Chapter 12 Physical Assessment Terminology

Question 1

Acute

Answer 1

a disease described as acute begins abruptly develops slowly and persists over a long period, often for a person’s life time.

Question 2

anorexia

Answer 2

interview the patient regarding expelling of flatus, the latest bowel movement, and any reports of nausea, vomiting, or altered or decreased appetite.

Question 3

assessment

Answer 3

a complete health assessment is an evaluation or appraisal of the patient’s condition.

Question 4

auscultation

Answer 4

is the process of listening to sounds produced by the body

Question 5

borborygmi

Answer 5

increased sounds with a characteristically high- pitched, loud, rushing sound.

Question 6

bruits

Answer 6

are abnormal “swishing” sounds heard over organs, glands, and arteries.

Question 7

chronic

Answer 7

disease develops slowly and persists over a long period of time, often for a person’s life time.

Question 8

crackles

Answer 8

produced by fluids in the bronchioles and the alveoli, are short, discrete, interrupted, crackling, or bubbling sounds that are most commonly heard during inspiration.

Question 9

disease

Answer 9

a pathological condition of the body, is any disturbance of a structure or function of the body.

Question 10

drainage

Answer 10

refers to the passes or active removal of fluids from a body cavity, wound, or other source of discharge by one or more methods.

Question 11

dullness

Answer 11

percussion over a dense organ such as the liver produces a low- pitched, thud like sound called dullness.

Question 12

edema

Answer 12

swelling

Question 13

erythema

Answer 13

redness

Question 14

etiology

Answer 14

these illness, such as autoimmune diseases, are said to have an unknown etiology, or cause.

Question 15

exudate

Answer 15

refers to fluids, cells, or other substances that are slowly exuded, or discharged.

Question 16

flatness

Answer 16

percussion over a muscle produces a soft, high- pitched, flat sound called flatness.

Question 17

focused assessment

Answer 17

attention is concentrated or focused on a particular part of the body, where signs and symptoms are localized or most active, to determine their significance.

Question 18

functional disease

Answer 18

often appear to be those of organic disease, but careful examination fails to reveal evidence of structural or physiologic abnormalities.

Question 19

infection

Answer 19

is caused by an infection of micro organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites, that produce tissue damage