MedicalTerminology.Guide
Flashcards
Dictionary
Word Parts
Return to Dictionary Page »
Medical Dictionary - Letter: i
Term
Definition
Pronunciation
I
iodine
-ia
condition, state, disease
-iasis
condition, state
iatr/o
treatment, medicine
IBD
inflammatory bowel disease
IBS
irritable bowel syndrome
ibuprofen
A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent with analgesic properties used in the therapy of rheumatism and arthritis.
IBW
ideal body weight
IC
inspiratory capacity
-ic
pertaining to
ICD
implantable cardiac defibrillator
ICF
intermediate care facility
ichthyosis
A family of skin disorders characterized by dry, thickened skin.
ik″the-o´sis
-ician
specialist, practitioner
ICP
intracranial pressure
ICS
intercostal space
ICSH
interstitial cell-stimulating hormone
icter/o
jaundice
ictus
An attack, blow, stroke, or seizure.
ICU
intensive care unit
id
The part of the personality structure which harbors the unconscious instinctive desires and strivings of the individual.
ide/o
idea
idi/o
distinct
IDM
infants of diabetic mothers
IED
improvised explosive device
IF
interferon
Ig
immunoglobulin
IGT
impaired glucose tolerance
ile/o
ileum (final section of small intestine)
ileal
Of or pertaining to the ileum.
ileectomy
Surgical removal of the ileum.
il″e-ek´to-me
ileitis
Inflammation of any segment of the ileum.
ileostomy
A surgical construction of an opening into the ileum on the abdominal wall.
ileum
The distal and narrowest portion of the small intestine, between the jejunum and the ileocecal valve of the large intestine.
Ileus
Impairment of the normal flow of the intestinal contents within the bowel.
il´e-us
ili/o
ilium (uppermost and largest bone of the pelvis)
iliac artery
Either of two large arteries originating from the abdominal aorta; they supply blood to the pelvis, abdominal wall and legs.
ilium
The largest of three bones that make up each half of the pelvic girdle.
illusion
An error in perception.
IM
intramuscular
immobilization
The restriction of the movement of whole or part of the body.
immun/o
immune, safe
immunity
Protection from diseases, particularly infectious diseases.
immunization
A process for building or augmenting resistance to an infectious disease.
immunoglobulins
An infection-fighting protein in the blood or secretory fluids that helps destroy bacteria, viruses and toxins.
immunosuppressant
Deliberate prevention or diminution of the host's immune response.
immunotherapy
Manipulation of the host's immune system in treatment of disease.
im″u-no-ther´ah-pe
imperforate
Not open.
impetigo
A contagious skin condition common in children, caused by streptococcus, staphylococcus.
im″pĕ-ti´go
impingement syndrome
The result of chronic and repetitive compression of the rotator-cuff tendons in the shoulder.
impinj´mənt
implant
To embed.
impotence
The inability to sustain a penile erection to allow normal vaginal intercourse.
impulsive behavior
An act performed without delay, reflection, voluntary direction or obvious control in response to a stimulus.
IMV
intermittent mandatory ventilation
in vitro
In a glass. In an artificial environment outside a living organism
in-
in, not or fiber
incidence
The number of new cases of a given disease during a specified period in a population.
incineration
High temperature destruction of waste by burning with reduction to ashes.
incision
A cut made by a medical professional.
in-sizh´un
incisor
Any of the four maxillary and four mandibular teeth, having a sharp incisal edge.
incontinence
The inability to control the flow of urine from the bladder.
in-kon´tĭ-nens
incubation
Maintaining optimal environmental conditions for the growth of microbial or tissue cultures. Also, the time period between exposure to an infectious agent and the appearance of symptoms.
IND
investigational new drug
indication
The basis, evidence or rationale for using a particular treatment or diagnostic test.
induction
Causing to occur.
inf.
inferior
infant
A child between 1 and 23 months of age.
infarction
Tissue death due to lack of oxygen
in-fark´ shun
infection
The invasion of the body by disease causing agents and the body's reaction.
in-fek´shun
infectious myringitis
An infection causing painful blisters on the eardrum. More often seen in children than adults. Causal agent is Mycoplasma.
mĭ-rin-ji´tis
inferior
below
infertility
Inability to conceive and produce viable offspring.
inflammation
The response of body tissues to injury, irritation or infection. Usually manifested by the signs of pain, heat, redness and swelling.
influenza
Acute, contagious viral infection of the respiratory system.
[in″floo-en´zah
infra-
below, down, under
infusion pumps
A device that delivers intravenous fluids at low doses and at a controllable rate.
inguin/o
groin
inguinal canal
A tunnel in the abdominal wall through which a testis descends into the scrotum.
inhalation
Breathing in.
inj.
injection
injections
Introduction of substances into the body using a needle and syringe.
insecticides
Agents used to control insects.
insemination
The deposit of seminal fluid within the vagina.
insomnia
Inability to sleep.
insulin
A hormone produced in the pancreas. Regulates glucose levels.
in´su-lin
insulinoma
A neoplasm of the pancreas that is one of the chief causes of hypoglycemia.
in″su-lin-o´mah
integumentary system
The outer covering of the body composed of the skin and the skin appendages, which are the hair, the nails; and the sebaceous glands and the sweat glands and their ducts.
inter-
between
intercellular
Between the cells.
interferon
A class of small protein and glycoprotein cytokines produced by T cells, fibroblasts, and other cells in response to viral infection and other biologic and synthetic stimuli.
interferons
Proteins that are produced by the body's cells as a defensive response to pathogens.
intermittency
A urinary tract disorder in which urine flow is not continuous but stops and starts.
intermittent claudication
Muscle pain caused by too little blood flow, usually during exercise.
klaw″dĭ-ka´shun
internal medicine
A medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of internal organ diseases.
interneurons
Groups or combinations of neurons between sensory and motor neurons that govern coordinated activity.
interphase
The interval between cell divisions during which the chromosomes are not individually distinguishable.
interstitial
Small space(s) between biological structures.
in″ter-stish´al
interstitial cystitis
Painful bladder syndrome.
in″ter-stish´al sis-ti´tis
intertrigo
A superficial dermatitis occurring in areas where skin surfaces come into contact with, and chafe, each other. The condition is caused by moisture and friction.
intestines
The section of the alimentary canal from the stomach to the anal canal.
intolerance
A patient's inability to tolerate a drug.
intra-
within
intracellular
Inside a cell.
intracranial
Within the skull.
intracranial embolism
Blocking of a blood vessel in the skull by an embolus which can be a thrombus or other undissolved material in the blood stream.
intracranial hematoma
Blood accumulation within the brain or between the brain and the skull,
in'tră-krā'nē-ăl hem'ŏr-ăj
intraductal papilloma
Benign tumors that grow within the breast ducts
pap″ĭ-lo´mah
intrathecal
Within a sheath.
intrauterine
Within the uterine cavity.
intravenous
Within a vein.
intrinsic muscle
A muscle whose origin and insertion are both in the same part or organ.
intro-
within
introversion
A state in which attention is largely directed inward upon one's self, with diminished interest in the outside world.
intubation
The insertion of a tube, as into the larynx.
intuition
Knowing without conscious use of reasoning.
intussusception
The movement of a bowel segment into an adjacent segment in the manner of a telescope. The condition is commonest in children.
inulin
A starch found in the tubers and roots of many plants. It is used as a diagnostic aid in tests of kidney function
invasion
The entry and proliferation of a pathogen or tumor.
invertebrates
Animals lacking a spinal column.
involucrum
An enveloping sheath.
iod/o
iodine
iodine
A nonmetallic element of the halogen group that is represented by the atomic symbol I, atomic number 53. In a solution, it is anti-infective and is used topically.
ion
An atom that has a positive or negative electric charge due to a gain or loss of one or more electrons.
ion/o
ion
iontophoresis
Therapeutic introduction of ions of soluble salts into tissues by means of electric current.
-ior
pertaining to
ipecac
An emetic.
IPPB
intermittent positive pressure breathing
ipsi-
same
IQ
intelligence quotient
IRB
institutional review board
irid/o
iris
iridectomy
Surgical removal of part of the iris.
ir″ĭ-dek´to-me
iridescence
Shining or glittering with the colors of the rainbow
iridoplegia
Paralysis of the sphincter muscle of the iris or the dilator muscle
iris
The circular pigmented membrane behind the cornea of the eye that gives the eye its color. The iris surrounds a central opening called the pupil.
iritis
Inflammation of the iris.
i-ri´tis
irradiation
Exposure to ionizing radiation.
irrigation
The washing out of a wound using a continuous flow of water or solution.
IRV
inspiratory reserve volume
is/o
equal
isch/o
suppress
ischemia
A hypoperfusion of blood through an organ or tissue caused by a obstruction of blood vessels.
is-ke´me-ah
ischemic heart disease
Recurring chest pain or discomfort when a part of the heart does not receive enough blood. Often triggered by exertion or excitement.
is-kē'mik
ischemic stroke
The main type of stroke. Occur when a blood vessel that supplies blood to the brain is blocked by a blood clot.
is-kē'mik
ischium
The inferior, dorsal portion of the hip bone.
islet
A small island.
-ism
condition, process
-ismus
spasm, contraction
isoantigens
An antigenic substance that occurs only in some individuals of a species, such as the blood group antigens of humans.
isolation
The separation of a person with an infectious disease from other people.
isomorphism
The condition of two or more objects being similar in shape or structure.
isotonic contraction
Muscle contraction with negligible change in the force of contraction but shortening of the distance between the origin and insertion.
isotonic solutions
Solutions having the same osmotic pressure.
isotopes
Atoms of an element species differing in mass number but having the same atomic number.
-ist
person who specializes
isthmus
A narrow part of an organ or body part.
-ite
resembling, the nature of
-ites
like
ithy-
erect, straight
-itis
inflammation
IU
a international unit
IUCD
intrauterine contraceptive device
IUD
intrauterine device
IUFD
intrauterine fetal distress
IUP
intrauterine pregnancy
IV
intravenous
IVF
in vitro fertilization
IVP
intravenous pyelogram
IVPB
intravenous piggyback