Return To MT Resources
NETSCAPE Return to MT Resources
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.
AB
CD
EF
GH
IJ
KL
MN
OP
QR
ST
UV
WX
YZ
| Word or Root | Definition |
| m | meter |
| m | murmur *m circled* |
| ma huang | herbal medicine |
| mac | spot |
| macr | large or long |
| macromastia | abnormally large breasts |
| macrophage | |
| macrosomia | large bodied baby commonly seen in diabetic pregnancies |
| macula | small spot |
| macula lutea | central region of the retina responsible for central vision; yellow pigment provides its color |
| macule | flat discolored spot on the skin up to 1 cm across *freckle* |
| macule | freckle |
| mad cow disease | bovine spongiform encephalopathy |
| Mag 386 *s/l* | Mag 3 Lasix *renal scan* |
| magnetic resonance angiography *MRA* | magnetic resonance imaging of the heart and blood vessels for evluation of pathology |
| magnetic resonance imaging *MRI* | *MRI* nonionizing imaging technique for visualizing the abdominal cavity to identify disease or deformity in the gastrointestinal tract |
| MAI | mycobacterium avium intracellulare |
| main stem | 2 words |
| maintenance | Maintenance - continuing on a long-term basis, as in "maintenance therapy" or "rehab maintenance" |
| malador | |
| malaise | a vague, uneasy feeling of body weakness, distress, or discomfort |
| malalignment | |
| malcronic *s/l* | myoclonic |
| malignant | harmful or cancerous |
| malignant cutaneous neoplasm | skin cancer |
| malignant melanoma | a malignant tumor consisting of melanocytes - most develop from a pigmented nevus *mole* over time |
| malleolar | pertaining to a rounded bony process, such as the protuberance on each side of the ankle |
| malleoli | |
| malleolo- | pertaining to the process on each side of the ankle |
| malleolus | a rounded bony process, such as the protuberance on each side of the ankle |
| malleus | hammer; first of three auditory ossicles of the middle ear |
| malocclusion | irregularity of the patient's dental bite, where the teeth do not meet properly |
| malva flower | herbal medicine |
| mamm- | breast |
| mammary glands | two glands of the female breasts capable of producing milk |
| mammary papilla | nipple |
| mammogram | low dose x-ray of the breast tissue done to detect neoplasms |
| mammoplasty | surgical reconstruction of the breast |
| mammoplasty, reduction | reconstruction to remove excess breast tissue |
| mamoplasty, augmentation | reconstruction to enlarge the breast, often by insertion of an implant |
| mandibulo- | pertaining to the lower jaw bone |
| MAPS | mean arterial pressure |
| marginal spurs | |
| Marie-Strumpell disease | ankylosing spondylitis |
| marked | significant |
| Marshall-Marchetti test | |
| Marshall-Marchetti-Krantz | an operation designed to suspend the bladder neck & urethra in a female patient |
| mascular degeneration | breakdown or thinning of the tissues of the macula, resulting in partial or complete loss of central vision |
| mast- | breast |
| mastectomy | removal of a breast |
| mastectomy, modified radical | removal of an entire breast and lymph nodes of the axilla |
| mastectomy, radical | removal of an entire breast, underlying chest muscles, and axillary lymph nodes |
| mastectomy, simple | removal of an entire breast with underlying muscle and axillary lymph nodes left intact |
| masticate | chew |
| mastication | chewing |
| mastitis | inflammation of a breast - most common in women when breastfeeding |
| mastoid process | projection of the temporal bone |
| mastoiditis | inflammation of the mastoid process |
| mastopexy | breast, plastic surgery procedure |
| matopanal *s/l* | metoprolol *drug-cardio* |
| mature | ripe |
| Maxair Autohaler | |
| maxillo- | pertaining to the upper jaw bone |
| maximum voluntary ventilation *MVV* | maximum voluntary ventilation *MVV* |
| Maxi-Myst | |
| maxitry *s/l* | mag citrate *magnesium citrate* |
| maydusa *s/l* | medusae |
| Mayo stand | stand for surgical instruments |
| McDonald procedure | a cerclage procedure used for correction of an imcompetent cervix |
| MCS | Multiple Chemical Sensitivity |
| MDI | metered-dose-inhaler |
| meadowsweet | herbal medicine |
| meat- | opening |
| mechanical ventilation | mechanical method performed by a respiratory therapist to provide assisted breathing using a ventilator |
| Meckel's diverticulum | |
| Meckle's | |
| meconium | intestinal discharges of the fetus that form the first stools in the newborn |
| meconium aspiration | fetal aspiration of amniotic fluid containing meconium |
| meconium staining | presence of meconium in the amniotic fluid |
| med | medicine |
| medial | toward the midline |
| medial collateral ligament strain | |
| medial femur condyle *s/l* | medial femoral condyle |
| medial joint line | |
| medial surface | |
| median sternotomy | |
| median sulcus | |
| mediastinal lymphadenopathy | |
| mediastinal widening | |
| mediastinoscopy | |
| mediastinum | partition that separates the thorax into two compartments *that contain the right and left lung* and encloses the heart, esophagus, trachea, and thymus gland |
| Medimist | |
| mediolateral *s/l* | medial-lateral |
| Medisense or MediSense II or 2 | diabetes test strips |
| Medrol | drug |
| medulla | inner part of the kidney |
| medullary cavity | cavity within the shaft of the long bones filled with bone marrow |
| mEg or meq | milliequivalent |
| Megace | a synthetic drug that has the same effect as the female hormone progesterone |
| megaly | enlargement |
| meibomian gland | oil glands located along the rim of the eyelids |
| melan | black |
| melanin | dark brown to black pigment contained in melanocytes |
| melanocyte | a cell found in the basal layer that gives color to the skin |
| melatonin | exact function unknown, affects onset of puberty |
| melena | dark colored, tarry stool caused by old blood |
| melenotic stools | |
| mellitus | disorder of carbohydrate metabolism caused by a combination of hereditary and environmental factors characterized by inadequate secretion of insulin, excessive urination, excessive sugar in the blood |
| menarche | onset of menses |
| Meniere disease | disorder of labyrinth and elevated endolymph pressure in cochlea |
| mening- | meninges *membrane* |
| meninges | three membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord, consisting of the dura mater, pia mater, arachnoid |
| meningi- | meninges *membrane* |
| meningioma | benign tumor of the coverings of the brain |
| meningitis | inflammation of the meninges |
| meniscectomy | |
| meniscus | also medial meniscus |
| meniscus, posterior horn of the | |
| menometrorrhagia | |
| menopause | cessation of menstrual periods owing to lack of ovarian hormones |
| menorrhagia | excessive bleeding at the time of menstruation |
| menses | menstrual flow |
| mental implant | chin, plastic surgery procedure |
| mentation | |
| MEPS *s/l* | probably MAPS *mean arterial pressure* |
| meralgia paresthetica | a condition more likely to affect a person who is obese |
| merc, merck pressure *s/l* | mercury pressure |
| mersa *s/l* | MRSA = Methacillin-resistant staphylococcus aureas *a bacterial infection - greater instances in nursing homes* |
| mesiofascitectomy *s/l* | medial facetectomy *removal of the medial facet |
| meso-middle | |
| mesomorphic | pertaining to middle form |
| mesoridazine *Serentil* | phenothiazine derivative |
| mesothelioma | mesothelioma |
| MET | Metabolic Equivalent *MET* - the amount of oxygen required while sitting very quietly at rest *approximately 3.5 milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight*. |
| MET, met workup | |
| Metabisulfite | allergen |
| metabolic acidosis | |
| metabolic equivalent *MET* | Metabolic Equivalent *MET* - the amount of oxygen required while sitting very quietly at rest *approximately 3.5 milliliters of oxygen per kilogram of body weight*. |
| metabolic profile | |
| metabolism | all chemical processes in the body that result in growth, generation of energy, elimination of waste, and other body functions |
| metacarpals | found in the hands |
| metacarpo- | pertaining to the hand bones |
| metaphysis | growth zone between epiphysis and diaphysis during development of a long bone |
| metastases | cells that have separated from a primary tumor may spread through the lyphatic system into the veins, or more rarely, into an artery. These cells may also spread across the surface of a structure |
| metastasize | spreading of tumor cells to distant parts of the body |
| metastis | beyond stopping or standing as in spread of disease from one body part to another |
| metatarsal phalangeal *s/l* | metatarsophalangeal |
| metatarsals | found in the feet |
| metered dose inhaler *MDI* | metered dose inhaler *MDI* |
| metered dose inhaler *MDI* | Metered Dose Inhaler *MDI* - device which dispenses a specific amount of medication in aerosol or powdered form |
| methacholine challenge | |
| methicillin-sensitive staphylococcus | |
| methyl methacrylate | bone cement |
| methylpredinsolone | corticsteroid used to releive swelling, inflammation, redness, itching - Brand Solu-Medrol |
| metr- | uterus |
| metrorrhagia | bleeding from the uterus at any time other than normalmenstruation |
| metry-process of measuring | |
| Metzenbaum scissors | commonly used for abdominal procedures |
| MFAT | multifocal atrial tachycardia |
| mg | miligram |
| mg% | milligrams per decilitre or milligrams per 100 milliliters |
| MHC | major histocompatibility complex *re: immune system* |
| MI | myocardial infarction |
| Micardis *telmisartan* | drug for hypertension |
| micrographia | |
| Micro-K | drug |
| microlith | small stone |
| micromastia | unusually small breasts |
| Micronase | drug |
| micro-small | |
| microtia reconstruction | ear, plastic surgery procedure |
| micturate | to urinate |
| midchest | one word |
| midepigastric | |
| midreatic *s/l* | mydriatic *re: ocular fundi* |
| migraine headache | paroxysmal attacks of mostly unilateral headache often accompanied by disordered vision, nausea, and/or vomiting, lasting hours or days and caused by dilation of arteries |
| milk thistle herb | herbal medicine |
| milliequivalent | mEq |
| mineral corticosteroids | |
| miotic | an agent that causes the pupil to contract |
| mitigina *s/l* | maybe manipulated |
| mitogen | |
| mitral insufficiency | |
| mitral valve | located between the upper left and lower chambers of the heart |
| mitral valve *or bicuspid* | heart valve between the left atrium and left ventricle |
| mitral valve prolapse *MVP* | the protrusion of one or both cusps of the mitral valve back into the left atrium during ventricular contraction, resulting in incomplete closure and backfloe of blood |
| mittelschmerz | pain with ovulation |
| ml, mL | milliliter |
| mm | millimeter |
| MMFR | MMFR: maximum mid-expiratory flow rate |
| Mohs' surgery | technique used to excise tumors of the skin by removing fresh tissue layer by layer until a tumor free plane is reached |
| molluscum contagiosum | |
| Monckeberg sclerosis | affects arterial media structures *.. Over o* |
| monochromatic | pertaining to one color |
| mononeuritis | examples: Bell palsy, carpal tunnel syndrome, and Lyne disease |
| mono-one | |
| monospot | |
| Monosodium glutamate | allergen |
| moragic *s/l* | hemorrhagic |
| morbidity | sick; a state of disease |
| moribund | approaching death, about to die |
| morph | form |
| mortality | the state of being subject to death |
| mortality rate | the number of cases of disease in a given year; a ration of sick to well persons in a given population |
| Morton's neuroma | |
| Mosquito clamps | named for "small" size |
| motility | exhibiting or capable of movement |
| motor deficit | loss or impairment of muscle function |
| motor dysfunction | ex: motor dysfunction distal to the area was normal |
| motor nerves | nerves that conduct motor impulses from the brain to mucles and glands; also called efferent nerves |
| MOTTEP | National Minority Organ & Tissue Transplant Education Program |
| MRA | magnetic resonance angiography |
| MRI | Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
| MRM | modified radical mastectomy |
| MS | multiple sclerosis |
| MSH | melanocyte-stimulating hormone |
| MSH | melanocyte-stimulating hormone *MSH* |
| MS Contin | drug |
| MSO4 | morphine sulfate |
| MSRA | Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus |
| MTX | Methotrexate |
| Mucomyst | |
| mucoperichondrium | |
| mucopurulent | |
| mucopurulent discharge | drainage of mucus and pus |
| Mucor | allergen |
| mucosal | |
| Mucosal 10 & 20 Solution | |
| mucous | adjective |
| mucous membranes | thin sheets of tissue that line respiratory passages and secrete mucus |
| mucus | Mucus - slippery secretions that serve to moisten and protect the mucous membranes by special cells within the bronchial tree, usually as a result of irritation, inflammation or infection of the airways. *pretty synonymous with phlegm* |
| mugwort | herbal medicine |
| mullein leaf | herbal medicine |
| multicellular | pertaining to many cells |
| multidose powder inhaler | |
| multifocal areas of consolidation | |
| multi-many | |
| multip *s/l* | shortened - multiparous |
| multipara | woman who has given birth to two or more children |
| multiparous | |
| multiple cutaneous markings *s/l* | neurocutaneous markings |
| multiple sclerosis *MS* | disease of the central nervous system characterized by the demyelination *deterioration of the myelin sheath* of nerve fibers, with episodes of neurologic dysfunction *exacerbation* followed by recovery *remission* |
| mural thombus | a clot adherent to the wall of a heart chamber |
| murmur | extra heart sound |
| muscle | tissue composed of fibers that can contract, causing movement of an organ or part of the body |
| muscle, cardia muscle | muscle if the heart |
| muscle, insertion of | end attached to the bone that moves when the muscle contracts |
| muscle, origin of | end attached to the bone that does not move when the muscle contracts |
| muscle, smooth | muscles that cannot be controlled voluntarily |
| muscle, striated *skeletal* muscle | voluntary striated muscle attached to the skeleton |
| muscul- | muscle |
| muscular dystrophy | a category of genetically transmitted diseases characterized by progressive atrophy of skeletal muscles *Duchenne's type is most common* |
| Mustard procedure | used to correct transposition of great vessels |
| mustard seed | herbal medicine |
| MV | MV photons (ex: 4500 cGy of MV photons in 25 fractions of 180 cGy) re: radiotherapy |
| MVP | mitral valve prolapse |
| MVV | Maximal Voluntary Ventilation |
| my- | muscle |
| myalgia | muscle pain |
| myasthenia gravis | auroimmune disorder that affects the neuromuscular junction causing a progressive decrease in muscle strength with activity and a return of strength after a period of rest |
| Mycoplasma pneumonia | |
| mydriatic | an agent that causes dilation of the pupil for certain eye examinations |
| myel- | bone marrow or spinal cord |
| myelin sheath | fatty tissue around axon of nerve cell |
| myelitis | inflammation of the spinal cord |
| myelo- | pertaining to the marrow or the spinal cord |
| myelogram | x-ray of the spinal cord |
| myeloma | bone marrow tumor |
| myo- | pertaining to muscle |
| myocardial | pertaining to the heart muscle |
| myocardial infarction *MI* | heart attack; death of myocardial tissue owing to loss of blood flow *ischemia* as a result of occlusion *plugging* of a coronary artery-usually caused by atherosclerosis |
| myocardial radionuclide perfusion scan | a scan of the heart after an intravenous injection of an isotope *e.g., as thallium* that is absorbed by myocardial cells in proportion to blood flow throughout the heart |
| myocardial radionuclide perfusion stress scan | nuclear scans of the heart taken before and after the induction of controlled physical exercise *treadmill or bicycle* or pharmaceutical agent that produces the effect of exercise stress in patients unable to ambulate |
| myocarditis | inflammation of the muscular wall of the heart |
| myocardium | heart muscle |
| myoclonic | had some jerking myoclonic types of movement |
| myodynia | muscle pain |
| myoma | muscle tumor |
| myomectomy | |
| myometrium | muscular wall of the uterus |
| myonectomy *s/l* | myomectomy |
| myopathy | disporder of the muscle tissues or muscle |
| myopia | nearsightedness; difficulty seeing distant objects when light rays fall short of the proper focus on the retina |
| myoplasty | repair of muscle |
| myos- | muscle |
| myositis | inflammation of muscle |
| myotrophin | experimental drug used with ALS patients |
| myring- | eardrum |
| myringitis | inflammation of the eardrum |
| myringotomy | incision into the eardrum, most often for insertion of a small plastic tube made of polyethylene *PE* to keep the canal open, avoiding fluid buildup such as that which occurs as a result of otitis media |
| myrrh gum | herbal medicine |
| myx- | mucous |
| myxedema | advanced hypothyroidism in adults characterized by sluggishness, slow pulse, puffiness in hands and face, and dry skin |
| MZ | Genes given by parents M gene or Z gene |