Chest X-Ray Glossary of Terms

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Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the...

Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen, the belly, that part of the body that contains all of ...

Abdominal cavity: The cavity within the abdomen, the space between the abdominal wall and...

Abnormal: Outside the expected norm, or uncharacteristic of a particular patient.

Abscess: A local accumulation of pus anywhere in the body. The following are some example...

Absorb: 1. To take something in, as through the skin or the intestine.
2....

Adjacent: Lying nearby. Related terms include superjacent, subjacent, and circumjacent. Fr...

Aneurysm: A localized widening (dilatation) of an artery, a vein, or the heart. At the poi...

Aorta: The largest artery in the body, the aorta arises from the left ventricle of the he...

Aortic: Pertaining to the aorta, the largest artery in the body.

Aortic aneurysm: An outpouching (a local widening) of the largest artery in the body, the ...

Arms: An appendage in anatomy and in clinical trials. See: Arm.

Back pain: Pain felt in the low or upper back. Causes of pain in the low and upper back in...

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, ...

Cardiomegaly: Enlargement of the heart. Cardiomegaly is a descriptive term that is used to...

Cavities: Holes or structural damage in the two outer layers of a tooth called the enamel...

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Chest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart...

Chest X-ray: A type of X-ray commonly used to detect abnormalities in the lungs. A chest X...

Congestive heart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it, with f...

Cough: A rapid expulsion of air from the lungs, typically in order to clear the lung airwa...

Edema: The swelling of soft tissues as a result of excess fluid accumulation. Edema is oft...

Effusion: Too much fluid, an outpouring of fluid. For example, a pleural effusion is an ab...

Emphysema: 1) A lung condition featuring an abnormal accumulation of air in the lung's ma...

Enlarged heart: Enlargement of the heart. An enlarged heart is a descriptive term that is ...

Esophagus: The tube that connects the pharynx (throat) with the stomach. The esophagus lie...

Family practice: The medical specialty which provides continuing and comprehensive health ...

Fasting: : going without food or drink. Patients may be advised to fast for a certain peri...

Fetus: An unborn offspring, from the embryo stage (the end of the eighth week after concep...

Fever: Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 degr...

Fracture: A break in bone or cartilage. Although usually a result of trauma, a fracture ca...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Heart failure: Inability of the heart to keep up with the demands on it and, specifically...

Hernia: A general term referring to a protrusion of a tissue through the wall of the cavit...

Hiatal: Pertaining to an hiatus, an opening.

Hiatal hernia: An anatomical abnormality in which part of the stomach protrudes up through...

Humerus: The long bone in the upper arm that extends from the shoulder to the elbow.

Hypoxia: A lower-than-normal concentration of oxygen in arterial blood, as opposed to anox...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Internal medicine: The medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment ...

Lateral: 1. In anatomy, the side of the body or a body part that is farther from th...

Lung cancer: Cancer of the major organ of respiration - the lung. Lung cancer kills more m...

Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon...

Medical history: 1. In clinical medicine, the patient's past and present which may ...

MPH: Master of public health, a degree designating successful training in analyzing past, ...

Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

Nodule: A small collection of tissue that is palpable (can be felt) at any level of the sk...

Operation: In medicine, a surgical procedure. Many operations are named after persons. The...

Organ: A relatively independent part of the body that carries out one or more special func...

Oxygenation: The addition of oxygen to any system, including the human body. Oxygenation m...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Pleural: Pertaining to the pleura, the thin covering that protects the lungs. The term "pl...

Pleural effusion: Excess fluid between the two membranes that cover the lungs (the viscera...

Pneumonia: Inflammation of one or both lungs, with dense areas of lung inflammation. Pneum...

Pneumothorax: Free air in the chest outside the lung. Pneumothorax can occur spontaneously...

Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.

Pulmonary: Having to do with the lungs.

Pulmonary edema: Fluid in the lungs.

Radiation: 1. Rays of energy. Gamma rays and X-rays are two of the types of energy ...

Radiograph: In medicine, an X-ray or a film produced through X-ray.

Radiologist: A physician specialized in radiology, the branch of medicine that uses ionizi...

Radiology: The medical specialty concerned with radiation for the diagnosis and treatment ...

Rib: One of the 12 paired arches of bone that form the skeletal structure of the chest wal...

Sarcoidosis: A disease of unknown origin that causes small lumps (granulomas) due to chron...

Shortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing. Medically referred to as dyspnea. Shortness ...

Stomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Trachea: A tube-like portion of the respiratory tract that connects the larynx with the br...

Tuberculosis: A highly contagious infection caused by the bacterium called Mycobacterium ...

Tubes: The "tubes" are medically known as the Fallopian tubes. There are two Fallopian tub...

Vertebrae: The preferred plural of vertebra. (The alternate plural is vertebras.) See also...

Vertebral column: The 33 vertebrae that fit together to form a flexible, yet extraordinari...

Vessel: A tube in the body that carries fluids. Examples of vessels are blood vessels and ...

X-ray: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used...