Medical glossary for healthcare interpreters

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Cardiac arrest

the stopping of heartbeat.

Cardiac output

total amount of blood being pumped by the heart over a particular period of time.

Cardiology

the clinical study and practice of treating the heart.

Cardioversion

the procedure of applying electrical shock to the chest to change an abnormal heartbeat into a normal one.

Carotid arteries

the major arteries in the neck that supply blood to the brain.

Cartilage

a smooth material that covers bone ends of a joint to cushion the bone and allow the joint to move easily without pain.

Cathartics

laxatives.

Catheter

a flexible tube used to drain fluid from or inject fluid into the body. The most common catheter is the Foley catheter, used to drain urine from the bladder.

Cecostomy

tube that goes through the skin into the beginning of the large intestine to remove gas or feces; it is a short-term way to protect part of the colon while it heals after surgery.

Cecum

beginning of the large intestine; it is connected to the lower part of the small intestine, called the ileum.

Cellular pathology (Also called cytopath

the study of cellular alterations in disease.

Central auditory processing disorder

inability of individuals with normal hearing and intelligence to differentiate, recognize, or understand sounds.

Cerebellum

a large structure consisting of two halves (hemispheres) located in the lower part of the brain; responsible for the coordination of movement and balance.

Cerebral embolism

a blood clot from one part of the body that is carried by the bloodstream to the brain where it blocks an artery.

Cerebral hemorrhage

bleeding within the brain.

Cerebral thrombosis

formation of a blood clot in an artery that supplies blood to the brain.

Cerebrovascular

pertaining to blood vessels in the brain.

Cerebrovascular accident (Also called st

an impeded blood supply to the brain.

Cerebrovascular occlusion

an obstruction in the blood vessel in the brain.

Cerebrum

consists of two parts (lobes), left and right, which form the largest and most developed part of the brain; initiation and coordination of all voluntary movement take place within the cerebrum. The basal ganglia are located immediately below the cerebrum.