Sepsis Glossary of Terms

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

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

Aging: The process of becoming older, a process that is genetically determined and environ...

Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. ...

Appendicitis: Inflammation of the appendix, usually associated with infection of the appen...

Bacteremia: The presence of live bacteria in the bloodstream. Bacteremia is analogous to ...

Bacteria: Single-celled microorganisms that can exist either as independent (free-living) ...

Bacterial: Of or pertaining to bacteria, as in a bacterial lung infection.

Bladder: A hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine. The kidneys filter waste f...

Blood culture: A test designed to detect if microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi are ...

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

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, ...

Cardiac: Having to do with the heart.

Catheter: A thin, flexible tube.

Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c...

Cellulitis: A spreading bacterial infection underneath the skin surface characterized by r...

Chemotherapy: 1. In the original sense, a chemical that binds to and specifically k...

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

Chills: feelings of coldness accompanied by shivering. Chills may develop after exposure t...

Circulation: In medicine, the movement of fluid through the body in a regular or circuitou...

Cirrhosis: Liver disease characterized by irreversible scarring. Alcohol and viral hepatit...

Clinical trials: Trials to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of medications or medical...

Contrast: Short for "contrast media." Contrast media are X-ray dyes used to provide contra...

CT scan: Computerized tomography scan. Pictures of structures within the body created by a...

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Dizziness: Painless head discomfort with many possible causes including disturbances of ...

Drip: Short for intravenous drip, a device for administering a fluid drop-by-drop into a v...

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

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

Fungi: Plural of fungus.

Fungus: A single-celled or multicellular organism. Fungi can be true pathogens (such as hi...

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

Heart rate: The number of heartbeats per unit of time, usually per minute. The heart rate ...

Hygiene: The science of preventive medicine and the preservation of health. Also commonly ...

ICU: Intensive care unit. The intensive care unit is a designated area of a hospital facil...

Immune: Protected against infection, usually by the presence of antibodies.

Immune response: Any reaction by the immune system. For example, poison ivy can cause an i...

Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing a person from every...

Immunization: Vaccination. Immunizations work by stimulating the immune system, the natur...

Immunosuppressive: 1. Pertaining to immunosuppression, the suppression of the immun...

Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, an...

Intensive care: See critical care.

Lethargy: Abnormal drowsiness, stupor.

Low blood pressure: Any blood pressure that is below the normal expected for an individua...

Lumbar: Referring to the five lumbar vertebrae, the disks below them, and the correspondin...

Lumbar puncture: A procedure in which cerebrospinal fluid is removed from the spinal canal...

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 ...

Medical school: A school with a curriculum leading to a medical degree. The mission of eve...

Meningitis: Inflammation of the meninges, the three membranes that envelop the brain and t...

Microscope: An optical instrument that augments the power of the eye to see small objects....

Mortality: A fatal outcome or, in one word, death. The word "mortality" is derived from "m...

Mucus: A thick fluid that is produced by the lining of some organs of the body.

Nose: The external midline projection from the face. The purpose of the nose is to warm, c...

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

Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

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

Perfusion: A chemotherapy technique that may be used when melanoma occurs on an arm or leg...

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

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

Poor circulation: An inadequacy of blood flow. Inadequate blood flow to a particular area ...

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

Pulse: The rhythmic dilation of an artery that results from beating of the heart. Pulse is...

Purpura: Hemorrhage (bleeding) into the surface of the skin. The area of skin with purpura...

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

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

Rash: Breaking out (eruption) of the skin. A rash can be caused by an underlying medical c...

Saline: Relating to salt. As an adjective, "saline" means "salty, containing salt." As a n...

Scan: As a noun, the data or image obtained from the examination of organs or regions of...

Sepsis: The presence of bacteria (bacteremia), other infectious organisms, or toxins creat...

Septic: Infected, or denoting infection. For example, septic shock is shock that is caused...

Septicemia: Systemic (bodywide) illness with toxicity due to invasion of the bloodstream b...

Shock: In medicine, a critical condition that is brought on by a sudden drop in blood flow...

Spinal cord: The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies with...

Spine: 1) The column of bone known as the vertebral column, which surrounds and protects ...

Spleen: An organ that is located in the upper-left part of the abdomen, not far from the s...

Sputum: Mucous material from the lungs that is produced (brought up) by coughing.

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

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Transplant: The grafting of a tissue from one place to another, just as in botany a bu...

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

Urinary: Having to do with the function or anatomy of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or ur...

Urinary tract: The organs of the body that produce, store, and discharge urine. These orga...

Urinary tract infection: An infection of the kidney, ureter, bladder, or urethra. Abbrevia...

Urine: Liquid waste produced by the kidneys. Urine is a clear, transparent fluid that norm...

Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood that is low in oxygen content from the body back t...

Virus: A microorganism that is smaller than a bacterium that cannot grow or reproduce apar...

Viruses: Small living particles that can infect cells and change how the cells function. I...

Vital: Necessary to maintain life. For example, breathing is a vital function.

White blood cell: One of the cells the body makes to help fight infections. There are seve...

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