MEDICAL ASSISTANT TERMS
hyperparathyroidism - ANSWER This is an overproduction of the parathyroid hormone causing
hypercalcemia.
Hypoparathyroidism - ANSWER This is a condition caused by an insufficient or even absent secretion
of the parathyroid hormone causing hypocalcemia.
thymitis - ANSWER An inflammation of the thymus gland.
insulinoma - ANSWER A benign tumor cause hypoglycemia by secreting excess insulin.
pancreatitis - ANSWER An inflammation of the pancrease often caused by long-term alcoholism.
hyperglycemia - ANSWER This is a high concentration of glucose in the blood.
Hypoglycemia - ANSWER This is an abnormally low concentration of glucose in the blood.
polydipsia - ANSWER This refers to excessive thirst.
polyphagia - ANSWER This refers to excessive hunger.
polyuria - ANSWER This refers to excessive urination.
hyperinsulinism - ANSWER This condition refers to excessive secretion insulin into the bloodstream.
Type 1 diabetes - ANSWER An autoimmune insulin deficiency disorder caused by destruction of the
pancreatic islet beta cells resulting in insulin deficiency.
Type 2 diabetes - ANSWER An insulin resistance disorder meaning that insulin is produced by the
pancreas but the body does not use it effectively. it's related to obesity.
,latent autoimmune diabetes - ANSWER This condition is known as type 1.5 diabetes where type 1
diabetes develops in adults.
Addison's disease - ANSWER This condition occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough
of the hormones cortisol or aldosterone. Patients show severe fatigue and muscle weakness, loss of
appetite, low blood pressure, and weight loss.
adrenalitis - ANSWER an inflammation of the adrenal glands.
aldosteronism - ANSWER an abnormal imbalance of electrolytes caused by excessive secretion of
aldosterone.
Conn's syndrome - ANSWER this disorder of the adrenal glands is caused by excessive production of
aldosterone causing weakness, cramps, and convulsions.
Cushing's syndrome - ANSWER this is hypercortisolism caused by prolonged exposure to high levels
of cortisol by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol from overproduction of cortisol or
prolonged use of corticosteroids.
hypergonadism - ANSWER the condition of excessive secretion of hormones by the sex glands
hypogonadism - ANSWER the condition of deficient secretion of hormones by the sex glands
Arteries - ANSWER Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart
Veins - ANSWER Blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart
the largest veins - ANSWER superior and inferior vena cava
Arterioles - ANSWER small vessels that receive blood from the arteries
Capillaries - ANSWER Smallest blood vessels
,Venules - ANSWER small vessels that gather blood from the capillaries into the veins
What surrounds the heart? - ANSWER pericardial sac
the muscular walls of the heart - ANSWER epicardium, myocardium, endocardium
the heart is composed of what chambers? - ANSWER two atria and two ventricles and four valves.
septum - ANSWER Divides the right and left chambers of the heart
Aorta - ANSWER Largest artery in the body
superior and inferior vena cava - ANSWER return unoxygenated venous blood to the right side of the
heart
pulmonary veins - ANSWER a vein carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the
heart.
pulmonary arteries - ANSWER the vessels that carry deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of
the heart to the lungs
what is the hearts electrical system composed of? - ANSWER sinoatrial node, the atrioventricular
node, the bundle of his, and the purkinje fibers.
coronary arteries - ANSWER the two arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle
coronary veins - ANSWER brings deoxygenated blood to the heart
blood - ANSWER a fluid tissue of the body.
Plasma - ANSWER a straw-colored fluid that contains nutrients, hormones, and waste products
, serum - ANSWER plasma fluid after the blood cells and the clotting proteins have been removed
formed elements - ANSWER red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets
Erythrocytes - ANSWER red blood cells, carry oxygen
Leukocytes - ANSWER white blood cells, fight infection
Thrombocytes - ANSWER another name for platelets
Atherosclerosis - ANSWER condition in which fatty deposits called plaque build up on the inner walls
of the arteries
coronary artery disease - ANSWER atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries that reduces the blood
supply to the heart muscle
ischemia - ANSWER an inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body, especially the heart
muscles.
Angina - ANSWER a condition of episodes of severe chest pain due to inadequate blood flow to the
myocardium
myocardial infarction - ANSWER the occlusion of one or more coronary arteries caused by plaque
buildup (heart attack)
congestive heart failure - ANSWER heart is unable to pump its required amount of blood
left-side heart failure - ANSWER it causes an accumulation of fluid in the lungs, call pulmonary
edema.
right-side heart failure - ANSWER it causes fluid to build up throughout the rest of the body causing
edema first in the fee and legs and then worsening to other parts of the body.
hyperparathyroidism - ANSWER This is an overproduction of the parathyroid hormone causing
hypercalcemia.
Hypoparathyroidism - ANSWER This is a condition caused by an insufficient or even absent secretion
of the parathyroid hormone causing hypocalcemia.
thymitis - ANSWER An inflammation of the thymus gland.
insulinoma - ANSWER A benign tumor cause hypoglycemia by secreting excess insulin.
pancreatitis - ANSWER An inflammation of the pancrease often caused by long-term alcoholism.
hyperglycemia - ANSWER This is a high concentration of glucose in the blood.
Hypoglycemia - ANSWER This is an abnormally low concentration of glucose in the blood.
polydipsia - ANSWER This refers to excessive thirst.
polyphagia - ANSWER This refers to excessive hunger.
polyuria - ANSWER This refers to excessive urination.
hyperinsulinism - ANSWER This condition refers to excessive secretion insulin into the bloodstream.
Type 1 diabetes - ANSWER An autoimmune insulin deficiency disorder caused by destruction of the
pancreatic islet beta cells resulting in insulin deficiency.
Type 2 diabetes - ANSWER An insulin resistance disorder meaning that insulin is produced by the
pancreas but the body does not use it effectively. it's related to obesity.
,latent autoimmune diabetes - ANSWER This condition is known as type 1.5 diabetes where type 1
diabetes develops in adults.
Addison's disease - ANSWER This condition occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough
of the hormones cortisol or aldosterone. Patients show severe fatigue and muscle weakness, loss of
appetite, low blood pressure, and weight loss.
adrenalitis - ANSWER an inflammation of the adrenal glands.
aldosteronism - ANSWER an abnormal imbalance of electrolytes caused by excessive secretion of
aldosterone.
Conn's syndrome - ANSWER this disorder of the adrenal glands is caused by excessive production of
aldosterone causing weakness, cramps, and convulsions.
Cushing's syndrome - ANSWER this is hypercortisolism caused by prolonged exposure to high levels
of cortisol by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol from overproduction of cortisol or
prolonged use of corticosteroids.
hypergonadism - ANSWER the condition of excessive secretion of hormones by the sex glands
hypogonadism - ANSWER the condition of deficient secretion of hormones by the sex glands
Arteries - ANSWER Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart
Veins - ANSWER Blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart
the largest veins - ANSWER superior and inferior vena cava
Arterioles - ANSWER small vessels that receive blood from the arteries
Capillaries - ANSWER Smallest blood vessels
,Venules - ANSWER small vessels that gather blood from the capillaries into the veins
What surrounds the heart? - ANSWER pericardial sac
the muscular walls of the heart - ANSWER epicardium, myocardium, endocardium
the heart is composed of what chambers? - ANSWER two atria and two ventricles and four valves.
septum - ANSWER Divides the right and left chambers of the heart
Aorta - ANSWER Largest artery in the body
superior and inferior vena cava - ANSWER return unoxygenated venous blood to the right side of the
heart
pulmonary veins - ANSWER a vein carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium of the
heart.
pulmonary arteries - ANSWER the vessels that carry deoxygenated blood from the right ventricle of
the heart to the lungs
what is the hearts electrical system composed of? - ANSWER sinoatrial node, the atrioventricular
node, the bundle of his, and the purkinje fibers.
coronary arteries - ANSWER the two arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle
coronary veins - ANSWER brings deoxygenated blood to the heart
blood - ANSWER a fluid tissue of the body.
Plasma - ANSWER a straw-colored fluid that contains nutrients, hormones, and waste products
, serum - ANSWER plasma fluid after the blood cells and the clotting proteins have been removed
formed elements - ANSWER red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets
Erythrocytes - ANSWER red blood cells, carry oxygen
Leukocytes - ANSWER white blood cells, fight infection
Thrombocytes - ANSWER another name for platelets
Atherosclerosis - ANSWER condition in which fatty deposits called plaque build up on the inner walls
of the arteries
coronary artery disease - ANSWER atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries that reduces the blood
supply to the heart muscle
ischemia - ANSWER an inadequate blood supply to an organ or part of the body, especially the heart
muscles.
Angina - ANSWER a condition of episodes of severe chest pain due to inadequate blood flow to the
myocardium
myocardial infarction - ANSWER the occlusion of one or more coronary arteries caused by plaque
buildup (heart attack)
congestive heart failure - ANSWER heart is unable to pump its required amount of blood
left-side heart failure - ANSWER it causes an accumulation of fluid in the lungs, call pulmonary
edema.
right-side heart failure - ANSWER it causes fluid to build up throughout the rest of the body causing
edema first in the fee and legs and then worsening to other parts of the body.
