I put this list together as a student, so you will see some things in here that are quite simple. You will also see some words with *s/l* beside them. These are sound-alikes. I put them in the list, the way it sounded to me, then in the right column I entered the word the way it should be, or entered a possible alternative. There are prefixes, suffixes, drugs, abbreviations,etc. Some words have definitions, some do not. Please let me know if you run across any errors and I will correct them.
Word or Root | Definition |
d | day |
D&C | dilatation and curettage |
dacry- | tear |
dacryoadenitis | inflammation of the lacrimal gland |
dacryocystitis | inflammation of the tear sac |
dacryocystorhinostomy | creation of a new, larger opening between the lacrimal sac and nasal sinus |
dactyl- | digit *finger or toe* |
Dakin solution | for wound care |
Dalmane | drug |
damiana leaf | herbal medicine |
dandelion leaf & root | herbal medicine |
Darvocet | drug |
data wave *s/l* | theta wave |
DC | discontinue |
DC, D/C | discharged, discontinued |
d-cells *s/l* | decelerations |
ddC or Hivid *zalcitabin* | |
ddl or Videx *didanosine* | |
deafness | general term for partial or complete hearing loss |
debridement | removal of dead tissue from a wound or burn site to promote healing and prevent infection |
Decadron | drug |
decapitate | separation of the head from the body |
decerebrate posturing | herbal medicine |
deciduated *s/l* | deciduoid |
deciduoid | serous surface papillomas with a secretory endometrium with deciduoid reaction |
decilitre | dL |
decreased breath sounds | |
decubitus | horizontal position - as lying on one side |
decubitus ulcer | bedsore |
deep end or deep ended *s/l* | could be dependent |
deep tendon reflexes DTR | biceps, triceps, brachioradials |
deep vein thrombosis *DVT* | formation of a clot in a deep vein of the body, occurring most often in the femoral and iliac veins |
defecation | evacuation of feces from the rectum |
deferens | carrying away |
defibrillation | termination of ventricular fibrillation by delivery of an electrical stimulus to the heart, most commonly by applying alectrodes to the defibrillator externally to the chest wall but can be performed internally at the time of open heart surgery or via an implanted device. |
defibrillator | device that delivers the electrical stimulus in defibrillation |
defibrillator | used to convert a patient's quivering heart to normal sinus rythym |
deflection | peeling away or retraction of tissue without removing it |
de-from, down, or not | |
degeneration | gradual deterioration of normal cells and body functions |
degenerative arthirtis | most common form of arthritis that especially affects weight bearing joints *e.g., knee or hip* characterized by the erosion of articular cartilidge *also refferred to as osteoarthritis arthristis, and degenerative joint disease* |
degenerative changes | |
degenerative disease | any disease in which there is deterioration of structure or function of tissue |
degenerative joint disease *DJD* | most common form of arthritis that especially affects weight bearing joints *e.g., knee or hip* characterized by the erosion of articular cartilidge *also refferred to as degenerative arthristis, and osteoarthritis* |
degludination *s/l* | deglutition |
deglutition | swallowing |
deglutition | |
Dehap chemotherapy *s/l* | DHAP - dihydroxyacetone phosphate (common side effect is hearing loss) |
dehydration | excessive loss of water from body tissue |
déjà vu | |
delineate | describe in accurate detail |
delirium | a state of mental confusion due to disturbances in the cerebral function - many causes include fever, shock, or drug overdose |
dementia | an impairment of intellectual function characterized by memory loss, disorientation, and confusion |
democele *s/l* | appendocele |
Demulen 1/25-28 | birth control pills |
demyelination | deterioration of the myelin sheath |
dent- | teeth |
DEP | Department of Environmental Protection |
depolarization | change of a myocardial cell from a polarized *resting* state to a state of contraction |
Depro-Provera | contraceptive injection |
DeQuervain disease | giant cell thyroiditis |
derm | skin |
dermabrasion | surgical removal of frozen epidermis, using wire brushes and emery papers to remove scars, tattoos, and/or wrinkles |
dermat | skin |
dermatitis | inflammation of the skin characterized by erythema, pruritis and various lesions |
dermatomal | |
dermatome | the area of skin supplied by one spinal nerve through both of its rami |
dermatosis | any disorder of the skin not usually associated with inflammation |
dermis | dense, fibrous connective tissue layer of the skin |
dermoid cyst | congenital tumor composed of displaced embryonic tissue *teeth, bone, cartilage, and hair* more commonly found in an ovary; it is usually benign |
descensus, uterine | |
desclimation *s/l* | desquamation of the skin - meaning shedding of the skin like scales |
Desferal | drug for hemochromatosis |
desicco | to dry up |
desis | bound or fused |
Desquamative Interstitial Pneumonitis *DIP* | Desquamative Interstitial Pneumonitis *DIP* - early stage of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. [VHosp] |
destination *s/l* | festination |
detinerary *s/l/* | deep tendon |
Devonex cream | gen = calcipotriene |
DEXA scan | |
Dexedrine | amphetamine for ADD |
dextr | right or on right side |
dextrous | skillful & confident with the hands |
DH x-ray *s/l* | PA lateral chest x-ray |
DHAP chemotherapy | dihydroxyacetone phosphate |
dia- | across or through |
Diabeta | drug |
diabetes- | passing through |
diabetes insipidus | insufficient secretion of vasopressin |
diabetes mellitus | diagnosis made when fasting blood sugar is consistently over 140, and/or random blood sugars are consistently elevated above 180 |
diabetes mellitus | metabolic disorder caused by an abnormal utilization of insulin secreted by the pancreas evidenced by hyperglycemia and glycosuria |
diabetic retinopathy | disease of the retina in diabetics characterized by capillary leakage, bleeding, and new vessel formation leading to scarring and loss of vision |
diagnoses | plural |
diagnosis | determination of the presence of a disease, based on evaluation of symptoms, signs, etc. |
dialysate | cleansing fluid used in peritoneal dialysis |
dialysis | dissolution across or through a membrane |
dialyzer | specialized filter of the artificial kidney |
Diamox | drug |
diapermidia *s/l* | dipyridamole |
diaphor | profuse sweating |
diaphoresis | sweating |
diaphoretic | profuse sweating |
diaphoro | profuse sweating |
diaphragm | a dome shaped muscle above the abdomen and below the lungs. When it contracts it creates negative pressure within the chest allowing air to be drawn into the lungs. [JHEncy] |
diaphragmatic | |
diaphysis | shaft of a long bone |
diareesed *s/l* | diuresed (as in diuresis) |
diarrhea | frequent loose or liquid stools |
diastole | to expand; period in the cardiac cycle when blood enters the relaxed ventricles from the atria |
diastolic component | |
diathesis | |
diclofenac *Voltaren* | NSAID |
Dicyclomine | for stomach disorders such as peptic ulcers, pancreatitis, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, diverticulitis |
didymus *s/l* | edematous or epididymus |
Diffuse Alveolar Disease *DAD* - See IPF | Diffuse Alveolar Disease *DAD* - See IPF |
Diffuse infiltrative pulmonary disease | Diffuse infiltrative pulmonary disease |
diffusely | ex: abdomen soft, diffusely tender *not profusely* |
diffusion | Diffusion - movement of oxygen or carbon dioxide across the membrane of the alveoli |
Diflucan *fluconozale* | antifungal agent |
dig. | digoxin or digitalis |
digital rectal exam *DRE* | insertion of a finger into the male rectum to palpate the rectum and prostate |
digoxin | drug |
diisocyanate | see TDI |
Dilantin Infatabs | |
dilation and curettage *D&C* | dilation of the cervix and scraping of the endometrium to control bleeding, obtain tissue for biopsy, or remove polyps or products of conception |
diminished breath sounds | |
dimpled skin | referred to as: puau d'orange |
diopters | 18 prism diopters re: EENT |
DIP | Desquamative Interstitial Pneumonitis *DIP* - early stage of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. [VHosp] |
diphtheria | diphtheria |
diplococci | |
diplopia | double vision |
Diprolene | for psoriasis |
dips- | thirst |
dipso- | thirst |
diptheria | infection of respiratory tract wuth Corynebacterium |
dis- | separate from or apart |
disc margins | |
disc or disk | a flat plate-like structure composed of fibrocartilaginous tissue found between the vertabrae to reduce friction |
discectomy *diskectomy* | removal of a herniated disk |
discogenic | disco=disk shaped, genic = causing, forming, producing |
discoid atelectasis | |
disk | plate-like structure between vertebrae |
disk space narrowing | |
disks of the eyes | |
dislocation | displacement of bones at joint |
dismargins *s/l* | disc margins |
distal | away from the midline |
distance visual acuity | a measure of the ability to see the details and shape of identifiable objects from a specified distance |
distant breath sounds | |
distoral *s/l* | Desferal (for hemochromatosis |
Ditropan XL *oxybutynin chloride* | drug for overactive bladder |
diuretic | a drug that increases the secretion of urine commonly prescribed in treating hypertension |
diverticulitis | inflammation of the diverticula |
diverticulosis | presence of the diverticula in the gastrointestinal tract, especially the bowel |
diverticulum | a by-way; an abnormal side-pocket in the gastrointestinal tract usually related to lack of dietary fiber |
Dix-Hallpike maneuver | maneuver for vertigo, also known has Hallpike |
dL or dl | decilitre |
DLCO | diffuse capacity of lungs for carbon monoxide *DLCO* |
DLCO | Diffusing Capacity of Carbon Monoxide |
DNA *s/l* | could also be ANA |
Dobbhoff | type of feeding tube |
Dock-Plantain | allergen |
dome of the talus | |
dong quai root | herbal medicine |
Doppler | not doppler - capitalize |
Doppler sonography | ultrasound technique used to evaluate blood flow to determine the presence of a deep vein thrombosis or carotid insufficiency, or flow through the heart, chambers, valves, etc |
dorsal kyphosis | |
dorsal lithotomy position | |
dorsal nose | |
dorsi- | behind or in back of |
dorsiflexion | bending of the toes or foot upward |
Dostinex | antiparkinsonian agent, also a treatment for galactorrhea |
double myuric aneurysm *s/l* | abdominal aortic aneurysm |
double strength | in drugs is typed DS |
double-armed suture | where one needle is attached to each end of a suture length |
double-J stent | double-j stent |
double-lumen Hohn catherter | |
double-lumen home catheter *s/l* | double-lumen Hohn catherter |
Douglas | cul-de-sac of Douglas |
Douglas, pouch of | cul-de-sac |
downgoing | one word |
doxipin *s/l* | doxapine |
doxycycline | drug |
dr | dram |
drawer sign | |
DS | in drugs means double strength |
DSS | stool softener |
DTR | deep tendon reflexes |
DTR responses | 1+ diminished, 2+ normal, 3+ more brisk than average, 4+ hyperactive response |
dual cystic | |
Duarte double heterozygote | |
Duchenne's muscular dystrophy | most common type of muscular dystrophy |
ductile carcinoma *s/l* | ductal carcinoma |
Dukes C colon cancer | also Dukes A, B1, B2, C2, etc. |
duoden- | duodenum |
duodenal ulcer | ulcer located in the duodenum |
duodenum | first portion of the small intestine where most chemical digestion takes place |
duragesic | |
dural-based | |
dura mater | the outermost and most fibrous of the three membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord |
duraplasty | |
DVT | deep vein thrombosis - a clot in the vein |
Dx | diagnosis |
Dyazide | drug |
dynia | pain |
dys | painful or difficult |
dysarthric | |
dysentery | inflammation of the intestine characterized by frequent bloody stools; most often caused by bacteria or protozoa |
dysesthesias | |
dyskeratotic | a condition of abnormal or premature keratinization of epithelial cells |
dyslaxity | |
dysmennorrhea | painful menstruation |
dyspareunia | painful intercourse *coitus* |
dyspepsia | indigestion |
dyspeptic | indigestion |
dysphagia G | difficulty swallowing |
dysphasia | difficulty speaking |
dysphonia | condition of difficult voice or speech |
dysplasia | faulty formation |
dysplastic nevus | a mole with precancerous changes |
dyspnea | difficult or painful breathing |
dyspneic | dyspneic |
dyspneic | realting to painful or difficult beathing |
dystocia | painful and difficult labor |
dystonic process of the tongue | |
dysuria | painful or difficult urination |
dysuria | painful urination |