Definitions
a-, an- not, without
abcess a place within solid tissue of liquid made up of dead [necrotic] tissue as the result of a local infection
adenopathy enlargement of the lymph nodes
aer- air
afebrile no fever
agglutination aggregation or clumping
alveolus an air sac in the lung consisting of a single layer of cells from which gas exchange occurs; it is surrounded by a network of capillaries
anemia a decreased number of red blood cells
anergy a lack of response on the part of the immune system when tested for responsiveness
anorexia decreased appetite
anti- against
arthritis inflammation or infection of a joint
-ase enzyme
asterixis a involuntary jerking motion occurs in hepatitis encephalopathy
ataxia the inability to coordinate muscle activity
atrophy wasting of tissues
attenuation decreased virulence
bacteremia the presence of viable bacteria in the bloodstream
bacterocidins proteins produced by some bacteria that have lethal effects on related bacteria [more limited than antibiotics but more potent.
bacturiuria bacteria in the urine
bronchitis inflammation of the airways
cachexia general weight loss due to disease or emotional imbalance
catheterization the placement of a catheter through the urethra into the bladder in order to drain urine
CD4+ T cells the subset of T lymphocytes which have CD4 on their surface. They are key in controlling on the immune response
cellulitis inflammation of tissues beneath the skin
cerebellum the portion of the brain coordinating complex movements and balance
cervical of the neck
chancre the primary lesion of syphillis, heals over 4 to 6 weeks
chlor-

chorea

 green

constant complex jerky movements, a nervous system manifestation sopmetimes seen with untreated Strep pyogenes infections
chorioamnionitis inflammationof the light-detecting layer [retina] and the underlying vascular tissue
chrom- color
-cide causing death
cirrhosis destruction of a tissue with loss of normal structure and replacement with scar tissue
co-, com, con-

coagulase

 together

prothomin plus coagulase combines to make staphlothrombin which causes blood to clot by converting fibrinogen to fibrin. Coating the bacterial surface with fibrin also lessens the liklihood of phagocytosis. Coagulase can impede the progress of leukocytes into an infected area by producing clots in the surrounding capillaries. Coagualse despite ending in “ase” is not an enzyme.
colitis inflammation of the colon
coryza inflammation or infection of the nasal membranes leading to a thin watery discharge–as in the common cold
costovertebral angle the place in the back where the last ribs join to their vertebrae
cyan- blue
cystitis inflammation of the urinary bladder
cytopathic destructive to a cell
de- down, from
-dem people as in epidemic
Disseminated intravascular coagulation Complete clotting: this happens when there is complete triggering of the clotting cascade within the vascular system. There is ultimately a depletion of all the clotting factors.
dysentery frequent watery stools usually containing blood and mucus
dyspnea difficulty in breathing
eczema itchy, scaly blistery or raised skin rash
edema accumulation of large amounts of watery fluid
effusion leak of fluid into a tissue
emesis vomiting
encephalitis inflammtion of the brain
end- within as in endospore [a spore within a cell]
endocarditis inflammation of the tissue lining the inside of the heart–usually including the heart valves
endometritis inflammation of the lining of the uterus
enter- intestine
enteric relating to the intestine
enterotoxin exotoxin that causes fluid secretion in the gut
epi- upon
erythema reddening
etiology the cause of a disease or process
exo- outside
exudate fluid resulting from inflammation or infection
febrile relating to fever
flav- yellow
fomite an object that is capable of transmitting an organism from one location to another, for example toys
fulminant the sudden occurrence of an intense or severe process
gait manner of walking
gangrene necrosis [cell death] due to any cause
-gen produce, or originate as in an antigen [a substance that promotes the production of antibodies
glyc- sweet
glomerulonephritis inflammatory changes on both sides of the glomeruli that are the result of renal disease [usually due to accumulation of clumps of proteins] rather than a local infection
granuloma a collection of leukocytes, macrophages, and other cells surrounding spot of chronic inflammation or infection, it is usually a nodular mass
  • Guillain-Barre syndrome
  • i nflammation of peripheral nerves leading to increasing weakness or paralysis; occurs first in the periphery of the body and then more centrally; generally ceases as the underlying disease resolves
hematocrit amount of red blood cells [erythrocytes] in a given volume of blood [%]
hematoma a bruise; a collection of blood within an extravascular space
hemolysis destruction of red blood cells that leads to the release of hemoglobin
hepatitis inflammation of liver [hepatic] cells
hepatomegaly enlargement of the liver
hilum the area of an organ where the nerves and vessels enter and exit
horizontal transmission passage of disease from person to person or by contact with infected materials
humoral substances in the fluid [non-cellular] part of blood
hydro- water
hydrocephalus fluid in the ceregral ventricles; results in increased cranial pressure
hydrops accumulation of clear, watery fluid in sapces throughout the body
hyper- above, excessive
hypo- under
hyponatremia abnormally low sodium concentration in blood
hypoplasia underdevelopment of tissue as a result of cell loss or a decrease in cell number
iatrogenic physician or health care worker transmitted infection
icterus jaundice
idiopathic cardiomyopathy dilation and weakening of the heart muscle with no known cause
immunosuppressive an agent or disease that prevents or interferes with immune responses
impetigo infection of previously damaged skin with group A strep or with staphlococci, the lesions drain honey-colored fluid
in vivo in the organism or tissue
in vitro in tissue culture [literally in glass]
in utero inside the womb
indolent nearly or completely painless, sluggish or inactive
induration firmness in usually soft tissue
infarct tissue death often due to interuption of the blood supply
infiltrate the invasion of the spaces in a tissue by other agents–infectious or tumorous or lymphoid
interstitial spaces between the components of a tissue, for example in lungs this is the space between the parenchyma
intraperitoneally within the peritoneal cavity
ischemia cellular injury and death of cells due to the impairment of blood flow
iso- same, equal
-itis inflammation
jaundice yellow hue of the skin and mucous membranes due to an increase of bilirubins [bile breakdown products] which occur because the liver is unable to clear these chemicals from the blood
larybgitis inflammation of the voice box [larynx]
lethargy drowsiness or decreased responsiveness
leuko- white
leukemia a group of malignancies [progressive uncontroled proliferation] of lymphoid or hematopoietic origin
lumbar puncture a procedure for obtaining cerebrospinal fluid
ly-, -lys, -lyt- loosen, dissolve
lymphocytosis an increase in the number of lymphocytes above the normal number
lymphoproliferative disorders any one of a group of cancers including: lymphomas, leukemias, and multiple myelomas
macular lesions that are flat and have a change in color or texture compared with the surrounding normal tissue
malaise generalized feeling of discomfort caused by any disease process
melena excretion of black tarry stools due to blood that has been altered by the action of the intestine on the blood
meninges thin, tough tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord
meningitis inflammation of the meninges 1. Aseptic has a low number of white cells, mostly lymphocytes casued by infection by viruses or fungi; 2. Septic has a high number of white cells mostly neutrophils due to infection by bacteria
meso middle
meta changed
metastasis the occurrence of disease at sites distant from and not connected directly with the site where the disease first appeared; common with tumors and many infections
mito thread
mitral regurgitation heard as a heart murmur; results from aincomplete closure of the valve between the left atrium and ventricle due to weakening of the connective tissue of the valve leaflets
mono- single
multi- many
morbilliform rash for example in measles–the flat to slightly raised [maculopapular]
lesions
myalgia soreness or aching of muscles
myc- fungus
myx- mucus
myeloma cancer of immunoglobulin [antibody] producing cells
myocarditis inflammtion of the heart muscle cells
nares nostrils
nasopharyngeal of the nasal and pharyngeal cavities
necrosis death of cells, tissue that results from irreversible injury; for instance, necrotizing fascitis is a destructive soft tissue infection that causes death of superficial fascia
neonate a newborn infant
neuropathy disorders affecting the cranial nerve or peripheral or autonomic nervous systems
neutropenia abnormally low numbers of neutrophils in the circulating blood
nidus a place or substance in a plant oran animal where bacteria or other organism would lodge and multiply
nodular knotlike
nonsuppurative sequalae   complications caused by a previous disease that did not induce pus
nosocomial a hospital-acquired condition [that means, if the patient did not stay in the hospital–they would not have this problem]
nuchal rigidity stiff neck, associated with meningeal infection
occult blood blood in a tissue not visible to the eye, tested by guaiac [Hemoccult] test
-oid resembling
opisthotonic spastic state in which the head and the heels are bent backward and the torso extends outward
opportunistic infection an infection caused by an organism capable of causing disease only in individuals whose resistance to infection is lowed
opsonize an agent which enhances phagocytosis [typically an antibody or C’ component]
orthostatic hypotension lowered blood pressue often due to dehydration
-ose a sugar
-osos disease of
osteomyelitis inflammation of bone
ototoxic toxic to the ear, a property of some antibiotics
palpation using the hands to feel the organs
pan- all
pancytopenia loss of red blood cells and white blood cells and platelets
para- beside
parasitemia parasites in the blood
parenchyma cells of a gland or organ that are contained within and supported by the surrounding connective tissue network
paresis incomplete paralysis
pari- around
paroxysm the abrupt recurrence of disease or symptoms; also spasms or fits
pathogen any organism that causes disease
pelvic inflammatory
disease inflammation of the female reproductive organs
pericarditis inflammation of the sac covering the heart
peristalsis alternating waves of contraction and relaxation that propel the contents of the gut forward
peritonitis inflammation of the peritoneum
petechiae small, pinpoint lesions of the skin due to hemorrhage beneath the tissue; like purpura–but smaller
Peyer’s patches lymphatic tissues in the walls of the large intestine
phag- eat
phagocytosis the process by which host cells ingest and engulf solid substances such as tissue debris and bacteria
-phil like
photophobia sensitivity to light
pleo- more
pneumonia infection of the lung parenchyma
PPD skin test From t.b. there is made a purified protein derivative [PPD] which is [a vaccination common outside the US] injected just under the skin [subcutaneous] and read 48 hrs later to see if a person makes an inflammatory response; yes means that the person has been exposed to t.b. OR has been immunized with BCG
portal circulation the circulation of blood from the small intestine to the liver, the right half of the colon and the spleen through the portal vein
prion self-replicating infectious protein
proctitis inflammation of the rectum
prodome an early symptom of a disease
prophylactic agents or procedures which prevent disease in susceptible individuals; for example giving vaccines or antibiotics to prevent infection before it occurs
prosthetic man-made as heart valves or artificial limbs
psuedomembranous colitis inflammation of the mucous membranes of the small and large intestines with the formation of false membranes composed of bacteria, white blood cells, fibrin, platelets and necrotic material, often the result of the toxins made by Clostridium difficile
punctate dot-like markings
purpura purplish flat or raised lesions of the skin and mucous membranes due to hemorrhage beneath the tissues about 1 cm in size or a little less
pyelonephritis infection of the kidney
pyo- pus
pyrogenic causing fever
pyuria

quinsy

 pus in the urine

a painful abcess around the tonsils
rales abnormal breathing sounds
renal of the kidney
reticuloendothelial system {RES} macrophages and other phagocytes in the blood, lymph nodes,
spleen and liver
retinal of the retina
rhinitis inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose
rhinorrhea runny nose
rigor episodes of chills and rigidity brought on by high fever
ring-enhancing lesion upon CT scan rounded masses of increased density often seen in infections of the brain
salpingitis infection of a tube–usually a Fallopian tube between the ovaries and the uterus
sepsis pathogenic microorganisms or toxins in the blood or tissues
serum sickness an immune complex disease that occurs 1-2 weeks after a foreign serum or other foreign protein has been introduced into the body [usually intentionally as in injecting a horse antiserum to rattle snake toxin–saves the life but….]
sinusitis inflammation of the sinus cavities causes headaches and nasal congestion
somnolent drowsy
spongiform spongelike, in the brain this is a characteristic of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
-sta- stop as in bacteriostatic
subcostal retractions inward movement of the area between the ribs, associated with increased respiratory effort
superantigen an antigen which induces a T cell response by binding to many T cell receptors in an area outside the antigen recognition site [thus bogus as a REAL antigen!]; this affects and either activates and eventually KILLS many T cells
superinfection an infection such as bacterial pneumonia which occurs after or during a viral pneumonia; an infection with an organism because of a different infection
supine lying on back with face upwards
sym-, syn together
syncope fainting
synergy when two or more processes combine to yield a result greater than the individual sums
tachycardia increased heart rate [more than 100/min in adults]
tachypnea increase in respiratory rate [more than 20/min in adults]
thrombosis clotting within a blood vessel
tox- poison
-trich- hair
trismus spasm of the jaws
-troph nourishment
ulcer a lesion on the surface of skin or mucous membranes
vaccine a substance injected to evoke immunity against a disease
vegetation a clot composed of platelets, fibrin, and microorganisms, this kind of clot can release smaller pieces [thrombi] that travel in the bloodstream to cause infection or damage in distant areas. [Note : there are other meanings!]
vertical transmission passage of an infectious agent from the mother to the fetus
viremia viable virus in the bloodstream
virulent toxic effects of a pathogenic organism
wheeze high pitched whistling noise made when narrowed airways cause difficulty in breathing
zoonotic conditions which affect animals other than humans which however following contact with infected animals does infect humans
zym- ferment as in enzyme