Medical terminology

+ Medical terminology is the language

used by physicians and other members of
health team.

+ It includes the medical words that

describe or define a disease, a condition
or clinical signs and symptoms.

Medical terminology is essential and beneficial for

1- Students in medicine, pharmacy, nursing and
in other allied health sciences.
2- Health professionals such as
a- Pharmacists,
b- Specialists in allied medical sciences
- Nurses
- Clinical laboratory professionals

- Biomedical technologists,
- Radiologists,
- Community health specialists such as
medical record administration, health
educators and dieticians,
- Medical secretaries and librarians and
- People interested in translation and
arabinisation of medical sciences.

The word building system

The medical words consists of three parts
1- The word root,
2- The prefix and
3- The suffix.

1- The word root

+ Is the foundation of the word for example
peri/card/itis,
endo/card/itis,
cardio/megaly
+ The part card ,means heart, is considered as
the word root.
+ In medical term, the word root may be an
organ, tissue, cell, fluid or cavity.

The compound word :

+ Is formed when two or more word roots are
used to build the word e.g.
Short/wave
Short/hand
+ This compound word has a specific meaning
and could not be separated.

The combining word :

+ Is formed of two word roots or more joined by a
vowel such as
Therm/o/meter
Micr/o/scope
+ The part of the word will retain its specific
meaning irrespective of its presence in different
words or positions in the words such as

Gastr/o/enter/o/logy
Enter/o/col/itis
+ In this two words, enter- means the small
intestine in spite of the different positions in
the two words.
+ Gastro- means stomach, while -logy means
science, thus the meaning of gastroenterology
is the science of digestive system (stomach
and intestine).

+ In the enterocolitis, the part col means colon

and itis means inflammation, so the meaninig
is inflammation of small intestine and colon.
-

+ Therefore, in medical terminology, most of

the words are built from :
A combining word :

+
+

a word root or more

a suffix

2- The suffix
+ The suffix means an ending of the word which
will convert word into
- A noun such as port/er
- Adjective such as microscop/ic
- Modify the meaning of the word such
gaster/itis and gastro/logy.

3- The prefix
+ The prefix is the part that preceeds the medical
word and changes its meaning e.g.
Tachy/cardia
Brady/cardia
-

+ Cardia means the heart and prefix tachy/

means increase in rate and brady/ means
decrease in rate.

The most commonly used prefixes

-

Prefix
aananteanticoncontradysectend-

Meaning
without
not
before
against
together
against
difficult, painful
outside, outer
inside, inner

Example
apnea
anesthesia
antepartum
antipyretic
connective tissue
contraception
dysuria
ectopic beats
endocarditis

Prefix
epiequiexhyperhypopolyparaperperi-

Meaning
over, upon
equal
out
above
below
many
beside, near
through
around
-

Example
epidermis
equipotent
expectorant
hypertension
hypotension
polyarthritis
parametrium
percutaneous
pericarditis

Prefix
preprosemisubsupratrans-

Meaning
Example
before
precardium
before
prognosis
half
semicircular canal
below
subnormal temp.
over, excess
suprarenal gland
across
transabdominal
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
-

The most commonly used suffixes

1

suffix
-algia
-ectasia
-ectomy
-aemia
-genic
-graph
-ic
-itis
-lithiasis

Meaning
pain
expansion
surg. excision
blood
origin
to write
pertaining
inflammation
stone in

Example
myalgia
gastroectasia
nephroectomy
anaemia
myogenic
electrocardiograph
gastric
gastritis
nephrolithiasis

suffix
-logy
-lysis
-malacia
-mania
-megaly
-oid
-oma
-pathy
-penia

Meaning
study of
dissolution
softening
madness
enlargement
similar
tumor
disease
decrease
-

Example
pharmacology
haemolysis
osteomalacia
hypomania
splenomegaly
lipoid
nephroma
neuropathy
leucopenia

suffix
-phobia
-plasty
-rhea
-spasm
-stomy

Meaning
Example
fear
hydrophobia
repair
hernioplasty
to flow
rhinorrhea
contraction
broncospasm
opening
gastrostomy
*****************
-

Word roots

- Indicate the organ or part that is

modified by a prefix or suffix or both.

- A vowel (a, I, or o) is often inserted

between the combining forms to facilitate
euphony.

word root
adenangioarthrcardcerebrocholcost cyt dermencephal-

meaning
gland
vessel
joint
heart
brain
bile
rib
cell
skin
brain

example
adenoma
angiogenesis
arthritis
cardiopathy
cerebral
cholilithiasis
costal cartilage
cytology
dermatology
encephalitis

word root
entergastrglycoheamhepathysterleuk(c)liplithmening-

meaning
small intestine
stomach
sweet
blood
liver
uterus
white
lipid (fat)
stone
membrane
-

example
enteropathy
gastroectasia
glycosuria
haemorrhage
hepatomegaly
hysterectomy
leukocytes
lipoma
lithiasis
meningitis

word root
mynephrooculusophthalmosteopneumproctpsychradiren-

meaning
muscle
kidney
eye
eye
bone
lung
rectum
mind
ray
kidney

example
mylagia
nephropathy
ocular
ophthalmitis
osteoporosis
pneumonia
proctoscope
psychology
radiotherapy
renal faliuer

word root
splenvas-

meaning
spleen
vessel

viscer-

internal organ

example
splenomegaly
vasodilation
vasoconstriction
visceral

***********************

The clinical description of disease

-

- Clinical is derived from (clin)= at bedside.

- To describe a disease, some important
headings are essential to know.
Etiology
- Eti = cause
- Logy = study or science dealing with
- Thus, the word etiology means studying the
cause of the disease and its predisposing
factors such as tumor, allergy, infection.etc.

Pathogenesis
Path- = disease
genesis = origin
Thus the word pathogenesis means the study of
disease development from the start of the
condition till the establishment of the disease.
-

Pathology
The science that deal with the cause and nature
of the disease by microscopic and naked-eye
examination.

Symptoms
The feelings noticed by the patient due to the
disturbances caused by the disease.
Signs
The features of the disease or deformation. It is
observed by the physician, relatives or the
patient himself.
Diagnosis
Dia- =through,
-gnosis = knowledge
The name of the disease is reached through
knowledge of its sign and symptoms and through
clinical investigation.
-

Investigations
The methods used to reach the definitive
diagnosis such as laboratory tests which
include : biochemical, bacteriological,
histological, haematological and radiological.
_

Clinical examinations
Examination of the patient by using the
physician,s skills, his hands, stethoscope,
blood pressure apparatus or other aids to
know the physical signs of the disease.

Anatomy
The science that deal with the body systems
regarding structure and relations.
Prognosis
Pro = beforehand
gnosis = knowledge
Thus, the meaning is the prediction of the
progress, and termination of a disease.
Complications
Undesirable events in the progress of the disease
such as bleeding from stomach ulcer.
_

Prophylaxis
Protection from a disease.
Prophylactic
Protective against a disease.
Syndrome
Set of signs and symptoms running together.
Disease
A state of ill-health resulting from structural
changes associated with functional alteration.
-

Relapsing
Repeated recurrence of disease for several times.
-Logist
Specialist in type of study in health and disease.
Surgeon
Sur = hand
geon = work
Physician who uses instruments to remove or repair
a diseased tissue or organ.
Acute
The severe signs and symptoms of the disease that
occur in short duration.
-

Chronic
The signs and symptoms of mild nature start
slowly and gradually and maintained for a long
time.
Subacute
The severity and duration of the signs and
symptoms are between acute and chronic.
Indications
The use of drugs in the diagnosis, prevention or
treatment of specific disease.
-

Contra-indications
The disease in which the use of a drug will be
harmful or will aggravate the condition.
Inflammation
Cellular, lymphatic and vascular reactions
against an irritant in order to localize and
remove the irritant.
Repair
A replacement of a damage tissue by a new one.
Regeneration
The division and reproduction of the cells.
-

Degeneration
A metabolic and morphological changes resulting
from irritation not severe enough to kill cells.
Necrosis
A local death of a mass of tissue which occur either
directly or follow severe degeneration.
Thrombosis
The formation of compact body (from blood
elements) inside a blood vessel or the heart.
Embolism
Insoluble body which circulates in the blood until it
occlude a small vessel.
-

Thrombo-embolism
The movement of a thrombus from its site and
production of embolism.
Edema
Accumulation of excess fluid in tissue spaces,
pulmonary alveoli or inside the cells.
Ischemia
A decrease of blood supply to an organ due to
occlusion of its artery.
Infarction
An area of necrosis caused by sudden occlusion of
the arterial supply by thrombosis or embolism.
-

Haemorrhage
The escape of blood outside the blood vessels or
the heart.
Shock
An acute circulatory failure i.e. hypotension and
tissue hypoxia.
Bacterial infection
The invasion of the body by pathogenic bacteria
and development of pathological changes.
Toxaemia
The presence of toxins in the circulating blood.
-

Septicaemia
The presence of a large number of multiplying
bacteria and their toxins in the blood due to
low body resistance.
Immunity
The ability of the body to overcome infection by
the microorganism by producing antibodies.
Diabetes melletus
Metabolic disease due to decrease or complete
loss of insulin leading to increase in the blood
glucose level (hyperglycemia).
-

The clinical diagnostic signs

-

Stethoscope
Instrument which is used to hear sounds elicited
from heart, lungs or abdomen.
Sphygmomanometer
Instrument which is used to measure the blood
pressure.

Disturbances of growth

Aplasia
Complete failure of organ development.
Hypoplasia
Failure of an organ to reach its full sized
development.
Hyperplasia
Increase in size and weight of an organ.
Neoplasia
New growth formed by unlimited multiplication
of the cells in an organ (tumor).
-

Atrophy
A decrease in size and weight of tissue or organ
after reaching a full development.
Hypertrophy
Abnormal increase in the size and weight of an
organ.
Benign tumors
Slowly growing tissue growth localized at the site
of origin and cells resemble the tissue of origin.
Malignant (evil nature) tumors
Rapidly growing growth, infiltrating between
surrounding cells without localization.
-

Metastasis
Spread of malignant tumors away from site of
origin through blood or lymphatic vessels.
Carcinoma
A malignant tumor from epithelial origin.
Sarcoma
A malignant tumor from mesenchymal tissue in
younger age. It spread faster than carcinoma.
Embryoma
A malignant tumor from fetal tissues in early life.
-

Adenoma
Benign epithelial tumor of glandular origin
(endocrine or mucous).
Lipoma
Benign mesenchymal tumor from fatty tissue.
Fibroma
Benign mesenchymal tumor from fibrous tissue.
Osteoma
Benign mesenchymal tumor from bone.
Melanoma
Benign or malignant tumor from cells between
epidermis and dermis.
-

The Central Nervous System

(CNS)

Somatic N.S.
The voluntary part of the CNS. Soma= body.
Autonomic N.S.
The involuntary part of the CNS.
Parasympathetic
A division of the autonomic N.S. that originates
from cranial nerves or sacral plexus.
Sympathetic
The other division of the ANS that originates
from thoracic spinal segments.
_

Ganglion
Ganglia = Knot.
Synapse
Contact site between nerve end and other cell.
Neuron
Nerve cell.
Afferent
Sensory nerve supply from an organ to the CNS.
Efferent
Motor nerve supply from CNS to an organ.
Meninges
Cells that cover the brain and spinal cord.
-

Paraplegia
Paralysis of the lower limbs.
Quadriplegia
Paralysis of all four limbs.
Hemiplegia
Paralysis of one side of the body.
Aphonia
Phonia = voice
Unable to produce voice.
Tinnitus
Noise in the ears.
-

Deafness
Hearing loss with poor speech discrimination.
Ophthalmology
Science of the eye.
Ophthalmologist
Physician specialized in diagnosis and treatment
of eye diseases.
Optician
A person who deals with eye glasses, contact
lenses and optical instruments.
Conjunctiva
A protective coating covers the eye when closed.
-

Iris
The front part of the eye. The opening of the iris
is the pupil.
Lens
Lies behind the pupil opining of the iris and
supported by ciliary muscles.
Retina
The most inner layer of the eye.
Vitreous humour
Fills the inner eye and prevents the eye from
collapse.
-

Aqueous humour
Watery fluid fills the chamber of the eye behind
the cornea and in front of the lens.
Glaucoma
Increased the intra-occular pressure which can
lead to damage of optic nerve and blindness.
Cataract
Lens opacity or cloudness on the lens.
Mydriasis
Abnormal dilatation of the pupil.
Miosis
Abnormal contraction of the pupil.
-

Exophthalmus
Exo- = outside
Protrusion of the eye ball.
Photophobia
Eye pain with bright light.
Syncope
Loss of consciousness due to temporarily
insufficient flow of blood to the brain.
Insomnia
Inability to sleep.
Hypnosis
Sleep.
-

Analgesia
Without feeling of pain.
Anesthesia
Loss of feeling of all sensation.
General anesthetics
Drugs which produce anesthesia.
Local anesthetics
Drugs which produce local or topical anesthesia
Pre-anesthetic medications
Drugs used before anesthesia to facilitate the
induction and maintenance of anesthesia.
-

Hypnotics
Drugs which induce sleep.
Analgesics
Drugs used to prevent or abolish pain.
Antipyretics
Drugs that lower high body temperature.
Antidepressants
Drugs used to control depression.
Antiepileptics
Drugs used to control epilepsy.
Muscle relaxants
Drugs that reduce tension in the muscles.
-

Cardiovascular system
(CVS )

Card= heart
Myo= muscle
Myocardium
=
Heart muscle.
Pericardium
Sac around the heart.
Endocardium
Endothelial lining of the heart.
Atrium
The upper chamber of the heart, the right A.
receives blood from systemic veins, the left A.
receives blood from pulmonary veins.
-

Ventricle
One of the two lower chambers of the heart with
thick muscular walls.
Aorta
The main artery, arises from the left ventricle.
Aortic valve
Between the left ventricle and the aorta.
Tricuspid valve
Between the right atrium and the right ventricle.
Mitral valve
Between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
-

Pulmonary artery
Conveys the blood from the heart to the lung.
Pulmonary vein
Carrying oxygenated blood from the lungs to the
left atrium.
Coronary
The vessels that supply heart muscle with blood.
Systole
Contraction of the heart muscle.
Diastole
Relaxation of the heart muscle.
-

Cardiac output
Blood volume pumped from the heart/min.
Hypertension
High blood pressure more than 160/95 mmHg.
Hypotension
Low blood pressure less than 100/50 mmHg.
Haematoma
Blood collection in internal organs or S.C. tissues.
Electrocardiograph (ECG)
Electrical tracing of the changes in action
potential from the heart during cardiac cycle.
-

Myocarditis
Inflammation of the myocardium.
Valve stenosis
Narrowing of the cardiac valve.
Antiarrhythmic drugs
Drugs used to treat myocardial arrhythmia.
Antianginal drugs
Drugs used to treat angina pectoris.
Hyperlipidemia
Increased blood lipids such as cholesterol and
triglycerides.
-

The respiratory system

Rhin= nose
Thorac= chest
Pulm= lung
Pneum= air
Respire= to keep on breathing
Ventilation
Passage of air to bronchi.
Alveolus
Air-sac o f the lung.
Inspiration
Passage of air into the lungs.
-

Expiration
Passage of air outside the lungs.
Asphyxia
Failure of breathing.
Apnoea
No breathing either voluntary or pathological.
Dyspnoea
Difficult or uncomfortable breathing.
Hyperventilation
Increased rate and volume of breathing with
increasing in carbon dioxide elimination.
-

Anoxia
No oxygen delivery to tissues.
Hypoxia
Decreased tissue oxygenation.
Sputum
The mucoid bronchial secretions.
Rhinitis
Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the
nose with discharge and obstruction.
Pharyngitis
Inflammation of pharynx with fever& disphagia.
-

Bronchial asthma
Reversible and temporarily airway obstruction.
Bronchitis
Inflammation of the trachea and bronchial tree.
Pneumonia
Acute infection of the alveolar spaces of the
lung.
Emphysema
Distended alveoli with atrophy in the adjacent
alveolar wall forming large air sacs with
diminution of the alveolar surface area.
-

Decongestant
A drug used (locally or systemically) to treat
congestion of mucus membrane in the lung.
Expectorant
A drug which modifies secretion with easy
expulsion from the bronchial tree.
Antitussive
A drug used to inhibit cough reflex by depressing
cough center in the medulla.
Mucolytic
A drug that dissolves thick sputum to be easily
expectorated.
-

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT)

The digestive system

-Pepsia
= Digest
To transform the main components of diet to
simple molecule that can easily absorbed.
Absorption
The passage of digested food from the intestinal
lumen to the blood.
Excretion
Elimination of waste materials from the body.
-Gastro= Stomach
Abdomen
The place the contains the GIT and the urinary
tract.
-

-Phagia
= Eating
Hepatic
= Liver
Chole= Bile
Cholecyst= Gall bladder
Toothache
= Tooth pain
Gingivitis
= Inflammation of the gum.
Xerostomia
xero- = dry = dry mouth
Stomatitis
Inflammation of the mouth.
Glossitis
Inflammation of the tongue.
-

Anorexia
Loss of appetite.
An- = without. -rexia = appetite.
Hyperorexia (Bulimia)
Increased appetite.
Dysphagia
Difficult, painful swallowing.
Polyphagia
poly = many or multi
To eat frequently.
Tachy(Brady)phagia
Rapid or slow eating.
Nausea
= try to vomit.
-

Gastric reflux
Reflux of gastric contents into the oesophagus.
Flatulence
Bloating and distension of the intestine with gas.
Dyspepsia
= indigestion.
Gastritis
Inflammation of the gastric mucosa.
Peptic ulcer
Ulceration of the mucous membrane and the
muscularis mucosa of stomach or duodenum
and occurring in areas bathed by acid and
pepsin.
_

Appendicitis
Inflammation of the appendix which my leads to
peritonitis.
Peritonitis
Acute inflammation of visceral and parietal
peritoneum.
Pancreatitis
Inflammation of the pancreas.
Diarrhea
An increase in the volume, fluidity of the stools
or in the frequency of the bowel movement.
-

Constipation
Difficult defecation or infrequent passage of
feces.
Hepatomegaly
-Megaly
= enlargement.
Hepatitis Inflammation of the liver.
Cirrhosis
Disorganization of the liver by widespread of
fibrosis and reddish yellow color.
Fatty liver
Accumulation of triglycerides in the liver in visible
amounts.
-

Endoscopy = Seeing inside e.g. gastroscopy

Biopsy
A piece of the mucosa taken by endoscopy for
histopathological examination.
Anorexiogenic drug
A drug that depress appetite, used for obesity.
Carminative
A drug expells gases from the stomach or colon.
Antacid
A drug taken orally to increase the pH of the
stomach by neutralizing the free acid (HCL).
-

Antiemetic
A drug that inhibits the mechanisms of vomiting.
Laxative (Purgative)
A drug taken to evacuate the bowel contents.
Antispasmodic
A drug decreases colic or smooth muscle spasm.
Antidiarrheal
A drug used to treat diarrhea.
Anthelmintic
A drug used to eradicate intestinal parasites.
Enema
Rectal injection of fluid to evacuate the colon.
-

Urinary System

Nephr= Ren= Kidney

-Uria
= Urine.
Urologist
= Surgeon of the urinary tract.
Nephrologist = Specialist in the urinary syst.
Nephron
= Functional unit of the kidney.
Dysuria
= Painful urination.
Oliguria
= Low urine volume < 100 ml/d.
Polyuria
= High urine volume > 2500 ml/d.
Glycosuria
= Presence of glucose in urine.
Ketonuria
= Presence of ketone bodies in
urine.
-

Nephrectomy
Surgical removal of the kidney.
Diuretic
A drug that increases urine formation.
Saluretic
A drug that increases sodium ion excretion.
Catheterization
Introduction of rubber tube or metal cannula
into the urethra to the bladder to withdraw
the urine in treatment of urinary retention.
-

Haematologic Disorders

Haemopoiesis
Haem= blood
-Poiesis = formation.
Erythrocyte
Erythr= red
-cyte = cell.
Leukocyte Leuk- = white = White blood cells.
Thrombocyte
Thrombo- = solid mass. The cell that initiate
blood thrombosis.
Plasma
The blood without its cells.
Serum Plasma without fibrinogen and
prothrombin.
-

Haematocrit (Hct)
The % of the cellular volume in the blood.
Haemoglobin (Hb)
Respiratory pigment in the red cell.
-aemia
= blood.
Anaemia
The Hb or the RBCs production is impaired.
Sickle cell
An oblong cell with blunt ends (sickle-shaped).
Thalassaemia
Chronic familial haemolytic anaemia
(mediterranean anaemia).
-

Hyperkalaemia
An increase in serum potassium level.
Hypocalcaemia
A decrease in serum calcium level < 8.8/100 ml.
Antineoplastic (cytotoxic) drugs
Drugs that inhibits rapid cell division and used
for treatment of malignant diseases.
Anticoagulant
A drug that inhibits the blood coagulation.
Fibrinolytic
A drug that dissolves fibrin network of the clot.
-

Locomotive system

Ost= bone.
Arthr= Joint.
Chondr= cartilage.
My= muscle.
Cost= rib.
Spondyl= vertebra = spine.
Supine
= Being in horizontal position.
Osteology
= Science of bone.
Orthopedic
= ortho- = straight, ped- = foot.
Study of skeletal structure and practice of bone
and joint surgery.
-

Osteomalcia bone softening disease.

-malacia
= softening.
Rickets
deformities of bone due to vit.D. def.
Osteoporosis
Decrease in the osteoid tissue in bone, with
pain, deformity and fracture.
Myalagia
= mild muscle pain.
Myositis
= inflammation of the muscle.
Uricosuric
A drug that increases renal elimination of uric
acid, used to treat gout.
-

Endocrinology

Endocrine gland
Endo= inside
-crine = to secrete.
The gland that release its hormone directly into
the blood and not through a duct.
Hormone
A substance produced by an endocrine gland.
Hypophysis
= The pituitary gland.
Trophic
=
Development.
Acromegaly
acr- = extremity
-megaly= enlargement.
An increase in the size of the hands, feet and
face.
-

Dawarfism
A disorder characterized by growth retardation.
Polydipsia
An excessive thirst.
Thyrotoxicosis (hyperthyroidism)
An increased secretion of thyroid gland T3, T4.
Obesity
Obes- = fat
A condition in which excess fat has accumulated
in the body.
Hyperglycemia
An abnormally high blood glucose level.
-

Hypoglycemia
An abnormally low blood glucose level.
Adrenal
ad= towards.
Towards the kidney.
Suprarenal
supra- = above.
Above the kidney.
******************
-

Nutritional and Metabolic

Disorders

Malnutrition
Mal- = bad.
Metabolism
All processes by which the body acquires and
uses nutrients and energy required for
growth, maturation and life.
Anabolism
The constructive processes by which nutritive
substances are transformed into complex
living matter.
Catabolism
The processes by which complex substances are
reduced to simpler one.
-

Low fat diet

A diet consists largely of easily digested high
carbohydrate food. Used in gall bladder
disease and malabsorption syndromes.
Low-salt diet
A mild to low salt diet, indicated in hypertension,
edema, renal and liver diseases, in toxaemia of
pregnancy and steroid therapy.
Phenylketonuria
An inborn error in the metabolism characterized
by absence of phenylalanine hydroxylase and
increase in plasma phenyl alanine with mental
retardation.
-

Infectious and Parasitic

Diseases

Fever
An elevation in body temperature above normal
(normal range 37- 37.2 0C).
Pyrogen
A substance released from leukocytes following
contact with inflammatory stimuli leads to
fever.
Contagious
= Infectious.
Endemic
en- = in , -dem- = people
A disease which is restricted to a group of
people in a specific location.
-

Epidemic
epi- = upon.
A disease which has a wide-spread distribution
in different location.
Pandemic
pan- = everywhere or all.
A disease with a worldwide distribution.
Mutation
To change
Measles
A highly contagious acute viral disease
-

Chickenpox
An acute viral disease with mild symptoms
characterized by macules, papules,vesicles and
crusting.
Smallpox
A highly contagious acute viral disease with
severe symptoms characterized by a cutaneous
eruption resulting in permanent pits and scars.
Poliomyelitis (Infantile paralysis)
Polio- = grey
-myel- = spinal cord.
An acute viral infection, the virus invades the gray
matter of the spinal cord which contains the
-

Mumps
An acute contagious viral disease affecting
children between 5-15 years. Fever, headache,
vomiting and painful enlargement of salivary
glands are the main symptoms.
Typhoid fever
A generalized infection caused by salmonella
typhi, characterized by fever, bradycardia,
rose-colored eruption, distention and
splenomegally.
-

Tetanus (Lock Jaw)

An acute infectious disease. It is caused by an
endotoxine secreted by clostridium tetani. Stiff
neck, difficulty in opening the jaw, fixed smile
and elevated eyebrows are main symptoms.
Leprosy
A chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae characterized by skin, mucous
membrane and peripheral nerve lesions.
Anthrax
A highly infectious disease of animals transmitted
to man by contact. Characterized by cutaneous
or pulmonary lesions.
-

Immunology

Antigen
anti- = against, -gen = to produce.
A substance capable of combing with specific
antibody and also eliciting immune response.
Antibody
A molecule that reacts with antigen and
produced by plasma cells.
Mast cell
A cell containing granules which release active
agents such as heparin and histamine.
Allergen
An antigen responsible for hypersensitivity
reactions such as asthma.
-

Macrophage
A cell characterized by a capacity to phagocytose
both foreign and endogenous substances.
T-cell
A lymphocyte altered by passage through the
thymus gland and becomes responsible for
cellular immunity.
Helper cell
A T cell that is able to augment antibody
production by plasma cells.
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Complement A complex series of 11 enzymatic

proteins acting as 9 functioning components C1
through C9. When activated, they participate in
some immunological responses e.g.
phagocytosis.
Immunoglobulin A protein produced by plasma
cells that having antibody activity. e.g. IgA, IgD,
IgE, IgG & IgM.
Autoimmune disease
A disease resulting from
an immune response against an auto-antigen
with injury to tissues, e.g. hemolytic anemia,
rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus
erythematosus.
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Transplantation The transfer of living tissues or

cells from one individual to another to
maintain the functional integrity of the
transplanted tissue in the recipient e.g. heart.
Immunosuppressives Agents that control the
rejection reaction and all immunologic
reactions.
Immunization The administration of antigens,
antibodies, sensitized T-cells or transfer factor
in order to induce reactivity against antigenic
substances.
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Pharmacy
Terminology

Pharmacy Terminology
Pharmacy:
Derived from the Greek word "pharmakon"
meaning medicine or drug.
Dosage Form:
The physical form in which a drug is
administered to or used by a patient.
Dosage Regimen:
The systematized dosage schedule.

 Pharmaceutical Product:
A dosage form containing one or more active
therapeutic ingredients along with other
substances included during the manufacturing
process
Dose:
Amount of drug which is taken each time. It
should be safe and effective.
Loading Dose, or Initial Dose:
The dose size used in initiating therapy so as
to yield therapeutic concentration, which will
result in clinical effectiveness.

 Maintenance Dose:
The dose size required to maintain the
clinical effectiveness or therapeutic concentration
according to the dosage regimen.
Brand Name:
Trade name of the drug.
Chemical Name:
Name used by the chemist to indicate the
chemical structure of the drug.
Generic Name:
The name given to the compound during early
investigative stages.

 Official Name:
Name given to the drug in the pharmacopeia.
The LADME-System:
Deals with the complex dynamic processes of
liberation of an active ingredient from the dosage
form, its absorption into systemic circulation, its
distribution and metabolism in the body and the
excretion of the drug from the body.
Intra-vascular Administration:
Refers to all routes of administration where the
drug is directly introduced into the blood stream,
i.e. intra-venous, intra-arterial. and intracardial.

 Extra-vascular Administration:
All routes of administration except those
where the drug is directly introduced into the
blood stream. e.g. I.M., S.C., Oral, Rectal, IP.,
topical ... etc.
Disintegration:
The process in which a solid drug product
disintegrates into small particles.
Dissolution:
The process in which amount of active
ingredient in a solid dosage form dissolves under
standardized conditions of liquid/solid interface,
temperature and media composition.

 Bioavailability:
The rate and extent of drug absorption
Bioequivalence:
Comparable bioavailability indicates that two
or more similar dosage forms reach the general
circulation at the same relative rate and relative
extent.
Therapeutic Equivalence:
Comparable clinical effectiveness and safety.

 Therapeutic Inequivalence
Clinical important difference in bioavailability
Active Ingredient:
A pharmacologically active substance in a
pharmaceutical product.
Inactive Ingredient:
Any component other than an active ingredient

 Manufacture:
All operations of purchase of materials
and products, production, quality control,
release, storage, shipment of finished products,
and the related controls.
Finished Products:
A product that has undergone all stages of
production, including packaging in its final
container and labeling.

 Production:
All operations involved in the preparation of
a pharmaceutical product, from receipt of
materials through processing and packaging to
completion of the finished product.
Stability:
The ability of the formulation, in a specific
container closure system, to remain within the
defined physical, chemical, microbiological,
therapeutic and toxicological specifications till
the end of the stated dating, under defined
storage conditions.

 Stability Indicating Assay:

The assay that is sensitive and selective to
determine quantitatively the active ingredient in
the presence of its decomposition products.
Expiration Date:
The date placed on the immediate container
label of a product that designated the date
through which the product is expected to remain
within specifications.
kinetically, it is the time at which 90% of the
material remains.

 Systemic Acidifier:
A drug that lowers internal body pH.
It is useful in restoring normal body pH in
patients with systemic alkalosis.
Systemic Alkalinizer:
A drug that raises internal body pH.
It is useful in restoring normal body pH in
patients with systematic acidosis.
Adsorbent: A drug that binds chemicals to
the drug surface, useful in reducing the free
availability of toxic chemicals.
(kaolin is a gastrointestinal adsorbent).

 Abrasive:
An agent that rubs off an external layer, such as
dental plaque.
Emollient:
A topical drug, especially an oil or fat, used to
soften the skin (Cold cream).
Topical Antifungal:
A topically active drug that kills or inhibits
pathogenic fungi that causes topical infections.
Topical (Local) Anti-infective:
A drug that kills or inhibits a variety of
pathogenic microorganisms and is suitable for
sterilizing the skin or wounds.

 Pigmenting Agent:
A drug that promotes skin darkening by
increasing melanin synthesis, used to promote
repigmentation.
De-pigmenting Agent:
A topical drug that inhibits formation of skin
pigment (melanin), useful in lightening localized
areas darkened skin. (Hydroquinone)
Sun Screening Agent:
A skin protectant that absorbs light energy at
the
wavelengths
that
cause
sunburn.
(Aminobenzoic Acid).

 Anti-malarial:
A drug that kills or inhibits pathogenic
protozoa that causes malaria (Chloroquine
Phosphate).
Ophthalmic Anti-viral:
A topically acting drug that kills or inhibits
viral infections of the eye.
Anti-amoebic:
A drug that kills or inhibits the pathogenic
protozoan Entamoeba histolytica, causative
agent of intestinal and extra intestinal
ameobiasis.

 Narcotic:
A drug that induces its pharmacologic action
by reacting with CNS receptors that respond to
morphine, or a drug legally classified as a narcotic
with regard to prescribing regulations.

All best wishes