Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Intensive care unit. The intensive care unit is a designated area of a hospital facility that is dedicated to the care of patients who are seriously ill.

Jaundice. At least one medical dictionary defines icterus as the presence of jaundice seen in the sclera of the eye. This is incorrect. Icterus is synonymous with jaundice. They are one and the same thing. Curiously, both icterus and jaundice come from the Greek. Icterus is a Latinized (-us) form of the Greek word “ikteros” and to…

Dry, rectangular scales on the skin. Like fish scales. From the Greek “ichthys” meaning fish. Ichthyosis is not one but rather a group of skin disorders characterized by scaling of the skin. Many different metaphors have been used to describe the appearance and texture of the skin in the various types and stages of ichthyosis, for example alligator…

Implantable cardiac defibrillator, a device that is put within the body and is designed to recognize certain types of abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) and correct them. Defibrillators continuously monitor the heart rhythm in order to detect overly rapid arrhythmias such as These ventricular arrhythmias impair the pumping efficiency of the heart and greatly raise the risks of fainting (syncope)…

A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used to treat pain, swelling, and fever. Common brand names of ibuprofen include Advil, Motrin, and Nuprin.

Suffix meaning medical treatment. From the Greek “iatreia” meaning healing, which came from “iatros” meaning treatment (or physician). 

Due to the activity of a physician or therapy. For example, an iatrogenic illness is an illness that is caused by a medication or physician.

Suffix meaning healing. From the Greek “iatros” meaning healer or physician. For example, Pediatrics is the healing of children, Bariatric surgery is designed to heal obesity, Psychiatric care is meant to heal the mind.

Prefix relating to a physician or medicine. An iatrogenic illness is one inadvertently caused by a physician. From the Greek word “iatros” meaning physician (healer).