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MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
HPRS
80
Health Care
Professional
04/15/2009

Additional Health Care Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
esepsis
Definition
being free from infection
Term
communicable
Definition
transmitted from one person to another (usually referring to disease)
Term
nosocomial
Definition
originating in hospital or health care facility (infection/disease)
Term
pathogen
Definition
disease-producing organism
Term
surgical asepsis
Definition
free of pathogens - sterile
Term
virus
Definition
smallest organism - many of which cause disease
Term
cyanosis
Definition
blue discoloration of the skin caused by a lack of adequate oxygen
Term
diaphoresis
Definition
profuse sweating
Term
dyspnea
Definition
difficult or labored breathing; also known as shortness of breath
Term
erythema
Definition
any redness of the skin such as a nervous blush, an inflammation, or a mild sunburn
Term
jaundice
Definition
yellow discoloration of skin and other tissues caused by greater than normal amounts of bilirubin in the blood; also known as icterus
Term
atrophy
Definition
weakness and wasting away of tissue; decrease in size
example: muscles atrophy when not used
Term
contracture
Definition
abnormal tightening or shortening of muscle making muscles resistant to stretching
Term
anoxia
Definition
without oxygen
Term
apnea
Definition
temporary cessation of breathing - absence of respirations
Term
atria
Definition
upper chambers of heart
Term
auscultation
Definition
process of listening for sounds in the body
Term
blood pressure
Definition
measurement of force exerted by the heart against arterial walls when heart contracts and relaxes
Term
bradycardia
Definition
slow heart rate <60 bpm
Term
bradypnea
Definition
slow respiratory rate <10 respirations per minute
Term
diastolic pressure
Definition
resting blood pressure - when heart is at REST
Term
epistaxis
Definition
nosebleed
Term
hemoptysis
Definition
spitting up blood; blood in sputum
Term
hyperthermia
Definition
high body temperature - when body temperature exceeds 104 deg. F
(>40 deg C)
Term
hypothermia
Definition
low body temperature - when body temperature is below 95 deg. F
(< 33.9 deg C)
Term
hypoxia
Definition
without oxygen
Term
hypothalamus
Definition
structure in diencephalon - regulates and controls many functions of the body
Term
medulla oblongata
Definition
lower part of brain stem - controls respiration and heart beat
Term
orthopnea
Definition
severe labored or difficulty breathing (dyspnea)in any position other than sitting erect or standing
Term
pleuritis
Definition
Term
pneumonia
Definition
inflammation of lungs - air sacs fill with pus and fluid
Term
pulse pressure
Definition
difference between sistolic and diastolic blood pressure
Term
rales
Definition
bubbling or noisy sound caused by fluid or mucus in air passages
Term
rhinorrhea
Definition
excessive flow of mucus from nose:
runny nose
Term
systolic pressure
Definition
blood pressure taken when heart is CONTRACTING and forcing blood into arteries
Term
tachycardia
Definition
RAPID heart beat >100 bpm
Term
tachypnea
Definition
respiratory rate above 25 respirations per minute
Term
ventricle
Definition
one of two lower chambers in the heart;
also a cavity in the brain
Term
catheterization
Definition
insertion of a sterile catheter through the urethra and into the urinary bladder
Term
cystoscope
Definition
instrument used for examining inside the urinary bladder
Term
edema
Definition
swelling; excess amount of fluid in tissue
Term
hematuria
Definition
blood in urine
Term
micturition
Definition
urination
Term
NPO
Definition
nothing by mouth
Term
oliguria
Definition
decreased; less than normal amounts of urine secretion
Term
polyuria
Definition
excess urination
Term
sputum
Definition
substance coughed up from bronchi; contains saliva/mucus
Term
ureter
Definition
tube that carries urine from kidney to urinary bladder
Term
urethra
Definition
tube that carries urine from urinary bladder to outside of body
Term
antecubital
Definition
space located on the inner part of the arm near the elbow (check this pulse site on babies)
Term
hematoma
Definition
collection of blood trapped within tissues
Term
bruit
Definition
an abnormal sound or murmur heard during auscultation
Term
phlebitis
Definition
inflammation in vein
Term
phlebotomy
Definition
the puncture of a vein for the purpose of drawing blood; also known as venipuncture
Term
plasma
Definition
the liquid portin of blood
Term
bandage
Definition
material used to hold dressing in place, secure splints; support and protect body parts
Term
burn
Definition
injury to body tissue caused by heat, caustics, radiation, electricity
Term
diabetic coma
Definition
unconscious condition caused by an increased level of glucose (sugar) and ketones in the bloodstream of a person with diabetes mellitus
Term
dressing
Definition
covering placed over a wound or injured body part
Term
frostbite
Definition
actual freezing of tissue fluid resulting in damage to skin and underlying tissue
Term
hemorrhage
Definition
excessive loss of blood; bleeding
Term
ingestion
Definition
taking in by mouth
Term
insulin shock
Definition
condition that occurs in diabetics when there is an excess amount of insulin and a low amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood
Term
shock
Definition
clinical condition - results in inadequate supply of blood and oxygen body organs, especially the brain and heart
Term
poison
Definition
chemical substance that, when contact is made, causes injury, illness, death
Term
sublingual
Definition
under the tongue
Term
sternum
Definition
breastbone
Term
wound
Definition
an injury to soft tissue
Term
wound (closed)
Definition
there is no break in the skin or mucous membrane, but injury occurs to underlying tissues
Term
wound (open)
Definition
there is a break in the skin or mucous membrane
note: open wounds are classified according to the type of injuries that occur (abrasion, incision, laceration, puncture, avulsion, amputation)
Term
abrasion
Definition
skin is scraped off; bleeding is limited
Term
incision
Definition
cut or injury caused by a sharp object such as a knife, scissors, razor blade. Edges are smooth and regular
Term
laceration
Definition
tearing of tissues by way of excessive force. Wound has jagged, irregular edges
Term
puncture
Definition
caused by a sharp object such as a pin, nail or pointed instrument. Risk of tetanus
Term
avulsion
Definition
when tissue is torn or separated from victim's body
Term
heat cramps
Definition
caused by exposure to heat. Muscle pains and spasms resulting from loss of water/salt through perspiration
Term
heat exhaustion
Definition
occurs when victim is exposed to heat, loses fluids through perspiration.
S/S pale and clammy skin, diaphoresis, fatigue, weakness, headache, nausea, fainting, dizziness
Term
heat stroke
Definition
caused by prolonged exposure to high temperatures. **medical emergency**
Body is unable to eliminate excess heat and internal body temperature rises to 105 deg. F or higher
Term
hypoglycemia
Definition
low blood sugar
Term
amputation
Definition
body part is cut off and severed from the body
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