8.1 Key Terms

Question 1

Biomedical science

Answer 1

The application of the principles of the natural sciences, especially biology and physiology, to clinical medicine.

Question 2

Blood pressure

Answer 2

The force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood and expressed in millimeters of mercury.

Question 3

Contagious

Answer 3

Communicable by contact.

Question 4

Diagnose

Answer 4

To recognize a disease by signs and symptoms.

Question 5

Diastolic pressure

Answer 5

Blood pressure that remains between heart contractions.

Question 6

Epidemic

Answer 6

An infectious disease that spreads rapidly and sickens a large number of people.

Question 7

Heart rate

Answer 7

A measure of cardiac activity usually expressed as the number of beats per minute.

Question 8

Homeostasis

Answer 8

The ability of an organism or cell to maintain equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes in order to function properly.

Question 9

Hyperthermia

Answer 9

Overheating of the body, possibly due to extreme weather conditions.

Question 10

Hypertension

Answer 10

High blood pressure.

Question 11

Hypothermia

Answer 11

Abnormally low body temperature.

Question 12

Infection

Answer 12

The state produced by the establishment of an infective agent in or on a suitable host.

Question 13

Inoculation

Answer 13

The introduction of a pathogen or antigen into a living organism to stimulate the production of antibodies.

Question 14

Outbreak

Answer 14

A sudden rise in the incidence of a disease.

Question 15

Pathogen

Answer 15

Any disease-producing agent such as a virus, bacteria, or parasite.

Question 16

Pulse

Answer 16

The rhythmic expansion and recoil of arteries resulting from heart contraction; can be felt from the outside of the body.

Question 17

Symptom

Answer 17

Something that indicates the presence of bodily disorder.

Question 18

Systolic pressure

Answer 18

The blood pressure generated by the heart during contraction.

Question 19

Vaccine

Answer 19

A harmless variant of a pathogen that stimulates a host’s immune system to mount defenses against the pathogen.

Question 20

Virus

Answer 20

A sub-microscopic particle that must infect living plant or animal cells to reproduce.

Question 21

Vital signs

Answer 21

Measurements of the body’s most basic functions and useful in detecting or monitoring medical problems.