A: A blood type.
Abdomen: The part of the body between the diaphragm
and the pelvis; belly.
Abcess: A swoller area in body tissues containing pus.
AIDS/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome: A condition of deficiency of certain leukocytes resulting
in infections, cancer, etc.
Alzheimer's: A degenerative brain disease.
Ambulatory: Being able to walk.
Ameliorate: To make or become better, improve.
Amnesia: Partial or total loss of memory.
Amniocentesis: The surgical procedure of extracting amniotic fluid from a pregnant woman to
determine the sex of the fetus, detect disease, etc.
Ampul/Ampule/Ampoule: A small, sealed glass container for a single dose of a hypodermic medicine.
Amputate: To cut off a body part by surgery.
Amputtee: One who has had a limb or limbs amputated.
AMA: American Medical Society
Amylase: An enzyme that helps chance startch into sugar, found in saliva, etc.
Analgesia: A fully conscious state in which pain is not felt.
Anatomize: To dissect an animal or plant in order to examine the structure.
Anatomy: Dissection of an organism to study its structure.
Androgen: A type of steroid that acts as a male sex hormone.
Anemia: A condition in which the blood is slow in red cells or in hemoglobin, resulting in
paleness, weakness, etc.
Anesthesia: A partial or total loss of the sense of pain, touch, etc.
Anesthesiologist: A doctor who specializes in giving anesthetics.
Anesthetist: One trained to give anesthetics.
Aneurysm/Aneurism: A sac formed by an enlargement in a weakened wall of an artery, a vein,
or the heart.
Angina: A condition marked by chest pain, caused by a decrease of blood to the heart.
Angioplasty: Any of various surgical techniques for repairing or replacing damaged blood vessels.
Anodyne: Anything that relieves pain or soothes.
Anomalous: Abnormal, inconsistent or odd.
Anomaly: Abnormality.
Anorexia: An eating disorder characterized by obsession with weight loss.
Antibiotic: Certain substances like penicillin or streptomycin, produced by various microogranisms
and capable of destroying or weakening bacteria.
Anticoagulant; A drug or substance that delays or prevents the clotting of blood.
Antidepressant: A drug that lessens emotional depression.
Antidote: A remedy to counteract a poison.
Antigen: A substance to which the body reacts by producing antibodies.
Antihistamine: Any of several drugs used in treating allergic conditions such as hay fever
and hives.
Antiseptic: Preventing infection, decay, etc.; effective against bacteria.
Antiserum: A serum containing antibodies.
Antitoxin: A circulating antibody formed by the body to act against a specific toxin. A serum
containing an antitoxin, injected into a person to prevent a disease.
Antiviral: Checks the growth of a virus.
Anxiety: Worry or uneasiness about what may happen.
Aorta: The main artery of the body, carrying blood from the heart.
Aphasia: Loss of the power to use or understand words.
Apolexy: Severe hemorrhage or
infarction, especially in the brain; stroke.
Apothecary: A pharmacist or druggist.
Appendage: An external organ or part.
Appendectomy: The surgical removal of the appendix.
Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix.
Appendix: A small, saclike appendage of the large intestine.
Application: Anything applied as a remedy.
Applicator: Any device for applying medicine.
Aqueous Humor: A watery fluid filling chambers in front of the lens of the eye.
Arrhythmia: An irregularity in the heart's rhythm.
Artery: Any of the blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.
Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint or joints.
Arthroscope: An endescope used inside a joint.
Artificial Respiration: The maintenance of breathing by arficial means, as by forcing air into
the mouth.
Asphixiate: To make or become unconscious from lack of oxygen in the blood. To suffocate.
Aspiration: A drawing in by breathing or suction.
Aspirator: An apparatus using suction to remove air, fluids, etc.
Aspirin: A white, crstalline powder or tablet that is used for reducing fever, relieving pain,
etc.
Asthma: A chronic disorder characterized by coughing, difficulty in breathing, etc.
Astigmatism: A defect of the eyes that prevents light rays from meeting in a single focal point.
Astrobiology: The branch of biology that investigates the existence of living organisms on
planets other than earth.
Ataxia: An inability to coordinate one's moving, as in walking.
Athrosclerosis: Grainy tumor, formation of fatty nodules on hardening artery walls.
Athlete's Foot: Ringworm of the feet.
Atomizer: A device used to shoot out a fine spray, as of medicine or perfume.
ATP/Adenosine triphospate: An organic compound present in, and vital to, all living cells.
Atrium: Either of the heart chambers that receive blood.
Atrophy: A wasting away or failure to grow especially of body tissues, an organ, etc.
Atropine: An alkaloid obtained from belladonna, used to relieve spasms, etc.
Audiology: The treatment of persons having hearing defects.
Audiometer: An instrument for measuring the sharpness and range of hearing.
Auditoray/Aural: Hearing or the sense of hearing.
Augment: To make or become greater as in the case of boob jobs.
Auricle: The outer part of the ear.
Auscultation: A listening, often with a stethoscope, to sounds in the chest, abdomen, etc.
so as to determine the condition of the heart, lungs, etc.
Autism: A mental state marked by disregard of external reality.
Autopsy: Examination of a corpse to discover the cause of death.
Auxin: A plant hormone that promotes and controls growth.
AZT: Trademark for an antiviral drug used to treat AIDS.