MedTerm Speak

Master the language of medicine

Jacquemier's sign

zhahk-mee-AYZ syn

/ʒækˈmiˌeɪz saɪn/

A bluish discoloration of the mucous membrane of the vagina; an early sign of pregnancy.

Jactitation

jak-tih-TAY-shun

/ˌdʒæktɪˈteɪʃən/

Restless tossing and turning of the body, often seen in patients with severe fever or mental distress.

Jargon aphasia

JAR-gon ah-FAY-zhah

/ˈdʒɑːrɡən əˈfeɪʒə/

A type of aphasia where the patient's speech is fluent but contains meaningless words or 'word salad'.

Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction

YAR-ish HERKS-hy-mer ree-AK-shun

/ˌjɑːrɪʃ ˈhɜːrksˌhaɪmər riˈækʃən/

A reaction to endotoxins released by the death of harmful bacteria during antibiotic treatment, common in syphilis.

Jawbone

JAW-bohn

/ˈdʒɔːboʊn/

The mandible (lower) or maxilla (upper) bones.

Jejunal feeding tube

jeh-JOO-nul FEE-ding TOOB

/dʒɪˈdʒuːnəl ˈfiːdɪŋ tuːb/

A tube inserted through the abdomen into the jejunum to provide nutrition (J-tube).

Jejunoileitis

jeh-joo-noh-il-ee-EYE-tis

/dʒɪˌdʒuːnoʊˌɪliˈaɪtɪs/

Inflammation of both the jejunum and the ileum.

Jejunoileostomy

jeh-joo-noh-il-ee-OS-toh-mee

/dʒɪˌdʒuːnoʊˌɪliˈɒstəmi/

Surgical creation of a passage between the jejunum and the ileum.

Jejunopexy

jeh-JOO-noh-pek-see

/dʒɪˈdʒuːnoʊˌpɛksi/

Surgical fixation of the jejunum to the abdominal wall.

Jejunorrhaphy

jeh-joo-NOR-ah-fee

/ˌdʒɛdʒʊˈnɔːrəfi/

The surgical suturing of the jejunum.

Jendrassik maneuver

yen-DRAH-sik mah-NOO-ver

/jɛnˈdræsɪk məˈnuːvər/

A technique to enhance sluggish tendon reflexes by having the patient hook their fingers together and pull.

Joint cavity

JOYNT KAV-ih-tee

/dʒɔɪnt ˈkævɪti/

The space within a synovial joint that contains synovial fluid.

Joint crepitus

JOYNT KREP-ih-tus

/dʒɔɪnt ˈkrɛpɪtəs/

A grating, popping, or crackling sound or sensation in a joint.

Joint stiffness

JOYNT STIF-nes

/dʒɔɪnt ˈstɪfnəs/

Difficulty moving a joint, common in arthritis or after periods of inactivity.

Jones criteria

JOHNZ kry-TEER-ee-ah

/dʒoʊnz kraɪˈtɪəriə/

A set of guidelines used to help diagnose rheumatic fever.

Jones fracture

JOHNZ FRAK-chur

/dʒoʊnz ˈfræktʃər/

A specific type of fracture at the base of the fifth metatarsal (pinky toe side of the foot).

Jugular bulb

JUG-yoo-lar BULB

/ˈdʒʌɡjʊlər bʌlb/

The dilated beginning of the internal jugular vein.

Jugular foramen

JUG-yoo-lar foh-RAY-men

/ˈdʒʌɡjʊlər fəˈreɪmən/

A large opening in the base of the skull that transmits the jugular vein and several cranial nerves.

Jugum

JOO-gum

/ˈdʒuːɡəm/

A ridge or yoke-like structure connecting two parts of a bone.

Junctional bradycardia

JUNK-shun-al bray-dee-KAR-dee-ah

/ˈdʒʌŋkʃənəl ˌbrædɪˈkɑːrdiə/

A slow heart rate (less than 40 bpm) originating from the AV junction.

Junctional nevus

JUNK-shun-al NEE-vus

/ˈdʒʌŋkʃənəl ˈniːvəs/

A type of mole found at the junction of the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin.

Junctional tachycardia

JUNK-shun-al tak-ih-KAR-dee-ah

/ˈdʒʌŋkʃənəl ˌtækɪˈkɑːrdiə/

A fast heart rate originating from the AV junction rather than the SA node.

Juncture

JUNGK-chur

/ˈdʒʌŋktʃər/

A place where two things are joined.

Jurisprudence, Medical

joor-is-PROO-dens MED-ih-kul

/ˌdʒʊərɪsˈpruːdəns ˈmɛdɪkəl/

The branch of law that deals with the application of medical knowledge to legal problems.

Juvenile kyphosis

JOO-veh-nyl ky-FOH-sis

/ˈdʒuːvənaɪl kaɪˈfoʊsɪs/

Also known as Scheuermann's disease; a condition where the vertebrae grow unevenly, causing a hunched back in teens.

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

JOO-veh-nyl my-oh-KLON-ik EP-ih-lep-see

/ˈdʒuːvənaɪl ˌmaɪəˈklɒnɪk ˈɛpɪlɛpsi/

A common form of generalized epilepsy starting in adolescence, characterized by muscle jerks.

Juvenile polyposis syndrome

JOO-veh-nyl pol-ee-POH-sis SIN-drohm

/ˈdʒuːvənaɪl ˌpɒlɪˈpoʊsɪs ˈsɪndroʊm/

A condition characterized by the development of multiple noncancerous polyps in the gastrointestinal tract.

Juxta-articular

juks-tah-ar-TIK-yoo-lar

/ˌdʒʌkstəɑːrˈtɪkjʊlər/

Anatomical term meaning located near a joint.

Juxtapyloric

juks-tah-py-LOR-ik

/ˌdʒʌkstəpaɪˈlɔːrɪk/

Located near the pylorus (the opening from the stomach into the small intestine).

Juxtaspinal

juks-tah-SPY-nul

/ˌdʒʌkstəˈspaɪnəl/

Located near the spinal column.