Glossary of Medical Terms

There may be medical used in the study information provided to you that you do not understand.

This glossary of medical terms was created as a resource to make some of those words easier to understand.

Select the first letter of the word you are looking for from the links below:

A...B...C...D...E...F...G...H...I...J...L...M...N...O...P...R...S...T...U...V

McLaren Health Care Corporation
Human Research Protections Program
Alternative Lay Language for Medical Terms in Informed Consent Forms

This glossary is intended to provide some more commonly understood terms for the “medical jargon” that might be found in consent forms.

Term Definition

A

 

abdomen

belly, stomach

abdominal distention

bloating

absorb

take up fluids, take in

acid taste

sour taste

acidosis

condition when blood contains more acid than normal

acuity

clearness, keenness, esp. of vision and airways

acute

new, recent, sudden, urgent

acute cholecystitis

gall stones, which may cause upper abdominal pain and require hospitalization and surgery

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Cancer of bone marrow cells (See also Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)

adenopathy

swollen lymph nodes (glands)

adjuvant

helpful, assisting, aiding, supportive

adjuvant treatment

added treatment (usually to a standard treatment)

adverse effect

side effect, bad reaction, unwanted response

agent

drug, medication

albumin

protein found in blood

allergic reaction

rash, hives, swelling, trouble breathing

alopecia

loss of hair

ambulate/ambulation/

ambulatory

walk, able to walk

analgesic

pain-relieving drug

anaphylaxis

serious, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction

anasarca

build up of fluid throughout the whole body, which occurs in severely ill people

anemia

low number of red blood cells, can causes tiredness and shortness of breath. May require a blood transfusion

anesthetic

a drug or agent used to decrease the feeling of pain, or eliminate the feeling of pain by putting you to sleep

angina

chest pain due to decreased oxygen getting to the heart.

angina pectoris

pain resulting from not enough blood flowing to the heart

anorexia

lack of appetite

antecubital

related to the inner side of the forearm

antibody

protein made in the body in response to foreign substance

antibiotic

drug that kills bacteria and other germs

anticonvulsant

drug used to prevent seizures

antiemetic

medication to prevent nausea/vomiting

antilipemic

a drug that lowers fat levels in the blood

antimicrobial

drug that kills bacteria and other germs

antiretroviral

drug that works against the growth of certain viruses

antitussive

a drug used to relieve coughing

aplastic anemia

a disorder caused by decreased production of red blood cells

approximately

about

arrhythmia

irregular heart beat; any change from the normal heartbeat

arterial thrombosis

blood clot in an artery that blocks the artery. This could be serious and life threatening

arterial catheter

small tube placed in an artery

arthralgia

joint pain

ascites

build up of fluid in the abdomen, which causes bloating and discomfort. This could require that the fluid be removed by a procedure called paracentesis

aspiration

fluid entering the lungs, such as after vomiting

assay

lab test

assess

to learn about, measure, evaluate, look at

asthenia

feeling weak and having no energy

asthma

lung disease associated with tightening of air passages, making breathing difficult

asymptomatic

without symptoms

autoimmune enteritis

This is when your immune system attacks normal cells in your body, including the cells that line your digestive tract. This may result in bleeding and inflammation of the esophagus, bowel (intestines), and lower gi tract (colon), which can cause bleeding, diarrhea and perforations (holes). This could be serious or life threatening. Hospitalization and treatment with medications (steroids) may be necessary. This can become severe and may require surgical removal of parts of the intestines or colon. These surgical procedures might result in your having a stoma (hole) though which digested food passes

autoimmune hemolytic anemia

Destruction of red blood cells by a person’s own immune system

axilla

armpit

B

 

baseline

1. Information gathered at the beginning of a study from which variations found in the study are measured. 2. A known value or quantity with which an unknown is compared when measured or assessed. 3. The initial time point in a clinical trial, just before a participant starts to receive the experimental treatment which is being tested. At this reference point, measurable values such as cd4 count are recorded. Safety and efficacy of a drug are often determined by monitoring changes from the baseline values.

benefit

a valued or desired outcome; an advantage

benign

not malignant, without serious consequences

BID

twice a day

bilirubinemia

high levels of bilirubin in the blood

bioavailability

the extent to which a drug or other substance becomes available to the body

binding / bound

carried by, to make stick together, transported

bioavailability

the extent to which a drug or other substance becomes available to the body

biologic

any therapeutic serum, toxin, anti-toxin, or analogous microbial product applicable to the prevention, treatment, or cure of diseases or injuries

biopsy

removal and examination of tissue

blind

a randomized trial is "blind" if the participant is not told which arm of the trial he is on

bolus

a large amount given all at once

bone mass

the amount of calcium and other minerals in a given amount of bone

bowel perforation

perforation of the digestive system

bradycardia

slow heartbeat

brain stem edema

accumulation of fluid around the brain stem, this can be life threatening

bronchospasm

breathing distress caused by narrowing of the airways

C

 

carcinogenic

cancer-causing

carcinoma

type of cancer

cardiac

related to the heart

cardiac arrest

sudden, unexpected stopping of the heart.

cardiac effusion

collection of fluid around the heart

cardiac toxicity

damage to the heart

cardiomyopathy

heart muscle becomes damaged and the heart doesn’t pump properly

cardiovascular

heart and blood vessels

cardioversion

return to normal heartbeat by electric shock

case study

a research strategy that focuses on one case (an individual, a group, an organization, etc.) within its social context during one time period

catheter

a tube for withdrawing or giving fluids

central nervous system (CNS)

brain and spinal cord

cerebral trauma

damage to the brain

cessation

stopping

CHD

coronary heart disease

chemotherapy

treatment of disease, usually cancer, by chemical agents

chronic

continuing for a long time, ongoing

clinical

pertaining to medical care

clinical trial

a type of research study

cluster sample

a probability sample that is determined by randomly selecting clusters of people from a population and subsequently selecting every person in each cluster for inclusion in the sample

cognitively impaired

having either a psychiatric disorder (e.g., psychosis, neurosis, personality or behavior disorders, or dementia) or a developmental disorder (e.g., mental retardation) that affects cognitive or emotional functions to the extent that capacity for judgment and reasoning is significantly diminished

cohort

a group of subjects initially identified as having one or more characteristics in common who are followed over time

coma

unconscious state

compassionate use

providing experimental therapy prior to final FDA approval for use in humans

compensation

payment or medical care provided to subjects injured in research; does not refer to payment (remuneration) for participation in research

competence

a legal term to indicate a person’s capacity to act on one’s own behalf; a person’s ability to understand information presented, to realize the consequences of acting (or not acting) on that information, and to make a choice.

complete response

total disappearance of disease

confounding factor

any factor that might serve as an alternative explanation for a study’s result; confounding factors include non-randomized samples, selection bias, and any arbitrary differences between people that are being compared.

congenital

present before birth

conjunctivitis

redness and irritation of the thin membrane that covers the eye

consolidation phase

treatment phase intended to make a remission permanent (follows induction phase)

constipation

difficulty passing stools

contract

an agreement

contraindicated

disadvantageous, perhaps dangerous; a treatment that should not be used in certain individuals or conditions due to risks. For instance, a drug may be contraindicated for pregnant women and people with high blood pressure

control group

in many clinical trials, one group of patients will be given an experimental drug or treatment, while the control group is given either a standard treatment for the illness or a placebo

controlled trial

research study in which the experimental treatment or procedure is compared to a standard (control) treatment or procedure

convenience sample

a non-probability sample that is determined by selecting participants that are readily accessible (convenient) to the researcher, (examples in studies of Stanford students might include going to an organizational meeting or hanging out outside of rastall and asking students exiting the lunchroom to take a survey)

cooperative group

association of multiple institutions to perform clinical trials

coronary

related to the blood vessels that supply the heart, or to the heart itself

CT scan (CAT scan)

computerized series of x-rays

cross-over design

a type of clinical trial in which each subject experiences, at different times, both the experimental and control therapy

culture

test for infection, or for organisms that could cause infection

cumulative

added together from the beginning

cutaneous

relating to the skin

CVA

stroke

D

 

debilitation

weakened condition

dehydrate

lose water or body fluids

dermatitis

skin irritation, rash

dermatologic

pertaining to the skin

deteriorate

condition to grow worse

diarrhea

frequent, loose watery stools, which can cause dehydration and may require hospitalization and treatment with intravenous fluids

diastolic

lower number in a blood pressure reading

distal

toward the end, away from the center of the body

distal parathesias

numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.

diuretic

water pill or drug that causes increase in urination

doppler

device using sound waves to diagnose or test

double-blind design

study in which neither investigators nor subjects know what drug or treatment the subject is receiving

duration

length of time involved

dysplasia

abnormal cells

E

 

echocardiogram

using sound waves for examination of the heart

edema

build up of fluid in the body causing swelling.

EEG

electric brain wave tracing

efficacy

effectiveness

electrocardiogram

electrical tracing of the heartbeat (ECG or EKG)

electrolyte changes

an imbalance of minerals in the blood; changes in electrolytes (body salts), which usually do not cause any symptoms but that can sometimes cause fatigue, muscle weakness, cramping, rigidity, irregular heart beat, or seizures

elevated lipase, amylase

may indicate inflammation of the pancreas, which could result in abdominal pain and discomfort and could require hospitalization and intravenous treatment

elevated uric acid levels

may worsen kidney function; cause joint pain (gout) and kidney stones

emesis

vomiting, throwing up

empirical

based on experimental data, not on a theory.

encephalopathy

disease of the brain that severely alters thinking.

endoscopic examination

examination of an internal part of the body with a lighted tube

endpoint

overall outcome that the protocol is designed to evaluate

enteral

by way of the intestines

enzyme

a chemical in the blood that causes chemical changes

epidemiology

The branch of medical science that deals with the study of incidence and distribution and control of a disease in a population.

epidural

outside the spinal cord

epistaxis

bloody nose

erythema

redness of the skin

evaluated, assessed

examined for a medical condition

excrete

discharge, pass

expanded access

refers to any of the FDA procedures, such as compassionate use, parallel track, and treatment IND that distribute experimental drugs to participants who are failing on currently available treatments for their condition and also are unable to participate in ongoing clinical trials

experimental drug

a drug that is not FDA licensed for use in humans, or as a treatment for a particular condition

experimental group

the group in an experimental design study that receives treatment in the form, or in various forms, of the independent variable

external

outside the body

extravasate

to leak outside of a planned area, such as out of a blood vessel

F

 

fatigue

feeling tired

fetus

unborn baby

fever

abnormally high body temperature

fibrillation

irregular beat of the heart or other muscle

fibrosis

scars

fibrous

having many fibers, such as scar tissue

fluoroscope

x-ray machine

fungus

form of infection

G

 

gait

walk

gastrointestinal

stomach and intestines

general anesthesia

pain prevention by giving drugs to cause loss of consciousness, as during surgery

genetic screening

tests to identify persons who have an inherited predisposition to a certain phenotype or who are at risk of producing offspring with inherited diseases or disorders

genotype

the genetic makeup of an individual

gestational

pertaining to pregnancy

H

 

headache

pain in the head

heart palpitations

heart beats that are fast and hard

hematocrit

amount of red blood cells in the blood

hematoma

blood clot

hematuria

blood in urine

Hemodynamic measuring

measuring of blood flow

hemolysis

breakdown in red blood cells

hemolytic uremic syndrome

red blood cells begin to dissolve, which leave wastes in the blood and the kidneys are unable to get rid of excess fluid and wastes

hemoptysis

vomiting blood

hemorrhage

loss of blood (heavy bleeding)

hemorrhagic cystitis

inflammation of the bladder with severe bleeding

heparin lock

needle placed in the arm with blood thinner to keep the blood from clotting

hepatoma

cancer or tumor of the liver

heritable disease

disease that can be transmitted to one’s offspring, resulting in damage to future children

high thyroid function

may cause fatigue, weight loss, rapid heartbeat, sweating, trouble with heat, nervousness

histopathologic

pertaining to the disease status of body tissues or cells

holter monitor

a portable machine for recording heart beats

hormone

a chemical in the body

hypercalcemia

high levels of calcium in the blood

hyperkalemia

high levels of potassium in the blood, which can cause the heart to stop beating

hyperkeratosis

thickening of the skin, nails.

hypernatremia

high blood sodium level

hyperpigmentation

darkening of the skin

hyperpyrexia

high body temperature, a fever.

hypertension

high blood pressure

hyperuricemia

excess amount of uric acid in the blood, gout, which can cause pain in the joints

hypokalemia

decreased levels of potassium in the blood, which can cause irregular heart beat

hypomagnesemia

low magnesium, which may result in muscle cramps, weakness, tremors or irregular heartbeat

hyponatremia

decreased levels of sodium in the blood, which can cause confusion, seizures, fatigue and low levels of consciousness

hypophosphatemia

low phosphate, which may result in muscle weakness, bone pain, confusion and muscle breakdown

hypopigmentation / vitiligo

patches of the skin turn lighter than the surrounding skin

hypotensive

low blood pressure

hypoxemia

a decrease of oxygen in the blood

hypoxia

a decrease of oxygen reaching body tissues

hysterectomy

surgical removal of the uterus, ovaries (female sex glands), or both uterus and ovaries

I

 

iatrogenic

caused by a physician or by treatment

idiopathic

of unknown cause

immunity

defense against, protection from

immunization

administration of a substance to prevent disease

immunoglobin

a protein that makes antibodies

immunological effects

effect on the immune system

immunosuppressive

drug which works against the body's immune (protective) response, often used in transplantation and diseases caused by immune system malfunction

immunotherapy

giving of drugs to help the body's immune (protective) system; usually used to destroy cancer cells

Impaired function

abnormal function

implanted

placed in the body

induction

Start the initial treatment of disease name

induration

hardening

indwelling

remaining in a given location, such as a catheter

infarct

death of tissue due to lack of blood supply

infectious disease

disease that is transmitted from one person to the next

inflammation

Swolling that is generally red, warm, and painful

infusion

slow injection of a substance into the body, usually into the blood by means of a catheter

ingestion

eating; taking by mouth

insomnia

inability to sleep

interferon

drug which acts against viruses; antiviral agent

intermittent

occurring (regularly or irregularly) between two time points; repeatedly stopping, then starting again

internal

within the body

interstitial pneumonitis,

pneumonitis

inflammation of the lungs, which can cause shortness of breath and difficulty breathing

intramuscular

into the muscle; within the muscle

intraperitoneal

into the abdominal cavity

intrathecal

into the spinal fluid

intravenous (IV)

through the vein

intravesical

in the bladder

intubate

the placement of a tube into the airway

Investigational

the study drug [device or biologic] is still being tested in research studies and is not approved for this use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

irradiation

x-ray

ischemia

decreased oxygen in a tissue (usually because of decreased blood flow)

J

 

jaundice

yellowing of the skin

L

 

laparotomy

Surgical procedure in which an incision is made in the abdominal wall so the doctor can look at the organs inside.

Lesion

wound or injury; a diseased patch of skin

lethargy

sleepiness, tiredness

leukopenia

low white blood cell count

lipid

fat

lipid profile

fat and cholesterol levels in the blood

localized

limited to one area

low blood sugar /

hypoglycemia

abnormal decrease in sugar in the blood, which can cause weakness, fatigue, and if severe, can cause loss of consciousness

low thyroid function

may cause fatigue, weight gain, fluid retention, feeling cold, decreased cognitive function

low white cell count

increased risk of infection

lumen

the cavity of an organ or tube (e.g., blood vessel)

lymphangiography

an x-ray of the lymph nodes or tissues after injecting dye into lymph vessels

(e.g., in feet)

lymphocyte

a type of white blood cell important in immunity (protection) against infection

lymphoma

a cancer of the lymph nodes (or tissues)

M

 

maintenance

the continued long term control of the disease

malaise

a vague feeling of bodily discomfort, feeling badly

malfunction

condition in which something is not functioning properly

malignancy

cancer or other progressively enlarging and spreading tumor, usually fatal if not successfully treated

medullablastoma

a type of brain tumor

megaloblastosis

change in red blood cells

metabolic acidosis

the body becomes more acid

metabolism

chemical changes which provide energy

metabolize

process of breaking down substances in the cells to obtain energy

metastasis

spread of cancer cells from one part of the body to another

mobility

ease of movement

monitor

check on; keep track of; watch carefully

morbidity

undesired result or complication

mortality

death

motility

the ability to move

MRI

magnetic resonance imaging, diagnostic pictures of the inside of the body, created using magnetic rather than x-ray energy

mucosa, mucous membrane

moist lining of digestive, respiratory, reproductive, and urinary tracts

mucositis/stomatitis

sores in the mouth and esophagus, which may be painful and cause difficulty swallowing

myalgia

muscle aches

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)/Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

A disorder that develops when the cells in the bone marrow (the soft inner part of the bones, where new blood cells are made) do not work properly and have problems making new blood cells.

myocardial

pertaining to the heart muscle

myocardial infarction

heart attack

N

 

nasogastric tube

tube placed in the nose, reaching to the stomach

nausea

feeling sick to the stomach

necrosis

death of tissue

neoplasia/neoplasm

tumor, may be benign or malignant

neuroblastoma

a cancer of nerve tissue

neurologic deficits

a neurologic deficit is a decrease in the function of the brain, spinal cord, muscles, and/or nerves

neurological

pertaining to the nervous system

neuropathy

damage to the nerves which can cause numbness, pain, and weakness

neutropenia

condition in which the number of white bloods cells called neutrophils is abnormally low

noninvasive

not breaking, cutting, or entering the skin

nosocomial

acquired in the hospital

O

 

occlusion

closing; blockage; obstruction

off-label use

a drug prescribed for conditions other than those approved by the FDA.

oncology

the study of tumors or cancer

ophthalmic

pertaining to the eye

opportunistic infections

an infection caused by an organism that usually does not cause illness, but causes disease when a person’s immune response (resistance) to infection is impaired

oral administration

by mouth

oropharynx

part of the back of the throat

orthopedic

pertaining to the bones

ostealgia

bone pain

osteopetrosis

rare bone disorder characterized by dense bone

osteoporosis

softening of the bones

ovaries

female sex glands

P

 

palpitation

feelings or sensations that your heart is pounding or racing

pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas causing pain in the upper abdomen

pancytopenia

abnormal decrease in the levels of all type of blood cells

parenteral

given by injection

percutaneous

through the skin

peripheral

not central

peripheral blood

vein blood

pharmacogenetics

the study of how the actions of and reactions to drugs vary with a person's genes

pharmacokinetics

the study of the way the body absorbs, distributes, and gets rid of a drug how long the study drug stays in your body

pharmacodynamics

the study of how the study drug acts on and in your body

phenotype

the physical manifestation of a gene function

phlebitis

irritation or inflammation of the vein

placebo

an inactive substance; a pill/liquid that contains no medicine

placenta

afterbirth

plasma

fluid found in the blood

platelet

part of blood that causes clots

pleural effusion

collection of fluid around the lungs in the chest cavity, which can cause shortness of breath and may require treatment

potential

possible

potentiate

to enhance or increase the effect of a drug by giving another drug at the same time

prenatal

before birth

prone

lying on the stomach

prophylaxis

use of drugs to prevent disease

prosthesis

artificial part, most often limbs, such as arms or legs

proteinuria

excess protein in the urine

proximal

closer to the center of the body, away from the end

pruritis

itchy skin

psychosis

nervous breakdown

pulmonary

pertaining to the lungs

pulmonary embolism

a blood clot that causes a sudden blockage in a lung artery, usually due to a blood clot that traveled to the lung from the leg

pulmonary fibrosis

tissue in the lungs becomes stiff making breathing difficult, resulting in shortness of breath, and if severe, can cause heart failure

pulmonary hypertension

abnormally high blood pressure in the blood vessels in the lungs, which makes it harder to pump blood into the lungs

R

 

radiation therapy

x-ray or cobalt treatment

random

by chance (like the flip of a coin)

randomization

Replace with….You will be randomly placed (by chance, rather than by choice) in one of the study groups described below.

Raynaud’s Syndrome

an autoimmune disorder causing blood vessels to spasm when exposed to cold

recombinant

formation of new combinations of genes

reconstitution

putting back together the original parts or elements

recur

happen again

refractory

not responding to treatment

regeneration

re-growth of a structure or of lost tissue

regimen

pattern of giving treatment

relapse

the return of a disease

remission

disappearance of evidence of cancer or other disease

remuneration

payment for participation in research; this is different from compensation, which typically refers to payment for research-related injuries

renal

pertaining to the kidneys

replicable

possible to duplicate

resect

remove or cut out surgically

respiratory failure

difficulty breathing with low levels of oxygen in the blood, which could be serious and life threatening and require you to have a tube inserted into your windpipe that is hooked up to a machine to help you breathe

rhabdomyolysis

rhabdomyolysis is a breakdown of muscle fibers.

rigors

chills and shivering

S

 

saline

salt water solution

sarcoma

a type of cancer

secretion

release

sedative

a drug to calm or make less anxious

seizures

convulsions

seminoma

a type of testicular cancer (found in the male sex glands)

sequentially

in a row, in order

side effects

any undesired actions or effects of a drug or treatment

simultaneous

at the same time

somnolence

sleepiness

specimen

a sample, as of human tissue, blood or urine, used for diagnostic or pathological analyses

spirometer

an instrument to measure the amount of air taken into and exhaled from the lungs

staging

an evaluation of the extent of the disease

stenosis

narrowing of a duct, tube, or one of the blood vessels in the heart

Stevens-Johnson

syndrome

skin condition that causes painful blisters and sores of the skin and mucous membranes, especially in the mouth

stimuli

something which causes a change

stomatitis

mouth sores, inflammation of the mouth

stupor

stunned state in which it is difficult to get a response or the attention of the subject

subclavian

under the collarbone

subcutaneous

under the skin

supine

lying on the back

supine position

lying on the back

supplement

add

supportive care

general medical care aimed at symptoms, not intended to improve or cure underlying disease

syndrome

a condition characterized by a set of symptoms

systolic

top number in blood pressure; pressure during active contraction of the heart

T

 

T-lymphocytes

type of white blood cells

tachycardia

fast heart rate

teratogenic

capable of causing malformations in a fetus (developing baby still inside the mother’s body)

testes/testicles

male sex glands

thrombocytopenia

Low number of platelets, which may cause bleeding and bruising. May require a blood transfusion. Bleeding may be serious or life threatening.

thrombosis

clotting

thrombus

blood clot

tinnitus

ringing in the ears

titration

gradually increasing the dose

topical

on the surface

topical anesthetic

applied to a certain area of the skin and reducing pain only in the area to which applied

toxicity

side effects or undesirable effects of a drug or treatment

transdermal

through the skin

transiently

temporarily

trauma

injury; wound

U

 

uptake

absorbing and taking in of a substance by living tissue

urticaria

hives

V

 

valvuloplasty

plastic repair of a valve, especially a heart valve

varices

enlarged veins

vasospasm

narrowing of the blood vessels

vector

a carrier that can transmit disease-causing microorganisms (germs and viruses)

venipuncture

needle stick, blood draw, entering the skin with a needle

visual disturbances

inability to see properly.