Research Consent Glossary

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

Abdomen - Belly

Abdominal - Having to do with the belly

Abdominal Cavity - Space in the belly where the stomach, intestines, kidney, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, spleen, and ureters are found

Abdominocentesis - Use of needle or tube to drain fluid from the belly

Abdominoperineal - Surgery to remove the middle and end of the large intestine resection

Abdominoplasty - Surgery to fix the stomach

Abortion - The premature end of a pregnancy

Abrasion - Area where skin or other tissue is scraped away

Abruptio Placentae - Premature separation of the placenta from the mother

Abscess - Swelling filled with pus

Absorb - Take up fluids, take in

Absorption - The way a drug or other substance enters the body

Acapnia - Decreased carbon dioxide in the blood

Accomplished - Done

Access (to) - Use of

Access to Records - Can see / look at records

Acetabulum - Pocket in the hip bone that holds the top of the upper leg

Acidosis - Increase of acid in the blood

Acne - Pimples

Acoustic Neuroma - Growth in the ear canal

Acquired - Contagious illness that results in decreased ability of the Immunodeficiency body to protect itself from other illnesses syndrome

Acromegaly - A disease of adults in which the body makes too much growth hormone

Actinic Keratosis - Skin disease (bumps) caused by extreme overexposure to the sun

Activated Partial - A test of blood clotting time used to measure the ability of Thromboplastin Time the blood to clot

Acuity - Clearness, keenness, esp. of vision -airways

Acute - Lasting a short time but often causing a serious problem - recent, sudden

Acute Acoumeter - Tool used to measure hearing

Addison's Disease - Serious disorder in which there is decreased cortisol and aldosterone in the body, resulting in weakness, low blood pressure, and other serious problems

Additional - Any more / further / extra

Adduction - Movement toward the middle of the body

Adenohypophysis - Gland in the brain that makes many hormones that control body functions

Adenoidectomy - Surgery to take out the adenoids

Adenopathy - Swollen lymph nodes (glands)

Adenoiditis - Inflammation of the adenoids

Adenoids - Infection-fighting glands in the back of the throat

Adenomyosis - A growth of muscle in the uterus

Adenotome - Tool used to remove adenoids

Adequately - Well, equally well, satisfactorily

Adhesion - Tissue stuck together

Adipose - Having to do with fat

Adjuvant - Helpful, assisting, aiding

Adjuvant Treatment - Added treatment

Administered to - Given to

Administration of - Begin given (treatment)

Adrenal Gland - A gland found over each kidney

Adrenalectomy - Surgery to remove an adrenal gland

Adrenaline - Hormone made by the adrenal glands that speeds up body organs and helps the body deal with stress

Adrenocortical - Any of the hormones made by the outer layer of the adrenal Hormone glands

Adrenocorticohyperplasia - Increased growth of one or both adrenal glands

Adrenocorticotropic - Hormone made by the brain that activates the adrenal glands

Adrenomegaly - Increase in size of one or both adrenal glands

Adrenopathy - Disease of one or both adrenal glands

Adverse - Harmful

Adverse Effect - Side effect

Adverse Event - Bad side effect

Aerosol - Drug or substance made as a mist to be breathed in

Afferent - Going toward the center area

Afterbirth - Material that provides nutrition for the unborn baby and comes out after the baby is born (placenta)

Agent - Substance, organism

AIDS - See acquired Immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

Airway - Tube through which air passes to enter and leave the lungs

Allergic Reaction - Rash, trouble breathing

Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) - Substance in blood that is measured to check for liver disease

Albino - White; lacking pigment (lacking color)

Albuminuria - Protein in the urine

Alcohol - Drug found in whiskey, wine, and beer that slows down the central nervous system

Aldosterone - Hormone made by the adrenal glands that controls the amount of mineral salts in the body

Allergic Reaction - Rash, trouble breathing

Allergy - Oversensitivity to a substance

Alopecia - Baldness

Alpha-fetoprotein - Substance in blood that is measured to check for liver cancer, testicular cancer, and spina bifida

ALS - See amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); see a/so Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS)

ALT - See alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

Alternatives - Other options, other drugs, other treatments

Alzheimer's Disease - Disorder that causes mental confusion

Ambulate - Walk, able to walkation -ory

Amniocentesis - Removal of some of the waters from around an unborn baby for laboratory testing

Amniochorial - Having to be with the tissues that surround the unborn baby

Amniography - X-ray of the uterus (womb) and unborn bay taken after putting a dye into the bag of waters

Amnion - Tissue that covers the unborn baby

Amnionitis - Inflammation of the amnion

Amniorrhea - Leaking of waters from around the unborn baby

Amniorrhexis - Breaking of the amnion

Amnioscope - Tool inserted through the cervix to look at the amniotic fluid and the unborn baby

Amniotic Fluid - Waters around the unborn baby

Amniotic Sac - Bag of tissue that surrounds the unborn baby

Amniotomy - Rupture of the membranes (breaking of the tissues around the unborn baby) -done to start labor

Amphetamines - Drugs that speed up metabolism and decrease appetite ("speed")

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) - A disease of the nerves that causes weakness

Anal - Having to do with the anus

Analgesic - Drug used to control pain

Anaphylactic Shock - Serious allergic reaction to a substance (e.g., food, drug)

Anaphylaxis - Serious, potentially life threatening allergic reaction

Androgen - Male sex hormone

Anemia - Decreased number of red blood cells .

Anesthesia - Loss of sensation or feeling

Anesthetic - A drug or agent used to decrease the feeling of pain or (general) eliminate the feeling of pain by putting you to sleep

Anesthetic - A drug or agent used to decrease the feeling of pain or by (local) numbing part of your body, without putting you to sleep

Aneurysm - Area where an artery is swollen like a sack because the wall of the artery is weak

Aneurysmectomy - Surgery to take out an aneurysm

Angina - Pain resulting from insufficient blood to the heart

Angina Pectoris - Chest pain due to decreased oxygen being supplied to the heart

Anginocarditis - Inflammation of the heart and the blood vessels entering the heart

Angioma - Growth made up of blood vessels or lymph vessels

Angioplasty - Surgery to open up a narrow blood vessel

Angiorrhaphy - Stitching a blood vessel

Angiospasm - Cramp in the blood vessels

Angiostenosis - Narrowing of the inside of a blood vessel Angled Bent, not straight

Ankylosing Spondylitis - Inflammation of the spine causing pain and stiffness

Ankylosis - Joint stiffness

Anoplasty - Surgery to fix the anus

Anorexia - No appetite for food

Anorexia Nervosa - Mental disorder in which fear of getting fat results in starvation and weight loss

Anoxia - No oxygen

Antacid - Drug used to decrease acid in the stomach (e.g., Tums, Rolaids)

Antecubital - In front of the elbow

Antepartum - Before childbirth

Anterior - Having to do with the front of the body

Anterior and Posterior Colporrhaphy - Surgery to fix weak muscles in the pelvic area

Anterior Lobe - Front part of an organ

Anterior Lobe - Part of the pituitary gland that discharges many hormones of the Pituitary

Antianginal - Drug used to relieve chest pain

Antiarrhythmic - Drug used to restore the natural rhythm of the heart

Antibiotic - Drug used to stop or slow down the growth of germs

Antibody - Type of protein that helps protect the body against foreign matter, such as bacteria and viruses

Anticoagulant - Drug used to stop blood from clotting

Anticonvulsant - Drug used to stop seizures

Antidiarrheal - Drug used to stop diarrhea

Antidiuretic Hormone - Hormone made by the pituitary gland that helps the kidneys keep water in the body by decreasing urine formation

Antidote - Substance used to reverse the action of a drug or poison

Antiemetic - Drug used to stop vomiting

Antihistamine - Drug used to treat allergic reactions

Antilipidemic - A drug that decreases the level of fat(s) in the blood

Antinauseant - Drug used to stop nausea and vomiting .

Antipruritic - Drug used to stop itching

Antiseptic - Substance used to stop or slow down the growth of germs

Antitussive - A drug used to relieve coughing

Antrectomy - Surgery to remove the lower part of the stomach

Antrum - Lower part of the stomach

Anuria - No urine being made

Anus - Ring of muscle that keeps the opening at the end of the digestive tract closed

Aorta - Biggest artery in the body

Aortic Stenosis - Narrowing of the aorta where it comes out of the heart

Aortogram - X-ray of the aorta

Apepsia - Without digestion

Aphagia - Not able to swallow

Aphasia - Not able to speak or write and not able to understand spoken or written words

Apnea - Stopping of breathing

Aponbeurorrhaphy - Stitching of an aponeurosis

Aponeurosis - Strong tissue that joins muscle to bone

Appendectomy - Surgery to remove the appendix

Appendicitis - Inflammation of the appendix

Appendix - The small pouch of intestine joined to the cecum

Appropriate - Suitable

Approve - Allow, agree to

Aqueous Humor - Liquid found in the front cavity of the eye

Arachnoid - Middle layer of the meninges

Areola - Dark-colored skin around the breast nipple

Arrhythmia - Any change from the normal heartbeat (abnormal heartbeat)

Arteriogram - X-ray using a dye to outline an artery

Arterioles - Small branches of arteries

Arteriorrhexis - Breaking of an artery

Arteriosclerosis - Hardening of the arteries

Artery - The type of blood vessel that carries blood and oxygen from the heart to the rest of the body

Arthralgia - Pain in a joint

Arthritis - Inflammation of one or more joints

Arthrocentesis - Use of a needle to remove fluid from a joint

Arthroclasia - Surgery to free up a joint that is stiff so it can move

Arthrodesia - Surgery to fasten a joint so it cannot move

Arthrogram - X-ray of a joint

Arthroplasty - Surgery to fix a joint

Arthrosclerosis - Stiffening of the joints

Arthroscope - Tool used to look into a joint

Arthrotomy - Surgery too cut into a joint

Articular Cartilage - Smooth tissue that covers the bones inside a joint

Artificial - Use of a tool to put sperm into the vagina for the purpose insemination of beginning pregnancy

Ascites - Fluid in the belly

Aspartate - Substance in blood that is measured to detect liver disease Aminotransferase (AST)

Aspects - Parts, features

Aspects - Parts, features

Aspermia - No sperm

Asphyxia - Suffocation

Aspirate - Removing a substance using suction

Aspiration - Fluid entering lungs following vomiting Assay Lab test

Assess - To learn about, measure

Associated with - Part of, connected with

AST - See aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

Asthma - Breathing disorder in which there is wheezing and difficulty breathing

Astigmatism - Flaw in the curve of the eye

Asymptomatic - Without symptoms

Ataxia - Uncontrolled muscle movement; in coordination

Atelectasis - Collapse of a lung

Artherosclerosis - Hardening of the arteries

Atraumtic - Not damaging to tissue

Atrioventricular - Hole in the heart present at birth Defect

Atrophy - Wasting away, or decrease in size, of a body organ

Audiogram - Report of a hearing test

Audiologist - Doctor who studies hearing

Audiology - The study of hearing

Audiometer - Tool used to measure hearing

Audiometry - Measurement of hearing

Aural - Having to do with the ear

Auricle - Outside flap of the ear

Auscultation - Use of a stethoscope to listen to sounds inside the body

Autoimmune - Disease Disorder in which a person's immune system attacks parts of his or her own body

Available (to you) - You could be given beneficial good for

Axilla - Armpit