E

eccrine sweat gland (ĔK-rĭn swet gland):

Type of gland that produces a hypotonic sweat for thermoregulation.

echocardiogram (ĕk-ō-KĂR-dē-ō-grăm):

A record (using) sound of the heart.

echocardiography (ek-ō-kard-ē-OG-ră-fē):

Process of using sound to record the heart.

eclampsia (e-KLAMP-sē-ă):

A very serious condition in pregnancy with hypertension; patients are at high risk of coma, convulsions, and even death.

ectopic pregnancy (ek-TOP-ik PREG-năn-sē):

The embryo implants any other place but the inner endo-uterine lining.

eczema (eg-ZĒ-mă):

Noninfectious, inflammatory disease presents as redness, blisters, scabs, and itching.

edema (ĕ-DĒ-mă):

Puffy swollen tissue due to accumulation of fluid.

efferent lymphatic vessels (EF-ĕ-rĕnt lim-FAT-ik VES-ĕls):

Lead out of a lymph node.

efferent nerves (EF-ĕ-rĕnt nĕrvs):

Nerve tissue that carries impulses away from the CNS towards the peripheral that result in motor response (movement).

ejaculation (i-jak-yŭ-LĀ-shŏn):

The action of ejecting semen from the body.

ejaculatory duct (ē-JĂK-ū-lă-tōr-ē dŭkt):

Duct that connects the ampulla of the ductus deferens with the duct of the seminal vesicle at the prostatic urethra.

electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG) (ē-lĕk-trō-KĂR-dē-ō-grăm):

A recording of the electrical impulses in the heart.

electrocardiograph (ē-lĕk-trō-KĂR-dē-ō-grăf):

Instrument used to record electrical activity within the heart.

electrocardiography (ē-lĕk-trō-KĂR-dē-ŎG-ră-fē):

Process of recording the electrical (activity) of the heart.

electrocochleography (ē-lek-trō-kok-lē-OG-ră-fē):

Process of recording the electrical activity in the cochlea.

electroencephalogram (ĕ-lek-trō-ĕn-SEF-ă-lŏ-gram):

The record of electrical activity of the brain.

electroencephalograph (ē-lĕk-trō-ĕn-SĔF-ă-lō-grăf):

Instrument used to record electrical activity of the brain.

electroencephalography (ĕ-lek-trō-ĕn-sef-ă-LOG-ră-fē):

Process of recording the electrical activity of the brain.

electromyography (ē-lĕk-trō-mī-ŎG-ră-fē):

Measures muscle response or electrical activity in response to a nerve’s stimulation of the muscle.

elements (EL-ĕ-mĕnts):

Unique pure substances.

embolus (EM-bŏ-lŭs):

Obstruction in a blood vessel such as a blood clot, fatty mass, air bubble, or other foreign matter that interrupts the flow of blood to an organ or some part of the body.

embryogenic (ĕm-brē-ō-JĔN-ĭk):

Producing an embryo.

embryoid (EM-brē-ōyd):

Resembling an embryo.

emesis (ĔM-ĕ-sĭs):

Vomiting.

emulsification (ē-mŭl-sĭ-fĭ-KĀ-shŭn):

The process of breaking down the fat into smaller blood cells which makes it easy for enzymes to function and digest food.

encephalitis (en-sef-ă-LĪT-ĭs):

Inflammation of the brain.

encephalomalacia (en-sef-ă-lō-mă-LĀ-sh(ē-)ă):

Softening of the brain.

encephalomyeloradiculitis (ĕn-sĕf-ă-lō-mī-ĕ-lō-ră-dĭk-ū-LĪ-tĭs):

Inflammation of brain, spinal cord and nerve roots.

encephalosclerosis (ĕn-SĔF-ă-lō-sklă-RŌ-sĭs):

Hardening of the brain.

endarterectomy (ĕnd-ăr-tĕr-ĔK-tō-mē):

Excision within the artery.

endocarditis (en-dō-kar-DĪT-is):

Inflammation of the inner (lining) of the heart.

endocervical (en-dō-SĔR-vi-kăl):

Pertaining to within the cervix.

endocrine gland (En-dō-krīn gland):

Tissue or organ that secretes hormones into the blood and lymph without ducts such that they may be transported to organs distant from the site of secretion.

endocrine system (En-dō-krīn SIS-tĕm):

Cells, tissues, and organs that secrete hormones as a primary or secondary function and play an integral role in normal bodily processes.

endocrinologist (ĕn-dō-krĭ-NŎL-ŏ-jĭst):

Specialist who studies and treats diseases of the endocrine system.

endocrinology (ĕn-dō-krĭn-ŎL-ō-jē):

The study of the endocrine glands and hormones.

endocrinopathy (ĕn-dō-krĭn-ŎP-ă-thē):

Disease of the endocrine system.

endometrial cancer (en-dō-MĒ-trē-ăl KAN-sĕr):

Malignant tumor of the endometrium (also called uterine cancer).

endometriosis (en-dō-mē-trē-Ō-sĭs):

Abnormal condition of the endometrium.

endometritis (e-dō-mĕ-TRĪT-is):

Inflammation of the endometrium.

endometrium (en-dŏ-MĒ-trē-ŭm):

The innermost layer containing a connective tissue lining covered by epithelial tissue that lines the lumen. Provides the site of implantation for a fertilized egg. Sheds during menstruation if no egg is fertilized.

endophthalmitis (ĕn-dŏf-thăl-MĪ-tĭs):

Inflammation within the eye.

endoscope (EN-dŏ-skōp):

Instrument used to view within (hollow organs).

endoscopic (en-dŏ-SKOPik):

Pertaining to view within.

endoscopy (en-DOS-kŏ-pē):

Visual examination within.

endothelium (en-dŏ-THĒ-lē-ŭm):

The lining of the lumen of a blood vessel.

endotracheal (ĕn-dō-TRĀ-kē-ăl):

Pertaining to within the trachea.

enteric nervous system (ENS) (en-TER-ik NĔR-vŭs SIS-tĕm):

Neural tissue associated with the digestive system that is responsible for nervous control through autonomic connections.

enteropathy (ent-ĕ-ROP-ă-thē):

Disease of the intestines.

enterorrhaphy (ĕn-tĕr-OR-ă-fē):

Suturing of the intestine.

enucleation (ē-nū-klē-Ā-shŭn):

Excision of a whole organ or mass without cutting into it.

enuresis (en-ū-RĒ-sĭs):

Involuntary urination.

ependymal cell (ep-EN-dĭ-măl sel):

Glial cell type in the CNS responsible for producing cerebrospinal fluid.

epidermal (ĕp-ĭ-DĔR-mal):

Pertaining to upon/on the skin.

epidermis (ep-i-DĔR-mĭs):

Outer layer of skin, made of closely packed epithelial cells.

epididymectomy (ĕp-ĭ-dĭd-ĭ-MĔK-tō-mē):

Excision of the epididymis.

epididymis (ep-i-DID-ĭ-mĭs):

(plural = epididymides) Coiled tubular structure in which sperm start to mature and are stored until ejaculation.

epididymitis (ep-ĭ-did-ĭ-MĪT-ĭs):

Inflammation/swelling of the epididymis.

epiglottis (EP-i-GLOT-ĭs):

The epiglottis, attached to the thyroid cartilage, is a very flexible piece of elastic cartilage that covers the opening of the trachea.

epinephrine (ep-ĭ-NEF-rin):

Also known as adrenaline, is a hormone and neurotransmitter and produced by the adrenal glands.

epiphyses (ĕ-PĬF-ĭ-sĭs):

The ends of long bones, singular is epiphysis.

episioperineoplasty (i-piz-ē-ō-per-ĭ-NĒ-ō-plas-tē):

Surgical repair of the vulva and the perineum.

episiorrhaphy (epē-sē-OR-ă-fē):

Suturing of the vulva.

episiotomy (i-piz-ē-OT-ŏ-mē):

A procedure where an incision is made to widen the vaginal opening to prevent ripping or tearing of the perineum during delivery.

epistaxis (ĕp-ĭ-STĂK-sĭs):

Nose bleed (rhinorrhagia).

epithalamus (ep-i-THAL-ă-mŭs):

Region of the diencephalon containing the pineal gland.

epithelial membrane (ep-i-THĒ-lē-ăl MEM-brān):

Membrane composed of epithelium attached to a layer of connective tissue.

eponym (ĔP-ō-nĭm):

Terms that are named after a place or person.

erectile dysfunction (ĕ-RĔK-tīl dis-FŬNGK-shŏn):

The inability of a male to attain or maintain an erection sufficient to perform sexual intercourse.

erythroblastosis fetalis (ĕ-rĭth-rō-blăs-TŌ-sĭs fĕ-TAL-ĭs):

Disease of rh factor-positive newborns in rh-negative mothers with multiple rh-positive children; resulting from the action of maternal antibodies against fetal blood.

erythrocytes (ĕ-RITH-rŏ-sīts):

Red blood cells.

erythrocytopenia (ĕ-rĭth-rō-sī-tō-PĒ-nē-ă):

Abnormal reduction of red (blood) cells.

erythroderma (ĕ-rith-rŏ-DĔR-mă):

Red skin.

erythropoietin (ĕ-rĭth-rō-POY-ĕ-tĭn):

Hormone produced by the kidneys that plays an important role in the homeostasis of red blood cells levels in the body.

esophageal (ē-sof-ă-JĒ-ăl):

Pertaining to the esophagus.

esophagitis (ē-sof-ă-JĪT-ĭs):

Inflammation of the esophagus.

esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) (ē-sof-ă-gō-gas-trō-doo-ŏ-dē-NOS-kŏ-pē):

Process of viewing the esophagus, stomach and duodenum.

esophagogastroplasty (ĕ-SŎF-ă-gō-GĂS-trō-plăs-tē):

Surgical repair of the esophagus and stomach.

esophagogram (ĕ-SOF-ă-gō-gram):

Radiographic image of the esophagus.

esophagoscopy (ĕ-sof-ă-GOS-kŏ-pē):

Process of viewing the esophagus.

euglycemia (ū-glī-SĒ-mē-ă):

Normal (level) of blood sugar in the blood.

eupnea (ūp-NĒ-ă):

Normal breathing.

euthyroid (ū-THĪ-royd):

Resembling a normal thyroid gland.

excise, excision (ĕk-SĪZ, ek-SIZH-ŏn):

Remove by cutting out.

excretion (ĕks-KRĒ-shŭn):

Waste is eliminated from an organism. In vertebrates this is primarily carried out by the lungs, kidneys and skin.

exocrine (ĔKS-ō-krĭn):

To secrete externally, directly or through a duct.

exocrine system (ĔKS-ō-krĭn SIS-tĕm):

Cells, tissues, and organs that secrete substances directly to target tissues via glandular ducts.

exocytosis (ĕks-ō-sī-TŌ-sĭs):

Active transport of molecules out of the cell.

expiration (ĕks-pĭ-RĀ-shŭn):

Exhalation or the process of causing air to leave the lungs.

external nose (IK-stərnl nōz):

The external nose consists of the surface and skeletal structures that result in the outward appearance of the nose and contribute to its numerous functions.

extramedullary hemopoiesis (eks-tră-MED-ŭl-er-rē hē-mō-poy-Ē-sĭs):

Hemopoiesis outside the medullary cavity of adult bones.

Attribution

Except where otherwise noted, this book is adapted from Medical Terminology by Grimm et al. (2022), Nicolet College, CC BY 4.0 International. / A derivative of Building a Medical Terminology Foundation by Carter & Rutherford (2020), and Anatomy and Physiology by Betts, et al., CC BY 4.0, which can be accessed for free at OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology.