Medical Glossary (A–Z) – Nursing Student Edition

A

• Abscess: A localized collection of pus caused by infection.

• Acute: A condition with rapid onset and/or short duration.

• Anemia: A deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood.

• Anesthesia: Loss of sensation, often induced for surgical procedures.

• Antibiotic: A drug used to treat bacterial infections.

• Anticoagulant: A medication that prevents blood clotting.

• Asepsis: The absence of harmful microorganisms.

B

• Bedsores (Pressure ulcers): Skin lesions from prolonged pressure.

• Benign: Not cancerous; does not spread to other body parts.

• Biopsy: The removal of tissue for diagnostic examination.

• Bradycardia: A slow heart rate, typically under 60 bpm.

• Bradypnea: Abnormally slow breathing.

• Bronchitis: Inflammation of the bronchi in the lungs.

C

• Catheter: A tube inserted into the body to drain or deliver fluids.

• Chronic: A long-lasting or recurrent condition.

• Cyanosis: Bluish discoloration of skin/mucosa due to low oxygen.

• Circulatory system: The heart and blood vessels that circulate blood.

• Coma: A state of deep unconsciousness.

• Contusion: A bruise caused by blunt trauma.

D

• Debridement: Removal of dead or infected tissue to promote healing.

• Dehydration: Loss of body fluids, often from illness or heat.

• Delirium: Sudden confusion due to illness or medication.

• Diabetes: A disorder affecting blood sugar regulation.

• Diaphoresis: Excessive sweating.

• Dyspnea: Difficult or labored breathing.

E

• Edema: Swelling from fluid accumulation in tissues.

• Embolism: A blockage in a blood vessel by a clot or air bubble.

• Emesis: Vomiting.

• Endoscopy: A procedure to view internal organs using a scope.

• Epistaxis: Nosebleed.

• Erythema: Redness of the skin due to capillary dilation.

F

• Fever: Elevated body temperature due to infection.

• Fracture: A break or crack in a bone.

• Fatigue: Extreme tiredness or lack of energy.

• Foley catheter: A urinary catheter that remains in the bladder.

• Fungus: A type of organism causing infections like athlete’s foot.

G

• Gastritis: Inflammation of the stomach lining.

• Glucose: A simple sugar and main source of cellular energy.

• Gout: A type of arthritis caused by uric acid buildup.

• Guaiac test: A test to detect blood in the stool.

• Gynecology: The branch of medicine dealing with female reproductive health.

H

• Hematemesis: Vomiting of blood.

• Hematuria: Blood in the urine.

• Hemoglobin: A protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.

• Hemorrhage: Excessive bleeding.

• Hypertension: High blood pressure.

• Hypotension: Low blood pressure.

I

• Immunization: The process of becoming protected against disease.

• Incision: A surgical cut.

• Infection: Invasion of the body by harmful microorganisms.

• Inflammation: The body’s response to injury or infection.

• Insulin: A hormone that regulates blood sugar.

• Intubation: Insertion of a tube into the airway for ventilation.

J

• Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin or eyes due to liver dysfunction.

• Joint: A point where two bones meet and allow movement.

• Jugular vein: Major veins in the neck returning blood to the heart.

K

• Keloid: Thick scar tissue that forms after injury.

• Kidney: Organ that filters waste from blood and produces urine.

• Kyphosis: Excessive curvature of the upper spine (humpback).

L

• Laceration: A deep cut or tear in the skin.

• Lactation: Production of milk from the mammary glands.

• Lesion: A damaged or abnormal area of tissue.

• Leukocyte: A white blood cell.

• Lumbar: Lower region of the back.

M

• Malignant: Cancerous; capable of spreading.

• Metastasis: Spread of cancer from one part of the body to another.

• Migraine: A severe headache often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light.

• Muscle: Tissue that contracts to produce movement.

• Myocardial infarction: Heart attack caused by blocked blood flow to the heart.

N

• Nausea: The sensation of wanting to vomit.

• Necrosis: Death of body tissue.

• Neoplasm: An abnormal growth, benign or malignant.

• Neurology: The study of the nervous system.

• NPO (nil per os): Medical abbreviation for “nothing by mouth.”

O

• Obesity: Excessive body fat affecting health.

• Oxygen: A gas essential for cellular respiration.

• Osteoporosis: Weakening of bones due to loss of density.

• Otitis: Inflammation of the ear.

• Oximeter: A device to measure oxygen saturation.

P

• Palpation: Using hands to examine the body.

• Pathogen: A microorganism that causes disease.

• Peristalsis: Wave-like muscle contractions in the digestive tract.

• Phlebitis: Inflammation of a vein.

• Pneumonia: Lung infection causing inflammation and fluid buildup.

Q

• Quadrant: One of four parts (used in abdominal assessment).

• Quarantine: Isolation to prevent the spread of infection.

R

• Radiology: The use of imaging to diagnose disease.

• Respiration: The act of breathing.

• Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune disease affecting joints.

• Rupture: A break or tear in tissue.

S

• Sepsis: A life-threatening response to infection spreading in the body.

• Sputum: Mucus from the lungs expelled by coughing.

• Stethoscope: An instrument for listening to internal body sounds.

• Syncope: Temporary loss of consciousness (fainting).

• Suture: A stitch used to close a wound.

T

• Tachycardia: Fast heart rate (over 100 bpm).

• Tetanus: A serious bacterial infection causing muscle stiffness.

• Thrombosis: Formation of a blood clot inside a vessel.

• Trachea: The windpipe; carries air to the lungs.

• Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue.

U

• Ulcer: An open sore on the skin or mucous membrane.

• Urethra: The tube that carries urine out of the body.

• Urinalysis: A test of urine for diagnosing health conditions.

• Urticaria: Hives – an allergic skin reaction with itchy welts.

V

• Vaccine: A substance used to stimulate immunity against disease.

• Varicose veins: Enlarged, twisted veins, usually in the legs.

• Vasodilation: Widening of blood vessels.

• Vital signs: Key measurements: temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood pressure.

• Vomiting: The act of expelling stomach contents through the mouth.

W

• Wound: An injury to the skin or underlying tissues.

• Wheezing: A high-pitched whistling sound when breathing, often due to narrowed airways.

X

• X-ray: A type of imaging test that uses radiation to view internal body structures.

Y

• Yeast infection: An overgrowth of Candida fungus, often in the mouth or genitals.

Z

• Zoonosis: A disease transmitted from animals to humans (e.g., rabies).