H
- hard palate (hard PAL-ăt):
- The hard palate is located at the anterior region of the nasal cavity and is composed of bone.
- heart murmur (hart MŬR-mŭr):
- An abnormal heart sound.
- heart rate (hart rāt):
- The number of times the heart contracts in one minute.
- hematocrit (hē-MAT-ŏ-krĭt):
- A lab test which measures the percentage red blood cells in a sample of whole blood. It represents how much of the person’s blood is made up of red blood cells, by volume.
- hematologist (hĕm-ă-TŎL-ō-jĭst):
- Physician who specializes and treats blood disorders.
- hematology (hĕm-ă-TŎL-ō-jē):
- Study of blood.
- hematoma (hĕm-ă-TŌ-mă):
- Tumor composed of blood.
- hematopoiesis (hē-mat-ŏ-poy-Ē-sĭs):
- The process in which the body produces blood.
- hematosalpinx (hē-măt-ŏ-SAL-pingks):
- Blood in the uterine/fallopian tube.
- hematuria (hē-mă-TOOR-ē-ă):
- Blood in the urine.
- hemicolectomy (hĕm-ē-kō-LĔK-tō-mē):
- Excision of half of the colon.
- hemiparesis (hĕm-ē-PĂR-ĕ-sĭs):
- Slight paralysis of half (right or left) side of the body.
- hemiplegia (hĕm-ē-PLĒ-jē-ă):
- Paralysis that effects one side of the body.
- hemodialysis (HD) (hē-mō-dī-ĂL-ĭ-sĭs):
- Procedure for removing impurities from the blood due to an inability of the kidney to function.
- hemolysis (hemolysis):
- Breaking apart of the erythrocyte cell membrane, allowing its contents to leak out.
- hemopoiesis (hē-mō-poy-Ē-sĭs):
- The production of blood cells and platelets, which occurs in the bone marrow.
- hemopoietic growth factors:
- Chemical messengers which promote the proliferation and differentiation of formed elements and include erythropoietin, thrombopoietin, colony-stimulating factors, and interleukins.
- hemorrhage (HEM-(ŏ-)răj):
- Excessive or uncontrolled bleeding from the blood vessels.
- hemorrhagic stroke (HEM-(ŏ-)răj-ik strōk):
- Disruption of blood flow to the brain caused by bleeding within the cranial vault.
- hemorrhoids (HEM-ŏ-royds):
- Distended and swollen veins in the rectum and anus.
- hemostasis (hē-MŎ-STĀ-sĭs):
- The process by which the body seals a ruptured blood vessel to prevent further blood loss. Biological process that results in stable equilibrium.
- hemothrax (hē-mŏ-THŌR-aks):
- Blood in the chest cavity.
- hepatitis (hep-ă-TĪT-ĭs):
- Inflammation of the liver.
- hepatoma (hĕp-ă-TŌ-mă):
- Tumor of the liver.
- hepatomegaly (hep-ăt-ō-MEG-ă-lē):
- Enlarged liver.
- herniorrhaphy (hĕr-nē-OR-ă-fē):
- Suturing of a hernia.
- hiatal:
- Location where the diaphragm has a small opening (hiatus) through which the esophagus passes before connecting.
- hidradenitis (hi-dra-ĕn-ĪT-ĭs):
- Inflammation of a sweat gland.
- high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (hi DEN-sit-ē lip-ō-PRŌ-tēn):
- High-density lipoprotein, often referred to as ‘good’ cholesterol.
- hilum (HĪ-lŭm):
- The hilum is a ridge of cartilage that separates the two main bronchi. A concave region where blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves also enter the lungs.
- hirsuitism (HŬR-sŭ-tĭ-zm):
- Excess hair all over the body.
- histamine (HIS-tă-mēn):
- Vasoactive mediator in granules of mast cells and is the primary cause of allergies and anaphylactic shock. Involved in the inflammatory response and typically causes itching.
- homeostasis (hō-mē-ō-STĀ-sĭs):
- Biological process that results in stable equilibrium.
- hormonal replacement therapy (HRT):
- Replacement of hormones, estrogen, and progesterone, typically to treat symptoms associated with menopause.
- hormone (HOR-mōn):
- Secretion of an endocrine organ that travels via the bloodstream or lymphatics to induce a response in target cells or tissues in another part of the body.
- human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (hu-man im-yŭ-nō-dĕ-FISH-ĕn-sē VĪ-rŭs):
- A retrovirus that attacks the T-helper cells of the immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).
- human papillomavirus (HPV (PAP-ĭ-LŌ-mă-VĪ-rŭs)):
- A sexually transmitted disease with over 40 subtypes that cause diseases in humans ranging from common warts to cervical cancer.
- humeral (HŪ-mĕr-ăl):
- Pertaining to the humerus.
- hydrocele (HĪ-drŏ-sēl):
- fluid-filled sac around the testicle.
- hydrocelectomy (hī-drō-sē-LĔK-tō-mē):
- Surgical removal of a fluid-filled sac around the testicle causing scrotal swelling (hydrocele).
- hydrocephalus (hī-drō-SEF-ă-lŭs):
- An abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the ventricles of the brain.
- hydronephrosis (hī-drō-nĕf-RŌ-sĭs):
- Abnormal condition of water in the kidney.
- hydrosalpinx (hī-drō-SĂL-pĭnks):
- Water in the uterin/fallopian tube.
- hydrostatic (hī-drō-STAT-ik):
- Relating to the equilibrium of liquids and the pressure exerted by liquid at rest.
- hymen (HĪ-mĕn):
- The fold of membrane found near the opening of the vagina.
- hymenectomy (hī-mĕn-ĔK-tō-mē):
- Excision of the hymen.
- hymenotomy (hī-mĕ-NOT-ŏ-mē):
- Incision into the hymen.
- hypercalcemia (hī-pĕr-kal-SĒ-mē-ă):
- Excessive calcium in the blood.
- hypercapnia (hī-pĕr-KAP-nē-ă):
- Condition of excessive (greater than normal levels) carbon dioxide (in the blood).
- hypercholesterolemia (hī-pĕr-kō-lĕs-tĕr-ŏl-Ē-mē-ă):
- Higher than normal levels of cholesterol in the blood.
- hyperemesis (hī-pĕr-EM-ĕ-sĭs):
- Excessive vomiting during pregnancy.
- hyperemesis gravida (hī-pĕr-EM-ĕ-sĭs GRĂV-ĭ-dă):
- Excessive vomiting during pregnancy.
- hyperemesis gravidarum (hī-pĕr-EM-ĕ-sĭs GRĂV-ĭ-dŭm):
- Hyperemesis can occur with any pregnant women, even a woman who miscarries. Often these women may require hospitalization for fluid and electrolyte intake.
- hyperesthesia (hī-pĕr-es-THĒ-zh(ē-)ă):
- Excessive sensitivity to stimuli.
- hyperglycemia (hī-pĕr-glī-SĒ-mē-ă):
- Excessive sugar in the blood.
- hyperkalemia (hī-pĕr-kā-LĒ-mē-ă):
- Excessive potassium in the blood.
- hyperkinesia (hī-pĕr-kī-NĒ-zh(ē-)ă):
- Condition of excessive movement.
- hyperlipidemia (hī-pĕr-lĭp-ĭ-DĒ-mē-ă):
- Excessive fat in the blood.
- hyperopia (hī-pĕr-Ō-pē-ă):
- Farsightedness; near objects look blurred but distant objects are more clearly visible.
- hyperpnea (hī-pĕrp-NĒ-ă):
- Forced breathing or breathing that is excessive.
- hypersensitivities (hī-pĕr-sĕn-sĭ-TĬV-ĭ-tēs):
- Reacting to something that would not normally evoke a reaction.
- hypertension (HTN) (hī-pĕr-TEN-shŏn):
- High blood pressure.
- hyperthyroidism (hī-pĕr-THĪ-royd-ĭzm):
- State of excessive thyroid gland activity.
- hypertrophy (hī-PĔR-trŏ-fē):
- Excessive development.
- hypocalcemia (hī-pō-kal-SĒ-mē-ă):
- Deficient calcium in the blood.
- hypocapnia (hī-pō-KAP-nē-ă):
- Condition of deficient (low levels) of carbon dioxide (in the blood).
- hypodermic (hī-pō-DĔR-mĭk):
- Pertaining to below the skin.
- hypodermis (hī-pŏ-DĔR-mĭs):
- Literally means below the dermis. The layer of skin below the dermis that is composed mainly of loose connective and fatty tissues.
- hypoglycemia (hī-pō-glī-SĒ-mē-ă):
- Deficient sugar in the blood.
- hypokalemia (hī-pō-kā-LĒ-mē-ă):
- Deficient potassium in the blood.
- hyponatremia (hī-pō-nā-TRĒ-mē-ă):
- Deficient sodium in the blood.
- hypopituitarism (hī-pō-pĭ-TŪ-ĭt-ă-rizm):
- State of deficient pituitary gland activity.
- hypopnea (hī-pōp-NĒ-ă):
- Deficient breathing.
- hypothalamus (hī-pō-THAL-ă-mŭs):
- Major region of the diencephalon that is responsible for coordinating autonomic and endocrine control of homeostasis.
- hypothalmic:
- A region of the forebrain below the thalamus.
- hypothermia (hī-pō-THĔR-mē-ă):
- Condition of (body) temperature that is below (normal).
- hypothyroidism (hī-pō-THĪ-royd-izm):
- Underactive thyroid gland, insufficient production of thyroid hormones (T3 and T4).
- hypovolemic (hī-pō-vō-LĒ-mēk):
- State of abnormally low extracellular fluid in the body.
- hypoxemia (hip-ok-SĒ-mē-ă):
- Condition of deficient oxygen.
- hypoxia (hī-POKS-ē-ă):
- Literally: ‘lower than normal amount of oxygen to tissues’. Hypoxia means that a tissue is not getting enough oxygen to survive and cell death is likely.
- hysterectomy (his-tĕ-REK-tŏ-mē):
- Surgical removal of the uterus.
- hysteropexy (his-tĕ-RŌ-pĕks-ē):
- Surgical fixation of the uterus.
- hysterorrhexis (his-tĕ-rō-REK-sĭs):
- Rupture of the uterus.
- hysterosalpingo-oophorectomy (hist-ĕ-rō-sal-ping-gō-ō-ŏ-fŏ-REK-tŏ-mē):
- Excision of the uterus, uterine tubes, and ovaries.
- hysterosalpingogram (HSG) (his-tĕ-rō-sal-PING-ō-gram):
- Radiographic image of the uterus and uterine tubes.
- hysteroscope (HIS-tĕ-rō-skōp):
- Instrument used for visual examination of the uterus.
- hysteroscopy (his-tĕ-ROS-kŏ-pē):
- Visual examination of the uterus.
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.