I

ileocecal (il-ē-ō-SĒ-kăl):

Pertaining to the ileum and cecum.

ileostomy (IL-ē-OS-tŏ-mē):

Creation of an artificial opening in the ileum.

iliofemoral (il-ē-ō-FEM-ŏ-răl):

Pertaining to the ilium and femur.

immune (i-MŪN):

Resistant to specific pathogens.

immune system (i-MŪN SIS-tĕm):

Series of barriers, cells, and soluble mediators that combine to response to infections of the body with pathogenic organisms.

immunity (im-Ū-nĭt-ē):

After an infection, memory cells remain in the body for a long time and can very quickly mount an immune response against the same pathogen if it tries to re-infect. This protects us from getting diseases from the same pathogen over again.

immunodeficiency (im-yŭ-nō-dĕ-FISH-ĕn-sē):

Deficient immune response caused by immune system dysfunction brought on by disease or immune suppressive drugs.

immunological memory (im-yŭ-NOL-ŏ-jē- kăl MEM-ŏ-rē):

Ability of the adaptive immune response to mount a stronger and faster immune response upon re-exposure to a pathogen.

Immunologist (ĭm-ū-NŎL-ō-jĭst):

Specialist who studies and treats immune system disorders.

immunology (im-yŭ-NOL-ŏ-jē):

Study of disorders of the immune system.

implantable cardioverter defibrillator (im-plan″TĀ-shŏn KĂR-dē-ō-vĕr-tĕr dē-FIB-rĭ-lāt-ŏr):

An electronic implant that provides an automatic shock to convert a dangerous heart rhythm to a normal heart rhythm.

incise, incision (in-SĪZ, in-SIZH-ŏn):

Surgical cut into or wound produced by a sharp instrument.

incision and drainage (in-SIZH-ŏn & DRĀN-ăj):

Surgical cut made to allow the free flow of fluids from a lesion, wound, or cavity.

incontinence (in-KONT-ĭn-ĕns):

Inability to control the bladder and/or bowels.

induction (in-DŬK-shŏn):

The process of bringing on or starting labour. This may be done with a membrane sweep or through the use of IV oxytocin.

induration (ĬN-dū-rā-shun):

A firm, raised reddened patch of skin.

infection (in-FEK-shŏn):

Invasion by disease-causing organisms.

inferior (or caudal) (in-FĒR-ē-ŏr):

Describes a position below or lower than another part of the body proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx, or lowest part of the spinal column).

inferior vena cava (in-FĒR-ē-ŏr VĒ-nă KĀ-vă):

One of the two largest veins in the body. It carries deoxygenated blood from the torso and legs back to the heart.

infertility (in-fĕr-TIL-ĭt-ē):

Inability to achieve pregnancy.

inflammation (in-flă-MĀ-shŏn):

Basic innate immune response characterized by heat, redness, pain, and swelling.

influenza (flu) (in-floo-EN-ză):

Highly contagious viral infection effecting the respiratory tract.

inguinal canal (ING-gwĭ-năl kă-NAL):

Opening in abdominal wall that connects the testes to the abdominal cavity.

initial segment (ĭn-ĬSH-ăl SEG-mĕnt):

First part of the axon as it emerges from the axon hillock, where the electrical signals known as action potentials are generated.

innate immune response (ĭn-NĀT i-MŪN ri-SPONS):

Rapid but relatively nonspecific immune response.

inspiration (ĭn-spĭr-Ā-shŭn):

Inhalation or process of breathing air into the lungs.

integration (int-ĕ-GRĀ-shŏn):

Nervous system function that combines sensory perceptions and higher cognitive functions (memories, learning, emotion, etc.) to produce a response.

interatrial septum (nt-ĕr-RĀ-trē-ăl SEP-tŭm):

The wall separating the right and left atria.

intercellular (ĭn-tĕr-SĔL-ū-lăr):

Between cells.

intercostal (int-ĕr-KOS-tăl):

Pertaining to between the ribs.

interferons (int-ĕr-FĒR-on):

Early induced proteins made in virally infected cells that cause nearby cells to make antiviral proteins.

interictal (ĭn-tĕr-ĬK-tăl):

Occurs between seizures or attacks.

interstitial (in-tĕr-STISH-ăl):

Between cells of the tissues, often used interchangeably with ‘intercellular’.

interstitial fluid (in-tĕr-STISH-ăl FLOO-ĭd):

Fluid that has leaked out of blood capillaries into the tissue spaces.

interstitial space (in-tĕr-STISH-ăl spās):

Spaces between individual cells in the tissues.

interventricular septum (int-ĕr-ven-TRIK-yŭ-lăr SEP-tŭm):

The wall of myocardium that separates the right and left ventricles.

intervertebral (ĭn-tĕr-VĔRT-ĕ-brĕl):

Pertaining to between the vertebrae.

intracellular (ĭntră-SĔL-ū-lăr):

Inside the cell membrane or within the cell.

intracerebral (in-tră-SER-ĕ-brăl):

Pertaining to within the cerebrum.

intracranial (in-tră-KRĀ-nē-ăl):

Pertaining to within the cranium.

intradermal (in-tră-DĔR-măl):

Pertaining to within the skin.

intramuscular (in-tră-MŬS-kyŭ-lăr):

Pertaining to within the muscle.

intraocular (in-tră-OK-yŭ-lăr):

Pertaining to within the eye.

intrapartum (in-tră-PART-ŭm):

Within (during) labour and delivery.

intravenous (in-tră-VĒ-nŭs):

Pertaining to within the vein.

in vitro fertilization (IVF) (in VĒ-trō fĕrt-ĭl-ĭ-ZĀ-shŏn):

A process where the ova is fertilized outside the body and then implanted into the uterus.

iridectomy (ir-ĭ-DEK-tŏ-mē):

Excision of (part of) the iris.

iridoplegia (ir-ĭ-dō-PLĒ-j(ē-)ă, īr):

Paralysis of the iris.

iridotomy (ĭr-ĭ-DŎT-ō-mē):

Incision into the iris.

iritis (ī-RĪT-ĭs):

Inflammation of the iris.

ischemia (is-KĒ-mē-ă):

Insufficient blood and oxygen to cells of an organ. These cells are starving for oxygen, but they are still alive.

ischemic (is-KĒ-mē-ă):

Ischemia is a condition in which cells receive insufficient amounts of blood and oxygen.

ischemic stroke (is-KĒ-mē-ă strōk):

Disruption of blood flow to the brain because blood cannot flow through blood vessels as a result of a blockage or narrowing of the vessel.

ischiofibular (is-kē-ō-FIB-yŭ-lăr):

Pertaining to the ischium and fibula.

isocoria (ī-sō-KŌ-rē-ă):

Condition of equal pupils.

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.