NBCMI EXAM MEDICAL TERMS STUDY GUIDE
Pathology - Answers -The study of diseases and the changes they cause in the body's
tissues and organs.
Appendectomy - Answers -A surgical procedure to remove the appendix.
Hypertension - Answers -Abnormally high blood pressure.
Hepatitis - Answers -Inflammation of the liver, often caused by a viral infection.
Vaccine - Answers -A substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and
provide immunity against one or several diseases.
Asphyxia - Answers -A condition where the body or a part of it is deprived of oxygen,
causing unconsciousness or death.
Dialysis - Answers -The removal of waste products from the blood of patients whose
kidneys are not functioning properly.
Melanoma - Answers -A malignant tumor of the skin cells that produces the pigment
melanin.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - Answers -A disease in which the immune system attacks the
protective covering of nerves, leading to nerve damage and communication problems
between the brain and the rest of the body.
Rheumatoid Arthritis - Answers -A chronic inflammatory disorder affecting many joints,
including those in the hands and feet, causing painful swelling of the joints.
Mitosis - Answers -The process by which a cell divides into two new daughter cells.
Pneumonia - Answers -An infection of the lungs that causes the air sacs to fill with pus
and may become solid.
Anaphylaxis - Answers -A severe allergic reaction that can lead to shock, difficulty
breathing, and even death if not treated promptly.
Amputation - Answers -The surgical removal of a limb or extremity.
Diabetes Mellitus - Answers -A chronic condition characterized by persistent high blood
sugar levels.
, Pharmacology - Answers -The study of drugs, their sources, and their effects on the
body.
Endocrinologist - Answers -A medical specialist who diagnoses and treats diseases of
the endocrine system.
Ultrasound - Answers -A procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to create
images of internal body structures.
Cardiomegaly - Answers -A condition characterized by the abnormal enlargement of
the heart.
Cholecystectomy - Answers -The surgical removal of the gallbladder.
Diagnosis - Answers -The process of determining which disease or condition explains a
person's symptoms and signs.
Atherosclerosis - Answers -A chronic disease characterized by the accumulation of
plaque (fatty deposits) in the walls of the arteries, leading to reduced blood flow.
Biopsy - Answers -A procedure that involves taking a small sample of tissue for
examination under a microscope.
Autoimmune Disease - Answers -A condition where the body's immune system attacks
its own tissues, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage.
Aphasia - Answers -The loss of the ability to understand or express speech, caused by
brain damage.
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) - Answers -A temporary decrease in blood flow to the
brain, often called a 'mini-stroke.'
Hyperthyroidism - Answers -A condition where the thyroid gland produces too much of
the hormone thyroxine, leading to unintentional weight loss and a rapid or irregular
heartbeat.
Metastasis - Answers -The process by which cancer spreads from one part of the body
to another.
Cardiac Catheterization - Answers -A procedure in which a catheter is used to deliver
treatments or perform diagnostic tests inside the heart.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) - Answers -A type of heart disease that occurs when
the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle become hardened and narrowed due
to the buildup of cholesterol and other substances.
Pathology - Answers -The study of diseases and the changes they cause in the body's
tissues and organs.
Appendectomy - Answers -A surgical procedure to remove the appendix.
Hypertension - Answers -Abnormally high blood pressure.
Hepatitis - Answers -Inflammation of the liver, often caused by a viral infection.
Vaccine - Answers -A substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and
provide immunity against one or several diseases.
Asphyxia - Answers -A condition where the body or a part of it is deprived of oxygen,
causing unconsciousness or death.
Dialysis - Answers -The removal of waste products from the blood of patients whose
kidneys are not functioning properly.
Melanoma - Answers -A malignant tumor of the skin cells that produces the pigment
melanin.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) - Answers -A disease in which the immune system attacks the
protective covering of nerves, leading to nerve damage and communication problems
between the brain and the rest of the body.
Rheumatoid Arthritis - Answers -A chronic inflammatory disorder affecting many joints,
including those in the hands and feet, causing painful swelling of the joints.
Mitosis - Answers -The process by which a cell divides into two new daughter cells.
Pneumonia - Answers -An infection of the lungs that causes the air sacs to fill with pus
and may become solid.
Anaphylaxis - Answers -A severe allergic reaction that can lead to shock, difficulty
breathing, and even death if not treated promptly.
Amputation - Answers -The surgical removal of a limb or extremity.
Diabetes Mellitus - Answers -A chronic condition characterized by persistent high blood
sugar levels.
, Pharmacology - Answers -The study of drugs, their sources, and their effects on the
body.
Endocrinologist - Answers -A medical specialist who diagnoses and treats diseases of
the endocrine system.
Ultrasound - Answers -A procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to create
images of internal body structures.
Cardiomegaly - Answers -A condition characterized by the abnormal enlargement of
the heart.
Cholecystectomy - Answers -The surgical removal of the gallbladder.
Diagnosis - Answers -The process of determining which disease or condition explains a
person's symptoms and signs.
Atherosclerosis - Answers -A chronic disease characterized by the accumulation of
plaque (fatty deposits) in the walls of the arteries, leading to reduced blood flow.
Biopsy - Answers -A procedure that involves taking a small sample of tissue for
examination under a microscope.
Autoimmune Disease - Answers -A condition where the body's immune system attacks
its own tissues, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage.
Aphasia - Answers -The loss of the ability to understand or express speech, caused by
brain damage.
Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) - Answers -A temporary decrease in blood flow to the
brain, often called a 'mini-stroke.'
Hyperthyroidism - Answers -A condition where the thyroid gland produces too much of
the hormone thyroxine, leading to unintentional weight loss and a rapid or irregular
heartbeat.
Metastasis - Answers -The process by which cancer spreads from one part of the body
to another.
Cardiac Catheterization - Answers -A procedure in which a catheter is used to deliver
treatments or perform diagnostic tests inside the heart.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) - Answers -A type of heart disease that occurs when
the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle become hardened and narrowed due
to the buildup of cholesterol and other substances.
