GREY’S ANATOMY MEDICAL TERMS

10-Blade: The type of blade used on a scalpel. It is generally used for making small
incisions in skin and muscle.
15-Blade: The type of blade used on a scalpel. It is generally used for making short and
precise incisions. 
ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis): A progressive and fatal form of motor neuron
disease.
Alzheimer's Disease: The most common form of dementia. It is degenerative and
terminal.
Analgesia: Drugs that act as painkillers.
Anaphylaxis: A severe, often life-threatening allergic reaction. Penicillin, nuts,
seafood, and bee stings are all commonly associated with the condition.
Aneurysm: A localized, blood-filled, balloon-like bulge in the wall of a blood vessel.
Aortic Valve: A valve which prevents blood flow back into the heart from the aorta
(one of the major blood vessels from the heart).
Appendectomy: (Also called an Appy) The surgical removal of the appendix. 
Asystole: A condition of the heart in which there is no activity from the heart (electrical
or muscular)
Atropine: A drug used to resolve a slow heart rate (bradycardia) or as part of
resuscitation.
Benign: Not cancerous.
Bovie: A tool used to stop bleeding.
C. diff (Clostridium difficile): a species of Gram-positive bacteria of the
genus Clostridium that causes severe diarrhea and other intestinal diseases when
competing bacteria in the gut flora have been wiped out by antibiotics.
Caesarean section (C-section): A surgical procedure in which incisions are made
through a mother's abdomen (laparotomy) and uterus (hysterotomy) to deliver one
or more babies. It is usually performed when a vaginal delivery would put the baby's or
mother's life or health at risk, although in recent times it has been also performed upon
request for childbirths that could otherwise have been vaginal.
Cardiomyopathy: Heart muscle disease
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR): An emergency medical procedure for a victim
of cardiac arrest or, in some circumstances, respiratory arrest.
Cardiothoracic surgery: A surgical specialty treating diseases affecting organs inside
the thorax (the chest) including the lungs, heart, and thoracic diaphragm.
CBC (Complete Blood Count): A blood test to determine overall health and detect a
wide range of disorders
Central Line: A catheter placed into a large vein in the neck (internal jugular vein), chest
(subclavian vein), or groin (femoral vein).
Cholecystectomy: Surgical removal of the gallbladder.
Code Black: A hospital code which indicates a bomb is somewhere in the hospital.
Code Blue: A hospital code which indicates someone needing resuscitation.
Code Pink: A hospital code which indicates child/infant abduction.
Code Red: A hospital code which indicates a fire has broken out somewhere in the
hospital.
Congenital insensitivity to pain (CIP): also known as congenital analgesia, is one or
more rare conditions in which a person cannot feel (and has never felt) physical pain.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG): Arteries and veins from elsewhere in the
body (most cases the leg) are used to replace the body (the vessels that supply oxygen
and energy to the heart)
Craniectomy: A procedure where a part of the skull is removed to allow a swelling
brain to expand.
Craniotomy: A procedure performed by cutting through the skin and drilling through
and removing part of the skull to gain access to the brain.
Creatinine: A waste product when muscle tissue is broken down. Blood creatinine
levels are measured to assess kidney function.
Crike (Cricothyrotomy): A procedure in which the throat is cut to insert a direct tube
for breathing when an intubation is not possible due to blockage of the throat.
Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS): Surgical procedure in which an electrode is implanted
into a specific area of the brain in order to alleviate symptoms of chronic pain and of
movement disorders caused by neurological disease.
DNR (Do Not Resuscitate): A written order from a doctor that clarifies that
resuscitation should not be attempted if a person suffers cardiac or respiratory
arrest.
Echo (Echocardiogram): A sonogram of the heart.
Ectopia Cordis: A birth defect in which the heart is abnormally located, typically
outside of the chest, but still attached to the body through a split sternum.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome: A group of genetic connective tissue disorders which can
cause skin hyperelasticity, joint dislocation and hypermobility, arthritis, and easy
bruising.
Epidural: A form of regional anesthesia involving an injection of drugs through a
catheter, usually done by blocking the action of the nerves in the spine from a certain
region.
Epinephrine (Epi): A hormone released in the body in response to stress, used in
medical settings for resuscitation.
ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival
Fasciotomy: A surgical procedure where the fascia (the outer layers surrounding muscle,
cartilage, ligaments, organs, etc.) is cut to relieve tension or pressure and treat the
resulting loss of circulation to an area of tissue or muscle.
Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP): An extremely rare, congenital disease
(estimated 600 cases worldwide) that causes muscles and connective tissue to turn to
bone when injured.
First-Degree Burn: Burns that are restricted to the surface of the skin. In some cases, the
burns can also be widespread.
GSW: Gunshot wound.
Gurney: A type of stretcher used in hospitals and ambulances. A hospital gurney is a
kind of narrow bed on a wheeled frame and has straps to secure the patient.
Haldol: antipsychotic used to treat certain kinds mental disorders.
Heart Attack (Myocardial infarction): Occurs when the circulation of blood to the
heart is severely affected.
Hemispherectomy: A procedure performed to remove or disable one cerebral
hemisphere (half the brain). 
Hemopneumothorax: The accumulation of air and blood in the pleural cavity (the
area surrounding the lungs).
Hernia: A hernia occurs when an organ or fatty tissue squeezes through a weak spot
in a surrounding muscle or connective tissue called fascia. The most common types of
hernia are inguinal (inner groin), incisional (resulting from an incision), femoral (outer
groin), umbilical (belly button), and hiatal (upper stomach).
Heterotopic transplant (Piggy-back transplant): A cardiac (heart) transplantation
without removing the native heart, leaving both donor and native heart in the body.
Hermaphrodite: an organism that has reproductive organs normally associated with
both male and female sexes
Hydrocephalus: A condition in which there is too much spinal fluid, which puts
pressure on the brain and can lead to brain damage.
Hypertension: A chronic medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries
is persistently elevated.
Hyperventilation: Occurs when breaths are faster and deeper, which decreases the
level of carbon dioxide in the blood, sometimes resulting in loss of consciousness.
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS): A condition in which the left side of the
heart is severely underdeveloped. It can sometimes be treated surgically with a 3-part
procedure, but surgery is not considered a cure.
ICP (Intracranial Pressure): The pressure inside of the skull and thus on the brain
and the cerebrospinal fluid.
Inebriated: Drunk.
Intubation: Generally, the insertion of a tube into the throat to allow a bag or
machine to breathe for the patient.
IV (Intravenous): A catheter inserted into a vein to deliver liquid substances into the
body, typically saline (water), medications, or blood. 
John/Jane Doe: term used to describe a patient whose identity is unknown. A male
patient would be classified as a John Doe, and a female patient Jane Doe.
Kawasaki disease: A condition in which blood vessels throughout the entire body
become inflamed.
Laparoscopic Procedures (minimally invasive surgeries): Surgery performed using
small incisions into the body. Commonly used for appendectomies and
cholecystectomies (lap chole).
Laparotomy: Cutting into the abdomen to gain access to the abdominal organs. 
Mastectomy: The surgical removal of one or both breasts. Can be used to treat breast
cancer, as a preventative measure, or as part of sex reassignment.
Metastasis (mets): The spread of a disease from one area of the body to another.
MVC: motor vehicle collision
Neonate: Infants in the first 28 days after birth. They are also premature infants.
Neonatal Surgery: A surgical sub-specialty of pediatric surgery focused on surgical
treatment of infants and neonates.
Neonatology: A medical sub-specialty of pediatrics focused on the medical care of
infants and neonates.
Neurocysticercosis: Parasites in the brain
Neurosurgery: A surgical specialty focused on treating the nervous system including
the spinal cord and the brain.
Norwood Procedure: A surgery performed on the heart to treat hypoplastic left heart
syndrome. Redirects blood flow to provide systemic or pulmonary circulation.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): An anxiety disorder characterized by intrusive
thoughts that produce uneasiness, apprehension, fear, or worry; by repetitive behaviors
aimed at reducing the associated anxiety; or by a combination of such obsessions and
compulsions.
Omphalocele: When the abdominal organs are outside of the body but contained in a
sac, typically in infants.
Organ Harvest: A surgical procedure by which the major organs are removed from a
donor to be used in transplants and/or research. Harvesting often takes place after
a donor has been declared 'brain dead,' but their heart and other vital organs continue to
be kept alive via artificial means.
Orthopedic Surgery: A surgical specialty concerned with conditions involving bones
and muscle.
Orthotopic transplant: A surgical procedure of removing the patient's diseased heart
and replacing it with a healthy donor heart.
Osteogenesis imperfecta: A congenital bone disorder characterized by brittle bones
that are prone to fracture. There are several types of the disease, a couple of which are
fatal, while others are manageable.
Pneumothorax: Collapsed lung, caused by air/gas in the cavity between the lungs and
the chest wall.
Porcine valve replacement: Surgical procedure for replacing a diseased valve with a
pig valve.
Post-op: After operation.
Pre-op: Before operation.
P.R.B.C: Packed Red Blood Cells
Pulseless electrical activity (PEA): Organized cardiac electrical activity without a
palpable pulse
Saline: Sterile water mixed with sodium chloride (table salt). 
Scalpel: A small but extremely sharp knife used for surgery.
Second-Degree Burns: Burns that affect the upper layers of the skin. Patients often
present with blisters, swelling, redness, and pain.
Seizure: Abnormal electrical activity in the brain, often associated with a medical
disorder. Symptoms include loss of consciousness and rigidity in the body.
Sinus Rhythm: A pulse rate between 60-100 beats per minute (BPM)
Situs Inversus: A congenital condition in which the major organs are reversed or
mirrored from their normal positions.
Syphilis: a sexually transmitted infection that can generally be treated with antibiotics,
including penicillin, but one of the oldest and still the most effective method is an
injection of benzathine penicillin.
Teratoma: An encapsulated tumor with tissue or organ components resembling normal
derivatives of more than one germ layer.
Third-Degree Burns: The most severe type of burn, in which all the layers of tissue
are affected. Since the burn goes through the skin, muscles, nerves and bones may also
be affected.
Thoracotomy: An incision into the pleural space of the chest to gain access to the
thoracic organs.
Tonic-Clonic seizures: Seizure which features a loss of consciousness and violent
muscle contractions. It's the type of seizure most people picture when they think about
seizures in general.
Toupet fundoplication: A surgical procedure to correct symptoms of heartburn and
acid reflux.
Tracheotomy: An emergency procedure done to aid the patient's breathing. It is the
opening of the trachea (throat) with a sharp instrument, usually a scalpel.
Tumor: An abnormal mass of tissue caused by abnormal cell division.
Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS): A condition in which the fetal blood
vessels of identical twins are fused, providing one twin with too much blood and the
other with too little. It can be fatal for both if not treated surgically.
Uterus duplex bicollis: A condition in which a female has two uteruses
V-Fib (Ventricular Fibrillation): When muscle fibers in the lower area of the heart
are uncontrolled. This causes the heart to no longer pump blood throughout the body
and can cause sudden death. It can be treated with an external defibrillator
V-Tach (Ventricular Tachycardia): When the pulse rate is at the rate of or more than
100 beats per minute (BPM) and there is at least three consecutive uneven heart
beats.
Whipple (Pancreaticoduodenectomy): Operation used most commonly to treat
pancreatic cancer. The procedure involves removing the head of the pancreas along
with the Gallbladder, duodenum, part of the stomach, bile duct, and sometimes lymph
nodes close to the pancreas. Once these have been removed, the remainder of the
pancreas, stomach, and bile duct are directly attached to the small bowel. 
Y-incision: In an autopsy, the medical examiner makes a cut that is shaped like a Y
from the left and right upper chest near the shoulder down past the navel.