Medical Terminology

abdominal
relating to or near the middle region of the body

abdominoplasty
cosmetic surgery of the abdomen to remove wrinkles and tighten the skin over the stomach

abdominocentesis
centesis of the belly to remove fluid for diagnosis

abdominal aorta
a branch of the descending aorta

abdominous
having a large belly

abduction
the criminal act of carrying someone away by force

aberrant
markedly different from an accepted norm

abiogenesis
a hypothetical organic phenomenon by which living organisms are created from nonliving matter

acrocyanosis
cyanosis of the extremities

acrophobia
a morbid fear of great heights

acromegaly
enlargement of bones of hands and feet and face

active
characterized by energetic movement

acute
ending in a sharp point

acute gastritis
gastritis caused by ingesting an irritant

acute pyelonephritis
pyelonephritis resulting from the spread of a bladder infection
tendon
a band of tissue connecting a muscle to its bony attachment

adduction
moving of a body part toward the central axis of the body

adenitis
inflammation of a gland or lymph node

adenocarcinoma
malignant tumor originating in glandular epithelium

adenoma
a benign epithelial tumor of glandular origin

adhesion
the property of sticking together

afebrile

having no fever

akinesia
motionlessness attributable to a temporary paralysis

alopecia
partial or complete loss of hair

amenia
absence or suppression of normal menstrual flow

amenorrhea
absence or suppression of normal menstrual flow
a
mniocentesis
(pregnancy) extraction by centesis of amniotic fluid from a pregnant woman (after the 15th week of
pregnancy) to aid in the diagnosis of fetal abnormalities

amnion
thin innermost membranous sac enclosing the developing embryo of higher vertebrates (reptiles, birds
and mammals)

amniotic
of or related to the amnion or characterized by developing an amnion
amniotic fluid
the serous fluid in which the embryo is suspended inside the amnion