Glossary of Lay Terminology

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A terminology guide for researchers to be used when requested to write a non-technical summary (NTS) using lay terms (non-technical language)

Glossary of Lay Terminology Example - Letter A

Abdomen - belly
Abdominal - having to do with the belly
Abdominal - cavity space in the belly where the stomach, intestines, kidney, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, spleen, and ureters are found
Abdominocentesis - use of needle or tube to drain fluid from the belly
Abdominoperineal - resection surgery to remove the middle and end of the large intestine
Abdominoplasty - surgery to fix the stomach
Abduction - movement away from the middle of the body
Abortion - the premature end of a pregnancy
Abrasion - area where skin or other tissue is scraped away
Abruptio - placentae premature separation of the placenta from the mother
Abscess - swelling filled with pus
Absorb - take up fluids, take in
Absorption - the way a drug or other substance enters the body
Abstinence - not having sexual intercourse
Acapnia - decreased carbon dioxide in the blood
Acceptable - good; decent; capable
Acetabulum - pocket in the hip bone that holds the top of the upper leg bone
Acidosis - increase of acid in the blood
Acne - pimples
Acoumeter - tool used to measure hearing
Acoustic neuroma - growth in the ear canal
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) - illness that results in decreased ability of the body to protect itself from other illnesses; development of the disease or conditions associated with the disease results from Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
Acromegaly - a disease of adults in which the body makes too much growth hormone
Actinic keratosis - skin disease (bumps) caused by too much exposure to the sun
Activated partial thromboplastin time - a test of blood clotting time used to measure the ability of the blood to clot
Acuity - clearness, keenness
Acute - a quick and severe form of illness in its early stage
Addison's disease - serious disorder in which there is decreased cortisol and aldosterone in the body, resulting in weakness, low blood pressure, and other serious problems
Adduction - movement toward the middle of the body
Adenohypophysis - gland in the brain that makes many hormones that control body functions
Adenoidectomy - surgery to take out the adenoids
Adenoiditis - pain and swelling of the adenoids
Adenoids - infection-fighting glands in the back of the throat
Adenomyosis - a growth of muscle in the uterus
Adenopathy - swollen lymph nodes (glands)
Adenotome - tool used to remove adenoids
Adequate - Reasonably good
Adhesion - tissue stuck together
Adipose - having to do with fat
Adjuvant - helpful, assisting, aiding
Adjuvant Treatment - added treatment
Administer - give (to)
Administration (of) - giving (of)
Adrenal gland - a gland found over each kidney
Adrenalectomy surgery - to remove an adrenal gland
Adrenaline - hormone made by the adrenal glands that speeds up body organs and helps the body deal with stress
Adrenalitis - inflammation of one or both adrenal glands
Adrenocortical Hormone - any of the hormones made by the outer layer of the adrenal glands
Adrenocorticohyperplasia - increased growth of one or both adrenal glands
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone - hormone made by the brain that activates the adrenal glands
Adrenomegaly - increase in size of one or both adrenal glands
Adrenopathy - disease of one or both adrenal glands
Adverse Effect/Event/Reaction - harmful, bad side effect
Aerosol - drug or substance made as a mist to be breathed in
Afferent - going toward the center area
Afterbirth - material that provides nutrition for the unborn baby and comes out after the baby is born
Airway - tube through which air passes to enter and leave the lungs
Akathisia - feeling of restlessness
Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) - substance in blood that is measured to check for liver disease
Albino - white; lacking color
Albuminuria - protein in the urine
Alcohol - drug found in whisky, wine, and beer that slows down the central nervous system
Aldosterone - hormone made by the adrenal glands that controls the amount of mineral salts in the body
Allergic Reaction - rash, trouble breathing
Allergy - over sensitivity to a substance
Alopecia - hair loss
Alpha-Fetoprotein - substance in blood that is measured to check for liver cancer, testicular cancer, and spina bifida
Alzheimer's Disease - disorder that causes mental confusion
Ambulate/Ambulation/Ambulatory - walk, able to walk
Amenorrhea - when a woman has no menstrual period
Amniocentesis - removal of some of the waters from around an unborn baby for laboratory testing
Amniochorial - having to do with the tissues that surround the unborn baby
Amniography - x-ray of the uterus (womb) and unborn baby taken after putting a dye into the bag of waters
Amnion - tissue that covers the unborn baby
Amnionitis - inflammation of the amnion
Amniorrhea - leaking of waters from around the unborn baby
Amniorrhexis - breaking of the amnion
Amnioscope - tool passed through the cervix to look at the amniotic fluid and the unborn baby
Amniotic Fluid - waters around the unborn baby
Amniotic Sac - bag of tissue that surrounds the unborn baby
Amniotomy - rupture of the membranes (breaking of the tissues around the unborn baby)- done to start labor
Amphetamines - drugs that speed up metabolism and decrease appetite ("speed")
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) - a disease of the nerves and muscles that causes weakness
Anal - having to do with the anus
Analgesic - drug used to control pain
Anaphylactic - shock serious allergic reaction to a substance (e.g., food, drug)
Anaphylaxis - serious, potentially life threatening allergic reaction
Androgen - male sex hormone
Anemia - decreased number of red blood cells
Anesthesia - loss of sensation or feeling
Anesthetic - drug that is used to produce loss of pain sensation
Anesthetic (General) - medication used to stop pain by putting you to sleep
Anesthetic (Local) - medication used to decrease pain by numbing an area of your body
Anesthetic (Regional) - medication used to block pain from the muscle and the skin
Aneurysm - area where an artery is swollen like a sack because the wall of the artery is weak
Aneurysmectomy - surgery to take out an aneurysm
Angina/Angina Pectoris - chest pain due to decreased oxygen being supplied to the heart
Angiocarditis - inflammation of the heart and the blood vessels entering the heart
Angioma - growth made up of blood vessels or lymph vessels
Angioplasm - cramp in the blood vessels
Angioplasty - surgery to open up a narrow blood vessel
Angiorrhaphy - stitching a blood vessel
Angiostenosis - narrowing of the inside of a blood vessel
Ankylosing Spondylitis - inflammation of the spine causing pain and stiffness
Ankylosis - joint stiffness
Anoplasty - surgery to fix the anus
Anorexia - condition in which person will not eat; lack of appetite
Anorexia Nervosa - mental disorder in which fear of getting fat results in starvation and weight loss
Anoxia - no oxygen
Antacid - drug used to decrease acid in the stomach (e.g., Tums, Rolaids)
Antecubital - in front of the elbow
Antepartum - before childbirth
Anterior - having to do with the front of the body
Anterior And Posterior Colporrhaphy - surgery to fix weak muscles in the pelvic area
Anterior Lobe - front part of an organ
Anterior Lobe Of The Pituitary - part of the pituitary gland that discharges many hormones
Antianginal - drug used to relieve chest pain
Antiarrhythmic - drug used to restore the natural rhythm of the heart
Antibiotic - drug used to stop or slow down the growth of germs
Antibody - type of protein that helps protect the body against foreign matter, such as bacteria and viruses
Anticoagulant - drug used to thin blood
Anticonvulsant - drug used to stop seizures
Anticubital - area inside the elbow
Antidiarrheal - drug used to stop diarrhea
Antidiuretic Hormone - hormone made by the pituitary gland that helps the kidneys keep water in the body by decreasing urine formation
Antidote - substance used to treat allergic reactions
Antiemetic - drug used to stop vomiting
Antihistamine - drug used to treat allergic reaction
Antilipidemic - a drug that decreases the level of fat(s) in the blood
Antimicrobial - drug that kills bacteria and other germs
Antinauseant - drug used to stop nausea and vomiting
Antipruitic - drug used to stop itching
Antiretroviral - drug that inhibits certain viruses
Antiseptic - substance used to stop or slow down the growth of germs
Antitussive - a drug used to relieve coughing
Antrectomy - surgery to remove the lower part of the stomach
Antrum - lower part of the stomach
Anuria - no urine being made
Anus - ring of muscle that keeps the opening at the end of the digestive tract closed
Aorta - biggest artery in the body
Aortic Stenosis - narrowing of the aorta where it comes out of the heart
Aortogram - x-ray of the aorta
Apepsia - without digestion
Aphagia - not able to swallow
Aphasia - not able to speak or write and not able to understand spoken or written words
Apnea - stopping of breathing
Aponeurorrhaphy - stitching of an aponeurosis
Aponeurosis - strong tissue that joins muscle to bone
Appendectomy - surgery to remove the appendix
Appendicitis - inflammation of the appendix
Appendix - nearly, about
Appropriate - (the) right; correct
Approximately - nearly, about
Aqueous Humor - liquid found in the front of the cavity of the eye
Arachnoid - middle layer of the meninges
Areola - dark-colored skin around the breast nipple
Arrhythmia - uneven heart beat
Arteriogram - x-ray using a dye to outline an artery
Arterioles - small branches of arteries
Arteriorrhexis - breaking of an artery
Arteriorsclerosis - hardening of the artery
Artery - the type of blood vessel that carries blood and oxygen from the heart to the rest of the body
Arthralgia - pain in a joint
Arthritis - joint pain
Arthrocentesis - use of a needle to remove fluid from a joint
Arthroclasia - surgery to free up a joint that it is stiff so it cannot move
Arthrodesia - surgery to fasten a joint so it cannot move
Arthrogram - x-ray of a joint
Arthroplasty - surgery to fix a joint
Arthrosclerosis - stiffening of the joints
Arthroscope - tool used to look into a joint
Arthrotomy - surgery to cut into a joint
Articular Cartilage - smooth tissue that covers the bones inside a joint
Artificial Insemination - use of a tool to put sperm into the vagina for the purpose of beginning pregnancy
Ascites - fluid in the belly
Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) - substance in blood that is measured to detect liver disease
Aspermia - no sperm
Asphyxia - suffocation
Aspirate - removing a substance using suction
Aspiration - fluid entering lungs
Assay - lab test
Assess - to learn about (the health/wellness of)
Assigned - placed in (into a group)
Associated (with) - having to do (with)
Asthma - breathing disorder in which there is a wheezing and difficulty breathing
Astigmatism - flaw in the curve of the eye
Asymptomatic - having no symptoms or problems
At Risk - having a possibility that something negative may happen
Ataxia - uncontrolled muscle movement
Atelectasis - collapse of a lung
Atherosclerosis - hardening of the arteries
Atraumatic - not damaging to tissue
Atrioventricular Defect - hole in the heart present at birth
Atrophy - wasting away, or decrease in size, of a body organ
Audiogram - report of a hearing test
Audiologist - doctor who studies hearing
Audiology - the study of hearing
Audiometer - tool used to measure hearing
Audiometry - measurement of hearing
Audiotape - a cassette tape that is listened to
Aural - having to do with the ear
Auricle - outside flap of the ear
Auscultation - use of a stethoscope to listen to sounds inside the body
Autism - condition causing abnormal perceptions and relationships
Autoimmune Disease - disorder in which a person's immune system attacks parts of his or her own body
Axilla - armpit

Glossary of Lay Terminology

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