Define That Term Flashcards
Hematochezia
Fresh blood passed with stool.
Rectorhagia
Leaking blood from the rectum
Melena
Dark tarry stool
Periosteum
A dense layer of vascular tissue enveloping the bones except at the surface of the joints.
Breath Stacking
Where the patient places additional air on top of the air already in their lungs, which can add extra force to their cough. May be helpful to patients with MND, who have difficulty clearing secretions and mucus. May be used in conjunction with inflatable bag and mask, used to gently encourage more air to be inhaled. a small machine called a ‘cough assistance device’ may also help to clear mucus.
Haematemesis
Vomiting blood.
Tracheoesophageal fistula
An abnormal connection between this two tubes.
Mediastinitis
Swelling or inflammation of the mediastinum (area between the lungs, containing heart, trachea, oesophagus, lymph nodes and aorta).
Empyema
Pockets of pus that has collected within a cavity in the body. Typically the pleural space.
Pleuritic chest pain
Sharp chest pain that worsens during breathing.
Hemoptysis
Coughing up blood.
Odynophagia
Painful swallowing
Define: glycosuria
Glucose excretion in urine
Kussmaul respiration
Sweet smell on the breath
Dysarthria
Slurred speech.
Weakness in the muscles used for speech, which often causes slowed or slurred speech.
Diplopia
Double vision.
Define: chronotropic effect
Chronotropic effects are those that change the heart rate. Chronotropic drugs may change the heart rate and rhythm by affecting the electrical conduction system of the heart and the nerves that influence it, such as by changing the rhythm produced by the sinoatrial node.
Define: hypoxia drive
When the bodies chemoreceptors switch from measuring CO2 to O2, often in the presence of COPD (where CO2 levels are always elevated), in order to control respiratory rate in response to demand.
Polycythemia/erythrocytosis
High concentration of red blood cells in blood
Prader-Willi syndrome
Excessive appetite
Restricted growth
Hypotonia
Learning difficulties
Behavioural difficulties
Lack of sexual development
Pernicious anemia
a decrease in red blood cells that occurs when the intestines cannot properly absorb vitamin B12
Lumbago
Lower back pain
Huntingtons disease
a condition that damages nerve cells in the brain causing them to stop working properly.
It’s passed on (inherited) from a person’s parents. The damage to the brain gets worse over time. It can affect movement, cognition (perception, awareness, thinking, judgement) and mental health.
Legionnaires disease
Lung infection (pneumonia) (occasionally wounds, heart etc.) caused by Legionella bacteria. Mild form - Pontiac fever (fever, chills, headache and muscle aches)
Transmission: water droplets from hot tubs, air conditioning etc.
Opisthotonus
dramatic abnormal posture due to spastic contraction of the extensor muscles of the neck, trunk, and lower extremities that produces a severe backward arching from neck to heel.
Often seen in tetanus and strychnine poisoning.
emprosthotonus
a tetanic spasm in which the head and feet are brought forward toward each other and the back arched.
pleurothotonus
a rare neurological disorder which occurs due to prolonged exposure to antipsychotic drugs (which may also be referred to as neuroleptics). It is characterized by dystonia, and abnormal and sustained involuntary muscle contraction.
Also called visa syndrome, due to the sideways lean.
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)
a common disorder of the inner ear with symptoms including dizziness, vertigo, unsteadiness and nausea.
BPPV is the most common cause of vertigo, especially in people over 65 years old.
Vestibular neuritis
an inner ear disorder that causes symptoms such as sudden, severe vertigo, dizziness, balance problems, nausea and vomiting. Experts believe that viral infections cause vestibular neuritis. Treatment typically involves managing symptoms or taking antiviral medications.
Labrynthitis
inflammation of the labyrinth — part of your inner ear. It can cause vertigo, hearing loss and other symptoms. Possible treatments include antibiotics, antivirals or steroid medications. In rare cases, untreated labyrinthitis can lead to long-term balance issues and permanent hearing loss.
Retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (R-CPD)
Condition in which the cricopharyngeus muscle doesn’t relax to allow air to exit the stomach and esophagus
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Symptoms include inability to burp, abdominal bloating, gurgling sounds from the neck and chest, excessive flatulence
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Treatment includes Botox injection, partial cricopharyngeal myotomy
