Medical Vocabulary

1. Abdominal muscles (muschi abdominali): A flat sheet of muscles on the front of the
abdomen, between the ribcage and the pelvis.
2. Acceptance-based therapies (terapii bazate pe acceptare):Psychotherapy techniques that use
mindfulness to help a person recognize and accept thoughts and feelings but not be controlled
by them.
3. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (sindromul imunodeficienta achizitionata): Usually
abbreviated as AIDS. This is the most advanced stage of infection with the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which can severely weaken the immune system. People with
AIDS get many infections, often from diseases that don't affect people with healthy immune
systems.
4. Acupressure (acupresura): Using the thumb or fingers to apply pressure to particular spots, or
pressure points, on the body in order to relieve pain.
5. Acupuncture (acupunctura): A treatment based on Chinese medicine. Thin needles are
inserted into the skin at specific points on the body. This therapy is used to treat pain and
various health problems and to reduce stress.
6. Acute pain (durere acuta): Severe pain that occurs suddenly and usually lasts a short while.
7. Adaptability (adaptabilitate): The ability of an organism to change genetically in a way that
allows it to deal better with its environmental conditions.
8. Adaptive immunity (imunitate adaptabila): The ability of the body to learn to fight specific
infections after being exposed to the germs that cause them.
9. Addiction (adictie, dependenta): Loss of control over indulging in a substance or performing
an action or behavior, and continued craving for it despite negative consequences.
10. Adequate intake (consum adecvat): An estimate of the amount of a nutrient needed by
healthy people. The Adequate Intake is used when there isn't enough information to set a
recommended dietary allowance (RDA).
11. Adjuvant therapy (terapia adjuvanta): Extra therapy given after a primary treatment, to
increase the effectiveness of the primary treatment. For example, using chemotherapy after
surgery or radiation treatment for cancer.
12. Adrenaline (adrenalina): Stress hormone that puts the body on high alert. Changes include
faster heartbeat, more rapid breathing, greater energy, and higher blood pressure. Also called
epinephrine.
13. Advanced sleep phase syndrome (sindromul fazei de somn rapida): A pattern of falling
asleep and waking up earlier than wanted that worsens progressively over time.
14. Age-related cognitive decline (dereglari cognitive legate de virsta): The slight loss of
memory and slowing of the brain's information processing that occurs with normal aging.
15. Agnosia (agnozie): A rare disease in which a person can't recognize objects, shapes, or people.
Often due to a brain or neurological condition.
16. Agoraphobia (agorafobia): Fear and avoidance of public places and open spaces.
17. AIDS (SIDA): abbreviation for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, the most advanced
stage of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
18. Albinism (albinism): A group of inherited conditions that typically appear as a reduction or
absence of melanin pigments in the skin, hair, and eyes.
19. Alcohol dependence (dependenta de alcool): A chronic, progressive disease characterized by
excessive and often compulsive drinking, impaired control over drinking, use of alcohol despite
adverse consequences, and withdrawal symptoms when alcohol use is discontinued. Also
known as alcoholism.
20. Alcoholism (alcoholism): Another term for alcohol dependence: A chronic, progressive disease
characterized by excessive and often compulsive drinking, impaired control over drinking, use
of alcohol despite adverse consequences, and withdrawal symptoms when alcohol use is
discontinued. Also known as alcoholism.
21. Allergy (alergie): An immune system reaction (for example, rash, fever, sneezing, or
headaches) to something that is normally harmless.
22. Alzheimer's disease (boala Alzheimer): A progressive brain disease that causes memory loss,
impaired thinking, and personality changes.
23. Amnesia (amnezie): Unusual memory loss or forgetfulness.
24. Anemia (anemie): Having a lower than normal amount of red blood cells or hemoglobin (an
oxygen-carrying protein inside red blood cells), leading to low energy, weakness, and other
symptoms.
25. Antibiotic (antibiotic): A substance that kills or slows the growth of bacteria.
26. Asthma (astma): A disease that inflames and narrows airways, causing wheezing, shortness of
breath, coughing, and tightness in the chest.
27. Bacteria (bacterie): Tiny single-celled organisms. Some bacteria cause disease, although most
are harmless.
28. Beta blockers (Beta blocanti): Medications that block epinephrine (adrenaline) and
norepinephrine from attaching to certain parts of nerve cells known as beta receptors. Used to
treat high blood pressure, heart rhythm problems, migraines, panic attacks, and other
conditions.
29. Binocular vision (vedere binoculara): The ability of both eyes to focus on an object and form
a single visual image.
30. Bone mass (masa osoasa): The total amount of bone tissue in the body.
31. Cancer (cancer): A group of diseases in which abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way,
sometimes forming tumors.
32. Cardioplegia (cardioplegia): Temporarily stopping the heart during heart surgery.
33. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (resuscitare cardiopulmonara): A combination of chest
compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing that keep oxygenated blood circulating to the
brain and tissues. Commonly known as CPR.
34. Cell (celula): The basic building block of all living organisms.
35. Central nervous system (sistemul nervos central): The brain, brainstem, and spinal cord.
36. Chemotherapy (chimioterapie): The use of chemicals to treat disease; often used to destroy
cancer cells.
37. Cognitive behavioral therapy (terapia cognitiv-comportamentala): A form of therapy that
aimed at recognizing and changing negative thoughts and behaviors.
38. Cognitive function (functie cognitiva): All of the brain mechanisms involved with thinking,
reasoning, learning, and remembering.
39. Coma (coma): Deep unconsciousness where the person is alive but unable to move or respond.
40. CPR (resuscitare cardiopulmonara): Abbreviation for cardiopulmonary resuscitation, a
combination of chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing that keep oxygenated blood
circulating to the brain and tissues.
41. Debility (slabiciune generala): Weakness or a loss of physical strength.
42. Defibrillator (defibrilator): A device that delivers an electric shock to the heart to restore
normal rhythm. Used to treat cardiac arrest and other dangerous heart rhythm problems.
43. Delayed sleep phase syndrome (sindromul fazei de somn intirziat): A pattern of falling
asleep and waking up later than wanted that tends to worsen progressively over time.
44. Dementia (dementa): A loss of brain function that worsens over time and affects memory,
thinking, behavior, and language.
45. Deoxyribonucleic acid (acid dezoxiribonucleic): The substance found in the nucleus of cells
that contains the genetic instructions for that living organism.
46. Detoxification (detoxificare): The process of removing harmful, or toxic, substances from a
person's body.
47. Dislocation (dislocare): The movement of a bone from its normal position.
48. DNA (ADN): An abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid, the substance in cells that contains the
genetic instructions that direct their function.
49. ECG (ECG: electrocardiograma): An abbreviation for electrocardiogram, a test that measures
the electrical activity of the heart and detects heart problems.
50. Enzyme (enzima): A substance that speeds up another chemical reaction. For example,
digestive enzymes help speed up the digestion of food.
51. Flight-or-fight response (raspuns la stress manifestat prin tahicardie si tahipnee): Changes
that occur in the body, such as rapid breathing and heartbeat, when a person is confronted with a
perceived physical or emotional threat. Also called the stress response.
52. Gene (gene): Structures on chromosomes that are passed from parent to child. The basic unit of
material that passes traits from parent to child.
53. Glaucoma (glaucoma): A condition in which the pressure inside the eye is too high, causing
eye damage.
54. Hallucination (halucinatie): A perception of something that is not really there.
55. Harm reduction therapy (terapie de diminuare a daunelor): A treatment strategy aimed at
minimizing the harm associated with an object of addiction. This strategic approach helps
people learn how to limit the degree to which they use their object of addiction, or limit the
risks associated with their use, but they do not necessarily stop altogether.
56. Health care proxy (accord informat): A legal form allowing a person to appoint someone else
to make their medical decisions. Also known as a durable power of attorney for health care.
57. Heart attack (infarct miocardic acut): The common term for a myocardial infarction. It refers
to the damage that occurs when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked or drastically
restricted. The blockage usually stems from the rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque.
58. High blood pressure (hipertensiune arterial): When blood flowing through arteries pushes on
artery walls with abnormally high force over a sustained period of time. Also called
hypertension.
59. HIV (virusul imunodeficientei umane): Abbreviation for human immunodeficiency virus, the
virus that leads to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HIV damages immune cells
so that they are no longer able to fight off other infections.
60. Hypertension(hipertensiune): The medical term for high blood pressure. Hypertension is a
major risk factor for stroke, especially hemorrhagic and lacunar strokes, because it puts excess
stress on the walls of blood vessels and damages their delicate inner lining.
61. Hypotension (hipotensiune): The medical term for low blood pressure.
62. IBD (inflamatie intestinala): Abbreviation for inflammatory bowel disease, a general term for
two disordersulcerative colitis and Crohn's diseasethat cause the intestines to become
swollen and inflamed.
63. ICD (implant cardiac defibrillator): Abbreviation for implantable cardioverter defibrillator, a
device implanted in the chest and connected to the heart that delivers a shock to stop a
potentially deadly rhythm and restore a normal (sinus) rhythm.
64. Immunity (imunitate): The body's ability to resist infection and disease.
65. Immunoglobulin (imunoglobulina): Substances made by the immune system that attack
foreign substances. Also known as antibodies.
66. Immunotherapy (imunoterapie): Treating disease by enhancing or suppressing the body's
immune system.
67. Infarct (infarct): An area of dead tissue caused by insufficient blood supply.
68. Infection (infectie): The growth of harmful organisms that can cause disease, such as bacteria,
in the body.
69. Injection (injectie): Inserting fluids, such as medications, into the body by means of a hollow
needle and syringe.
70. Insomnia (insomnia): The inability to fall asleep or remain asleep long enough to feel rested.
71. Iris (iris): The colored ring in front of the lens that controls the size of the pupil and how much
light enters the eye.
72. Kyphoplasty (kifoplastia): A surgical procedure that eases or eliminates the pain of spinal
fractures. It also restores vertebrae that have collapsed due to fractures to their normal size.
73. Labile hypertension (hipertensiune arterial labil): Blood pressure that frequently
fluctuates between normal and abnormal during the course of a day, often within only a few
minutes.
74. Ligament (ligament): A band of tissue that connects bones.
75. Magnetic resonance imaging (rezonanta magnetica: RMN): A scan that creates detailed
pictures of internal organs; commonly referred to as MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging uses
radio waves, a strong magnetic field, and a computer to produce images of organs and internal
tissues.
76. Malnutrition (malnutritie): Failure to eat or to properly absorb the nutrients needed for good
health.
77. Metabolism (metabolism): The chemical reactions that occur in all living organisms to
maintain life. An example is converting food into energy that the body needs to function.
78. Migraine headache (migrena): A severe headache with pain that usually begins on one side of
the head. Symptoms may include visual disturbances (called aura), nausea, vomiting, and
sensitivity to light or noise.
79. Mindfulness (atentie): A practice with its roots in Buddhism that encourages people to be more
fully aware of the present moment. Often achieved through meditation.
80. Mindfulness meditation (meditatie pentru cresterea concentrarii): A form of meditation
with roots in ancient Buddhist practice through which a person has a calm awareness of his or
her body and feelings and is fully engaged in the present; also called insight meditation.
81. Mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy (terapia cognitiv-comportamentala
bazata pe concentrare): A well-established acceptance-based therapy, used principally in
treatment of depression and anxiety.
82. MRI (RMN): Abbreviation for magnetic resonance imaging--a scan that creates detailed
pictures of internal organs. MRIs use radio waves, a strong magnetic field, and a computer to
produce images of organs and internal tissues.
83. Natural killer cells (celule T killer si B killer, leucocite): A type of white blood cell of the
immune system. These cells destroy other cells that fail to display the right chemical flags
signaling that they are normal cells.
84. Nerve block (blocada): Injection of a medication into one or more nerves to relieve pain.
85. Neurologist (neurolog): A physician trained to diagnose and treat disorders of the nervous
system, including the brain and spinal cord.
86. NK (killer naturali, leucocite): Abbreviation for natural killer cells, a type of white blood cell
of the immune system. These cells destroy other cells that fail to display the right chemical flags
signaling that they are normal cells.
87. Noradrenaline (noradrenalina): A hormone produced by adrenal glands that puts the body on
heightened alert when a threat is perceived (the fight-or-flight response). Also known as
norepinephrine.
88. Osteoarthritis (osteoartrita): A joint disease in which the cartilage that lines the joints slowly
deteriorates. Also called degenerative joint disease.
89. Osteoporosis (osteoporoza): Significant thinning and weakening of bones over time, making
them vulnerable to breaks.
90. Pacemaker, artificial (pacemaker, artificial): A small electronic device generally placed in
the chest to correct an irregular heartbeat. It generates small electrical pulses that prompt the
heart to beat at a normal pace.
91. Pacemaker, natural pacemaker, natural-nodul sinoatrial): A specialized cluster of cells
called the sinoatrial node in the top of the right atrium. The pacemaker produces a steady flow
of beat now signals that flash across the atria and then pass through the atrioventricular node to
the ventricles.
92. Painkillers (analgezice): Drugs that relieve pain.
93. Parkinson's disease (boala Parkinson): A brain disorder that causes movement problems,
including shaking, difficulty walking, and rigidity in muscles.
94. Pathology (patologie): The underlying abnormalities that contribute to or are characteristic of a
disease.
95. Pick's disease (boala Pick): A brain disorder that causes dementia, neurotic behavior, and
gradual changes in personality and emotional control.
96. Placebo (placebo): A false or inactive medication or treatment that may still offer relief despite
being ineffective. In clinical trials, the effectiveness of a new drug is often tested against a
placebo.
97. Placebo effect (efectul placebo): A change or improvement in symptoms that is due to a
dummy medication or treatment (placebo) rather than a real drug or treatment.
98. Post-traumatic stress disorder (stres post-traumatic): A prolonged reaction to a traumatic
event. Post-traumatic stress disorder can cause crippling anxiety and leading to other problems,
such as sleep disturbances, depression, and substance abuse. Often referred to as PTSD.
99. Psychodynamic therapy (terapie psihodinamica): A form of therapy that focuses on how life
events, desires, and close relationships lead to conflict, symptoms such as anxiety or depression,
and difficulty in managing life's tasks.
100. PTSD (STP-stres post-traumatic): Abbreviation for post-traumatic stress disorder, a
prolonged reaction to a traumatic event. PTSD can cause crippling anxiety and leading to other
problems, such as sleep disturbances, depression, and substance abuse.
101. Pulmonary edema (edem pulmonar): A condition caused by excess fluid accumulating
in the lungs, making breathing difficult.
102. Pulmonary embolism (embolie pulmonara): Blockage of one or more arteries in the
lungs by a blood clot that formed elsewhere, often in the legs. Typically accompanied by sudden
shortness of breath, chest pain, and cough.
103. Pupil (pupila): The dark, circular opening in the middle of the iris of the eye.
104. Radiation (radiatie): Energy in the form of particles or waves, such as x-rays and
gamma rays. Radiation is often used to help make a diagnosis, as in x-rays, or as a treatment for
cancer.
105. Recovery (reconvalescenta, insanatosire): A process of overcoming addiction to
alcohol, other psychoactive substance, or addictive behavior. Often this involves a commitment
to abstinence, but sometimes it involves reduced use rather than complete abstinence.
106. Rejection (rejectie): A reaction that occurs when a person's immune system recognizes
a transplanted organ as a threatening substance and tries to rid the body of it.
107. Remission (remisie): A lessening in the severity of a disease and its symptoms. In
cancer, a reduction in the size of a tumor and its symptoms.
108. Resuscitation (resuscitare): The process of reviving a person who is not breathing or
whose heart is not beating using techniques such as artificial respiration and heart massage.
109. SAD dereglare afectiva sezoniera): Abbreviation for seasonal affective disorder,
sadness and depression brought on by a lack of exposure to sunlight. SAD usually appears in
the fall or winter and subsides in the spring.
110. Shock (soc): A serious medical condition in which there too little blood flows to the
outer portions of the body, resulting in cold, sweaty skin; a weak pulse; irregular breathing; and
dilated pupils. Shock can be caused by a loss of blood, severe heart problems, severe infections,
allergic reactions, or drug overdoses.
111. Side effect efect advers): An unwanted, and sometimes dangerous, reaction caused by
medication or other treatment.
112. Stress (stres): An innate survival response in which certain hormones are released,
increasing blood flow to the brain or heart. The stress response leads to an energy surge,
enabling a person to flee dangerous situations. Ongoing stress, however, can sap energy and
damage health.
113. Systolic heart failure (dereglare sistolica): The inability of the heart to pump blood
efficiently due to weakening and enlargement of the ventricles. Systolic heart failure is usually
caused by coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and valvular heart disease.
114. Tachycardia (tahicardie): An abnormally fast heartbeat, usually above 100 beats per
minute.
115. TDD (dispozitiv telecomunicativ): Abbreviation for telecommunications device for the
deafmachinery that allows a person who is deaf or hard of hearing to send and receive typed
messages over the telephone.
116. Thrombosis (tromb): Formation of a blood clot (called a thrombus) in a blood vessel or
chamber of the heart.
117. Tincture (tinctura): An herbal product made by soaking an herb or other plant material
in a mixture of water and alcohol to extract certain ingredients believed to be medicinal or
beneficial.
118. Transplantation (transplant): The process of removing an organ or other donated body
part from one person and implanting it in another person.
119. Vaccination (vaccinare, imunizare): A method of protecting the body against disease
by injecting parts or all of a microorganism that will cause the body to develop antibodies
against the microorganism and later fight off disease.
120. Vital signs (semne vitale): Measurements that indicate how well the body is
functioning, including pulse rate, respiration (breathing rate), temperature, and blood pressure.
121. Wall stress (defect interseptal): Force on the wall of the heart muscle caused by
pressure inside the heart's pumping chamber; excessive wall stress can impair the heart's ability
to pump and increase the heart's need for oxygen.
122. Will (testament): A legal document that describes what should be done with a person's
assets after his or her death.
123. Withdrawal (abstinenta): A response to danger or stress characterized by apathy,
lethargy, and depression; or the physical or psychological response to a sudden lack of an
addictive substance such as alcohol or nicotine.
124. Zoonotic disease (boala zoonotica): An infectious disease that is transmissible under
normal conditions from animals to humans.