Medical Vocabulary #19

The calf bone in a human leg.

A simple, painless breathing test performed in a physician’s office or pulmonary function laboratory that measures how fast air can be forced from the lungs and the total amount of air that can be emptied from the lungs.

An itchy condition of the scalp caused by a fungal infection. Also known as tinea capitis.

Steps taken to prevent a particular disease or condition, such as taking nitroglycerin to prevent angina.

A technician who helps select and fit eyeglasses or contact lenses for people with vision problems.

A type of white blood cell that destroys cell debris, bacteria, and foreign agents.

Pain or tenderness in a muscle.

A disease caused by vitamin C deficiency, characterized by bruising, poor wound healing, bleeding of the gums, and loosened teeth.

A localized patch of gray or white hair on the scalp, eyebrows, or eyelashes.

A health care professional (but not a medical doctor) licensed to examine the eye, and diagnose and treat some eye diseases.

The process of determining how far cancer has progressed. Often used to determine the best course of treatment.

A false or inactive medication or treatment that may still offer relief despite being ineffective. In clinical trials, the effectiveness of a new drug is often tested against one of these.

Treatment with high-energy rays (from x-rays or other sources) designed to control disease and destroy cancer cells.

An adjective used to describe an infection acquired in a hospital or other healthcare facility.

A cord of collagen fibers that connect a muscle to a bone.

A thin layer of tissue that lines many cavities and structures in the body that are exposed to air in the environment, such as the nose, mouth, and lungs.

Paralysis of the legs and lower part of the body.

A physician with extensive specialized training in treating the eye and eye disease.

An unstable molecule in the body that plays a role in aging and can damage tissue; antioxidants help prevent damage to these molecules.

The last 12 centimeters of the colon, through which waste is eliminated from the body.

A deadly heart rhythm in which the ventricles contract independently of the atria and in a chaotic manner.

An eye disease that slowly destroys sharp, clear central vision.

A physician trained to diagnose and treat disorders of the nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord.

A hardened layer of plaque that builds up on teeth. Also called calculus.