Word Part | Definition |
R/O | rule out |
Ra | radium |
rabies | Acute viral infection affecting mammals, including humans. |
rachi/o | spinal column |
rad | radiation absorbed dose |
RAD (2) | right anterior descending |
radi/o | x-rays, radius |
radial artery | An artery in the forearm that starts at the bifurcation of the brachial artery and passing in branches to the forearm, wrist, and hand. |
radial keratotomy | A surgical procedure used to decrease nearsightedness. |
radial nerve | A major nerve of the upper extremity, originating in the lower cervical and upper thoracic spinal cord, traveling via the posterior cord of the brachial plexus, and supplying motor innervation to extensor muscles of the arm and cutaneous sensory fibers to extensor regions of the arm and hand. |
radiation | Electromagnetic energy that travels through empty space with the speed of light. |
radicul/o | nerve root |
radicular cyst | A slow growing cyst of the periodonal tissue at the root of a tooth. |
radiculopathy | Disease involving a spinal nerve root. |
radiography | Examination of any part of the body for diagnostic purposes by means of X-rays or gamma rays. |
radioisotopes | Isotopes that exhibit radioactivity. |
radiology | A medical specialty concerned with the use of x-ray and other forms of radiant energy in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. |
ram/i | branch |
ramus | A branch, as of a nerve, blood vessel or bone. |
ranula | A cyst found on the floor of the mouth. Also called sublingual cyst. |
rape | Sexual intercourse without consent of the victim. |
rash | A temporary eruption of spots on the skin. |
rationalization | An unconscious defense mechanism in which a person attempts to justify behavior while ignoring the real reasons. |
Raynaud disease | An idiopathic vascular disorder of small arteries and arterioles. |
RBBB | right bundle branch block |
RBC | red blood cell; red blood count |
RDA | recommended daily/dietary allowance |
RDS | respiratory distress syndrome |
Re | rhenium |
re- | again, back |
-receptor | receiver |
recessive | Describing a gene capable of producing its characteristic phenotype in the organism only when its allele is identical. |
rect/o | rectum |
rectocele | Herniation of the rectum into the vagina. |
rectum | The distal segment of the large intestine, between the sigmoid colon and the anal canal. |
recurrence | The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. |
referred pain | Pain felt at a place in the body different from the injured or diseased part. |
reflex | A quick, involuntary movement or exercise of function, in response to a stimulus applied to the periphery and transmitted to the brain or spinal cord. |
reflex arc | The neural path of a reflex. |
regimen | A systematic plan for therapy, often involving diet, exercise and medication. |
regurgitation | The return of partly digested food from the stomach to the mouth. Also, the backflow of blood past an abnormal heart valve. |
rejuvenation | The restoration of youthfulness, vitality, and freshness. |
relapse | The return of disease symptoms after partial recovery. |
REM | rapid eye movement |
rem sleep | A stage of sleep characterized by rapid eye movements and low voltage fast pattern EEG. It is usually associated with dreaming. |
remission | The abatement or disappearance of a disease as a result of treatment. |
ren/o | kidney |
renal | Pertaining to the kidneys. |
reperfusion | Restoration of blood supply to tissue which was ischemic. |
replication | The process by which double-stranded DNA makes copies of itself when the cell divides. |
resection | Surgical removal of all or part of a structure, organ or tissue. |
residual volume | The volume of air remaining in the lungs at the end of a maximal expiration. |
respir/o | breathing |
respiration | Breathing. |
respiratory system | The organs and structures that bring about gas exchange between ambient air and the blood. |
respiratory therapy | Care of patients with abnormalities associated with the pulmonary system. |
restenosis | The recurrence of stenosis in an artery after previous treatment. |
resuscit/o | revive |
resuscitation | To restore consciousness or other signs of life to one apparently dead. |
rete | A network of blood vessels, fibers or nerves. |
retention | The ability of the digestive system to hold fluids and food. |
RETIC | reticulocyte |
reticul/o | net, network |
reticulocytes | Immature erythrocytes. |
reticulocytosis | An increase in circulating reticulocytes, which is among the simplest and most reliable signs of accelerated erythrocyte production. |
retin/o | retina |
retina | The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. The innermost layer of the eye, which receives images transmitted through the lens and contains the receptors for vision, the rods and cones |
retinitis | Inflammation of the retina. |
retinopexy | A surgery for certain types of retinal detachments. |
retractor | A surgical instrument used to draw aside and hold the edges of a wound or structures. |
retro- | backward |
Reye syndrome | An acquired encephalopathy of young children that follows an acute febrile illness, usually influenza or varicella infection. |
RF | rheumatoid factor |
Rh | rhesus factor |
rh factor | A type of protein on the surface of red blood cells. Most people who have the Rh factor are Rh-positive. Those who do not have the Rh factor are Rh-negative. |
rhabd- | rod |
rhabdomy/o | striated muscle |
rhabdomyoma | A rare, benign neoplasm derived from striated muscle. |
rhabdomyosarcoma | Malignant neoplasm derived from skeletal (striated) muscle. |
RHD | rheumatic heart disease |
rhe/o | stream, flow, electric current |
rheumatic diseases | Disorders of connective tissue, especially the joints and related structures, characterized by inflammation, degeneration, or metabolic derangement. |
rheumatic fever | A disease occurring as a complication of inadequately treated strep throat infection. Can result in serious damage to heart valves. |
rheumatoid arthritis | An autoimmune disease that causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joints, commonly the hands and wrists. May lead to early crippling. |
rheumatology | A subspecialty of medicine concerned with the study of inflammatory or degenerative processes and metabolic derangement of connective tissue structures which pertain to a variety of musculoskeletal disorders, such as arthritis. |
rhin/o | nose |
rhinitis | Inflammation of the nasal mucous membrane. |
rhinomanometry | Technique for measuring airflow and pressure in the nasal cavity during respiration. |
rhinoplasty | Plastic surgery on the nose. |
rhinosporidiosis | Chronic, localized fungal infection of mucocutaneous tissues, especially the nose. |
rhiz/o | root |
rhodo- | red |
rhonchi | A coarse rattling breath sound somewhat similar to snoring. |
rhythm/o | rhythm |
rhytid/o | wrinkle |
rhytidectomy | A facelift. |
rhytidoplasty | Plastic surgery performed for the elimination of skin wrinkles. |
riboflavin | Vitamin B2. |
ribs | The flat, curved bones that form a protective cage for the chest organs, consisting of twelve curved bones which connect to the vertebral column posteriorly and terminate anteriorly as costal cartilage. |
RICE | rest, ice, compression, elevation |
rickets | A disease of growing bone caused by interruption of bone mineralization. Caused by lack of vitamin D. |
rickettsia | A genus of gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria often surrounded by a protein micro capsular layer and slime layer. Transmitted to humans by arthropods. Cause Lyme Disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Typhus. |
rigor mortis | Muscular rigidity which develops in the cadaver usually from 4 to 10 hours after death and lasts 3 or 4 days. |
RIND | reversible ischemic neurologic deficit |
RLE | right lower extremity |
RLL | right lower lobe |
RLQ | right lower quadrant |
RML | right middle lobe of lung |
Rn | radon |
rna | Any of a class of nucleic acids that can encode genetic information and play an essential role in protein synthesis. |
RNP | Registered Nurse Practitioner |
ROM | range of motion |
ROS | review of systems |
rosacea | A common, chronic skin condition characterized by facial redness and often small, red pus-filled bumps. Also known as "Adult Acne". |
rot- | wheel, turn |
rotator cuff | The musculotendinous sheath formed by the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor muscles. These help stabilize the head of the humerus in the glenoid fossa and allow for rotation of the shoulder joint about its longitudinal axis. |
RPh | Registered Pharmacist |
RPM | revolutions per minute |
RQ | respiratory quotient |
RR | recovery room |
RR (2) | respiratory rate |
-rrhage | bursting forth |
-rrhaphy | suture |
-rrhea | discharge, flow |
-rrhexis | rupture |
RSI | repetitive stress injury |
RSV | respiratory syncytial virus |
RT | Respiratory Therapist |
rubella | Infectious viral disease caused by virus entering the respiratory tract and spreading to the lymphatic system. Often affecting children and nonimmune young adults. High risk of deafness in fetus. Preventable with MMR vaccine. |
RUE | right upper extremity |
RUL | right upper lobe |
rupture | Forcible or traumatic tear of an organ or other soft part of the body. |
RUQ | right upper quadrant |
RV | residual volume |
Rx | prescription, medication |