Word origins

• stenosisAn abnormal narrowing or stricture in a blood vessel or other tubular organ.
• syphilisA disease spread via sexual activity, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum.
• epitheliumA membranous tissue composed of one or more layers of cells which forms the covering of most internal and external surfaces of the body and its organs: internally including the lining of vessels and other small cavities, and externally being the skin.
• propensityAn inclination, disposition, tendency, preference, or attraction.
• planetariumA display museum in which images of stars and other astronomical phenomena are projected onto a domed ceiling.
• hysteriaBehavior exhibiting excessive or uncontrollable emotions, in a wide range from joy to panic but usually including anxiety or fear.
• rectumThe terminal part of the large intestine through which feces pass after exiting the colon, but before leaving the body through the anus or cloaca.
• prostheticArtificial, acting as a substitute for part of the body; relating to prosthesis.
• euphoriaAn excited state of joy; a feeling of intense happiness.
• cutaneousOf, relating to, existing on, or affecting the exterior skin, especially the cutis.
• anacondaAny large nonvenomous snake of the genus Eunectes, found mainly in northern South America.
• bacteriumA single-celled organism with cell walls but no nucleus or organelles.
• cartesianOf, or pertaining to, Descartes, his mathematical methods, or his philosophy, especially with regard to its emphasis on logical analysis and its mechanistic interpretation of physical nature.
• tentacleAn elongated, boneless, flexible organ or limb of some animals, such as the octopus and squid.
• sporeA reproductive particle, usually a single cell, released by a fungus, alga, or plant that may germinate into another.
• molybdenumA chemical element (symbol Mo) with an atomic number of 42: a silvery metal, not found as a free element, used in steel alloys.
• tritiumA radioactive isotope of the element hydrogen (symbol T, ³H or 31H) having one proton and two neutrons.
• rosaceaA chronic condition characterized by redness of the face.
• platypusA semiaquatic monotreme from eastern Australia with a bill resembling that of a duck, that has a mole-like body, a tail resembling that of a beaver, a waterproof pelt, and flat webbed feet (Ornithorhynchus anatinus).
• rudimentaryOf or relating to one or more rudiments; of the nature of an early stage.
• aristaOne of the fibrils found on grains or fishes.
• androidA robot that is designed to look and act like a human being (not necessarily a male one).
• japonicaA species of camellia (Camellia japonica), a native flower of Japan, bearing beautiful red or white flowers.
• ponderosaA pine tree of very large size, native to western North America (Pinus ponderosa).
• gravitationThe fundamental force of attraction which exists between all matter in the universe that tends to draw bodies towards each other, due to matter causing the curvature of spacetime. It is the weakest of the four fundamental interactions, and possesses a gauge boson known as the graviton.
• ephemeralLasting for a short period of time.
• trigonometryThe branch of mathematics that deals with the relationships between the sides and angles of (in particular) right-angled triangles, as represented by the trigonometric functions, and with calculations based on said relationships.
• mineralogyThe branch of petrology that studies minerals.
• crotonAny of various plants, of the genus Croton, that yield croton oil.
• arrhythmiaAn irregular heartbeat; a lack of a regular pulse.
• vanadiumA chemical element (symbol V) with atomic number 23; it is a transition metal, used in the production of special steels.
• synopticOf or relating to a synopsis.
• centraleThe central, or one of the central, bones of the carpus or tarsus in most vertebrates. In the human tarsus it is represented by the navicular.
• tachycardiaA rapid resting heart rate, especially one above 100 beats per minute; palpitations.
• biotaSynonym of life; Biota; all living things.
• ConfuciusAn influential Chinese philosopher who lived c. 551 BCE – c. 479 BCE; personal name Kong Qiu (孔丘).
• analgesiaThe inability to feel pain.
• adiposeContaining, composed of, or consisting of fat; fatty.
• logarithmFor a number x, the exponent by which a given base number must be raised in order to obtain the power x. Written log _bx. For example, log ₁₀1000=3 because 10³=1000 and log ₂16=4 because 2⁴=16.
• aphisAn aphid.
• larynxA hollow muscular organ of the neck of mammals situated just below where the tract of the pharynx splits into the trachea and the oesophagus. It is involved in breath control and protection of the trachea, and, as it houses the vocal cords, sound production.
• academeThe garden in Athens where the academics met.
• mimosaA plant belonging to the genus Mimosa usually found in tropical climates, their leaves are usually prickly and sensitive to touch or light, and have small white or pink flowers.
• myocardiumThe muscular substance of the heart; the middle of the three layers forming the outer wall of the human heart.
• xeniaThe concept of hospitality to strangers.
• rhesusA macaque monkey native to southern and southeastern Asia; Macaca mulatta.
• acidophilusLactobacillus acidophilus, one of the bacteria commonly used in fermenting yogurt
• ornithologyThe branch of zoology that deals with the scientific study of birds.
• sclerodermaA chronic systemic autoimmune disease characterized by hardening the skin or other organs through excessive deposits of collagen.
• synovialOf, relating to, or secreting synovial fluid.
• aphidA sap-sucking insect pest of the superfamily Aphidoidea; an aphidian.
• varicellaAn acute, highly contagious pathogenic disease caused by the varicella zoster virus, primarily affecting children and characterized by a widespread eruptive skin rash of itchy blisters;chicken pox
• neuralgiaAn acute, severe, intermittent pain that radiates along a nerve.
• dermaThe inner layer of the skin.
• crematoriumA place where the bodies of dead people are cremated.
• erythemaAbnormal redness and inflammation of the skin, due to vasodilation.
• capsicumAny of various tropical American plants, of the genus Capsicum, principally the species Capsicum annuum and Capsicum frutescens, that are cultivated as edible peppers.
• stasisA slackening or arrest of the blood current, due not to a lessening of the heart’s beat, but to some abnormal resistance of the capillary walls.
• sublingualAdministered through placement under the tongue.
• theismBelief in the existence of at least one deity.
• ephemerisA journal or diary.
• plausibilityThe quality of deserving applause, praiseworthiness; something worthy of praise.
• tarsusA group of small bones in this part of the foot. The seven bones of the human tarsus form the ankle and upper part of the foot.
• phloxAny flowering plant of the genus Phlox.
• penumbraA partially shaded area around the edges of a shadow, especially an eclipse.
• polyhedronA solid figure with many flat faces and straight edges.
• tellinA marine bivalve mollusc, of the genus Tellina, that burrows in the sand and siphons detritus.
• trilateralHaving three sides
• eclampsiaA complication of pregnancy characterized by seizures and coma due to hypertension.
• enduraA fast or series of privations undertaken by the Cathars to purify the soul, often resulting in death.
• neonateA newborn infant; recently born baby.
• gravitateTo move under the force of gravity.
• anachronismA chronological mistake; the erroneous dating of an event, circumstance, or object.
• urticariaItchy, swollen, red areas of the skin which can appear quickly in response to an allergen or other conditions.
• sternumThe breastbone, consisting of the manubrium, gladiolus, and xiphoid process.
• dermisThe tissue of the skin underlying the epidermis.
• catharticPurgative; inducing mental or physical catharsis.
• dystoniaA disabling neurological disorder in which prolonged and repetitive contractions of muscles cause jerking, twisting movements and abnormal postures of the body.
• pharynxThe part of the alimentary canal and respiratory tract that extends from the back of the mouth and nasal cavity to the larynx and esophagus.
• parabolaThe conic section formed by the intersection of a cone with a plane parallel to a tangent plane to the cone; the locus of points equidistant from a fixed point (the focus) and line (the directrix).
• trapezoidA (convex) quadrilateral with two (non-adjacent) parallel sides.
• charaA green alga of the genus Chara.
• flexorA muscle whose contraction acts to bend a joint or limb.
• strabismusA defect of vision in which one eye cannot focus with the other on an object because of imbalance of the eye muscles; a squint.
• gingivalRelating to the gums.
• nomaA gangrenous disease of humans leading to tissue destruction of the face, especially the mouth and cheek.
• invigorateTo impart vigor, strength, or vitality to.
• septicemiaA disease caused by the presence of pathogenic organisms, especially bacteria, or their toxins, in the bloodstream, characterized by chills and fever.
• paraplegiaA condition where the lower half of a patient's body is paralyzed and cannot move.
• typhusAny of several similar diseases, characterised by high recurrent fever, caused by Rickettsia bacteria. Not to be confused with typhoid fever.
• valvularOf or pertaining to valves, such as those of the heart.
• tendinitisInflammation of a tendon.
• choroidResembling the chorion, particularly in containing many blood vessels.
• vincaAny of several evergreen shrubs, of the genus Vinca, including the periwinkle.
• nystagmusRapid and excessive involuntary eye movement, usually lateral.
• grandifloraA rose of the Grandiflora class of roses created in the middle of the 20th century as backcrosses of hybrid teas and floribundas that fit neither category.
• cellulitisAn inflammation of subcutaneous or connective tissue caused by a bacterial infection.
• filtrateThe liquid or solution that has passed through a filter, and which has been separated from other fractions of the original material.
• cyclamenAny of various primulaceous flowering plants, of the genus Cyclamen, widely cultivated as a houseplant, having decorative leaves and solitary flowers.
• thrombusA blood clot formed from platelets and other elements that forms in a blood vessel in a living organism, and causes thrombosis or obstruction of the vessel at its point of formation or travel to other areas of the body.