July 2014 Medical Terminology Word Cardiocentesis

Cardi/ - Heart

Cardi/ - Word Root

O - CV

- centesis - Surgical puncture

- centesis - Suffix

Cardiocentesis - Surgical puncture of the heart

July 2014 Medical Terminology Word Laparoscopy

Lapar/ - Flank side (abdomen)
Lapar/ - Word Root

O - CV

- scopy - process of viewing
-scopy - Suffix


Laparoscopy - Process of viewing the abdominal organs internally through a procedure.

In many cases laparoscopy can be done instead of laparotomy surgery that uses a larger incision in the belly. Laparoscopy can be less stressful and may have less problems and lower costs than laparotomy for minor surgeries. It can often be done without needing to stay overnight in the hospital.

Why It Is Done

Laparoscopy is done to:

• Check for and possibly take out abnormal growths (such as tumors) in the belly or pelvis.
• Check for and treat conditions such as endometriosis, ectopic pregnancy, orpelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
• Find conditions that can make it hard for a woman to become pregnant. These conditions include cysts, adhesions, fibroids, and infection. Laparoscopy may be done after initial infertility tests do not show the cause for the infertility.
• Do a biopsy.
• See whether cancer in another area of the body has spread to the belly.
• Check for damage to internal organs, such as the spleen, after an injury or accident.
• Do a tubal ligation.
• Fix a hiatal hernia  or an inguinal hernia..
• Take out organs, such as the uterus, spleen,gallbladder  (laparoscopic cholecystectomy), ovaries, or appendix (appendectomy). Partial removal (resection) of the colon also can be done.

July 2014 Medical Terminology Word Uterovaginal

Uter/ - Word Root

Uter/ - Uterus

O - CV

Vagin/ - Word Root

Vagin/ - Vagina

- al - Suffix

- al - Pertaining to

Uterovaginal - Pertaining to the Uterus & Vagina of the Female Reproduction System.

Fibroids Tumors are common in these areas

July 2014 Medical Terminology Word Blepharitis

Blephar/ - Word Root

Blephar/ - Eyelid

- itis - Suffix

- itis - Inflammation

Blepharitis - Inflammation of the eyelid

Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids, usually caused by an excess growth of bacteria that is ordinarily found on the skin, blockage of the eyelid's oil glands, and occasionally allergies.

Blepharitis is a common eye condition, causing the eyelids to be reddened, itchy, and somewhat swollen and scaly-appearing at the base of the eyelashes. It is the most common cause of dry eyes. A dysfunction of the eyelid's oil glands that leads to blepharitis occurs because of a hormone imbalance.

July 2014 Medical Terminology Word Onychoma

Onych/ - Word Root

Onych/ - Nail (finger or toe)

-oma - Suffix

-oma - Tumor

Onychoma - A tumor that arises from a nailbed of the finger or toe.

July 2014 Medical Terminology Word Cardiac Syncope

Cardi/ - Root

Cardi/ - Heart

- ac - Suffix

- ac - Pertaining to

Syncope - Loss of  consciousness: fainting: passing out

  Cardiac syncope is a condition in which there is fainting or passing out due to a disease, disorder, or condition of the heart.

July 2014 Medical Terminology Word Patellectomy

Patell/ - Kneecap

Patell/ - Root

- ectomy - Surgical Removal

- ectomy - Suffix

Patellectomy - Surgical removal of the kneecap

General anesthesia is typically used for kneecap removal surgery, though in some cases a spinal or epidural anesthetic is used. The surgeon makes a linear incision over the front of the kneecap. The damaged kneecap is examined. If a part or the entire kneecap is so severely damaged that it cannot be repaired, it may be partially removed (partial patellectomy) or totally removed (full patellectomy). If kneecap removal is total, the muscles and tendons attached to the kneecap are cut and the kneecap is removed. However, the quadriceps tendon above the kneecap, the patellar tendon below, and the other soft tissues around the kneecap are preserved so that the patient may still be able to extend the knee after surgery. Next, the muscles are sewn together, and the skin is closed with sutures or clips that stay in place for about two weeks.