Clinical Diagnosis · Nervous System · Medium

Hypervigilance

Meaning: A state of constantly scanning for threats, with heightened alertness, common in post-traumatic stress disorder.

In practice: Since the assault she had hypervigilance and startled at every noise.

Word parts

Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.

Two questions on related clinical diagnosis words.

Which word means: An abnormal connection between two hollow organs, or between an organ and the skin.

Which word means: Inability to judge the distance or range of a movement, causing over- or undershooting.

One medical word a day, then a quick three-question quiz. Free on iPhone, or play in your browser on Android and computer.