common terms Flashcards
CHF
congestive heart failure
CABG
coronary artery bypass grafting
MRSA
methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. it is a staph gern that doesn’t get cured with first line antibiotics
NKDA
No know drug allergy
ACS
acute coronary syndrome
CAD
coronary artery disease
PE
pulmonary embolism
DVT
deep vein thrombosis
BTL
bilateral tubal ligation
TIA
transient ischemia attack/ mini stroke
ROM
range of motion
DNR- do not resuscitate
instructions to withhold resuscitation efforts. order given by physician after consulting with patient or surrogate decision maker or by medical command authority
NPO
not by mouth
DTR
deep tendon reflexes- physician will tap on tendon. if equal intensity on both sides, then normal. connections between spinal cord and muscles are normal.
Babinski reflex
when sole of foot tickled, then big toe curls upward. normal in infants however signs of CNS damage later in life
Homan’s sign
pain in the calf upon dorsiflexion of the foot with leg extended that is diagnostic of thrombosis in the deep vein area
distension
refers to an enlargement or ballooning effect
JVD-jugular venous distension
distended jugular vein in the neck
PERRL
pupils are equally rounded, responds to light, and accommodates.
scleral icterus
yellowing of the sclera due liver disease. such as hepatitis
cachectic
Having the appearance of cachexia or indicative of a loss of weight, muscle atrophy, fatigue, weakness, and significant loss of appetite in someone who is not COPD, or any degenerative or wasting disease.
cyanosis
is the appearance of a blue or purple coloration of the skin or mucous membranes due to the tissues near the skin surface being low on oxygen.
stridor
An abnormal, high-pitched, musical breathing sound caused by a blockage in the throat or voice box (larynx). It is usually noted upon inspiration
diaphoresis
profuse sweating
Mottled
An area of skin composed of macular lesions of varying shades or colors.
ecchymosis
bluish discoloration of an area of skin or mucous membrane caused by the extravasation of blood into the subcutaneous tissues as a result of trauma to the underlying blood vessels or fragility of the vessel walls.
erythema
redness or rash on the skin
petechiae
bleeding under the skin
pallor
appearing pale, especially in the face.
ascites
abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in the spaces between tissues and organs in the cavity of the abdomen
rebound tenderness
a sensation of pain felt when pressure (as to the abdomen) is suddenly removed
orthopnea, guarding
difficulty in breathing that occurs when lying down and is relieved upon changing to an upright position (as in congestive heart failure).
crepitus
term to describe the grating, crackling or popping sounds and sensations experienced under the skin and joints or a crackling sensation due to the presence of air in the subcutaneous tissue.
decubitus
an ulceration of tissue deprived of adequate blood supply by prolonged pressure—also called decubitus ulcer, pressure sore
normocephallic
having a normal sized head
exudate
fluid, such as pus or clear fluid, that leaks out of blood vessels into nearby tissues. The fluid is made of cells, proteins, and solid materials. Exudate may ooze from cuts or from areas of infection or inflammation.
purulence
Pus, or the condition of containing or discharging pus
adenopathy
any disease or enlargement involving glandular tissue;: one involving lymph nodes
menigismus
A constellation of signs and Sx–eg, headache, neck stiffness suggestive of meningitis,
malaise
an indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health often indicative of or accompanying the onset of an illness
periorbital ecchymosis
A descriptive term for bilateral periorbital accumulations of blood or other substances. Also known as Racoon eyes
CVA- costovertebral angle
one of two angles that outline a space over the kidneys. The angle is formed by the lateral and downward curve of the lowest rib and the vertical column of the spine itself. CVA tenderness to percussion is a common finding in pyelonephritis and other infections of the kidney and adjacent structures.
rales
A type of abnormal respiratory or breath sounds heard on auscultation. The noise made can be described as a fine, rustling sound
ronchi
A whistling or snoring sounds heard on auscultation of the chest when air channels are partially obstructed.
torsion
the abnormal twisting or a bodily organ on its own axis
skin turgor
refers to the skins level of hydration, assessed by lightly pinching the skin upward and noting if it quickly returns to a normal state, decreased skin turgor is a sign of dehydration
stenosis
a narrowing or constriction of the diameter of a bodily passage or orifice
Battle’s sign
a discoloration behind the ear in the line of the posterior auricular artery often associated with a basilar skull fracture
Glasgow Coma Score
A neurological scale used to determine the level of consciousness of a patient.
hematoma
a mass of usually clotted blood that forms in a tissue, organ, or body space as a result of a broken blood vessel
ataxia
an inability to coordinate voluntary muscular movements that is symptomatic of some central nervous system disorders and injuries and not due to muscle weakness —called also incoordination
malocclusion
abnormality in the coming together of teeth
edema
an abnormal infiltration and excess accumulation of serous fluid in connective tissue or in a serous cavity
Kernig’s sign
symptom of meningitis; patient cannot extend the leg at the knee when the thigh is flexed because of stiffness in the hamstrings
Brudzinski’s Sign
is the appearance of involuntary lifting of the legs when lifting a patient’s head off the examining couch, with the patient lying supine
induration
a hardened mass or formation
flail chest
paradoxical movement of the chest and is usually caused by trauma to the chest. If a person suffers from broken ribs or punctured lungs, the air movement is reversed. Instead of chest expansion on inhalation, you will notice the skin being sucked in.
trismus
a prolonged tonic spasm of the muscles of the jaw
Arcus Senilis
a white, gray, or blue opaque ring in the corneal margin (peripheral corneal opacity), or white ring in front of the periphery of the iris.
hematuria
bloody urine
polydipsia
excessive thirst
dysphagia
difficulty swalowing
emesis
vomit
hemoptysis
bloody sputum
epistaxis
nosebleed
rhinorrhea
runny nose
diarrhea
abnormally frequent intestinal evacuations with more or less fluid stools
hematemesis
vomiting blood
hematochezia
a passage of blood in feces
melena
the passage of dark tarry stools containing decomposing blood that is usually an indication of bleeding in the upper part of the alimentary canal and especially the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum
abrasion
the rubbing or scraping of the surface layer of cells or tissue from an area of the skin or mucous membrane
dysuria
painful urination
paresthesia
a sensation of pricking, tingling, or creeping on the skin having no objective cause and usually associated with injury or irritation of a sensory nerve or nerve root
syncope
loss of consciousness resulting from insufficient blood flow to the brain.
hypo/hyper-kalemia
def or inc of potassium in the blood
hypo/hyper-calcemia
def or inc of calcium in the blood
hypo/hyper-magnesemia
def or increase of magnesium in the blood
hypo/hyper-natremia
def or inc of sodium in the blood
febrile
having or showing symptoms of fever
hemorrhage
a copious amount of blood lost from vessels
lingual
pertaining to the tongue
ileus
blockage of intestines from lack of peristalsis
nares
nostrils
myalgia
muscle pain
neuralgia
nerve pain
oropharnyx
the part of the pharynx that is below the soft palate and above the epiglottis and is continuous with the mouth
palpate
to examine by touch
auscultation
the act of listening to sounds arising within organs (as the lungs or heart) as an aid to diagnosis and treatment
stellate
shaped like a star. having multiple branches radiating from a central point
dentition
the character of a set of teeth esp with regard to their number kind, kind, and arrangement.
dental caries
tooth decay
cholecystectomy
removal of gallbladder
nephrolithiasis
having renal stones
cerumen
earwax
effusion
the escape of a fluid from anatomical vessels by rupture or exudation
pyresis
of, pertaining to, affected by, or producing fever. For example, Anti-pyretic medications are designed to lower fevers
anesthesia: medication designed to take away pain.
1) Local: numbs one small area of the body. You stay awake and alert.
2) Conscious or intravenous (IV) sedation: uses a mild sedative to relax you and pain medicine to relieve pain. You stay awake but may not remember the procedure afterwards.
3) Regional anesthesia: blocks pain in an area of the body, such an arm or leg. Epidural anesthesia, which is sometimes used during childbirth, is a type of regional anesthesia.
4) General anesthesia: affects your whole body. You go to sleep and feel nothing. You have no memory of the procedure afterwards.
sepsis
blood poisoning. the general term used by medical professionals to describe a body state of systemic inflammation, resulting from a widespread infection.
arrhythmia
an alteration in rhythm of the heartbeat either in time or force
laparoscopy
is a modern surgical technique in which operations in the abdomen are performed through small incisions. Also known as minimally invasive surgery
laparotomy
A surgical procedure involving a large incision through the abdominal wall to gain access into the abdominal cavity. It is also known as celiotomy
aneurysm
an abnormal widening or ballooning of a portion of an artery due to weakness in the wall of the blood vessel
ischemia
A decrease in the blood supply to a bodily organ, tissue, or part caused by constriction or obstruction of the blood vessels
CVA- cerebrovascular attack
a stroke, is the rapid loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain
meninges
membranes that cover the spinal cord and brain- the CNS
Alzheimer’s disease
degenerative brain disease of unknown cause that is the most common form of dementia, that usually starts in late middle age or in old age, that results in progressive memory loss, impaired thinking, disorientation, and changes in personality and mood
pyelonephritis
inflammation of both the lining of the pelvis and the parenchyma of the kidney
CT scan
computerized tomography image scanning
MRI
magnetic resonance image
post-ictal
occurs after sudden epileptic attack or seizure
tinnitus
ringing in the ears
tinea
any of several fungal diseases on the skin. esp ringworm
vertigo
a sensation of motion associated with various disorders in which the individual or the individual’s surroundings seem to whirl dizzily, dizziness
pleurisy
inflammation of the pleura that is typically characterized by sudden onset, painful and difficult respiration, and exudation of fluid or fibrinous material into the pleural cavity—called also pleuritis
fascia
a type of connective tissue that covers or binds together body structures.
ligament
connective tissue connecting bones to bones
tendon
connective tissue connecting muscle to bone
gingiva
gums
dehiscence
a separation of layers. esp of parting of the sutured lips of a surgical wound
dysmenorrhea
painful menstruation
arthralgia
joint pain
EtOH
ethanol. found in alcoholic beverages.
adnexa
conjoined, subordinate, or associated anatomic parts. The uterine adnexa include the ovaries and fallopian tubes
fasciculation
small involuntary muscle twitch
diabetes mellitus
a metabolic disorder that results from inadequete insulin secretion
mechanism of injury
manner in which injuries occur. actions or object that caused trauma or injury
nitroglycerin
medication that dilates blood vessels and decreases the workload on the heart; often used to treat angina pectoris
nonbreather mask
device used to deliver high concentrations of oxygen to patients in acute respiratory distress; has a reservoir bag and a one-way valve to prevent rebreathing
