Medical terms starting with A

98 entries

• -acPertaining to.
• -algiaPain.
• a-, an-Without, not, or lacking.
• A1CGlycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c): a blood test reflecting average blood glucose over the past 2 to 3 months.
• ab-Away from.
• abandonmentEnding care of a patient who still needs it without proper notice or arranging for another qualified provider.
• abdomin/oAbdomen, the trunk region between the diaphragm and the pelvis.
• abdominopelvic cavityThe lower part of the ventral cavity, holding the abdominal and pelvic organs.
• abductionMovement of a limb away from the midline of the body.
• ABGArterial blood gases: a test of oxygen, carbon dioxide and pH in arterial blood.
• ABNAdvance Beneficiary Notice of Non-coverage: a Medicare form telling the patient, before the service, that Medicare may…
• abrasionA scrape: skin damaged by rubbing or scraping.
• absorptionMovement of a drug from where it is given into the bloodstream.
• acBefore meals.
• ACAAffordable Care Act (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act): a federal law to improve access to health insurance…
• accountabilityTaking responsibility for one's own actions and their consequences.
• ACEAngiotensin-converting enzyme; ACE inhibitors treat high blood pressure and heart failure. In psychology, ACE also…
• ACLAnterior cruciate ligament, a commonly injured ligament of the knee.
• ACLSAdvanced cardiac life support: advanced emergency care for cardiac arrest and related emergencies.
• ACOAccountable care organization: doctors, hospitals and other providers who join to give coordinated care and share…
• active immunityImmunity produced by a person's own immune system after infection or vaccination.
• active listeningGiving full attention to understand what the speaker means and responding thoughtfully.
• acuteDescribes a condition with sudden onset and usually short duration.
• AD, AS, AURight ear, left ear, each ear. Error-prone: confused with OD, OS, OU (eyes). Write right ear, left ear or each ear.
• ad-Toward or near.
• ADAAmericans with Disabilities Act: a federal civil rights law banning discrimination against people with disabilities.
• additiveA substance in a blood tube, such as an anticoagulant or clot activator, that prepares the specimen for testing.
• adductionMovement of a limb toward the midline of the body.
• aden/oGland.
• ADHAntidiuretic hormone: made by the hypothalamus and released from the posterior pituitary; it signals the kidneys to…
• ADHDAttention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
• adip/oFat.
• ADLActivities of daily living: basic self-care tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating and toileting.
• advance directiveA legal document stating a patient's wishes about life-sustaining treatment if they cannot speak for themselves.
• adverse drug reactionA harmful, unintended response to a drug at normal doses.
• advocacySpeaking up for or supporting a patient, cause or policy.
• AEDAutomated external defibrillator: a device that analyzes the rhythm and delivers a shock if needed.
• afebrileWithout fever; temperature at the person's normal baseline.
• AFibAtrial fibrillation: a fast, irregular rhythm of the upper heart chambers.
• AIDSAcquired immunodeficiency syndrome: the advanced stage of HIV infection.
• airborne precautionsA fit-tested N95 or higher respirator and an airborne infection isolation room for diseases such as tuberculosis…
• airborne transmissionSpread of pathogens in tiny particles or droplet nuclei that stay suspended in the air.
• allergic reactionAn immune system response to a drug or other substance.
• allowed amountThe maximum a plan will pay for a covered service; also called the eligible expense or negotiated rate.
• ALT, ASTAlanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase: liver enzymes measured in blood tests.
• alveoliTiny air sacs in the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged.
• AMAAgainst medical advice: a patient leaving or refusing care the provider recommends; document it. Also the American…
• ambi-Both or both sides.
• ambulatory careOutpatient care in settings such as physician offices, clinics and outpatient surgery centers.
• analgesicA drug that relieves pain.
• anaphylaxisA sudden, severe, life-threatening allergic reaction.
• anatomical positionThe standard reference posture: standing upright, facing forward, arms at the sides, palms forward. All directional…
• anatomyThe study of the structure of the body.
• anemiaA deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin, reducing the blood's ability to carry oxygen.
• angi/oBlood vessel.
• anginaChest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.
• anorexia nervosaAn eating disorder marked by keeping body weight far too low through starvation or excessive exercise.
• ANSAutonomic nervous system: the part of the nervous system that controls involuntary functions such as heart rate and…
• ante-Before or in front of.
• anteriorToward the front of the body; also called ventral.
• anthropometric measurementA body measurement such as height, weight, BMI or head circumference.
• anti-Against or opposing.
• antibodyA protein made by the immune system that targets a specific antigen; also called an immunoglobulin.
• anticoagulantA substance that prevents blood from clotting, such as heparin, EDTA or sodium citrate in tubes, or warfarin as a drug.
• antigenA substance the immune system recognizes as foreign, which can trigger antibody production.
• antihistamineA drug that blocks histamine (H1) receptors to relieve allergy symptoms.
• antipyreticA drug that reduces fever.
• anxietyOverwhelming worry, nervousness or apprehension about real or imagined events.
• aort/oAorta, the largest artery.
• APAPAcetaminophen. ISMP: error-prone because it is not always recognized; write acetaminophen.
• apical pulseThe heartbeat heard with a stethoscope over the apex of the heart, at the fifth intercostal space, midclavicular line.
• apneaAbsence of breathing.
• appealA request that the health plan review a decision denying a benefit or payment.
• append/o, appendic/oAppendix.
• APRNAdvanced practice registered nurse, such as a nurse practitioner, with advanced education to diagnose and treat.
• ARBAngiotensin II receptor blocker, a class of blood pressure drugs.
• arteri/oArtery.
• arteryOne of the strong, elastic vessels that take blood from the heart out toward the tissues; blood pressure is highest in…
• arthr/oJoint.
• artifactInterference on an EKG tracing not caused by the heart, such as muscle tremor, patient movement or electrical…
• ASDAutism spectrum disorder: a developmental condition affecting communication and behavior.
• assaultIntentionally making someone fear they will be harmed or touched offensively.
• asthmaA chronic lung disease with airway inflammation and narrowing that causes wheezing and shortness of breath.
• asystoleAbsence of heart contraction and pulse.
• ather/oFatty plaque or deposit.
• atherosclerosisBuildup of fatty plaque in artery walls, narrowing and hardening the arteries.
• atrial fibrillationA fast, irregular rhythm in which the atria quiver instead of contracting; it raises stroke risk.
• atrial flutterA fast, regular atrial rhythm with a sawtooth pattern on the EKG.
• atriumOne of the two upper chambers of the heart that receive blood returning to the heart.
• audi/oHearing or sound.
• audiometryA hearing test that measures responses to sounds of different pitches and volumes.
• auscultationListening to body sounds with a stethoscope.
• auscultatory gapA silent period when Korotkoff sounds fade between the systolic and diastolic pressures and then return; missing it…
• auto-Self.
• autonomyThe ethical principle of respecting a patient's right to make their own decisions.
• AV nodeAtrioventricular node: tissue between the atria and ventricles that receives the impulse from the SA node and briefly…
• avulsionA wound in which skin or tissue is forcibly torn away.
• axillary temperatureTemperature taken in the armpit.