GlobalRPh Medical Terminology Section- Letter F
Medical terminology is used to precisely describe the human body components, processes, illnesses, medical procedures, and pharmacology. Medical terms are used in the field of medicine, and clinical settings. This section deals with all med terms beginning with the letter F, and features medical roots, prefixes and suffixes. Introduction to Medical Terminology.
Medical Terminology - Letter F
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faci/o
face
-facient
to cause, make happen
fasci/o
fascia (membrane supporting muscles)
febr/i
fever
femor/o
femur (thigh bone)
-ferent
to carry
ferr/i, ferr/o
iron
fet/o
fetus
fibr/o
fiber
fibros/o
fibrous connective tissue
fibul/o
fibula
-fication
process of making
-fida
split
fil/i, fil/o, filament/o
thread, threadlike
filtr/o
to strain through
fistul/o
hollow or tubular passage or connection
five
pent-, penta-, quinque-
flamme/o
flame coloured
flat/o
breaking wind, rectal gas
flav/o
yellow
flex/o
to bend
fluor/o
luminous
foc/o
point, focus
follicul/o
follicle; small sac
fore-
before, in front
-form
resembling; in the shape of
four
quadri, tetra-
fovea/o
small pit or depression
frig/o, frigid/o
cold
-fug
to drive away
funct/o
performance
fung/i, fung/o
fungus; mushroom (organism lacking chlorophyll)
furc/o
forking; branching
furuncul/o
furuncles, an infected boil
fusc/o
dark brown
-fusion
to pour; to come together
Med Terms beginning with the letter F
F
Factitious disorders
Also known as pathomimia, factitious disorder is the intentional stimulation or feigning of illness, either physical or psychological, to assume the sick role.
Fallopian tubes
Either of a pair of tubular organs between the ovaries and the uterus in the female pelvis and are responsible for gamete transport; also referred to as the uterine tubes or the oviducts.
False labor
'Warm-up contractions' not resulting in delivery. Also called prodromal labor.
False ribs
Rib pairs 8-12. Instead of attaching directly to the sternum anteriorly, they are attached to the costal cartilage of the seventh rib.
Farsightedness
Farsightedness, also known as hyperopia, a refractive error where one can clearly see distant objects, but nearby objects are blurry.
Fascia
Thin connective tissue that surrounds and permeates every muscle, bone, tendon, ligaments, blood, and organ. All four kinds of fascia - structural, intersectoral, visceral, and spiral - are all connected in order to hold the entire body together.
Fasciotomy
Surgical incision of fascia to treat acute compartment syndrome.
Fasting blood sugar
Fasting blood sugar (FBS), blood glucose sample usually taken after an overnight fast.
Fatigue
Physical and/or mental weariness resulting from pain, anxiety, fear, boredom, burnout, lack of exercise, or as a side effect of certain medications.
Fatty acids
Carboxylic acids produced from the hydrolysis of triglycerides.
Feces
Bodily waste expelled from the bowels through the rectum.
Femor/o
Femur, Femoral
Denoting Femur, the thigh bone.
Fertilization
Fusion of the sperm and ovum, marking the beginning of pregnancy.
Fet/o
Denoting a fetus.
fetus
fet/o = fetus
-us = noun ending
A developing baby beginning in the 11th week of pregnancy up until birth
Fetal monitoring (electronic)- The use of an electronic device to monitor and record fetal heart rate (FHR) and maternal uterine activity (UA).
Fetoscope- A fetal stethoscope used to monitor fetal heart rate.
fet/o = fetus
-scope = instrument for viewing
Febrile- Undue rise of body temperature. Fever.
Fibrillation- An abnormal and erratic twitching of the cardiac muscle fibers. Atrial fibrillation, for example.
Fibrin- An insoluble fibrillar protein formed from fibrinogen; acts as a molecular glue during blood clotting, holding platelets together.
Fibrinogen- Precursor of fibrin. Fibrinogen is a soluble plasma protein produced largely by liver tissue and is involved in clotting and wound healing.
Fibr/o
Denoting or pertaining to fiber.
Fibrillation
Rapid, irregular, and uncoordinated contractions of muscle fibers, particularly the heart muscle.
Fibrosis
The formation of excess fibrous connective tissue in an organ or tissue.
Fibrin
A fibrous protein involved in blood clotting, which forms a mesh-like structure to help stop bleeding.
Fibromyalgia
A chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and tenderness in specific areas.
Fibrinogen
A blood plasma protein that is converted to fibrin during the clotting process.
Fibroadenoma
A non-cancerous breast tumor composed of fibrous and glandular tissue.
Fibrous
Relating to or composed of fibers, typically referring to dense connective tissue with a high proportion of collagen fibers.
Fibromatosis
A benign condition characterized by the growth of fibrous tissue in various parts of the body.
Fibroblast
A type of cell found in connective tissue that produces fibers, including collagen, to help maintain tissue structure.
Fibroadenosis
A benign breast condition characterized by increased fibrous tissue and glandular elements, often associated with breast pain and lumpiness.
Fibrocystic breast disease
Lumpy, swollen, or sore breast, probably resulting from fluctuating levels of estrogen. In postmenopausal women, it may be due to hormone therapy.
Fibroid tumor
Benign growths in or on a woman's uterus. Also referred to as uterine myomas, myomas, or leiomyomas.
Fibroma
A rare, benign tumor of fibrous or connective tissue. It can be congenital, developmental, or acquired.
Fibrosarcoma
A malignant mesenchymal neoplasm of the fibroblasts; usually found in the lower extremities, especially the femur and tibia.
Fibula, Fibular, Fibul/o
The outer and smaller of the two bones in the lower leg; stabilizes the ankle and supports the muscles of the lower leg.
Fifth disease- A viral infection characterized by a distinctive red rash on the face that makes the children appear to have a "slapped cheek". Also referred to as erythema infectiosum, or slapped cheek syndrome.
Fimbriae- Finger-like ciliated projections at the end of the fallopian tubes; function to capture the ovum from the surface of the ovary.
First dose effect- A severe, symptomatic fall in blood pressure that occurs within 90 minutes after the first dose or when the dose is increased rapidly.
Fissure -Cracks, or tears in the mucous membrane. For example, anal fissures in the lining of the anus.
Fistula- An abnormal tract or passageway between organs. Fistulas may go from the body surface into a cavity, an internal organ, or between two internal organs.
Flaccid- Limp, or reduced muscle tone.
Flatus, flatulence- Excess gas in the stomach or intestine that is passed through the rectum
Flexion
An act of bending. It's a physical position that decreases the angle between two bones.
Floaters
Specks or spots that 'float' around in the field of vision. Eye floaters crop up when the vitreous body begins to shrink.
Floating ribs
The last two false rib pairs which connect to the vertebrae in the back but with no ventral attachment.
Fluro/o
Denotes luminous
Fluoroscopy-A radiological technique used to track the motion of bones and other inner parts of the body in a series of X-ray images; also called motion X-ray.
Fluorescence- The physical property of certain substances to absorb light of high energy, short wavelength, and its remittance at lower energy, longer wavelength.
Fluorescent antinuclear antibody-Fluorescent antinuclear antibody test (FANA), a sensitive screening test used to diagnose autoimmune disorders.
Fluorescein-A highly fluorescent orange-red synthetic organic dye; used forensically to detect latent bloodstains, and in ophthalmic diagnosis.
Fluorescein staining-A standard test that uses fluorescein to determine corneal epithelial defects or the presence of foreign bodies in the eye.
Follicle
a tiny sac or vesicle.
Follicle-stimulating hormone
One of three glycoprotein hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, with luteinizing hormone (LH) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) being the other two. FSH is responsible for the growth of ovarian follicles in women and participates in sperm maturation in men.
Fontanel
Soft spot in an infant's skull, covered by tough membranes. A newborn has six fontanels - on the top, back, and sides of their head.
Foramen
A hole. Foramina (pl.) are passageways through the bones of the skull that allow nerves to vessels to enter and exit the skull. For example, the Foramen caecum that allows the passage of an emissary vein.
Foreskin
A loose, retractable fold of skin covering the glans of the penis.
Fossa
An anatomical pit, cavity, or groove.
Fourchette
A small flap of mucous membrane that joins the labia minora together.
Fovea centralis
A tiny pit or depression located in the macula lutea where visual acuity is the highest.
Fractionation
In radiology, fractionation is the process of administering a total dose of radiation in smaller units over time, to minimize tissue damage.
Fracture
A break in the bone, manifesting as minor cracks, splintering, or complete disruption of the cortex. It may be,
- i) Linear fracture - runs parallel to the bone
- ii) Transverse fracture -runs perpendicular to the bone axis
iii) Oblique fracture - runs at about a 30-degree angle to the bone axis.
- iv) Compression fracture - occurs when the bone is compressed beyond its tolerance limit; often seen in patients with osteoporosis.
- v) Stress fracture - also referred to as hairline fracture, it is due to repeated low force trauma that eventually breaks the bone.
Freckle
Freckles, also called ephelides, are small, brownish, stain-like spots usually found on body parts that are exposed to the sun the most. They are due to an increase in the amount of melanin.
Friction rub
A raspy, adventitious sound heard on auscultation of the lung; created by the rubbing together of the pleurae.
Frontal bone
The flat bone that makes up the forehead and supplies the upper edge and roof of the eye sockets.
Frontal fontanelle
The largest of the six fontanels present in the newborn head. Located between the frontal and parietal bones, the frontal fontanelle offers insight into the newborn's hydration and intracranial pressure. Also, it serves as a diagnostic tool to assess skull and brain impairments.
Frotteurism
A sexual disorder characterized by intense sexual urges or behaviors involving touching and rubbing against a non-consenting person.
Frozen shoulder
A painful and stiff shoulder, resulting from the scarring, thickening, and shrinkage of the tissues of the shoulder capsule; also referred to as adhesive capsulitis.
FTA-ABS Test
An indirect immunofluorescent antibody test that checks for the presence of antibodies to Treponema pallidum, the bacteria responsible for syphilis.
Fulguration
The use of electric sparks to destroy abnormal tissues, usually malignant tumors.
Functional incontinence
Involuntary urine loss, related to impaired cognitive functioning and mobility.
Fundus
The broad curved area at the top and widest portion of the uterus that connects to the fallopian tubes; also, the part opposite to or remote from the opening of an organ.
Fundoscopy
Visual examination of the fundus of the eye using an ophthalmoscope; used to diagnose conditions and identify risk factors for visual impairment.
Furuncle
A furuncle (or a 'boil'), is a deep, pus-filled nodule, arising most commonly as a result of Staphylococcus aureus infections.
