You may at times feel as if you don’t know what someone just said to you. In fact, it may even sound like a foreign language. This list of terms will help add to your knowledge of medical jargon. Please remember, though, to ask questions about anything you may not understand about your medical care. Our staff is here to serve you.

Ambulate - To walk

Anesthesia - Use of medication to remove sensations including pain during surgery: general anesthesia puts you to sleep; local anesthesia stops pain in a particular part of your body

Arterial Blood Gas (AG) - A measurement of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood

Attending Physician - The doctor in charge of your care

Barium Enema (BE) - Injection of liquid into the intestine by way of the anus so that the lower intestines can be x-rayed

B.M. - Bowel movement

B.P. - Blood Pressure

Cardiology - Medical specialty dealing with diagnosis and treatment of heart problems

CAT Scan - Computerized axial tomography; a special type of x-ray

Catheterize - To remove urine from the bladder through a tube.

CCU - Coronary Care Unit

Consulting Physician - Physician trained in a special area of medical practice

Discharge Planning - Plans made while you are still at the hospital for your care at home or at another facility

Echocardiography - An examination of the heart using sound waves

Electrocardiogram (EKG) - A recording of the heart's electrical action

Electroencephalogram (EEG) - A recording of brain impulses

Electromyography (EMG) - An examination of the muscles

Emesis Basin - A container used to collect vomit

ENT - Medical specialty dealing with the ear, nose and throat

Fasting - No food or liquid after a certain time

Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS) - Blood samples drawn before eating breakfast to measure sugar levels in your blood

Foley - Tube inserted into the bladder for urine drainage

G.I. - Gastrointestinal; the digestive system

I.&O. - Intake and Output; measure of fluid taken in and the urine put out

ICU - Intensive Care Unit

Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP) - An x-ray of kidneys and urinary tract

IPPB - Delivery of oxygen under pressure to the lungs

I.V. - Putting fluid or medications into a vein

Neurology - Medical specialty dealing with the nerves and the brain

Non-invasive - Examination using methods, such as sound waves, that do not pierce the skin

NPO - Nothing by mouth

Nuclear Medicine - Examinations that use tiny amounts of radiation rather than x-rays

Obstetrics (OB) - Medical specialty dealing with pregnancy and childbirth

Oncology - Medical specialty related to the treatment and diagnosis of cancer

Ophthalmology - Medical specialty related to the eyes

Orthopedics - Medical specialty dealing with bones, joints and muscles

Pathology - The department that provides many types of tests, especially on blood, urine and body tissue

Physical Therapy (PT) - Heat and exercise treatment

Psychiatry - Medical specialty dealing with mental illness

Specimen - A sample of blood, urine, saliva or tissue for laboratory analysis

Stat - Immediately

Telemetry - A continuous cardiac monitoring system

TENS - Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; a battery-operated electrical device to alleviate pain

TPR - Temperature, pulse and respiration

Ultrasound - A special type of examination that uses sound waves to make images of the body's organs for diagnostic purposes

Urology - Medical specialty that diagnoses and treats the organs that form and excrete urine

Vital Signs - Blood pressure, temperature, pulse and breathing

Void - Urinate