO, URONO - when used as a part of a word, refers to urine, the urinary tract, or urination

UTER, UTERO - when used as a part of a word, refers to the uterus

To top of page V

VACCINE - substance made from a weakened or dead virus or bacteria, which is administered orally or by injection to trigger the body's immune defense. Polio and smallpox are two diseases that are nearly extinct in the U.S. because most of the population have taken vaccines to protect them against these diseases

VALVE - structures, usually a flap of tissue, found in the heart, veins, lymph vessels, and other passages that ensure fluid contents, like blood, flow in only one direction

VIRUS - a micro-organism that must attach itself to a living cell to complete itself and be able to reproduce. Some viruses are disease-producing and causes illnesses such as measles, chickenpox, some types of pneumonia, and the common cold.

To top of page W

WHEEZE - a high-pitched sound that indicates a narrowed airway. Usually caused by chronic respiratory disease such as asthma but can also be caused by a foreign object in the airway.

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS - physical changes that result when addictive substances such as nicotine, alcohol, or narcotics are removed. Withdrawal symptoms are sometimes life-threatening.

To top of page X

X CHROMOSOME - determines gender; females have two X chromosomes and males have one X and one Y chromosome

XENO - when used as a part of a word, means strange or foreign

XER, XERO - when used as part of a word, means dryness, e.g., xerocheilia, dry lips

To top of page Y

Y CHROMOSOME - part of the genetic code that is found only in males

To top of page Z

ZOO - when used as a part of a word, refers to animals, e.g., zoonosis, a disease such as rabies that is transmitted by animals to humans

ZYGOMATIC - the cheekbones

ZYGOTE - a fertilized egg

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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