Common diseases and ailments – special terms


Exercise 1: Describe the following abnormal conditions.


ATROPHY, Paralysis, aneurysm, allergy, ANGINA PECTORIS, INFARCTION, HYPERTENSION, ATHEROSCLEROSIS,
PARALYTIC STROKE, MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION


Exercise 2: Complete the each explanation with one word from exercise 1.


1. Abnormally high blood pressure. = ________

2. A localized abnormal dilation of a blood vessel due to a congenital defect or a weakness in the
vessel wall. = ________

3. Temporary or permanent loss of function, especially sensation or voluntary motion. = ________

4. An abnormal sensitivity to a particular substance so that contact with it produces an
antigen-antibody reaction. For example, ragweed makes the person allergic to it sneeze. = ________

5. A form of arteriosclerosis in which there are localized accumulations of fatty material on the
inside walls of blood vessels. Arteriosclerosis, a more general term, includes this condition and
other degenerative blood vessel conditions such as loss of elasticity and hardening. Both
conditions are commonly called hardening of the arteries. = ________

6. Sudden onset of paralysis caused by an injury to the brain or spinal chord. = ________

7. The death of tissue in an organ following the cessation of blood supply. = ________

8. A wasting away due to lack of nutrition or use, also a reduction in size of a structure after it
has come to full functional maturity. For example, the calf muscles may shrink when a patient is
not ambulatory for several months. = ________

9. Pain in the mid-chest that sometimes radiates to the shoulder, left arm, jaw, or abdomen.
Usually brought on by physical exercise, the underlying cause is the narrowing of a blood vessel
due to temporary spasm or build-up of plaque. The narrowing causes the heart to receive less blood
(and therefore oxygen) than it needs. = ________

10. Death of part of the heart muscle, it usually results from a thrombus (clot) in the coronary
arterial system. = ________


Exercise 3: Match.


1. ANGIOGRAM


2. ETIOLOGY


3. HEMODIALYSIS


4. ANTICOAGULANT


5. ANTIBIOTICS


6. ANTIHISTAMINE


7. INSULIN

A. A treatment used to cleanse the blood of patients whose kidneys are defective or absent.

B. They are used extensively to treat infectious diseases by destroying microorganisms.

C. A hormone secreted by the pancreas, a preparation taken by some

diabetic patients.

D. A medicine that counteracts the effect of histamine (present in the

body and in certain foods), which causes an allergic reaction.

E. The cause or causes of a disease.


F. An X-ray film of a blood vessel.


G. An agent that prevents or delays blood coagulation. It is sometimes

used following heart attacks to prevent further blood clotting or embolisms.


Adapted from:

Kobylková, Anděla. English for medical students. 2. vyd. Brno : Masarykova univerzita, 1998.