AMA Glossary of Medical Terms
(Source: www.ama-assn.org )
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Abdominal cavity- the part of the body between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the
thighs, containing most of the digestive and urinary systems along with some reproductive
organs
ABO blood groups- The system by which human blood is classified, based on proteins
occurring on red blood cells; the four classification groups are A, AB, B, and O
Abortion- termination of a pregnancy; can occur because of natural causes (called a
miscarriage) or be a medical intervention
Abscess- an accumulation of pus in a body tissue, usually caused by a bacterial infection
ACE inhibitor- a drug typically used to treat high blood pressure (Angiotensin-Converting
Enzyme inhibitor)
Achilles tendon- the tendon at the back of the lower leg that connects the calf muscle to
the heel bone
Acid-base balance- the mechanisms that the body uses to keep its fluids close to neutral
(neither basic nor acidic) so that the body can function properly
Acidosis- a condition marked by abnormally high acid levels in the blood, associated with
some forms of diabetes, lung disease, and severe kidney disease
Acid reflux- a disorder in which acid in the stomach comes up into the esophagus, because
the valve separating the stomach and esophagus does not function properly
Acne- a skin condition characterized by inflamed, pus-filled areas that occur on the skin's
surface, most commonly occurring during adolescence
Acquired- a word describing any condition that is not present at birth, but develops some
time during life
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome- infection by the human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV), which causes a weakening of the immune system
Acute- describes a condition or illness that begins suddenly and is usually short-lasting
Acute respiratory disease- an urgent condition in which oxygen levels in the blood are
lower than normal and breathing is difficult
,Addiction- dependence on a substance (such as alcohol or other drugs) or an activity, to
the point that stopping is very difficult and causes severe physical and mental reactions
Adenitis- infection and inflammation of a gland, especially a lymph node
Adipose tissue- another term for fatty tissue; it stores energy, insulates, and cushions the
body
Adjuvant therapy- the use of drugs or radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer along
with surgery
Adrenal failure- a condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the
hormones that control important functions such as blood pressure
Adrenal glands- two small glands located on top of the kidneys that secrete several
important hormones into the blood
Adverse reaction- an unintended and unwanted side effect of some sort of treatment,
usually drug therapy
Aerobic exercise- physical activity during which the heart and lungs must work harder to
meet the body's increased oxygen demand
Affective disorder- a mental disorder involving abnormal moods and emotions; affective
disorders include manic-depressive disorder
Afterbirth- the placenta and membranes that are eliminated from the woman's uterus
following the birth of a child
Afterpains- normal contractions of the uterus after childbirth that usually occur for the first
few days after delivery
AIDS- see Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
AIDS-related complex- symptoms including weight loss, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes
experienced by people who are infected with HIV but do not yet have AIDS
Air embolism- the blockage of an artery by air bubbles, which may have entered during
surgery or after an injury
Airway obstruction- blockage of the passage of air through the windpipe to the lungs
Airways- the passageways that air moves through while traveling in and out of the lungs
during breathing
Albinism- a condition in which people are born with insufficient amounts of the pigment
melanin, which is responsible for hair, skin, and eye color
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy- heart damage and failure caused by intake of too much
alcohol
,Alimentary canal- another term for the digestive tract
Alkalosis- dangerously decreased acidity of the blood, which can be caused by high
altitudes, hyperventilation, and excessive vomiting
Alkylating agents- substances used in cancer treatment that interfere with the division of
cells
Allergen- a substance that causes an allergic reaction
Allergic rhinitis- irritation of the nasal passages and the whites of the eyes, causing
sneezing, runny nose, and sore eyes
Allergy- a negative reaction to a substance that in most people causes no reaction
Alopecia- baldness or loss of hair, mainly on the head, either in defined patches or
completely; the cause is unknown
ALS- see Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Altitude sickness- headaches, dizziness, and nausea usually experienced at heights above
8,000 ft because of reduced oxygen in the air
Alzheimer disease- a condition that occurs late in life and worsens with time in which
brain cells degenerate; it is accompanied by memory loss, physical decline, and confusion
Amenorrhea- absence of menstrual periods, occurring either after or before menstruation
has begun
Amniocentesis- a procedure in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed from the
mother’s womb in order to detect abnormalities of the fetus
Amniotic fluid- clear fluid that surrounds a fetus during pregnancy and cushions and
protects it
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis- the most common of a group of disorders known as motor
neuron diseases, in which the nerves in the brain that control the movement of muscles
degenerate and muscle function is gradually lost; commonly called Lou Gehrig's disease
Anabolic steroid- a drug similar to the male hormone testosterone that builds muscles and
strengthens bones, but has adverse side effects
Anal fissure- a long, open sore on the skin of the anus
Anal fistula- an abnormal tubelike passage connecting the anus to the surface of the
surrounding skin
Analgesic- a drug that relieves pain, such as aspirin or acetaminophen
, Anal sphincter- a ring of muscle fibers at the opening of the rectum, controlling the
opening and closing of the anus
Anaphylactic shock- a life-threatening allergic reaction resulting in difficulty breathing and
low blood pressure
Anatomy- the structure of bodies; commonly refers to the study of body structure
Androgen- a hormone (such as testosterone) that causes development of male
characteristics and sex organs
Anemia- a condition in which the blood does not contain enough hemoglobin, the
compound that carries oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body
Anencephaly- a fatal birth defect in which the brain and spinal cord have failed to develop,
resulting in the absence of a portion of the skull and brain
Anesthesia- a loss of sensation in a certain part of the body or throughout the body
Anesthetic- a substance that temporarily causes a person to be unable to feel pain, either
in a certain area or over the entire body
Aneurysm- an abnormal swelling of the wall of an artery, caused by a weakening in the
vessel wall
Angina pectoris- pain experienced in the chest, arms, or jaw because of a lack of oxygen
to the heart muscle
Angioma- a tumor made of blood vessels or lymph vessels that is not cancerous
Angioplasty- the use of surgery to make a damaged blood vessel function properly again;
may involve widening or reconstructing the blood vessel
Anorexia nervosa- a dangerous eating disorder mainly affecting young girls in which the
sufferer has an intense fear of looking fat, avoids food, and loses weight excessively
Antacid- a drug that neutralizes stomach acids; used to treat indigestion, heartburn, and
acid reflux
Antibiotic resistance- the development by bacteria of the ability to live in the presence of
a certain antibiotic, making treatment difficult
Antibiotics- bacteria-killing substances that are used to fight infection
Antibody- a protein made by white blood cells that reacts with a specific foreign protein as
part of the immune response
Anticoagulants- drugs used to stop abnormal blood clotting, such as to prevent stroke
Antiemetics- drugs used to treat nausea and vomiting
(Source: www.ama-assn.org )
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
A
Abdominal cavity- the part of the body between the bottom of the ribs and the top of the
thighs, containing most of the digestive and urinary systems along with some reproductive
organs
ABO blood groups- The system by which human blood is classified, based on proteins
occurring on red blood cells; the four classification groups are A, AB, B, and O
Abortion- termination of a pregnancy; can occur because of natural causes (called a
miscarriage) or be a medical intervention
Abscess- an accumulation of pus in a body tissue, usually caused by a bacterial infection
ACE inhibitor- a drug typically used to treat high blood pressure (Angiotensin-Converting
Enzyme inhibitor)
Achilles tendon- the tendon at the back of the lower leg that connects the calf muscle to
the heel bone
Acid-base balance- the mechanisms that the body uses to keep its fluids close to neutral
(neither basic nor acidic) so that the body can function properly
Acidosis- a condition marked by abnormally high acid levels in the blood, associated with
some forms of diabetes, lung disease, and severe kidney disease
Acid reflux- a disorder in which acid in the stomach comes up into the esophagus, because
the valve separating the stomach and esophagus does not function properly
Acne- a skin condition characterized by inflamed, pus-filled areas that occur on the skin's
surface, most commonly occurring during adolescence
Acquired- a word describing any condition that is not present at birth, but develops some
time during life
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome- infection by the human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV), which causes a weakening of the immune system
Acute- describes a condition or illness that begins suddenly and is usually short-lasting
Acute respiratory disease- an urgent condition in which oxygen levels in the blood are
lower than normal and breathing is difficult
,Addiction- dependence on a substance (such as alcohol or other drugs) or an activity, to
the point that stopping is very difficult and causes severe physical and mental reactions
Adenitis- infection and inflammation of a gland, especially a lymph node
Adipose tissue- another term for fatty tissue; it stores energy, insulates, and cushions the
body
Adjuvant therapy- the use of drugs or radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer along
with surgery
Adrenal failure- a condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the
hormones that control important functions such as blood pressure
Adrenal glands- two small glands located on top of the kidneys that secrete several
important hormones into the blood
Adverse reaction- an unintended and unwanted side effect of some sort of treatment,
usually drug therapy
Aerobic exercise- physical activity during which the heart and lungs must work harder to
meet the body's increased oxygen demand
Affective disorder- a mental disorder involving abnormal moods and emotions; affective
disorders include manic-depressive disorder
Afterbirth- the placenta and membranes that are eliminated from the woman's uterus
following the birth of a child
Afterpains- normal contractions of the uterus after childbirth that usually occur for the first
few days after delivery
AIDS- see Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
AIDS-related complex- symptoms including weight loss, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes
experienced by people who are infected with HIV but do not yet have AIDS
Air embolism- the blockage of an artery by air bubbles, which may have entered during
surgery or after an injury
Airway obstruction- blockage of the passage of air through the windpipe to the lungs
Airways- the passageways that air moves through while traveling in and out of the lungs
during breathing
Albinism- a condition in which people are born with insufficient amounts of the pigment
melanin, which is responsible for hair, skin, and eye color
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy- heart damage and failure caused by intake of too much
alcohol
,Alimentary canal- another term for the digestive tract
Alkalosis- dangerously decreased acidity of the blood, which can be caused by high
altitudes, hyperventilation, and excessive vomiting
Alkylating agents- substances used in cancer treatment that interfere with the division of
cells
Allergen- a substance that causes an allergic reaction
Allergic rhinitis- irritation of the nasal passages and the whites of the eyes, causing
sneezing, runny nose, and sore eyes
Allergy- a negative reaction to a substance that in most people causes no reaction
Alopecia- baldness or loss of hair, mainly on the head, either in defined patches or
completely; the cause is unknown
ALS- see Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Altitude sickness- headaches, dizziness, and nausea usually experienced at heights above
8,000 ft because of reduced oxygen in the air
Alzheimer disease- a condition that occurs late in life and worsens with time in which
brain cells degenerate; it is accompanied by memory loss, physical decline, and confusion
Amenorrhea- absence of menstrual periods, occurring either after or before menstruation
has begun
Amniocentesis- a procedure in which a small amount of amniotic fluid is removed from the
mother’s womb in order to detect abnormalities of the fetus
Amniotic fluid- clear fluid that surrounds a fetus during pregnancy and cushions and
protects it
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis- the most common of a group of disorders known as motor
neuron diseases, in which the nerves in the brain that control the movement of muscles
degenerate and muscle function is gradually lost; commonly called Lou Gehrig's disease
Anabolic steroid- a drug similar to the male hormone testosterone that builds muscles and
strengthens bones, but has adverse side effects
Anal fissure- a long, open sore on the skin of the anus
Anal fistula- an abnormal tubelike passage connecting the anus to the surface of the
surrounding skin
Analgesic- a drug that relieves pain, such as aspirin or acetaminophen
, Anal sphincter- a ring of muscle fibers at the opening of the rectum, controlling the
opening and closing of the anus
Anaphylactic shock- a life-threatening allergic reaction resulting in difficulty breathing and
low blood pressure
Anatomy- the structure of bodies; commonly refers to the study of body structure
Androgen- a hormone (such as testosterone) that causes development of male
characteristics and sex organs
Anemia- a condition in which the blood does not contain enough hemoglobin, the
compound that carries oxygen from the lungs to other parts of the body
Anencephaly- a fatal birth defect in which the brain and spinal cord have failed to develop,
resulting in the absence of a portion of the skull and brain
Anesthesia- a loss of sensation in a certain part of the body or throughout the body
Anesthetic- a substance that temporarily causes a person to be unable to feel pain, either
in a certain area or over the entire body
Aneurysm- an abnormal swelling of the wall of an artery, caused by a weakening in the
vessel wall
Angina pectoris- pain experienced in the chest, arms, or jaw because of a lack of oxygen
to the heart muscle
Angioma- a tumor made of blood vessels or lymph vessels that is not cancerous
Angioplasty- the use of surgery to make a damaged blood vessel function properly again;
may involve widening or reconstructing the blood vessel
Anorexia nervosa- a dangerous eating disorder mainly affecting young girls in which the
sufferer has an intense fear of looking fat, avoids food, and loses weight excessively
Antacid- a drug that neutralizes stomach acids; used to treat indigestion, heartburn, and
acid reflux
Antibiotic resistance- the development by bacteria of the ability to live in the presence of
a certain antibiotic, making treatment difficult
Antibiotics- bacteria-killing substances that are used to fight infection
Antibody- a protein made by white blood cells that reacts with a specific foreign protein as
part of the immune response
Anticoagulants- drugs used to stop abnormal blood clotting, such as to prevent stroke
Antiemetics- drugs used to treat nausea and vomiting
