EMR Module 2 Definitions Flashcards
EMR Module 2 Definitions
abdomen
The part of the body that contains the stomach, intestines, and other organs.
abdominal cavity
The space in the body below the diaphragm and above the pelvis that contains the stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen.
absorption
The process of moving nutrients, water, and electrolytes into the circulatory system so they can be used by body cells.
accessory organs of digestion
The organs that assist digestion by secreting fluids into the alimentary canal.
acetabulum
The socket of the hip bone that forms part of the hip joint.
adrenal glands
The glands located on top of each kidney.
allergen.
A substance that causes an allergic reaction.
alveoli
Microscopic air sacs at the end of the bronchioles in the lungs.
anal canal
The passageway through which feces leaves the body.
anaphylaxis.
A severe, life-threatening allergic reaction that affects multiple body systems.
anatomy
The study of the structure of an organism, such as the human body.
antibody
A substance that defends the body against bacteria, viruses, or other antigens.
antigen
Any substance that is foreign to an individual and causes antibody production.
aorta
The largest artery in the body that blood flows from to all parts of the body. It lies in front of the spine in the thoracic and abdominal cavities.
appendicular skeleton
The part of the skeleton that includes the upper and lower extremities (arms and legs), the shoulder girdle, and the pelvic girdle.
arteries
Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to the rest of the body.
arterioles
The smallest branches of arteries that connect arteries to capillaries.
atria
The two upper chambers of the heart that receive blood from the body and lungs.
autonomic
The part of the nervous system that controls involuntary functions and maintains homeostasis.
axial skeleton
The part of the skeleton that includes the skull, spinal column, sternum, and ribs.
blood pressure
The force exerted by the blood on the inner walls of the heart and arteries.
body cavity
A hollow space in the body that contains internal organs
breathing
The mechanical process of moving air into and out of the lungs.
bronchioles
Small tubes that branch off from the bronchi.
bronchus
Large airway tubes that the trachea branches into in the chest, with one tube leading to each lung.
capillaries
The smallest and most numerous blood vessels that are very thin and connect arterioles and venules.
cardiac muscle
The muscle found in the walls of the heart that produces the heart’s contractions and pumps blood.
cardiac output
The amount of blood the heart pumps each minute.
cardiovascular system
The system that is made up of the heart, blood, and blood vessels.
carpals
The bones within the wrist.
cecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum
The parts of the large intestine that food passes through in order: a pouch forming the beginning of the large intestine; the part that extends up the right side of the abdomen; the part that runs horizontally across the abdomen; the part that extends down the left side of the abdomen; the S-shaped section that connects the descending colon and the rectum; the final straight portion that connects to the anus.
cell metabolism
The sum of the chemical reactions that occur within cells, enabling them to maintain a living state.
cells
The basic units of all living tissue.
central nervous system
The system that allows the body to carry electrical signals from the body’s organ systems to the brain and spinal cord as well as to the various organ systems of the body.
central nervous system
The part of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord.
cer-vical spine
The part of the spine that extends from the base of the skull to the first thoracic vertebra.
cerebellum
The part of the brain that is responsible for the precise control of muscle movements as well as maintaining posture and balance.
cerebrospinal fluid (csf)
A clear liquid that is circulated continuously and acts as a shock absorber for the central nervous system.
cerebrum
The largest part of the human brain that consists of two cerebral hemispheres.
chest (thorax)
The region of the body containing the 12 thoracic vertebrae, 12 pairs of ribs, and the sternum that forms the thoracic cage protecting organs like the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels.
chyme
Partially digested food that is moved from the stomach into the small intestine.
circulatory system
The system that is made up of the heart, blood, and blood vessels.
corpus callosum
A very thick bundle of nerve fibers that joins the two hemispheres of the cerebrum.
cranial cavity
The hollow space in the head that contains the brain and is protected by the skull.
cranial nerves
The nerves that are linked directly to the brain.
cranium
The bony skeleton of the head that protects the brain from injury and gives the head its shape.
cranium
The bony enclosure that contains and protects the brain.
cricoid cartilage
The only complete ring of cartilage in the larynx.
defecation
The elimination of unabsorbed waste.
der-mis
The thick layer of skin below the epidermis that contains hair follicles, sweat and oil glands, small nerve endings, and blood vessels.
diaphragm
The muscle below the lungs that contracts to facilitate breathing.
diastolic blood pressure
The pressure in an artery when the heart is at rest.
diencephalon
The part of the brain between the cerebrum and the brainstem that contains the thalamus and hypothalamus.
digestion
The process of chemically breaking down food into small parts so that absorption can occur.
disease
An abnormal condition in which the body’s steady state (homeostasis) is threatened or cannot be maintained.
division
The separation of the peripheral nervous system into two parts.
division
The separation into parts or sections.
duodenum, jejunum
The sections of the small intestine where most digestion and absorption occurs.
elder speak ,
A style of speech used by younger people when communicating with older adults that resembles baby talk and contains features such as slower rate, patronizing tone, high pitch, increased volume, repetition, simplified vocabulary and grammar, and exaggeration of words. Its use implies the older adult is dependent and incompetent.
endocrine system
A system of glands that secrete chemicals (hormones) directly into the circulatory system to trigger a response in specific body cells.
epiglottis
The cartilage shaped like a leaf that is attached along the interior anterior border of the thyroid cartilage in a hingelike fashion.
erythrocytes
The red blood cells that contain hemoglobin, an iron-containing protein that chemically bonds with oxygen.
esophagus
The muscular tube located behind the trachea that serves as a passageway for food.
etiology
The study of cause.
expiration
The process of breathing out and moving air out of the lungs.
external nares
The nostrils or external openings of the nose.
fallopian tubes (oviducts)
The tubes that receive the ovum and transport it to the uterus after ovulation.
false ribs
Ribs that are not attached to the front of the sternum.
femur
The longest, heaviest, and strongest bone of the body.
fibula
One of the two lower leg bones that the tibia attaches to.
floating ribs
Ribs that are not attached to the front of the sternum.
fontanels
Diamond-shaped openings on an infant’s head that allow flexibility during delivery and growth of the brain. These gaps in the skull bones do not completely close until around 18 months of age.
foramen magnum
The opening in the base of the skull.
gallbladder
A sac-like organ that stores bile until it is needed by the small intestine.
glottis
The space between the vocal cords.
great vessels
The blood vessels that carry blood to and from the heart.
greater trochanter
The large, bony prominence on the lateral shaft of the femur to which the buttock muscles are attached.
hard palate
The bony floor of the nasal cavity.
heart
The muscular organ that pumps blood through the circulatory system by rhythmic contraction and dilation.
hemoglobin
An iron-containing protein that chemically bonds with oxygen.
hemor-rhage
An extreme loss of blood from a blood vessel.
homeostasis
The maintenance of a constant internal environment.
humerus
The upper arm bone to which the biceps and triceps muscles are attached, allowing the shoulder to rotate, flex, and extend. It is the largest bone of the upper extremity and is the second-longest bone in the body.
hypercarbia
An increase in carbon dioxide.
hyperthermia
A condition in which an individual’s body temperature becomes elevated beyond normal due to failed thermoregulation.
hypothalamus
Plays an important role in the control of thirst, hunger, and body temperature. Also serves as a link between the nervous and endocrine systems.
hypothermia
A condition in which an infant’s body temperature drops below normal due to their poorly developed temperature-regulating mechanisms.
hypoxia
A lack of adequate oxygen.
ileum
The section of the small intestine where most digestion and absorption occurs.
incubation period
The interval between the exposure to a disease-causing agent and the appearance of signs and symptoms.
infancytoddlerpreschoolerschool-ageadolescenceearly adulthoodmiddle adulthoodlate adulthood
The stages of human development from birth through the lifespan.
infarct
The death of tissue due to ischemia.
inflammation
A tissue reaction to disease, injury, irritation, or infection characterized by pain, heat, redness, swelling, and sometimes a loss of function.
ingestion
The process of taking food and liquids into the body.
inspiration
The process of breathing in and moving air into the lungs.
insulin
A hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas that decreases blood glucose concentration.
integumentary system
The system that is made up of the skin, hair, nails, sweat glands, and oil glands. It protects the body from the environment, bacteria, and other organisms, as well as keeping the fluids inside the body.
intercostal muscles
Muscles between the ribs
ischemia,
A reduced blood supply, which is the most common cause of hypoxia.
islets of langerhans
Clusters of cells within the pancreas that secrete hormones such as glucagon.
kidneys
The organs located at the back of the abdominal cavity on each side of the spinal column that produce urine, maintain water balance, aid in regulation of blood pressure, and regulate levels of many chemicals in the blood.
large intestine (colon)
The section of the intestine that is about 5 feet (1.5 meters) in length.
laryngopharynx
The lower-most part of the throat.
larynx
The structure in the upper airway that contains the vocal cords and is involved in speech production.
left upper quadrant (luq)
The area of the abdomen on the left side above the level of the navel.
left lower quadrant (llq)
The area of the abdomen below the umbilicus and to the left of the midline.
leukocytes
Cells that attack and destroy germs that enter the body.
ligaments
Tough groups of connective tissue that attach bones to bones and bones to cartilages. They provide support and strength to joints and restrain excessive joint movement.
liver
A large internal organ that produces bile, which emulsifies fats.
lower extremities
The bones of the pelvis, upper legs, lower legs, and feet.
lumen
The interior space of a blood vessel.
lungs
The spongy, air-filled organs bound superiorly by the clavicles and inferiorly by the diaphragm.
lymphatic system
The system that consists of lymph, lymph nodes, lymph vessels, tonsils, the spleen, and the thymus gland.
mammary glands
The organs that function in milk production after delivery of an infant.
manubrium
The uppermost (superior) portion of the sternum that connects with the clavicle and first rib.
mediastinum
The part of the space in the middle of the chest, between the lungs, that extends from the sternum (breastbone) to the spine.
melatonin
A hormone that has a role in regulating daily rhythms, such as sleep. Levels increase at night and are low or undetectable during the day.
menarche
The onset of menstruation during puberty.
meninges
The covering over the brain and spinal cord.
menopause
The cessation of menstruation that occurs in women in the late 40s or early 50s.
menstruation ,
The periodic discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus, occurring about every 28 days.
metacarpals
The bones in the hand that connect the wrist to the fingers.
metatarsal
The bones that make up the main part of the foot.
muscle tone
The state of partial contraction of muscle fibers due to continuous electrical signals from nerve cells, even when not actively moving.
nasopharynx
The part of the pharynx located directly behind the nasal cavity.
navel (umbilicus)
The point on the abdomen where the umbilical cord was attached during gestation.
nervous system
The collection of specialized cells that conduct information to and from the brain.
neurons
Cells of the nervous system that control voluntary and involuntary activities and provide for higher mental functions like thought and emotion.
objective findings.
Information that is observed or measured directly, rather than being reported by the patient.
olecranon
The joint where the humerus connects with the radius and the ulna.
organ
A structure made up of at least two different types of tissue that work together to perform a particular function.
organ system
A group of tissues and organs that work together to provide a common function in the body.
oropharynx
The middle part of the throat that serves as a passageway for air only.
ovaries
The pair of almond-shaped organs that produce eggs (ova).
pancreas
An organ that secretes juices containing enzymes for protein, carbohydrate, and fat digestion into the small intestine.
parasympathetic division
The part of the autonomic nervous system that conserves and restores energy; its effects are localized in the body.
parathyroid glands
Glands located behind the thyroid gland that secrete a hormone to maintain calcium levels in the blood.
parietal pleura
The outer lining that lines the wall of the chest cavity including the rib cage, diaphragm, and mediastinum.
patella
The kneecap that attaches to the femur and protects the knee joint anteriorly.
pathogenesis
The mechanism by which a disease develops.
pathology
The study of the physical, chemical, and mechanical processes that cause or are caused by disease or injury, producing changes in the structure and function of the body.
pathophysiology
The study of the physical, chemical, and mechanical processes that cause or are caused by disease or injury, producing changes in the structure and function of the body.
pelvic cavity
The area below the abdominal cavity that contains the urinary bladder, part of the large intestine, and the reproductive organs.
pelvic girdle
The bony arch made up of bones that enclose and protect the organs of the pelvic cavity. It provides a point of attachment for the lower extremities and the major muscles of the trunk.
pelvis
The bony ring formed by three separate bones that fuse to become one by adulthood, to which the lower extremities are attached at the hip joint.
penis
The organ that serves as the outlet for sperm and urine.
perfusion
The flow of blood through an organ or a part of the body.
pericardial cavity
The cavity surrounding the heart.
perineum
The area between the vaginal opening and the anus.
peripheral nervous system (pns)
The nerves that connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body.
peripheral vascular resistance (pvr),
The opposition that blood encounters in the blood vessels as it travels away from the heart, referring mainly to the arterial circulation.
peristalsis
The involuntary wavelike contraction of smooth muscle that moves material through the digestive tract.
peritoneal cavity
The potential space between two membranes that line the abdominal cavity, separating the abdominal organs from the abdominal wall.
phalanges
The bones of the fingers.
phalanges
The toes are the foot’s equivalent to the fingers.
pharynx
The part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity and above the esophagus and larynx.
physiology
The study of the normal functions of an organism, such as the human body.
pineal gland
The part of the brain that is responsible for producing melatonin, which has a role in regulating daily rhythms, such as sleep.
pituitary gland
The endocrine gland located at the base of the brain that secretes hormones that regulate other endocrine glands.
plasma
The liquid portion of the blood that carries oxygen, blood cells, vitamins, proteins, glucose, and many other substances throughout the body.
platelets
Irregularly shaped blood cells that have a sticky surface and gather at the site of an injury to help stop bleeding.
pleurae
The serous membranes that line the pleural cavities surrounding the lungs.
pleural cavities
The spaces surrounding each lung.
pleural space
The space between the visceral and parietal pleura filled with a small amount of oily fluid.
prostate gland
The gland that secretes fluid that increases sperm movement and neutralizes the acidity of the vagina during intercourse.
pulse
The regular expansion and recoil of an artery caused by the movement of blood from the heart as it contracts.
radius
The lateral, thumb side bone in the forearm.
reproductive system
The system that makes cells (sperm, eggs) that allow continuation of the human species.
respiration
The exchange of gases between a living organism and its environment.
right lower quadrant (rlq)
The area of the abdomen that contains the appendix.
right upper quadrant (ruq)
The section of the abdomen on the right side above the imaginary horizontal line through the navel.
risk factors
Factors that may increase a person’s chance of developing a disease.
scrotum
The loose sac of skin that houses the testes.
seminal vesicles
The glands that secrete fluid that nourishes and protects sperm.
shaken baby syndrome
A severe form of head injury that occurs when an infant or child is shaken by the arms, legs, or shoulders with enough force to cause the baby’s brain to bounce against the skull.
shock
The inadequate flow of blood through an organ or a part of the body.
shoulder girdle
The bony arch formed by the collarbones (clavicles) and shoulder blades (scapulae).
sign
A medical or trauma condition of the patient that can be seen, heard, smelled, measured, or felt by the examiner.
sinuses
Spaces or cavities inside some cranial bones that drain into the nose, produce mucus, and trap bacteria.
skeletal muscles
Muscles that move the skeleton, produce heat to maintain body temperature, and maintain posture. They are voluntary muscles because you can control how they move.
skeletal system
The framework of the body, made up of bones that provide structure and protect organs.
skull
The bony skeleton of the head that protects the brain from injury and gives the head its shape.
small intestine
The tube-shaped organ that is about 20 feet long and smaller in diameter than the large intestine, where food is further digested and nutrients are absorbed.
smooth (involuntary) muscle
Muscle that is found within the walls of tubular structures of the gastrointestinal tract and urinary systems, blood vessels, the eye, and the bronchi of the respiratory system, and whose movement cannot be consciously controlled.
soft palate
The fleshy part that extends behind the hard palate and marks the boundary between the nasopharynx and the rest of the pharynx.
somatic
The division of the peripheral nervous system that has receptors and nerves concerned with the external environment and influences the activity of the musculoskeletal system.
spinal cavity
The cavity that extends from the bottom of the skull to the lower back, contains the spinal cord, and is protected by the vertebral column.
spinal cord
The center for many reflex activities of the body that relays electrical signals to and from the brain and peripheral nerves.
spinal nerves
Nerves that relay impulses to and from the spinal cord.
spine (vertebral column)
The column of bones extending from the skull to the pelvis that encloses and protects the spinal cord.
sternum (breastbone)
The flat bone in the center of the front of the chest that connects to the ribs.
stroke volume
The amount of blood ejected by the ventricles of the heart with each contraction.
subcutane-ous layer
The thick layer below the dermis that contains fat and insulates the body from changes in temperature.
subjective findings
Findings that depend on the patient’s interpretation and description of their condition.
surfactant
A thin film that coats each alveolus and prevents the alveoli from collapsing.
sympathetic division
The part of the autonomic nervous system that mobilizes energy, particularly in stressful situations, through the fight-or-flight response.
symptom
A condition described by the patient.
syndrome
A group of signs and symptoms that together are characteristic of a specific disease or disorder.
systolic blood pressure
The pressure in an artery when the heart is pumping blood.
tarsal
The bones that make up the back part of the foot and heel.
tendons
Strong cords of connective tissue that firmly attach the end of a muscle to a bone.
testes
The male reproductive glands that produce sperm and testosterone.
thalamus
A part of the brain that functions as a relay station for impulses going to and from the cerebrum.
thoracic (chest) cavity
The space in the body located below the neck and above the diaphragm that is protected by the rib cage.
thymus gland, ovaries
The thymus gland plays a role in the body’s immune system. The ovaries are female reproductive organs that produce eggs and hormones.
thyroid cartilage
The largest cartilage of the larynx that is shaped like a shield and can be felt on the front surface of the neck.
thyroid gland
A gland located in the neck below the larynx that is shaped like a butterfly.
tibia
The larger of the two bones of the lower leg.
tissues
Groups of cells that cluster together to perform a specialized function.
trachea
The tube that connects the larynx to the bronchi and lungs.
true ribs
The ribs that are attached directly to the sternum by their own cartilage.
turbinates
Shelflike projections that protrude into the nasal cavity that warm, humidify, and filter air as it moves within them.
ulna
The longer of the two bones of the forearm, located on the medial side.
upper extremities
The bones of the shoulder girdle, the arms, the forearms, and the hands.
ureters
Tubes that drain urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder.
urethra
A canal that passes urine from the urinary bladder to the outside of the body.
urinary bladder
The temporary storage site for urine.
uterus
A hollow, muscular organ in which a fertilized ovum implants and receives nourishment until birth.
uvula
The small piece of tissue that looks like a mini punching bag and hangs down in the back of the throat.
vagina
The passageway for menstrual flow and delivery of an infant.
veins
Vessels that return blood to the heart. Veins normally carry oxygen-poor blood.
venous return.
The amount of blood returning to the ventricles.
ventricles
The two lower chambers of the heart that have thicker walls than the atria and pump blood to the lungs and body.
venules
The smallest branches of veins that connect capillaries and veins.
visceral pleura
The inner layer that covers the surface of the lungs.
vital organs
The organs that are essential for life.
wheezing
A high- or low-pitched whistling sound that is usually heard on exhalation, suggesting that the lower airways are partially blocked with fluid or mucus.
xiphoid process
The inferior portion that makes up the sternum. This landmark is important when determining the proper hand position for chest compressions in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
