Final answer:
In medical terminology, 'esthesi/o' refers to sensation, '-esthesia' refers to a condition of sensation, and 'paresthesia' is an abnormal sensation like tingling or numbness. Anesthetics are drugs that cause a temporary loss of sensation or consciousness.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term esthesi/o in medical terminology refers to sensation or feeling, and the suffix -esthesia refers to a condition of sensation or perception. When combined with prefixes, they form words that describe different types of sensory experiences. For example, paresthesia refers to an abnormal sensation of the skin, such as tingling, numbness, or a 'pins and needles' feeling, often without a physical cause. This condition can occur in various parts of the body and is commonly experienced by individuals as a temporary sensation after applying pressure to a nerve or as a symptom of certain medical conditions.
Anesthetics are drugs used to induce anesthesia, which means they create a temporary loss of sensation or awareness. There are general anesthetics that cause reversible loss of consciousness and local anesthetics that cause reversible loss of sensation in a limited area of the body without affecting consciousness. Familiarity with the term esthesi/o is essential for understanding medical conditions related to somatosensation, which includes the general senses related to the body such as touch, pain, and temperature.