Vocabulary Notes 5

Abdomen and Gastrointestinal System Vocabulary

abdomen absorb anus appendix backwash belch belly button bile bloating bout  bowel bowel movement burp colon colostomy constipation contractions cramping diaphragm diarrhea

digestion diverticula diverticulitis diverticulosis dysphagia epigastric erode esophageal esophagus expel feces flare flatulence gallbladder gas gastritis gastroenteritis heartburn hemorrhoid hiatal hernia

indigestion intestinal tract lower esophageal sphincter moderate navel obstruction occult blood pancreas peptic ulcer pouches rectum reflux regurgitation Schatzki’s ring stomach acid stool strain swallow tenderness

Idiomatic expressions using “stomach”

1. hard to stomach means that the person dislikes something or someone else very much
2. to have butterflies in one’s stomach means to have anxiety and feelings of fear.
3. to be difficult to stomach means to be unable to accept someone or endure something that is unpleasant or wrong.
4. turn one’s stomach means to disgust someone or to make one feel sick.
5. eyes are bigger than one’s stomach means to eat more food than one can eat.
6. not have the stomach for means the person has no desire for something he or she feels is wrong or unpleasant.
7. can’t stomach means to dislike someone or something very much.

Musculoskeletal System Vocabulary

aching ankylosing spondylitis arthritis autoimmune bony lumps brittle bursitis carpal tunnel syndrome cartilage collagen connective tissue debilitating deformity degenerative erythrocyte sedimentation rate fibromyalgia

flexibility fracture fusion gout immune joints knuckles ligaments lupus mobility nodes osteoarthritis osteoporosis photosensitivity range of motion relapse remission

rheumatism scleroderma Sjögren’s syndrome spine stiffness stooped posture stress stretch subside susceptible synovitis temporomandibular joint tendonitis urate crystals vertebrae wear and tear

Idiomatic Expressions using “Joint,” “Muscle” and “Spine”

1.  to put one’s nose out of joint means to be upset about something.
2. muscle one’s way in means to use one’s strength to get where you want to go.
3. to send chills/shivers up/down one’s spine means to cause someone to feel frightened or excited.

Idiomatic Expressions using “Stiff”

1. to be bored stiff means to be extremely bored.
2. to be scared stiff means to be extremely scarred.
3. a stiff means a dead body.
4. to be stiff-necked means to be stubborn and to refuse to change or obey.
5. to be stiffed means someone is not paid the money they are expected to receive.

 Idiomatic Expressions using “Bone”

1. a bone of contention refers to something that people disagree about.
2. to feel something in one’s bones means to be sure about something even though you have no proof.
3. to make no bones about something means to not feel ashamed or nervous about saying or doing something.
4. work one’s fingers to the bone means to work very hard.
5. to have a bone to pick means to you want to talk to the person who is annoying you.

 Idiomatic Expressions using “Back”

1. behind one’s back means to say or do something secretly.
2. to get off one’s back means to tell someone to stop criticizing, nagging, or telling them what to do.
3. to break one’s back means to work very hard on something.
4. to give someone a pat on the back means to congratulate and praise someone.
5. to stab someone in the back means to betray and do something bad to a person who trusts you.

Neurologic System and Mental Health Vocabulary

Alzheimer’s disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis aspirate atonic atrophy balance bipolar disorder dementia depression dexterity disorientation distracted electric shock epilepsy episode exacerbation

forgetfulness gait irreversible isolation jerking movements lapse light therapy mental impairment multiple sclerosis mumbling speech myelin sheath myoclonic neurology obsessive-compulsive disorder onset panic attack

phobias pill rolling progressive rigid rouse seizure shuffling walk slurred speech spinal tap staring spells suicide tremor twitch unsteady voluntary muscles wandering

Idiomatic Expressions using “Head”

1. to bite someone’s head off is to be very angry at someone.
2. to hang one’s head means to be embarrassed and ashamed.
3. to keep your head above water means to have a difficult time surviving because of money and other problems.
4. to lose one’s head means to be unable to stay calm.
5. to keep one’s head means to remain calm.

 Idiomatic Expressions using “Mind”

1. give someone a piece of one’s mind means to tell someone how angry you are.
2. one’s mind goes blank means the person cannot remember something.
3. boggles the mind means that something is confusing and difficult to accept or imagine.
4. peace of mind means a feeling of calm and no worries.
5. mind-numbing means to be extremely boring.
6. Idiomatic Expressions using “Brain”
7. to pick someone’s brain means to ask someone who knows a lot about something for advice and information.
8. to rack/beat one’s brains means to think very hard and long about something.