Definitions B Flashcards
bacilli
Rod-shaped spore-forming bacteria. (Singular, bacillus).
bacteria
One-celled microscopic organisms. (Singular, bacterium). Most bacteria are not harmful to humans.
bacterial endocarditis
Inflammation of the lining or valves of the heart caused by bacteria in the bloodstream. One cause of this condition is bleeding during dental surgery because it allows bacteria from the mouth to enter the bloodstream.
bacterial pneumonia
Pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.
bacterial vaginosis
A condition in women in which there is an abnormal overgrowth of certain bacteria in the vagina. This condition can cause complications during pregnancy and an increased risk of HIV infection if exposed to the virus. Symptoms sometimes include a discharge, odor, pain, itching, or burning.
bactericide
A substance that causes the death of bacteria. This group of antibiotics includes penicillins and cephalosporins.
bacteriuria
The presence of bacteria in the urine.
balanitis
Inflammation of the glans penis that is usually caused by poor hygiene in men who have not had the foreskin removed by circumcision.
barbiturates
A class of drugs whose major action is a calming or depressed effect on the central nervous system.
bariactric surgery
Performed to treat morbid obesity by restricting the amount of food that can enter the stomach and be digested. These procedures limit food intake and force dietary changes that enable weight reduction.
bariatrics
The branch of medicine for the prevention and control of obesity and associated disease.
barium
A radiopaque contrast medium used primarily to visualize the gastrointestinal tract. It is administered orally as a barium swallow for an upper GI study. It is administered rectally as a barium enema for a lower GI study. Radiography and fluoroscopy are used to trace the flow of the barium.
barotrauma
Pressure-related ear condition. These conditions can be caused by pressure changes when flying, driving in the mountains, scuba diving, or when the eustachian tube is blocked.
Barrett?s esophagus
A condition that occurs when the cells in the epithelial tissue of the esophagus are damaged by chronic and exposure. Some patients with chronic GERD, develop this complication, which increases the risk of esophageal cancer.
basal cell carcinoma
A malignant tumor of the basal cell layer of the epidermis. This is the most common and least harmful type of skin cancer because it is slow growing and rarely spreads to other parts of the body. The lesions, which occur mainly in the face or neck and tend to blead easily, are usually pink, smooth, and are raised with a depression in the center.
behavioral therapy
Therapy that focuses on changing behaviors, replacing them with appropriate behaviors, and using rewards or other consequences to make the changes.
Bell?s palsy
Temporary paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve that causes paralysis only on the affected side of the face. In addition, paralysis symptoms can include the inability to close the eye, pain tearing, drooling, hypersensitivity to sound in the affected ear, and impairment of taste.
benign
Something that is not life-threatening and does not recur.
benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH
BPH is an enlargement of the prostate gland that most often occurs in men older than 50. This condition can make urination difficult and causes other urinary tract problems for men. Also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy or enlarged prostate.
beta-blockers
Medications administered to reduce the workload of the heart by slowing the heartbeat. They are commonly prescribed to lower blood pressure, relieve angina, or to treat heart failure.
binaural testing
Involves both ears.
biofeedback
Treatment that teaches a person to control bodily fluids through cognitive control techniques to decrease stress.
bioimpedence spectroscopy
A noninvasive method of diagnosing lymphedema by measuring the limb?s resistance to the affected limb, with abnormally low results showing a buildup of lymph. If this condition can be diagnosed with this technique at an early stage, there is hope that it will not develop any farther.
biopsy
The removal of a small piece of living tissue for examination to confirm or establish a diagnosis.
BiPAP machine
Noninvasive ventilation device like a CPAP machine; however, it can be set at a higher pressure for inhaling and a lower pressure for exhaling. It is used for sleep apnea in patients with neuromuscular diseases or those who find the CPAP machine uncomfortable.
bipolar disorder
A condition characterized by cycles of severe mood changes shifting from highs (manic behaviors) and severe lows (depression) that affect a person?s attitude, energy, and ability to function.
bladder retraining
Behavioral training in which the patient learns to urinate on a schedule with increasingly longer time intervals between scheduled urination.
bladder ultrasound
The use of a handheld ultrasound transducer to measure the amount of urine remaining in the bladder after urination. A normal bladder holds between 300 and 400 mL of urine. When more than this amount is present after urination, the bladder is described as being distended, or enlarged.
blepharoplasty
Surgical reduction of the upper and lower eyelids by removing sagging skin. A small amount of fat from the patient?s thighs or buttocks is sometimes injected in the hollow below the eye.
blindness
The inability to see. Although some sight remains, legal blindness is the point at which, under low, an individual is considered to be blind. A commonly used standard is that a person is legally when his or her best-correct vision is reduced to 20/200 or less.
blood dyscrasia
Any pathologic condition of the cellular elements of the blood.
bloodborne transmission
The spread of a disease through contact with blood or other body fluids that are contaminated with blood. Examples include human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, and most sexually transmitted disease (STDs).
blood urea nitrogen
A blood test performed to determine the amount of urea present in the blood.
body mass index (BMI)
A number that shows body weight adjusted for height. The results fall into one of these categories: underweight, normal, overweight, or obese. A high BMI is one of many factors related to developing chronic diseases such as heart diseases, cancer, or diabetes.
bolus
A single dose of a drug usually injected into a blood vessel over a short period of time. A bolus is also a mass of food that has been chewed and is ready to be swallowed.
bone density testing
A diagnostic test to determine losses or changes in bone density. These tests are used to diagnose conditions such as osteoporosis, osteomalacia, osteopenia, and Paget?s disease.
bone marrow biopsy
A diagnostic test that may be necessary after abnormal types or numbers of red or white blood cells are found in a complete blood count test.
bone marrow transplant (BMT)
Cancer treatment which abnormal bone marrow is destroyed and replaced with new stem cells.
bone scan
A specialized nuclear scan that identifies new areas of bone growth or breakdown. The results are obtained after a radionuclide tracer is injected into the bloodstream, and the patient then waits while the material travels through the body tissues. This testing can be done to evaluate damage to the bones detect cancer that has matastasized (spread) to the bones, and monitor conditions that can affect the bones. A bone scan can often detect a problem days to months earlier than a regular x-ray. Only pathology in the bones absorbs the radionuclide, and these are visible as dark areas.
borborygmus
The rumbling noise caused by the movement of gas in the intestine.
Botox
A formulation of botulinum toxin that is administered by injection to temporarily improve the appearance of frown lines between the eyebrows.
bowel incontinence
The inability to control the excretion of feces.
brachytherapy
The use of radioactive materials in contact with or implanted into the tissues to be treated.
bradycardia
An abnormally slow resting heart rate, usually at a rate of less than 60 beats per minute.
bradykinesia
Extreme slowness in movement. This is one of the symptoms of Parkinson?s disease.
bradypna
An abnormally slow rate of respiration, usually of less than 10 beats per minute.
brain tumor
An abnormal growth within the skull.
brand name
Medication sold under the name given the drug by the manufacturer. A brand name is always spelled with a capital letter. For example, Valium is a brand name for diazepam.
Braxton Hicks contractions
Intermittent painless uterine contractions that are not true labor pains.
breast augmentation
Mammoplasty performed to increase breast size.
breast cancer
A carcinoma that develops from the cells of the breast and can spread to adjacent lymph nodes and other body sites. There are several types of breast cancer named for their location or amount of spreading.
breast reduction
Mammoplasty performed to decrease and reshape excessively large, heavy breasts.
breast self-examination
A self-care procedure for the early detection of breast cancer. The focus of self-examination is checking for a new lump or for changes in an existing lump, shape of nipple, or the skin covering the breast.
breech presentation
A birth complication in which the buttocks or feet of the fetus are positioned to enter the birth canal first instead of the head.
bronchodilator
A medication that relaxes and expands the bronchial passages into the lungs. Patients with asthma use short-acting bronchodilators as needed as rescue medications while bronchodilators are used every day to control the condition.
bronchopneumonia
A localized form of pneumonia often affects the bronchioles. Bronchopneumonia often leads to lobar pneumonia.
bronchorrhea
An excessive discharge of mucus from the bronchi. This is often caused by chronic bronchitis or asthma.
bronchoscopy
The visual examination of the bronchi using a bronchoscope.
bronchospasm
A contraction of the smooth muscle in the walls of the bronchi and bronchioles that tighten and squeeze the airway shut.
bruit
An abnormal sound or murmur heard during auscultation of an artery. These sounds are usually due to a partially blocked, narrowed, or diseased artery. Note: the term bruit is also sometimes pronounced BROOT.
bruxism
Involuntary grinding or clenching of the teeth that usually occurs during sleep and is associated with tension or stress. It can also occur habitually during the day. Bruxism wears away tooth structure, damages periodontal tissues, and injuries the temporomandibular joints.
bulimia nervosa
An eating disorder characterized by frequent episodes of binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting, or the misuse of laxatives, diuretics, or other medications.
bulla
A large blister that is usually more than 0.5 cm in diameter. (plural, bullae)
burn
An injury to body tissues, caused by heat, flame, electricity, sun, chemicals or radiation. The severity of a burn is described according to the percentage of the total body skin surface affected (more than 15% is considered serious). It is also described according to the depth or layers of skin involved.
burn, first degree
A burn in which there are no blisters and only superficial damage to the epidermis. Also known as a superficial burn.
burn, second degree
A burn in which there are blisters and damage to both the epidermis and the dermis. Also known as a thickness burn.
burn, third-degree
A burn in which there is damage to the epidermis, dermis, subcutaneous layers, and possibly also the muscle below. Also known as a full thickness burn.
bursitis
Inflammation of a bursa.
