Glossary of Lay Terminology

Glossary of Lay Terminology (PDF:786KB)

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