Medical Jargon Buster

A

A&E

Accident & Emergency

Abduction Pad

Pad designed to separate limbs

Aerosol Therapy

Treatment of respiratory disorders with fine mist, often created with nebulizers or humidifiers

Ag/AgCl

Silver/Silver Chloride

Alveoli

Small air sacs in the lungs which expand the surface of the lungs to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide

Ampoule

Small glass vial that is sealed after filling

Aneroid

Sensing element of a gauge, often used to describe blood pressure gauges that are not digital

Anoscope

Device used for visual examination of the anus and lower part of the rectum

Anti-Static

Resistant to build up of static electricity

Asthma

Chronic inflammatory disease of the airway

Auroscope

Medical instrument used to examine the ear

Autoclave

Pressurised steam steriliser

B

Bayonet Connector

Twist-and-lock style connector

Binocular loupes

Magnifying instrument worn on the clinician’s or surgeon’s head to examine or operate on small structures

Biodegradable

Something that will decompose biologically

Biodegradable

Something that will decompose biologically

Biohazard

Biological agent that constitutes a threat to humans

BP

Blood Pressure

C

Cannula

Flexible tube, usually inserted into the body

Cardiology

Diagnosis and treatment of the heart

Cautery

Instrument used to cut and/or destroy tissue using heat

CCU

Critical Care Unit

Chlorhexidine

Antimicrobial agent

Compressor

A device that pumps gas, for example, to drive a nebulizer

Continence Care

Treatment or management of bladder or bowel control

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

CPAP

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, whereby a stream of air is blown into the airway to keep the it open

D

Dermatoscope

Medical instrument used to examine the skin

Diagnostic

Process by which a medical condition is determined

Dyspnoea

Difficulty breathing

E

EBME

Electro-Biomedical Engineering, a hospital department largely responsible for maintaining electronic equipment

ECG

Electrocardiograph or Electrocardiogram, used to record electrical activity in the heart

Electrode

Electrical conductor used, for example, with an ECG

Electrosurgical

Cutting or destroying tissue with high-frequency electric current

Embolectomy

Surgical removal of an embolus blocking a blood vessel

EMS

Emergency Medical Services

Endoscopy

Procedure for looking inside the body, usually using fibre optic and video technology

Enema

Injection of fluid into rectum and colon

EPE Wad

Expanded polyethylene wad

ER

Emergency Room

F

Fibre Optic

Transparent flexible fibre through which light can be transmitted

Flame Retardant

Resistant to catching fire

Foetal/Foetus

Relating to the final stages of an unborn mammal

Forceps

A surgical pincer-like instrument typically used for grasping or extraction

G

Gallipot

Small round bottomed container, originally used for ointments

H

Haemorrhoid

Dilated veins in the anal tissue

Haemorrhoid Ligator

Device used for the treatment of haemorrhoids

Halogen

Nonmetallic element typically used to produce bright white light

HCAI

Healthcare Associated Infection

HDN

High Density Nebulizer

Holloware

Generic term for items such as bowls, dishes and trays

Humidifier

Device used to convert water to mist, typically for respiratory treatments

Hypertension

High blood pressure

Hypoallergenic

Not likely to cause an allergic reaction

I

IBP

Invasive Blood Pressure

Incentive Spirometer

Device to measure and improve the rate at which air enters and leaves the lungs

Insufflate

To treat medically by blowing into the body

IPA

Isopropyl Alcohol

ITU

Intensive Therapy Unit, also known as Intensive Care Unit

IV

Intravenous, administered into the vein

L

Laryngoscope

Medical instrument used to examine the interior of the larynx

LDPE

Low Density Polyethylene

Luer Slip Connector

Conical push fitting, typically with a 6% taper

M

Maceratable

Can be softened or broken up by soaking

Maternity

Motherhood. A hospital department for the care of mothers

Medilabel

A label designed to identify drugs by colour code

N

Nebulizer

Device which converts drugs into a fine mist that can be inhaled to treat the respiratory system

Neonatal

Newborn

NIBP

Non-Invasive Blood Pressure

NICU

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

NiMH

Nickel Metal Hydride, typically used in rechargeable batteries

O

Obstetric

Care of women before, during and after pregnancy

Ophthalmoscope

Medical instrument used to examine the interior of the eye

OR

Operating Room

Oral

By mouth

Otoscope

Medical instrument used to examine the ear

Oxygen Therapy

Respiratory treatment using oxygen

P

Paediatric

Relating to children

PAP

Positive Airway Pressure

Patella

A flat triangular bone at the front of the knee

PEP

Positive Expired Pressure

Perioperative

Period of time surrounding a surgical procedure, including the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative periods

PICU

Paediatric Intensive Care Unit

Polypropylene

Thermoplastic polymer used to make a variety of medical devices

Pretty Confidence

Vapour Permeable material used by Henleys Medical Supplies

Proctoscope

Device used for visual examination of the rectum

Pulmonary

Relating to the lungs

Pulse Oximetry

Measurement of oxygen saturation in arterial blood

PVC

Polyvinyl Chloride

R

Respiratory Therapy

Treatment of acute breathing disorders

Resuscitation

Or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), an emergency procedure used to revive a person when the heart or lungs have stopped

Retinoscope

Medical instrument used to examine refraction of light in the eye

RMT

Respiratory Muscle Trainer

S

SCBU

Special Care Baby Unit

Sigmoidoscope

Device used for visual examination of the sigmoid colon

SMI

Sustained Maximal Inspiration, also known as Incentive Spirometry

Sp02

Oxygen Saturation

Specimen

A sample such as blood, tissue or urine

Sphygmomanometer

Blood pressure measuring device

Steran Wad

Type of card wadding

Stethoscope

Device used to listen to sound inside the body

T

TENS

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator, pain relief device which delivers pulsed electrical transmission to the nerves

Total Confidence

Waterproof PVC material used by Henleys Medical Supplies

Tourniquet

A device typically tied around a limb to stem blood flow

TPX

Thermoplastic polymer used to make a variety of medical devices (TPX is a trademark of Mitsubishi Chemicals)

Tracheostomy

Surgically created opening in the trachea used to facilitate breathing

U

Ultrasound

The use of ultrasonic waves for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes

Urinal

Device for the collection of urine

V

Vapour Permeable

Breathable

Vibratory PEP

Positive Expired Pressure, with vibration, typically used to encourage coughing