Medical asepsis/Vital signs Key terms
About this set
Created by:
RDelValle on November 22, 2010
Subjects:
clinical procedures for medical assistans
Description:
clinical definitions for the Medical Assistant
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82 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 aerobe | a microorganism that needs oxygen to live and grow. |
| anaerobe | a microorganism that grows best in the absence of oxygen. |
| antiseptic | an agent that kills disease-producing microorganisms but not their spores. An antiseptic is usually applied to living tissue. |
| asepsis | free from infection or pathogens; the actions practiced to make and maintain an object free from infection or pathogens. |
| cilia | slender, hairlike projections that constantly beat toward the outside to remove microorganisms from the body |
| contaminated | to soil or to make impure. |
| decontamination | the use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactivate, or destroy bloodborne pathogens on a surface or item to the point where they are no longer capable of transmitting infectious particles, and the surface or item is rendered safe for handling, use, or disposal. |
| hand hygiene | The process of cleansing or sanitizing the hands. |
| infection | the condition in which the body, or part of it, is invaded by a pathogen |
| medical asepsis | practices that are employed to reduce the number and hinder the transmissions of pathogens. |
| microorganism | a microscopic plant or animal |
| nonintact skin | skin that has a break in the surface. It includes, but is not limited to, abrasions, cuts, hangnails, paper cuts, and burns. |
| nonpathogen | a microorganism that does nto normally produce disease. |
| opportunistic infection | an infection resulting from a defective immune system that cannot defend the body from pathogens normally found in the environment. |
| optimum growth temperature | the temperature at which an organism grows best |
| parenteral | taken into the body through the piercing of the skin barrier or mucous membranes, such as through needlesticks, human bites, cuts, and abrasions. Administration of medication by injection. |
| pathogen | a disease-producing organism. |
| perinatal | relating to the period shortly before or after birth. |
| pH | the unit that describes the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. |
| postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) | treatment administered to an individual after exposure to an infectious disease to prevent disease. |
| regulated medical waste (RMW) | medical waste that poses a threat to health and safety. |
| reservoir host | the organism that becomes infected by a pathogen and serves as a source of transfer of the pathogen to others. |
| resident flora | harmless, nonpathogenic microorganisms that normally reside on the skin and usually do not cause disease; also known as normal flora. |
| susceptible | easily affected; lacking resistance |
| transient flora | microorganisms that reside on the superficial skin layers and are picked up in the course of daily activities. They are often pathogenic but can be removed easily from the skin by sanitizing the hands. |
| adventitious sounds | abnormal breath sounds. |
| afebrile | without fever-the body temperature is normal. |
| alveoulus (pl. alveoli) | a thin-walled air sac of the lungs in which the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place |
| antecubital space | the space located at the front of the elbow. |
| antipyrectic | an agent that reduces fever. |
| aorta | the major trunk of the arterial system of the body. The aorta arises from the upper surface of the left ventricle. |
| apnea | the temporary cessation of breathing |
| axilla | the armpit |
| bounding pulse | a pulse with an increased volume that feels very strong and full. |
| bradycardia | an abnormally slow heart rate (less than 60 beat per minute) |
| Celsius scale | a temperature scale on which the freezing point of water is 0(degrees) and the boiling point of water is 100 (degrees); also called the centigrade scale. |
| conduction | the transfer of energy, such as heat. from one object to another by direct contact |
| convection | the transfer of energy, such as heat, through air currents. |
| crisis (pertaining to fever) | a sudden falling of an elevated body temperature to normal. |
| cyanosis | a bluish discoloration of the skin and mucuous membranes. |
| bradypnea | an abnormal decrease in the respiratory rate of less than 10 respirations per minute. |
| diastole | the phase in the cardiac cycle in which the heart relaxes between contractions. |
| diastolic pressure | the point of lesser pressure on the arterial wall, which is recorded during diastole. |
| dyspnea | shortness of breath or difficulty breathing |
| dysrhythmia | an irregular heart rhythm; also termed arrhythmia. |
| eupnea | normal respiration. The rate is 16-20 respirations per minute, the rhythm is even and regular, and the depth is normal. |
| exhalation | the act of breathing out. |
| Fahrenheit scale | a temperature scale on which the freezing point of water is 32 (degrees) and the boiling point of water is 212 (degrees). |
| febrile | pertaining to fever. |
| fever | a body temperature that is above normal. Synonym for pyrexia. |
| frenulum linguae | the midline fold that connect the undersurface of the tongue with the floor of the mouth. |
| hyperpnea | an abnormal increase in the rate and depth of respiration. |
| hypertension | high blood pressure |
| hyperpyrexia | an extremely high fever. |
| hyperventilation | an abnormally fast and deep type of breathing usually associated with acute anxiety conditions. |
| hypopnea | an abnormal decrease in the rate and depth of respiration |
| hypotension | low blood pressure |
| hypothermia | a body temperature that is below normal. |
| hypoxemia | a decrease in the oxygen saturation of the blood. Hypoxemia may lead to hypoxia. |
| hypoxia | a reduction of the oxygen supply to the tissues of the body. |
| inhalation | the act of breathing in |
| intercostal | between the ribs |
| Korotkoff sounds | sounds heard during the measurement of blood pressure that are used to determine the systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings. |
| malaise | a vague sensation of body discomfort, weakness, and fatigue that often marks the onset of a disease and continues throught he course of the illness. |
| manometer | an instrument for measuring pressure. |
| meniscus | the curved upper surface of liquid in a tube or container. The surface is convex if the liquid does not wet the container and concave if it does. |
| orthopnea | the condition in which breathing is easier when an individual is sitting or standing. |
| pulse oximeter | a computerized device consisting of a probe and monitor used to measure the oxygen saturation of arterial blood. |
| pulse oximetry | the use of a pulse oxymeter to measure the oxygen saturation of arterial blood. |
| pulse pressure | the difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures. |
| pulse rhythm | the time intervals between heart beats |
| pulse volume | the strength of the heartbeat. |
| radiation | the transfer of energy such as heat in the form of waves. |
| SaO2 (saturation of arterial oxygen) | abbreviation for the percentage of hemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen in arterial blood. |
| sphygmomanometer | an instrument for measuring arterial blood pressure. |
| SpO2 (saturation of peripheral oxygen) | abbreviation for the percentage of hemoglobin that is saturated with oxygen in arterial blood as measure by a pulse oximeter. |
| stethoscope | an instrument for amplifying and hearing sounds produced by the body. |
| systole | the phase in the cardiac cycle in which the ventricles contract,sending blood out of the heart and into the aorta and pulmonary aorta. |
| systolic pressure | the point of maximum pressure on the arterial walls, which is recorded during systole. |
| tachycardia | an abnormally fast heart rate (greater than 100 beats per minute) |
| tachypnea | an abnormal increase in the respiratory rate of more than 20 respirations per minute. |
| thready pulse | a pulse with a decreased volume that feels weak and thin. |
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