Pathology Jargon

noun a medical condition characterized by lack of color in the skin, hair, and eyes

• Achromasia is a medical condition characterized by the absence of color vision.
• My friend has achromasia, so he sees the world in black and white.
• Some people call achromasia 'color blindness'.
• His achromasia made it difficult for him to see the beauty in the world.

noun a deep cut or tear in skin or flesh

verb to tear or make deep cuts in flesh or skin

adjective having been torn or cut deeply

• The surgeon had to carefully stitch up the lacerated skin after the accident.
• Ouch, that paper cut really lacerated my finger!
• I accidentally lacerated my arm on the sharp edge of the table.
• His harsh words seemed to lacerate her heart.

adjective describing something that is characterized by nodules or small rounded growths

• The patient's CT scan showed the presence of nodular lesions in the liver.
• The doctor said the bump on my skin is just a nodular growth.
• I heard that new skincare product is great for reducing nodular acne.
• The artist used nodular shapes to create a unique texture in the painting.

noun a fluid that is clear and watery, like serum

adjective describes a fluid containing serum or resembling serum

• The serous fluid found in the body helps to lubricate and protect organs.
• I heard that serous fluid is important for keeping our organs healthy.
• Serous stuff is like the body's own natural lubricant.
• Her serous attitude towards work showed her dedication and professionalism.

noun the severity or harmfulness of a disease or poison

• The virulence of the virus was a cause for concern among health officials.
• The virulence of that argument was intense, it got pretty heated.
• The virulence of that gossip was off the charts, it spread like wildfire.
• The virulence of her ambition was unmatched, she would stop at nothing to achieve her goals.

noun a medical term referring to the inflammation of the gallbladder

• The patient was diagnosed with acute cholecystitis and was scheduled for surgery.
• My friend had to go to the hospital because of cholecystitis, it was pretty serious.
• I heard that cholecystitis can really mess you up if you don't get it treated.
• Dealing with cholecystitis felt like a ticking time bomb in my stomach.

adjective describing something that causes or undergoes necrosis, the death of cells or tissues

• The patient was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a serious bacterial infection.
• I heard that necrotizing fasciitis is a really scary flesh-eating disease.
• That necrotizing stuff sounds like a nightmare, man.
• The toxic environment was like a necrotizing force slowly destroying morale within the team.

adjective a term used in medicine to describe a sign or symptom that is specifically characteristic of a particular disease

• The presence of a cherry red spot on the retina is pathognomonic for Tay-Sachs disease.
• If you see that specific symptom, it's a dead giveaway for Tay-Sachs disease.
• When you spot that, you know for sure it's Tay-Sachs disease.
• Her tears were pathognomonic of her deep sadness.

noun a waxy substance formed during the decomposition of animal flesh in moist conditions

• The forensic scientist identified the presence of adipocere on the exhumed body.
• The body was so well-preserved that it looked like it was covered in wax.
• That corpse was all adipocere'd up, it was creepy!
• The old memories had turned into adipocere in her mind, preserved and unchanging.