CC2040 English for Academic Studies (Health Care)

Medical and Health Care Vocabulary List F

Term Pronunciation* Brief Explanation

1 anaphylaxis anc^-fU-lakcsis an abnormal reaction to a particular antigen
2 anticoagulant anctT-kb-agcyu-lant preventing coagulation (clotting of blood)
3 astringent as-trincjent a drug that causes the contraction of cells or tissues
4 dyspnea (dyspnoea) disp-nTc^ shortness of breath, difficulty or distress in breathing
epinephrine epci-nefcrin important hormone secreted by the adrenal gland to prepare the
5
(adrenaline) (^-drTcn^-lTn) body for “fright, flight, or fight”
6 etiology (aetiology) T-tT-olcb-jT study of the causes of disease and their mode of operation
exocrine ekcsb-krin denoting a gland that secretes outwardly through excretory
7
ducts
hematocrit hT-matcb-crit volume of red cells in blood, expressed as a fraction of the total
8
(haemotocrit) volume of the blood
hemoglobin hT-mb-glbcbin substance within the red blood cells, responsible for the colour
9
(haemoglobin) of red blood cells
10 idiopathic idcT-b-pathcik denoting a disease of unknown cause
mammogram mamcb-gram record produced by mammography – the imaging examination
of the breast by means of x-rays, ultrasound, and nuclear
11
magnetic resonance for screening and diagnosis of breast
disease
oximetry ok-simc_-trT measurement with an oximeter of the oxygen saturation of
12
hemoglobin in a sample of blood
13 pathogen pathcb-jen any virus, micro-organism, or other substance causing disease
14 afebrile (apyretic) Q-febcril (Q-pU-retcik) without a fever (normal body temperature)
15 angina ancji-n^ sense of suffocating pain
16 arteriosclerosis ar-tTrcT-b-skler-bcsis hardening of the arteries
17 buccal b\kc^l relating to the mouth or the cheek
18 cholesterol kb-lescter-ol fatlike material present in blood and most tissues
curette, curet kyu-retc spoon-shaped instrument for scraping tissues from a cavity for
19
diagnostic purpose
defibrillator dT-fibcri-lQ-ter apparatus designed to administer a defibrillating electric shock
20
to restore normal heart rhythm
21 digitalis dij-i-tQclis test to detect cancer of the neck or lining of the womb
22 febrile febcril denoting or relating to fever
forceps fbrcseps instrument for seizing a structure, and making compression or
23
traction
Kaposi’s sarcoma kah-pbcsT sar-kbcm^ malignant tumours arising from blood vessels in the skin,
24
(Kaposi sarcoma) forming plaques or nodules
25 keratitis ker-^-tUctis inflammation of the cornea
26 nodule nodcyul a small node
27 papilla p^-pilc^ any small, nipple-like process
28 penicillin pen-i-silc in an antibiotic
29 purulent pyurc\-lent containing, consisting of, or forming pus
Salmonella salcm[-nelc^ kind of bacteria that inhibits the intestines of animals and man
30
and causes disease
Staphylococcus stafci-lb-kokc\s kind of bacteria occurring in grapelike clusters, commonly
31
present on skin and membranes
Streptococcus strep-tb-kokc\s kind of bacteria occurring in chains, with species that can
32
destroy red blood cells
33 vitreous vitcrT-\s glassy; resembling glass
* Pronunciation based on: Dirckx, John H., editor, Stedman's Concise Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions, Baltimore, MD: Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins, 4th Edition, 2001

William Tsang 2009