Exam 1 Vocabulary

Question 1

affect

Answer 1

outward display of emotions (facial expression)

Question 2

aphasia

Answer 2

inability to speak

ex. left hemisphere stroke

Question 3

auscultation

Answer 3

listening with a stethoscope

Question 4

auscultatory gap

Answer 4

period which sounds disappears then reappears at the time of BP measurement

Question 5

bilateral

Answer 5

both sides of the body

ex. bilateral lung sounds

Question 6

brachial pulse

Answer 6

pulse located at the inner aspect of antecubital fossa (inner elbow)

Question 7

bruit

Answer 7

abnormal blowing or swishing sounds heard during auscultation of an artery or organ

Question 8

delirium

Answer 8

acute, reversible mental disorder characterized by confusion, disorientation, anxiety, restlessness, and excitement

Question 9

dementia

Answer 9

broad term indicating impaired intellectual functioning, memory, and judgement

Question 10

diaphoresis

Answer 10

sweating

Question 11

diastole

Answer 11

period of ventricular relaxation in which ventricles fill with blood

Question 12

distal

Answer 12

area farthest away from a point of reference (midline of body)

Question 13

dysphagia

Answer 13

difficulty swallowing

Question 14

dysphasia

Answer 14

difficulty speaking

Question 15

ecchymosis

Answer 15

bruising

Question 16

hypoxia

Answer 16

insufficiency of oxygen in the body’s tissues

Question 17

ipsilateral

Answer 17

same side of body

Question 18

korotkoff

Answer 18

sounds heard during BP measurement

Question 19

lateral

Answer 19

away from the midline of the body; toward the side

Question 20

mean arterial pressure

Answer 20

average arterial pressure during a single cardiac cycle

(S+2D)/3

Question 21

medial

Answer 21

toward the body’s midline

Question 22

Mongolian spot

Answer 22

bluish-black pigmented area on the back or buttocks of a newborn with darker skin; often confused with bruising

Question 23

objective data

Answer 23

data obtained from examination, measurements, or diagnostic tests; observable by the RN

Question 24

ophthalmoscope

Answer 24

instrument used to examine the inner eye

Question 25

orthostatic HTN

Answer 25

fall in BP when a person assumes a standing position (systolic drops 20 mmHg and diastolic 10 mmHg)

Question 26

palpation

Answer 26

to examine by touch

Question 27

pulse deficit

Answer 27

difference between the apical and radial pulse rates

Question 28

pulse oximeter

Answer 28

external monitor placed on pt’s finger or earlobe to measure Oxygen saturation level in blood

> 95 nml

Question 29

pulse pressure

Answer 29

difference between systolic and diastolic pressure (nml is 30-40 mmHg)

Question 30

radial pulse

Answer 30

pulse found on the thumb side of the wrist

Question 31

sinus arrythmia

Answer 31

irregular cardiac rhythm in which HR increases during inspiration and decreases during expiration; common in children and YA

Question 32

sphygmomanometer

Answer 32

instrument to measure BP

Question 33

subjective data

Answer 33

symptoms a pt tells the RN which cannot be observed

Question 34

syncope

Answer 34

sudden, temporary loss of consciousness

Question 35

systole

Answer 35

period during the cardiac cycle in which ventricles contract to eject blood into the aorta and pulmonary arteries

Question 36

thrill

Answer 36

palpable heart murmur

“feel a thrill”

Question 37

tympany

Answer 37

High-pitched note heard upon percussion of a hollow, air-filled organ

Ex stomach, intestine

Question 38

resonant

Answer 38

clear, low sound

ex. normal adult lung tissue

Question 39

hyperresonant

Answer 39

loud, booming low-pitched sound typically heard in child’s lung (abnl for adults)

Question 40

dull

Answer 40

soft, high-pitched sound heard in a dense organ such a the liver or spleen

Question 41

flat

Answer 41

soft, dull stoppage of sound when no air is present

ex. over thigh muscles, bone, or tumor