abbr. ➜ abbreviation

AIDS ➜ Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

a1c ➜ long-term control of diabetes treatment

abdominal ➜ relating to the abdomen

abdominopelvic cavity ➜ contains the digestive tube, liver, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, + suprarenal glands

abdominopelvic quadrants ➜ consists of the body being invisibly divided into 4 quadrants

abdominopelvic regions ➜ consists of the body being invisibly divided into 9 regions

abortive care theory ➜ therapy intended to stop the further progression of a disease

acetabulum (hip socket) ➜ the deep indentation of the center of the hip

acne ➜ another term for acne vulgaris

acne vulgaris (acne) ➜ very common, especially during puberty with the increase in sex hormone levels; caused by an overproduction of sebum + characterized by pustular breakouts in the sebaceous glands

acute disease ➜ occurs suddenly

acute infections of the joints ➜ often caused by bacteria + are treated with antibiotics

acute mountain sickness (AMS) ➜ another term for high altitude sickness

adenocarcinoma ➜ various organs; cancerous tumor of glandular structures

aesthetic surgery ➜ another term for plastic surgery

ambulatory ➜ a patient who is able to walk

ambulatory care ➜ provides care on an outpatient basis as the patient is ambulatory

amniocentesis ➜ another term for the amniotic fluid test

amniotic fluid test (AFT) ➜ abdominal puncture to test amniotic fluid

amphiarthrotic joints ➜ slightly moveable joints; connected with cartilage

analgesics ➜ drugs that lessen pain

anatomy ➜ the study of the structure of the body + its parts

anesthetics ➜ drugs that cause lack of feeling or awareness, as well as produce the sensation of numbness

- ankle bone ➜ another term for talus

- anoxia ➜ no oxygen available for the body’s use

- antacids ➜ drugs that neutralize gastric acid or decrease gastric acid release

- anterior ➜ closer to the front of the body

- antiarrhythmics ➜ drugs that prevent cardiac irregularities

- antibiotics ➜ drugs that destroy or inhibit bacterial growth

- anticoagulants ➜ drugs that prevent the formation of blood clots and/or decrease the formation of existing blood clots

- anticonvulsants ➜ drugs that reduce the number + severity of seizures in patients with epilepsy

- antidepressants ➜ drugs that elevate mood or are used for the treatment of mental illnesses (i.e., depression, anxiety)

- antidiabetics ➜ drugs that control blood sugar levels in patients with type II, non-insulin-dependent diabetes

- antiemetics ➜ drugs that control nausea, vomiting, + motion sickness

- antihistamines ➜ drugs that relieve symptoms of allergies (i.e., sneezing, itchy/watery eyes, runny nose); can also relieve itchiness caused by insect bites + stings

- anti-inflammatories ➜ drugs that reduce inflammation

- antipsychotics ➜ drugs that reduce delusions + hallucinations seen in psychoses

- antipyretics ➜ drugs that reduce fever

- apocrine glands ➜ found only in the axilla + genital areas; only begin to function after puberty

- appendicular skeleton ➜ the bones of both sets of limbs

- arrector pili ➜ tiny muscles attached to the hair follicles that respond to cold or fright by giving us ‘goosebumps’

- arm ➜ has three main bones in addition to the bones that form the wrist + hand

- arthritis ➜ joint inflammation is the most common disease, not only of joints but also of the skeletal system overall

- arthroscopy ➜ a surgical procedure to visualize + treat problems inside of a joint

- atlas (C1) + axis (C2) ➜ form the area connecting the skull + the spine & together allow the head to rotate

- atopic dermatitis ➜ another term for eczema

- autosomes ➜ 22 pairs of identical chromosomes that contain the information necessary to run all body functions

- axial skeleton ➜ the bones of the long axis of the body

a- ➜ without

ab- ➜ to move away from

ad- ➜ to move toward

amni(o)- ➜ amniotic fluid

an- ➜ without

ante- ➜ before

anti- ➜ against

-ac ➜ pertaining to

-al ➜ pertaining to

-algia ➜ pain, suffering

aden/o ➜ gland

arthr/o ➜ joint

BP ➜ Blood Pressure

BKA ➜ Below the Knee Amputation

blepharoptosis ➜ drooping of the upper eyelid

bradycardia ➜ slow heartbeat

bi- ➜ two

brady- ➜ slow