To hold fast or stick together

Ex: The tape must adhere to the patient's skin to hold the bandage in place.

Undesired, possibly harmful

Ex: Vomiting is an adverse effect of many medications

Appearance of observable emotions

Ex: The nurse observed that a depressed patient exhibited no obvious emotion and reported that the patient had a flat affect

Present on two sides

Ex: The unlicensed assistive personnel reported to the nurse that the patient had bilateral weakness in the legs when walking.

An opening or an empty area

Ex: The nurse inspected the patient's oral cavity for lesions.

Come to an end or bring to an end

Ex: Because the patient's breathing ahd ceased, the paramedic began resuscitation measures.

Offsetting or making up for something

Ex: When the patient's blood pressure decreased, the paramedic noted that the heart rate increased, which the paramedic recognized as a compensatory action.

Rounded inward

Ex: The dietician noticed that the patient was very thin and the patient's abdomen appeared concave.

Degree of viscosity; how thick or thin a fluid is

Ex: The respiratory therapist noticed that the mucus the patient was coughing was of a thing, watery consistency.

To draw together or become smaller

Ex: The nurse knows that the small blood vessels of the skin will constrict when ice is applied to the skin.

Dependent

Ex: The hygienist told the patient that a healthy mouth is contingent on careful daily brushing and flossing.

Shape or outline of a shape

Ex: While bathing an overweight patient, the unlicensed assistive personnel noticed that the contour of the patient's abdomen was quite rounded.

To draw together, to reduce in size

Syn. CONSTRICT

Ex: The physical therapist exercises the patient's muscles so they contract and expand.

A reason why something is not advisable or why it should not be done

Ex: The patient's excessive bleeding was a contraindication for discharge from the hospital.

Press downward

Ex: The nurse will depress the patient's skin to see if any swelling is present.

The distance across the center of an object

Ex: When the diameter of a blood vessel increases, the pressure in that blood vessel goes down.

To enlarge or expand

Ex: When shining a light in the patient's eyes, the nurse looks to see if both pupils dilate in response to the light.

To make a liquid less concentrated

Ex: The nurse uses fruit juice to dilute a foultasting drug so that the medication will be easier to swallow.

Distinct, separate

Ex: The paramedic observed several discrete bruise marks on the patient's body.

Enlarged or expanded from pressure

Ex: When a blood vessel is distended, the laboratory technician can easily insert a needle to obtain a blood sample.

Produced within the body

Ex: The nurse explained that endogenous insulin produced by the body's pancreas helps regulate the body's blood sugar levels.

To make worse or more severe

Ex: The physical therapist recognized that too much exercise would exacerbate the patient's breathing difficulties.

Produced outside the body

Ex: The nurse explained that people with diabetes often need to receive exogenous forms of insulin because their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin.

Limp, lacking tone

Ex: After her stroke, the patient could not feed herself because her arms were flaccid.

Reddened or ruddy appearance

Ex: The therapist observed that the patient's face was flushed after the patient completed the exercises.

Wide open

Ex: The nurse observed a gaping wound when examining a gunshot victim.

Of or relating to blood

Ex: Pregnancy can put a woman at risk for anemia, which is a hematologic disorder.

Maintenance of body fluid balance

Ex: The nurse explains that adequate hydration helps keep skin soft and supple.

Measures contributing to cleanliness and good health

Ex: The dental assistant teaches patients about good hygiene practices to maintain strong teeth.

Likely to occur soon

Ex: The nurse observed the patient signing the consent form for the impending procedure.

Contamination or invasion of body tissues by pathogenic organisms

Ex: The doctor prescribed antibiotics for the patient with a bacterial infection.

Reddened, swollen, warm, and often tender

Ex: The nurse observed that the skin around the patient's wound was inflamed.

So gradual as to not become apparent for a long time

Ex: The physician explained that the cancer probably started years ago but had not been detected because its spread was so insidious.

Inserting or entering into a body part

Ex: The laboratory technician is careful when obtaining blood samples because this invasive procedure may cause problems such as infection or bruising.

Changing rapidly and often

Ex: Because the child's temperature was very labile, the nurse instructed the assistant to check the temperature frequently.

Present but not active or visible

Ex: The latent infection produced symptoms only when the patient's condition was weakened from another illness.

An indication or sign of a condition

Ex: The dietician looked for manifestations of poor nutrition, such as excessive weight loss and poor skin condition.

Of or relating to muscle and skeleton

Ex: As a result of overtraining, the athlete suffered a musculoskeletal injury.

Of or relating to the nervous system

Ex: The nurse checked the neurologic status of the patient who was brought to the emergency room after a motorcycle accident.

Of or relating to the nervous system and blood vessels

Ex: Strokes and aneurysms are neurovascular disorders.

Substance or ingredient that provides nourishment

Ex: The dietician explains that fruits and vegetables contain nutrients that reduce the risk of some cancers.

Closed or obstructed

Ex: Because the patient's foot was cold and blue the nurse reported that the patient's circulation to that foot was occluded.

Significantly important and dangerous

Ex: Ater a patient sustained a head injury, the parmedic noted that the patient's breathing was irregular, which was an ominous sign that the patient's condition was worsening.

Obvious, easily observed

Ex: The overt symptoms of the disease included vomiting and diarrhea.

A characteristic or constant factor, limit

Ex: The dietician explained that the number of calories needed for energy is one of the important parameters of a healthy diet.

Beginning suddenly or abruptly; convulsive

Ex: The respiratory therapist provided a breathing treatment to stop the patient's paroxysmal breathing difficulty.

Open

Ex: The nurse checked to see whether the intravenous needle was patent before giving the patient a medication.

Causing or able to cause disease

Ex: Viruses and bacteria are pathogenic organisms.

Processes, causes, and effects of a disease; abnormality

Ex: The doctor called to request the pathology report for her patient. 

Located behind; in the back

Ex: The dentist examined the posterior surface of the tooth for a cavity.

Rapid, uncontrolled

Ex: The paramedic assisted the pregnant woman during the precipitous delivery in her home.

To make more susceptible or more likely to occur

Ex: The dietician explains that high dietary fat intake predisposes some people to heart disease.

The anticipated or expected course or outcome

Ex: The physician explained that with treatment the patient's prognosis was for a long and healthy life.

Underlying reason

Ex: To make sure that the patient will follow the diet instructions, the dietician explains the rationale for the low-salt diet. 

Of or relating to the kidneys

Ex: The nurse closely monitored the oral intake and urinary output of the patient with acute renal failure.

Inhalation and exhalation of air

Ex: Exercise increases the rate and depth of an individual's respirations.

To hold or keep

Ex: The nurse administered a medication to prevent the patient from retaining excess body fluid, which might cause swelling.

Stringent, exact, complete

Ex: The nurse stressed that the patient must follow instructions to maintain strict bed rest to prevent further injury.

Under the tongue

Ex: The patient was prescribed a sublingual medication for chest pain.

To take in addition to or to complete

Ex: The dietician instructed the patients to supplement their diet with extra calcium tablets to help build strong bones.

Group of symptoms that, when occuring together, reflect a specific disease or disorder

Ex: After reviewing the patient's symptoms, the physician made a diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Of or relating to the treatment of a disease or a disorder

Ex: Therapeutic diets may include calorie and salt restrictions.

Crossing through the skin

Ex: The physician prescribed a transdermal nicotine patch for a patient participating in the smoking cesation program.

Transfer, such as of a disease, from one person to another

Ex: Nurses should wash their hands to prevent the transmission of infections.

Injury, wound

Ex: The accident victim had severe facial trauma.

Process used to determine the priority of treatment for patients according to the severity of a patient's condition and likelihood of benefit from the treatment.

Ex: When the paramedics arrived, they had to triage the patients.

Adverse or negative

Ex: The patient became very confused, which was an untoward effect of the medication received.

Microscopic infectious agent capable of replicating only in living cells, usually causing infectious disease

Ex: A person with a cold who goes shopping can transmit the virus to others.

Excrete, or expel urine

Ex: The patient was instructed to void into the container so the nurse could observe the appearance of the urine.

Amount of space occupied by a fluid.

Ex: The nurse recorded the volume of cough syrup administered to the patient.