NURSING TERMINOLOGY

 Abscess : collection of pus

 Adipose : fat
 Administer : to give
 Airway : trachea or instrument for ventilation
 Albumen : a variety of protein
 Albuminuria : albumen in the urine
 Ambulant : able to walk
 Anaesthetic : a drug which produces lack of feeling
 Anatomy : science of the structure of the body
 Anoxaemia : no oxygen in the blood.
 Antenatal : before birth
 Anterior : in front of
 Anti : against
 Antibiotic : a drug which destroy bacteria
 Antiseptic : substances which destroy the growth of germ
 Anuria : lack of urine
 Anus : end of digestive system.
 Aorta : main artery coming from the left ventricle
 Apex : the beat of the heart.
 Apnoea : temporary stop to breathing
 Appendix : small blind tube coming from the large intestine
 Artery : vessel carrying blood away from the heart
 Aspiration : the act of breathing in
 Aspirin : mild pain killing drug
 Asthma : a sudden attack of difficulty in breathing
 Auriscope : instrument for examining the ear
 Autoclave : instrument for high pressure steam sterilization
 Bactericide : something which kills bacteria
 Bacteria : small organism, some which damage the body
 Bacteriostatic : stopping the growth of bacteria
 Bed-bath : a method of bathing a patient in bed
 Bed-block : a piece of material for raising one end of a bed.
 Bed-cradle : a frame put over the end of the bed to keep blankets off
the leg and feet
 Bedpan : pot used by bed-ridden patients for excretion.
 Bile : a liquid produced by the liver
 Bilirubin : product of the breakdown of haemoglobin.
 Bladder : a sac containing urine.
 Blood pressure : pressure on the walls of the blood vessels.
 Bowels : intestine, gut to have one’s bowel open to pass faeces.
 Breast : upper front part of the body between the neck & abdomen
 Bronchiectasis : widening of bronchial tubes following infection.
 Bronchus : one of the two branches into which the windpipe divides
 Bruise : a blue discolouration of the skin due to blood under
the skin
 Buttock : muscles of the bottom
 C‫ﹾ‬ : centigrade
 Calf : fleshy part of the back of the leg below the knee.
 Carcinoma : a malignant growth.
 Cardiac : of the heart
 Catheter : tube to take out urine.
 C.S.S.D : Central Sterile Supply Department
 Cerebral : of the brain
 Cetrimide : antiseptic
 Clammy : cold and damp
 Clinical : observation and treatment of patients as opposed to
Theoretical study of disease
 Coma : complete loss of consciousness
 Compound : where a broken bone breaks the surrounding tissue
 Consciousness : to the state of being conscious of one’s surrounding
 Constipation : difficulty in getting rid of faeces
 Consultant : senior doctor in a hospital
 Contraction : shortening of muscles
 Contusion : a bruise
 Convalescence : rest after illness
 Corpuscles : red and white blood cells in the blood
 Cross infection : infection passed from one patient to the other
 Crutch : wood or metal support to help a patient walk
 Cuticle : the dead skin surrounding a nail
 Cyanosed : a bluish colour of the skin
 Cyst : a sac containing liquid
 Cytological : study of the cells of the body
 Defaecation : passing faeces from the body
 Dehydrated : lack of fluid
 Dermatology : the science of the skin
 Dermis : the layer of skin just below the surface
 Diabetes : illness caused by the pancreas not working properly
 Diarrhea : liquid faeces
 Digest : to change food to a substance which can be absorbed by
by the body
 Disinfect : to kill germ
 Dissecting : cutting in pieces
 Distension : swelling
 Dose : amount of medicine taken
 Drainage : any method of taking liquid away from the body
 Dressing : medicines and bandages put on a wound
 Drug : chemical substances used to alter state of mind or body
 Duct : tube
 Duodenum : first part of the small intestine
 Dyspnea : difficult, labored breathing
 Dysuria : difficult, painful urination
 Elated : unusually, extremely happy
 Emesis : vomiting
 E.N.T : ear, nose and throat
 Epidermis : outside layer of skin
 Excise : to cut out
 Excreta : waste matter (faeces, urine)
 Expectorate : to spit
 Expiration : a breath blown out
 F‫ﹾ‬ : Fahrenheit ( a temperature scale)
 Faeces : solid waste matter of the body
 Fever : when the body temperature is above normal
 Fibula : long thin bone on outside of lower leg
 Flatus : gas in the stomach of intestine
 Flush : to go red
 Forceps : two-pronged instrument
 Foreign body : something inside the body that should not be there
 Fracture : a break in bone
 Gag : instrument to keep the mouth open
 Gall : bile
 Gallipot : small vessel for location
 Gauze : an open woven cloth used for dressing wounds
 Genitals : sexual organ
 Gentian violet : a purple coloured antiseptic
 Geriatrics : medical care of old people
 Gland : an organ or structure which produces a secretion
 Grab rail : a hand rail to steady patients who have difficulty in walking
 Graze : to scratch
 Groin : they are between the belly and thighs
 Ginaecology : study of women’s studies
 Haematology : study of the blood
 Haematuria : blood in the urine
 Haemoglobin : red part of the blood which combines with and release
oxygen
 Haemoptysis : coughing up the blood
 Haemorrhage : bleeding
 Hibitane : chlorhexidine, an antiseptic
 Histology : study of the tissue of the body
 History : patient’s previous medical record.
 Houseman : junior hospital doctor
 Hyperpnoea : deep breathing
 Hyperpyrexia : feverish
 Hypothalamus : below the thalamus (collection of grey matter in
the uppermost part of the brain)
 Immerse : to put below the surface of a liquid or gas
 Immunize : to make safe against a disease usually by injection of dead
germ of the disease
 Incontinence : unable to control the emptying of the bladder or bowels
 Indigestible : difficult to digest
 Infant : baby less than a year old.
 Infarction : death of piece tissue because the blood supply has stopped
 Infection : the invasion of the body by a germ
 Inflammation : the reaction of living tissue to injury
 Infusion : fluid put into the body
 Injection : the act of putting a fluid into the body’s tissue.
 Intensive care unit : unit where seriously ill patient receive intensive treatment
 Intercostal : between the ribs
 Intestine : the bowels
 Intramuscular : within a muscle
 Intravenous : within or into a vein
 Iodine : antiseptic used for cleaning wounds
 Irrigate : to poor liquid in,
 Irritant : something causing an itch
 Jaundice : raised bilirubin which may cause in the blood cause
yellowing of the skin
 Kidney : two glands which secrete urine.
 Kidney dish : dish, so called because its shape
 Lacerate : cut
 Larynx : the organ of voice
 Laxative : a mild drug to open the bowels
 Lay up : to arrange (usually instrument)
 Linen : sheets and pillowcases
 Liver : a gland which plays an important part in breaking down
protein
 Lobe : rounded section
 Long stay : a patient who will be in hospital for a long time
 Lotion : liquid medicine applied to the skin
 Lung : organ of breathing
 Lysol : disinfectant
 Malignant : likely to be incurable
 Medical social worker : worker who helps patients with problems outside
hospital
 Melaena : black tarry faeces
 Membrane : a thin lining or covering
 Metabolic : about metabolism. The processes of chemical change
 Micro organism : a cell which can only be seen under a microscope, bacteria
virus, etc
 Micturition : urination
 Morphine : a powerful pain-killing
 Mucoid : like mucus
 Mucopurulent : pus in the mucus
 Mucus : slimy substance lubricating the respiratory, alimentary
Surface, etc.
 Nasal : concerning the nose
 Nausea : feeling of sickness
 Navel : umbilicus, depression in the stomach muscle wall
 Nipple : hard lump on surface of each breast
 Nobecutane : artificial skin sprayed on a wound
 No touch : aseptic procedure where nothing that has not been
Sterilized touches the patient
 Obstetrics : medical care in pregnancy and child birth.
 Occupationa therapy : use of occupation (basket-making) to help mental and
Physical disorders
 Odour : smell
 Oesophagus : the gullet, tube from the pharynx to the stomach.
 Oliguria : insufficient secretion of urine
 Optimal : best possible
 Oral : by mouth
 Organic : concerning an organ
 Ortopaedics : surgery of the locomotor system
 Orthopnoea : breathlessness requiring an upright sitting position.
 Out-patient : patient who is not treated in hospital
 Paediatrics : medical care of chidren
 Pallid : white (pale) skin colouring
 Pancreas : an organ which secretes pancreatic juice
 Pass urine : to urinate, pass water
 Pathology : study of cause and nature of disease
 Penicillin : the first antibiotic discovered
 Pethidine : strong pain-killing drug
 Parynx : the hollow at the back of the mouth opening onto the
oesophagus
 Phenol : disinfectant
 Phlegm : mucus from the bronchus
 Physician : doctor of medicine rather than a surgery
 Physiology : study of the normal function of the body
 Physiotherapy : controlled exercise
 Pigment : colouring matter in the body.
 Pleura : membrane covering the surface of the lung
 Pneumonia : inflammation of the lung
 Polyuria : large amount of urine
 Pore : a minute opening in the skin
 Posterior : at the back
 Post : after
 Pre- : before
 Premedication : drug given before the administration of general anaesthetic
 Probe : an instrument for investigating the depth and direction of
 a wound
 Proctoscope : an instrument for examining the rectum
 Proflavine : an antiseptic
 Proteinuria : protein the urine
 Psychiatry : science of diagnosis and treatment of mental illness
 Psychology : study of human behavior
 Pulmonary : concerned with the lungs
 Pulse : regular beat of the arteries as blood is pumped round them
by the heart
 Purulent : pusy
 Pus : yellowish (usually) colored liquid formed in certain infection
 Putty : pale grey
 Pyrexia : raised temperature
 Queasy : sick feeling
 Radial : the outside
 Radiology : diagnosis of disease by the use of x-rays
 Rash : skin eruption
 Raw : when the skin is partly removed from the body’s surface
 Reaction : response to a stimulus
 Receiver : dish
 Rectum : lower part of the large intestine
 Reduce : realign two parts of a broken bone
 Reflex : an involuntary movement of tissue
 Respiration : breathing
 Rib : bone of the chest
 Ribbon gauze : gauze about 1,5 cm wide used for packing wound
 Salivary : concerning saliva, spittle
 Sanitary : concerned with the preservation of health
 Scalpel : surgical knife
 Scaly : flakes of skin
 Scar : mark of healed wound
 Secretion : a substance formed by or concentrated in a gland
 Semi : partly
 Shock : disturbance of circulation of the blood produced by severe
Illness or injury
 Side effect : an unwanted change produced by giving a drug.
 Sinus : a hollow, cavity
 Soiled : dirty
 Sore : an irritation on the skin
 Specific gravity : the weight of substance compared with an equal volume
of water
 Speculum : an instrument used to hold the walls of a cavity apart
So that its interior can be examined
 Sphygmomanometer : an instrument used for measuring blood pressure
 Sprain : injury to the soft tissue surrounding a joint
 Sputum : matter coughed up from the respiratory organs
 S.R.N : State Registered Nurse
 Sterilize : to make free of bacteria, to make incapable of
 Sternum : the flat bone in front of the chest
 Stertorous : breathing like snoring
 Stethoscope : instrument for listening to sounds inside the body
 Stool : faeces
 Stretcher : length of canvas between two poles for carrying patients
 Subcutaneous : beneath the skin
 Sudol : a disinfectant
 Superficial : concerning the surface
 Sustain : to suffer an injury
 Suture : stitch
 Swab : a small piece of cotton wool or gauze used for soaking up
 Symptom : sign of illness
 Syringe : piston-fitted cylinder into which liquid is sucked and then
injected
 Tactile : concerning the sense of touch
 Tarry : black and sticky
 Tetanus : lockjaw, disease marked by spasm of the voluntary muscle
 Thermometer : instrument for measuring the temperature of the body
 Thoracic : concerning with the chest cavity
 Thrombosis : a blood clot
 Tibia : the shin bone
 Tincture : solution of a drug in alcohol
 Tissue : collection of cells of or fibres of similar function.
 Tonsils : small bodies embedded in the fauces between the palatine
arch in the throat
 Toxic : poisonous
 T.p.r : temperature, pulse, and respiration
 Trachea : windpipe
 Trolley : wheeled vehicle for carrying good
 Tuberculosis : disease caused by tubercle bacillus
 Unconscious : state of being insensible
 Undigested : not digested
 Unsterile : not sterile
 Uraemia : condition due to failure of the kidneys
 Urea : the waste product from protein
 Ureter : tube passing from each kidney to the bladder
 Urethra : tube from the bladder through which urine is excreted
 Urinal : pot of fixture for passing urine
 Urine : liquid waste matter excreted from the kidney
 Urinometer : instrument for measuring the specific gravity of urine
 Vaginal : concerning the vagina, the passage from the cervix to
the vulva
 Venereology : study of disease caused by sexual intercourse
 Ventricle : a cavity , here the lower chamber in the heart
 Vomit : to bring up vomitus
 Vomitus : outflow of the contents of the stomach through the mouth
 Vulva : external female sex organ
 X-ray : short rays of the electromagnetic spectrum for
Photographing structures within the body