Systemic⭐⭐⭐ Very Common
Chills
/chilz/Simple Meaning:
Feeling cold, often accompanied by shivering.
Involuntary muscle contractions generating heat in response to pyrogen-induced hypothalamic temperature set-point elevation.
Clinical & Layman Language Dictionary (Deduplicated A–Z)
Medical Terms & Simple Meanings A–Z
Search over 153+ verified medical terms. Clear layman definitions, clinical explanations, frequency ratings (⭐⭐⭐ Very Common), pronunciations, and body system tags.
Showing 15 Medical Terms (Letter "C")Reset Filters
General Medical⭐⭐⭐ Very Common
Chronic
/KRON-ik/Simple Meaning:
Persistent or long-lasting medical condition.
Illness persisting for longer than 3 months, requiring ongoing medical management (e.g. Hypertension, Diabetes).
Cardiovascular⭐⭐⭐ Very Common
Chest Pain
/chest payn/Simple Meaning:
Pain or discomfort in the chest area.
High-acuity clinical symptom originating from cardiac ischemia, pericarditis, aortic dissection, pulmonary embolism, or esophageal spasm.
Clinical Example: "Anginal chest pain often radiates to the left arm or jaw."
Respiratory⭐⭐⭐ Very Common
Chest Tightness
/chest TYTE-nis/Simple Meaning:
Feeling of pressure or constriction across the chest.
Sensation of heaviness associated with bronchospasm in asthma, acute myocardial ischemia, or panic anxiety attacks.
Gastrointestinal⭐⭐ Common
Cirrhosis
/sih-ROH-sis/Simple Meaning:
Irreversible scarring of liver tissue.
End-stage liver disease characterized by fibrous septa surrounding regenerative hepatic nodules, causing portal hypertension.
Systemic⭐⭐ Common
Clammy
/KLAM-ee/Simple Meaning:
Cool, moist, and sweaty skin.
Physical finding indicating sympathetic vasoconstriction and diaphoresis, seen in cardiogenic shock, hypoglycemia, or severe pain.
Emergency⭐⭐ Common
Collapse
/kuh-LAPS/Simple Meaning:
Sudden loss of physical strength or consciousness.
Abrupt postural breakdown resulting from acute syncope, severe cardiac arrhythmia, or vasovagal episode.
Gastrointestinal⭐⭐ Common
Colicky Pain
/KOL-ik-ee payn/Simple Meaning:
Severe pain that comes and goes in rhythmic waves.
Paroxysmal cramping pain caused by smooth muscle spasm in hollow viscera attempting to bypass an obstruction (e.g. ureteral or biliary colic).
Neurological⭐⭐⭐ Very Common
Confusion
/kuhn-FYOO-zhuhn/Simple Meaning:
Difficulty thinking clearly or understanding.
Impaired cognitive processing characterized by disorientation, poor memory recall, and inability to maintain coherent thought.
General Medical⭐⭐ Common
Congenital
/kuhn-JEN-ih-tuhl/Simple Meaning:
Present at or before birth.
Medical trait, anomaly, or disorder existing at birth due to genetic or intrauterine factors.
Respiratory⭐⭐⭐ Very Common
Congestion
/kuhn-JES-chuhn/Simple Meaning:
Blockage or fullness caused by mucus or swollen blood vessels.
Hyperemia and excessive fluid secretion in mucosal membranes of upper or lower respiratory tracts.
Gastrointestinal⭐⭐⭐ Very Common
Constipation
/kon-stih-PAY-shuhn/Simple Meaning:
Infrequent or difficult bowel movements.
Gastrointestinal symptom characterized by fewer than 3 bowel movements per week, hard dry stools, and straining.
Neurological⭐⭐ Common
Convulsion
/kuhn-VUL-shuhn/Simple Meaning:
Involuntary violent muscle shaking or contractions.
Paroxysmal motor manifestation of abnormal excessive synchronous cerebral cortical electrical discharges during seizures.
Respiratory⭐⭐⭐ Very Common
Cough
/kof/Simple Meaning:
Forceful expulsion of air from the lungs.
Protective reflex clearing respiratory airways of secretions, irritants, foreign particles, and microbes.
Respiratory⭐⭐⭐ Very Common
Cyanosis
/sye-uh-NOH-sis/Simple Meaning:
Bluish discoloration of skin or lips.
Clinical sign indicating dark desaturated hemoglobin (> 5 g/dL) in cutaneous blood capillaries due to severe hypoxia.
This information is educational only and does not replace professional medical advice.