MedTerm Speak

Master the language of medicine

Carcinogen

kar-SIN-uh-jen

/kɑːrˈsɪnədʒən/

A substance, organism, or agent capable of causing cancer.

Cardiotonic

kar-dee-oh-TAHN-ik

/ˌkɑːrdioʊˈtɒnɪk/

A drug that has a strengthening effect on the heart or that increases cardiac muscle tone.

Catecholamine

kat-uh-KOH-luh-meen

/ˌkætəˈkoʊləmiːn/

Naturally occurring amines (epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine) that function as hormones or neurotransmitters.

Cathartic

kuh-THAR-tik

/kəˈθɑːrtɪk/

A substance that accelerates defecation; a strong laxative.

Cation

KAT-eye-un

/ˈkætaɪən/

A positively charged ion.

Chemoprophylaxis

kee-moh-pro-fuh-LAK-sis

/ˌkiːmoʊproʊfɪˈlæksɪs/

The use of drugs to prevent disease.

Chemotherapy

kee-moh-THER-uh-pee

/ˌkiːmoʊˈθɛrəpi/

The treatment of disease by the use of chemical substances, especially the treatment of cancer.

Cholinergic

koh-luh-NUR-jik

/ˌkoʊləˈnɜːrdʒɪk/

Relating to or denoting nerve cells in which acetylcholine acts as a neurotransmitter.

Chronotropic

kron-oh-TROP-ik

/ˌkrɒnəˈtrɒpɪk/

Affecting the heart rate (positive increases rate, negative decreases rate).

Clearance

KLEER-unts

/ˈklɪərəns/

The rate at which a substance is removed from the blood.

Coagulation

koh-ag-yuh-LAY-shun

/koʊˌæɡjuˈleɪʃən/

The process by which blood changes from a liquid to a gel, forming a blood clot.

Contraindication

kon-truh-in-dih-KAY-shun

/ˌkɒntrəˌɪndɪˈkeɪʃən/

A factor that serves as a reason to withhold a certain medical treatment.

Corticosteroid

kor-tih-koh-STEER-oyd

/ˌkɔːrtɪkoʊˈstɪərɔɪd/

A class of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex.

Cumulative effect

KYOO-myuh-luh-tiv ih-FEKT

/ˈkjuːmjələtɪv ɪˈfɛkt/

Repeated administration of a drug producing more pronounced effects than the first dose.

Cyanosis

sy-uh-NOH-sis

/ˌsaɪəˈnoʊsɪs/

A bluish discoloration of the skin resulting from poor circulation.

Cycloplegia

sy-kloh-PLEE-jee-uh

/ˌsaɪkloʊˈpliːdʒiə/

Paralysis of the ciliary muscle of the eye.

Cytochrome P450

SY-toh-krohm

/ˈsaɪtəkroʊm/

Major enzymes involved in drug metabolism.

Cytostatic

sy-toh-STAT-ik

/ˌsaɪtəʊˈstætɪk/

An agent that inhibits or suppresses cell growth and multiplication.

Cytotoxicity

sy-toh-tok-SIS-ih-tee

/ˌsaɪtoʊtɒkˈsɪsɪti/

The quality of being toxic to cells.