Medical Dictionary
Medical Terminology Explained.
A
Abscess A pocket of infected pus
Anterior Refers to the front of the body
Acute Signs that happen quickly and become worse quickly
Atopy An inherited predisposition towards the development of an allergy
Atrophy Wasting or shrinking of a tissue or an organ
Antibiotic Given to treat bacterial infections e.g. penicillin, tetracycline and gentamicin
Antibody Produced by cells of the immune system in response to bacteria, virus, toxins etc
Ascites Fluid build-up in the abdominal cavity
Ataxia Incoordination
Antibacterial Used to prevent the growth and/or spread of bacteria
Ambulatory Able to move and walk
B
Blepharospasm Spasm of the eyelid muscles, causing squinting
Bilateral Something happening on both sides
Benign A tumour that is not malignant and therefore usually less serious
Blood smear A thin layer of blood smeared on a slide and examined under a microscope to study
the blood cells
Bacterium Single-celled organisms that exist in their millions, some of which can be harmful
Biopsy Procedure performed by a vet where a small sample of tissue is taken from the
body for further testing
C
Chronic Long-term issue
Contagious A disease which can be passed from one person or animal to another by direct
contact
Corticosteroid An anti-inflammatory drug given to reduce pain and support healing
D
Dermatitis Inflammatory skin disease
Dermatophytosis Fungal skin disease e.g. Ringworm
Distended When something is swollen from pressure from the inside, such as bloat
E
Endoparasite Parasites that live inside the host, usually in the gut, lungs, heart and blood
vessels
Ectoparasite Parasites that live in the skin or on the skin surface of the host, such as lice,
mites and ticks
Electrolytes ‘Salts’ needed to maintain the vital body fluids, nerve impulses and for the
healthy function of muscles and circulatory system
Endoscope Used to examine the internal organs or cavities
G
Guttural Pouch Positioned beneath the ear on each side of the head, sacs of air that extend
from the Eustachian tube
H
Hypothermia Dangerously low body temperature, caused by the body losing heat faster than
it can produce it
I
Intramuscular injection When a medication is injected into the depth of specifically selected
muscles
Infection A condition when bacteria or viruses that cause disease have entered into the
body
Idiopathic When the cause of a disease is unknown
Inflammation Caused by the body’s immune system in response to an irritant. Causes
swelling, pain, redness and heat
Intravenous injection When something is injected into a vein
L
Lumpectomy Surgical procedure to remove a lump
M
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Used to visualise bone, soft tissue and
inflammation or fluid build up
Mange Found in the mane and tail area and caused by microscopic mites that cause
irritation of the skin
Melanoma Skin tumour mainly found in grey horses, usually on the head, neck and
underside of the tail
Malignant A tumour that can spread to other parts of the body, has irregular borders and
grows fast. Usually more serious than a benign tumour.
N
Nasogastric tube Used for nasogastric intubation. The hollow tube is passed up the horse’s
nose, down the oesophagus and into the stomach
O
Ocular Anything to do with the eyes
Ophthalmoscope Device used to look into the eye
Otoscope Medical device used to look into the ears
P
Parasitism Describes the close relationship between the host and the parasite. The
parasite causes harm to the host
Posterior Refers to the direction of the back of the body
Peritonitis Inflammation of the peritoneum, which is the membrane that lines the
abdominal cavity
Polyp A growth of tissue from a surface in the body
Prognosis The likely outcome of a disease or condition
Prolapse Displacement of an organ, or part of it, from its normal place. Usually
downwards or outwards, and often protruding from an orifice
Pyoderma Skin disease in which pus is formed
R
Rhinitis Inflammation of the nasal passages
S
Sinusitis Inflammation of a sinus
Skin scrape Performed by a vet, a scalpel blade is used to collect samples from fresh skin
lesions to identify ectoparasites or other pathogens
Superficial When something is closer to the surface of the body
Sporadic When something occurs at irregular intervals
Subcutaneous injection When an injection is administered below the skin
T
Topical Medication to be used on the surface of the body
Tachycardia Heart beating faster than normal
Tendinitis Inflammation of the tendons
Tumour An abnormal mass of tissue. Can be benign or malignant
U
Unilateral Affects only one side of the body
Ultrasonography A procedure using sound waves to look at tissues and organs inside the body
Urinalysis Diagnostic test to look at the urine
V
Viral Disease caused by a virus, a much smaller pathogen than a bacteria
Viscera Refers to the organs of the body