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Glossary Medical Coding Terminology The Medical Terminology Glossary for Medical Coders is a quick-reference tool designed to support coding accuracy, documentation review, and everyday efficiency. This alphabetized glossary includes clear, coder-focused definitions for clinical terms commonly encountered across ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, and CPT coding. A - Acute – A condition with a rapid onset and/or short duration. - Adhesion – Bands of scar tissue that bind together internal organs. - Anastomosis – Surgical connection between two structures, often intestines or blood vessels.

Anemia – A deficiency of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. B - Benign – Non-cancerous growth or condition. - Biopsy – The removal of tissue for diagnostic examination. - Bilateral – Affecting both sides of the body. C - Chronic – A long-term or recurring condition. - Comorbidity – A condition present in addition to the primary diagnosis. - Congenital – A condition present at birth. - Cyst – A closed sac-like structure filled with liquid or semisolid material.

D - Debridement – Removal of dead, damaged, or infected tissue. - Deficiency – Lack or shortage of a substance necessary for health. - Diagnosis – Identification of a disease or condition from signs and symptoms. - Dysplasia – Abnormal growth or development of cells, tissues, or organs. E - Edema – Swelling caused by fluid accumulation. - Excision – Surgical removal of tissue or organ. - Etiology – The cause or origin of a disease. F - Fracture – A break in bone or cartilage.

Fistula – Abnormal connection between two body parts. - Fulguration – Destruction of tissue using electric current. G - Gastrostomy – Surgical opening into the stomach. - Gravida – Total number of times a woman has been pregnant. H - Hematoma – Localized collection of blood outside the blood vessels. - Hernia – Protrusion of an organ through the wall that contains it. - Hyperplasia – Increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue. - Hypoxia – Deficiency in oxygen supply to the tissues.

I - Incision – A surgical cut made to access internal structures. - Infarction – Tissue death due to loss of blood supply. - In situ – In its original place; often used to describe cancer that has not spread. - Iatrogenic – Condition caused by medical treatment or diagnostic procedure. J - Jaundice – Yellowing of the skin and eyes due to elevated bilirubin, often indicating liver dysfunction. - Joint Effusion – Accumulation of fluid in or around a joint.

K - Kyphosis – Abnormal forward curvature of the spine, leading to a hunchback appearance. - Keratitis – Inflammation of the cornea, often affecting vision. L - Laceration – A deep cut or tear in skin or tissue. - Lesion – Abnormal tissue or change due to disease or trauma. - Lysis – Destruction or breakdown of cells or tissue. M - Malignant – Cancerous and potentially life-threatening. - Metastasis – Spread of cancer from one part of the body to another. - Myopathy – Disease of the muscles.

N - Necrosis – Death of body tissue. - Nosocomial – Infection acquired in a hospital setting. - Neoplasm – New or abnormal tissue growth; may be benign or malignant. O - Obstruction – Blockage of a passage or organ. - Oophorectomy – Surgical removal of one or both ovaries. - Orthopedic – Pertaining to bones, joints, and muscles. P - Perforation – A hole made through a structure or organ. - Polyp – Growth projecting from a mucous membrane. - Prophylactic – Preventative medical treatment.

Pyelonephritis – Kidney infection. Q - Quadriplegia – Paralysis affecting all four limbs, typically caused by spinal cord injury. - Quarantine – Isolation of individuals to prevent the spread of infectious disease (may appear in documentation for public health encounters). R - Resection – Surgical removal of part of an organ or structure. - Revision – Correction or modification of a previous procedure. - Rupture – Tearing or bursting open of an organ or structure.

S - Sepsis – The body's serious response to an infection that could be life-threatening. - Stenosis – Narrowing of a bodily passage or opening. - Suture – Stitch used to close wounds or surgical incisions. - Syncope – Temporary loss of consciousness (fainting). T - Thrombosis – Formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel. - Tracheostomy – Surgical opening into the trachea. - Tumor – An abnormal growth of tissue, may be benign or malignant.

U - Ulcer – An open sore on the skin or mucous membrane. - Urolithiasis – Formation of stones in the urinary tract. V - Vascular – Pertaining to blood vessels. - Volvulus – Twisting of the intestine causing obstruction. W - Wound Dehiscence – Reopening of a wound that has been surgically closed. - Wheezing – High-pitched whistling sound during breathing, typically seen in respiratory conditions like asthma. X - Xerosis – Abnormal dryness of the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes.

Xanthoma – Yellowish fatty deposit under the skin, often related to lipid disorders. Y - Yawn Reflex – Involuntary reflex that may be documented in neurological assessments (rarely coded, but occasionally referenced). - Yersiniosis – Bacterial infection from the Yersinia genus, often linked to gastroenteritis. Z - Zoster – Another term for shingles, a reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus. - Zygoma – The cheekbone; often referenced in facial trauma or surgery coding.

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