Medical Terminology Chapter 4

Medical Terminology Overview

• Intercostal refers to the area between the ribs.
• Contralateral indicates a position on the opposite side of the body.
• Exophthalmos is the medical term for the protrusion of an eyeball.
• Syndactyly is a congenital anomaly involving fused fingers or toes.

Biological Relationships

• Symbiosis can include relationships such as parasitism, where one organism benefits at the expense of another.

Clinical Terms

• Prodrome signifies early signs and symptoms that precede an illness.
• Ante cibum means “before meals,” often used in medical prescriptions.
• Antibodies are proteins produced by leukocytes that help combat infections.

Structural Terminology

• Symphysis refers to a joint where bones grow together, commonly seen in the pelvis.
• Ultrasonography utilizes sound waves and echoes to produce images of internal structures.
• Metamorphosis describes a significant change in shape or form.
• Hypertrophy involves an increase in cell size and development.

Metabolic and Physiological Terms

• Hyperglycemia is characterized by excessive sugar levels in the blood, often a sign of diabetes.
• Retroperitoneal means situated behind the abdominal cavity.
• Antigens encompass substances that can trigger an immune response, such as streptococci bacteria.

Disease and Symptomology

• Relapse refers to the return of disease symptoms after a period of improvement.
• Dia- indicates a prefix meaning complete or through.
• Abductor muscle functions to move a limb away from the body.
• Dyspnea is the term for experiencing difficulty in breathing.
• Brady describes a reduced speed, often related to heart rate as in bradycardia.

Endocrine and Genetic Terminology

• Parathyroid glands are located on the dorsal side of the neck's endocrine glands and regulate calcium levels.
• Recombinant DNA refers to genetic material created by combining genes from different organisms.
• Tachycardia describes a condition characterized by rapid heartbeats.
• Epithelium consists of surface cells lining internal organs and the skin, playing a key role in protection and absorption.
• Percutaneous indicates procedures performed through the skin, often in medical interventions.