HOSA MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
ACTUAL (UPDATED 2026)
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Bruit
The unusual sound that blood makes when it rushes past an obstruction (called
turbulent flow) in an artery. Heard when auscultated with a stethoscope.
Abrasion
A wound caused by superficial damage to the skin
Acute
A disease with a rapid onset and/or a short course
Anterior
Located towards the front of the body
Benign
Normal, of no danger to health.
Bradycardia
Slow heart-rate (less than 60 bpm).
Cardiomegaly
Enlarged heart. (Seen on chest X-rays)
Cholecystitis
Inflammation of the gallbladder. (Seen on CT scans of abdomen)
Chronic
,Long-standing, constant.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
A group of lung diseases that block airflow and make breathing difficult; commonly seen
in smokers.
Coronary artery
The artery that supplies heart tissue with blood.
Cerebrovascular Accident
Stroke; The sudden death of some brain cells due to lack of oxygen when the blood flow
to the brain is impaired by blockage or rupture of an artery to the brain
Diaphoresis
Profuse sweating caused by the body's response to stress
Distal
Away from the trunk of the body.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
A blood clot in a deep vein, most often an extremity.
Dyspnea
Shortness of breath.
Dysuria
Painful urination, often described as burning with urination.
Ecchymosis
A bruise. A subcutaneous collection of blood.
Edema
,Swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body's tissues; Quantified as 1+, 2+,3+
during a physicians physical exam
Emesis
Vomiting.
Epistaxis
Nose bleed.
Erythema
Redness of the skin or mucous membranes
Grossly
Coarse or large; visible to the naked eye.
Hematemesis
Vomiting of blood.
Hematuria
Presence of blood in the urine.
Hemoptysis
Coughing up blood.
Hemorrhage
Excess of profuse bleeding.
Hepatomegaly
Enlarged liver. (Seen on CT abdomen)
Hypertension
High blood pressure.
Hypotension
, Low blood pressure; a blood pressure reading of 90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or
less systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) or 60 mm Hg
or less diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) is generally considered low blood
pressure.
Hypoxia
Low oxygen saturation of the body; not enough oxygen in the blood.
Infarct
Area of dead tissue after a lack of blood supply.
Inferior
Lower of the body, farther from the head.
Ischemia
A restriction in blood supply to tissues, causing a shortage of oxygen and glucose
needed to keep tissue alive.
Laceration
A deep cut or tear in skin or flesh.
Lateral
Away from the midline
Medial
Situated in or pertaining to the middle. Your belly bottom is medial in comparison to your
arms.
Myocardial Infarction
Heart attack; Death of cardiac muscle due to ischemia.
Myalgia
ACTUAL (UPDATED 2026)
QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED
ANSWERS
Bruit
The unusual sound that blood makes when it rushes past an obstruction (called
turbulent flow) in an artery. Heard when auscultated with a stethoscope.
Abrasion
A wound caused by superficial damage to the skin
Acute
A disease with a rapid onset and/or a short course
Anterior
Located towards the front of the body
Benign
Normal, of no danger to health.
Bradycardia
Slow heart-rate (less than 60 bpm).
Cardiomegaly
Enlarged heart. (Seen on chest X-rays)
Cholecystitis
Inflammation of the gallbladder. (Seen on CT scans of abdomen)
Chronic
,Long-standing, constant.
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
A group of lung diseases that block airflow and make breathing difficult; commonly seen
in smokers.
Coronary artery
The artery that supplies heart tissue with blood.
Cerebrovascular Accident
Stroke; The sudden death of some brain cells due to lack of oxygen when the blood flow
to the brain is impaired by blockage or rupture of an artery to the brain
Diaphoresis
Profuse sweating caused by the body's response to stress
Distal
Away from the trunk of the body.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
A blood clot in a deep vein, most often an extremity.
Dyspnea
Shortness of breath.
Dysuria
Painful urination, often described as burning with urination.
Ecchymosis
A bruise. A subcutaneous collection of blood.
Edema
,Swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in your body's tissues; Quantified as 1+, 2+,3+
during a physicians physical exam
Emesis
Vomiting.
Epistaxis
Nose bleed.
Erythema
Redness of the skin or mucous membranes
Grossly
Coarse or large; visible to the naked eye.
Hematemesis
Vomiting of blood.
Hematuria
Presence of blood in the urine.
Hemoptysis
Coughing up blood.
Hemorrhage
Excess of profuse bleeding.
Hepatomegaly
Enlarged liver. (Seen on CT abdomen)
Hypertension
High blood pressure.
Hypotension
, Low blood pressure; a blood pressure reading of 90 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or
less systolic blood pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) or 60 mm Hg
or less diastolic blood pressure (the bottom number) is generally considered low blood
pressure.
Hypoxia
Low oxygen saturation of the body; not enough oxygen in the blood.
Infarct
Area of dead tissue after a lack of blood supply.
Inferior
Lower of the body, farther from the head.
Ischemia
A restriction in blood supply to tissues, causing a shortage of oxygen and glucose
needed to keep tissue alive.
Laceration
A deep cut or tear in skin or flesh.
Lateral
Away from the midline
Medial
Situated in or pertaining to the middle. Your belly bottom is medial in comparison to your
arms.
Myocardial Infarction
Heart attack; Death of cardiac muscle due to ischemia.
Myalgia
