 | Term | Definition |
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Cyanosis |
a bluish discoloration of the skin caused by insufficient oxygen |
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Erythema |
a reddish color of the skin caused by a congestion of blood in the vessels |
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Jaundice |
a yellow discoloration of the skin; may indicate bile in the blood or as a result of liver or gallbladder disease |
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Macules |
flat spots on the skin, such as freckles |
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Papules |
firm, raised areas such as pimples or the early stages of chicken pox |
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Vesicles |
blisters, or fluid-filled sacs such as those seen in advanced stages of chicken pox |
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Wheals |
itchy, elevated areas with an irregular shape; insect bites and hives |
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Ulcer |
a deep loss of skin surface that may extend into the dermis; may cause bleeding or scars |
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Eczema |
a non contagious, inflammatory skin disorder caused by an allergen or irritant. |
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Impetigo |
highly contagious skin infection caused by streptococci or staphylococci organisms. |
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Exudate |
material including fluid, pus, or cells that escaped from blood vessels and has deposited in tissues (ex-white exudate on tonsils as seen in Strep throat) |
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Axial skeleton |
main trunk of the body composed of the skull, spinal column, ribs, and breastbone. |
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Appendicular skeleton |
forms the extremities and is composed of the shoulder girdle, arm bones, pelvic girdle, and leg bones. |
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Sutures |
areas where the cranial bones have joined together |
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Fontanels |
spaces or “soft spots” that allow for enlargement of the skull as the brain grows during infancy and childhood. |
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Foramina |
openings in bones that allow nerves and blood vessels to enter or leave the bone. |
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Vertebrae |
bones of the spinal column including 7 cervical (neck), 12 thoracic (chest), 5 lumbar (waist), 1 sacrum (back of pelvic girdle), and 1 coccyx (tailbone). |
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Red Marrow |
found in certain bones (vertebrae, ribs, sternum, cranium, proximal humerus and proximal femur) where RBC’s, platelets, and some WBC’s are produced. |
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Compound/Open fractures |
the bone breaks and ruptures through the skin which creates an increased chance of infection |
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Osteomyelitis |
bone inflammation usually caused by a pathogenic organism; pus develops within the bone marrow |
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Osteoporosis |
increased porosity or the softening of the bones caused by low estrogen in females, prolonged lack of calcium in the diet, and a sedentary lifestyle |
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Scoliosis |
a lateral curvature of the spine |
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Adduction |
moving a body part toward the midline |
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Abduction |
moving a body part away from the midline |
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Fascia |
a tough, sheet-like membrane that covers and protects muscle tissue |
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Atrophy |
shrink in the size or losing strength in a muscle |
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Muscular Dystrophy |
a group of inherited diseases that lead to chronic, progressive muscle atrophy |
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Neurotransmitters |
chemicals located at the end of each axon that allow the nerve impulses to pass from one neuron to another |
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Central Nervous System |
consists of the brain and spinal cord |
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Peripheral Nervous System |
consists of the nerves |
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CVA |
cerebrovascular accident (stroke) occurs when blood flow to the brain is impaired, resulting in a lack of oxygen to the brain tissue |
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Meningitis |
an inflammation of the meninges of the brain and/or spinal cord and is caused by a microorganism |
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Glaucoma |
a condition of increased intraocular (within the eye) pressure caused by en excess amount of aqueous humor (the fluid in the eye); a leading cause of blindness |
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Otitis Media |
ear infection; most common in children due to a shorter Eustachian tube |
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Diastole |
ventricular rest (filling with blood) |
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Systole |
ventricular contraction (pumping blood) |
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Hypertension |
high blood pressure; a systolic pressure over 140 and/or a diastolic pressure over 90 |
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Myocardial Infarction (MI) |
heart attack; occurs when a blockage in the coronary arteries cuts off blood supply to the heart resulting in death of tissue |
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Thrombophlebitis |
inflammation of a vein where a clot forms |
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Arteriosclerosis |
a hardening or thickening of the arterial walls, resulting in a loss of elasticity and contractility |
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Artherosclerosis |
occurs when fatty plaques (cholesterol) are deposited on the artery walls |
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Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) |
occurs when the heart muscles do not beat adequately to supply the blood needs of the body; may involve right side or the left side of the heart |
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Angina Pectoris |
acute pain in the chest caused by interference with the blood supply or oxygen to the heart |
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Hypoxemia |
deficient oxygenation of the blood |
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Splenomegaly |
an enlargement of the spleen; can result from too many red blood cells, liver disease, mononucleosis |
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Cilia |
tiny hair-like structures in the respiratory airways that move mucous and trapped particles up to the esophagus where they can be swallowed. |
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Pleura |
each lung is enclosed in a membrane or sac called pleura |
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Pericardium |
a double-layered membrane or sac that covers the outside of the heart that is filled with a lubricating fluid, pericardial fluid, that prevent friction as the heart beats or contracts |
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease |
used to describe any chronic lung disease that results in obstruction of the airways-emphysema and chronic bronchitis are examples |
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Duodenum |
the first 9-10 inches of the small intestine (digestive enzymes released) |
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Jejunum |
the next 8 feet of the small intestine (the middle); absorption |
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Ileum |
the final 12 feet of the small intestine; where the small intestine connects to the large intestine (at the cecum); absorption |
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Peritoneum |
a membrane covering the abdominal organs |
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Oliguria |
below normal amounts of urination; seen in kidney disease or early kidney failure |
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Polyuria |
excessive urination seen with Diabetes |
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Anuria |
absence of urination; advanced kidney failure |
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Cystitis |
urinary bladder inflammation or infection; more common in females |
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Diabetes Mellitus |
a chronic disease caused by a decreased secretion of insulin |
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Insulin dependent diabetes milletus (Type 1) |
occurs early in life; usually more severe type that requires insulin |
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Non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (Type 2) |
mature onset, usually, occurs in obese adults with a tissue resistance to insulin; can be controlled with diet |
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Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) |
an inflammation of the uterus, cervix, and fallopian tubes caused by untreated STD’s; can result in infertility due to scarring |
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Prostatic hypertrophy |
an enlargement of the prostate gland in males; may be benign or malignant |
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Acute |
lasting a short period of time, but relatively severe |
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Chronic |
lasting a long period of time; re-occurring |
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Visceral |
pertaining to the organs |
