Ch. 8: Medical Terminology, Common Health Care Terms and Phrases

Question 1

Different from what is normal or usual

Answer 1

abnormal

Question 2

The activities usually done during a normal day in a person’s life

Answer 2

activities of daily living (ADL)

Question 3

Any item used by the person or staff to promote the person’s function or safety (hand rails, grab bars, mechanical lifts, canes, walkers, wheelchairs, devices for eating or dressing, and so on)

Answer 3

adaptive (assistive) device

Question 4

The total or partial loss of the ability to use or understand language

Answer 4

aphasia

Question 5

The decrease in size or the wasting away of tissue

Answer 5

atrophy

Question 6

Male or female

Answer 6

biological sex

Question 7

Part of the call system allowing the person to signal the nurses’ station for help

Answer 7

call light

Question 8

A written guide about the person’s care

Answer 8

care plan

Question 9

An on-going illness that is slow or gradual in onset; it has no known cure; it can be controlled and complications
prevented with proper treatment

Answer 9

chronic

Question 10

Involves memory, thinking, reasoning, ability to understand, judgment, and behavior

Answer 10

cognitive function

Question 11

The lack of joint mobility caused by abnormal shortening of a muscle

Answer 11

contracture

Question 12

A substance taken by mouth, injected, or applied to treat or prevent a disease or condition; medication, medicine

Answer 12

drug

Question 13

Difficulty swallowing

Answer 13

dysphagia

Question 14

Difficult, labored, or painful breathing

Answer 14

dyspnea

Question 15

The semi-solid mass of waste products in the colon that is expelled through the anus; stool or stools

Answer 15

feces

Question 16

Elevated body temperature

Answer 16

fever

Question 17

Not being able to control urination or bowel movements

Answer 17

incontinence

Question 18

The ability to move

Answer 18

mobility

Question 19

Awareness of one’s self and others, one’s location, and the time; or awareness of one’s surroundings

Answer 19

orientation; oriented

Question 20

The genital and anal areas

Answer 20

perineal

Question 21

localized damage to the skin and underlying soft tissue; the injury is usually over a bony prominence or related to a medical or other device and results from pressure

Answer 21

pressure injury

Question 22

The movement of a joint to the extent possible without causing pain

Answer 22

range of motion (ROM)

Question 23

Excreted feces

Answer 23

stool

Question 24

Being unaware of one’s setting and being unable to react or respond to people, places, or things

Answer 24

unconscious

Question 25

Temperature, pulse, respirations, and blood pressure (and pulse oximetry and pain in some agencies)

Answer 25

vital signs

Question 26

Emptying urine from the bladder; urinating, urination

Answer 26

voiding