Med Term Flashcards
A scratch or scrape
Abrasion
Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease or condition; illness of short duration, rapidly progressive, and in need of urgent care
Acute
The cellular process in which oxygen is used to metabolize glucose. Energy is produced in an efficient manner, with minimal waste products
Aerobic Metabolism
A massing together or clustering of independent but smaller units, such as particles, parts, or bodies
Aggregation
Irregular, gasping breaths that precede apnea and death
Agonal (breathing)
The cellular process in which glucose is metabolized into energy without oxygen. Energy is produced in an inefficinet manner, with many waste products
Anaerobic Metabolism
The absence of breathing
Apnea
Listening. A stethoscope is used to ausculate for characteristic sounds
Auscultation
A slow pulse; any pulse rate below 60 beats per minute
Bradycardia
Slow or below normal breathing rate
Bradypnea
The contraction of smooth muscle that lines the bronchial passages that results in a decreased internal diameter of the airway and increased resistance to airflow
Bronchoconstriction
Medication designed to enlarge constricted bronchial tubes, making breathing easier
Bronchodilation
The amount of blood ejected from the heart in one minute in one minute (heart rate * stroke volume)
Cardiac Output
Persisting for a long time
Chronic
Existing from the time of birth
Congenital
A bruise; in brain injuries, a bruised brain caused when the force of a blow to the head is great enough to rupture blood vessels
Contusion
The grating sound of feeling of broken bones rubbing together
Crepitation
Sweating; condition of cool, pale, and moist/sweaty skin
Diaphoretic
A process by which molecules move from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
Diffusion
Farther away from the torso
Distal
A condition of being stretched, inflated, or larger than normal
Distention
Shortness of breath; labored or difficult breathing
Dyspnea
The action or process of vomiting
Emesis
Referring to a route of medication administration that uses the gastrointestinal track, such as swallowing a pill
Enteral (medication)
Febrile
Feverish
A swelling caused by the collection of blood under the skin or in damaged tissues as a result of an injured or broken blood vessel. In a head injury, a collection of blood within the skull or brain.
Hematoma
Bleeding, especially severe bleeding
Hemorrhage
High blood suger
Hyperglycemia
An increase in body temperature above normal, which is a life-threatening condition in its extreme
Hyperthermia
Low blood sugar
Hypoglycemia
Inability of the body to circulate adequate blood to the body’s cells to supply them with oxygen and nutrients. A life-threatening condition.
Hypoperfusion
Shock resulting from blood or fluid loss
Hypovolemic
Away from the head, usually compared with another structure that is closer to the head
Inferior
To the side, away from the midline of the body
Lateral
A line drawn vertically from the middle of the armpit to the ankle
Midaxillary Line
The line through the center of each clavicle
Midclavicular Line
An imaginary line drawn down the center of the body, dividing it into right and left halves
Midline
The amount of air breathed in during each respiration multiplied by the number of breaths per minute
Minute volume
Also known as opiods; drugs that bind to opioid receptors in the body that have a depressant effect on the body and cause an intense state of relaxation and a feeling of well-being; prescribed for pain
Narcotic
Pale complex of the skin
Pallor
Touching or feeling. A pulse or blood pressure may be palpated with the fingertips
Palpation
Referring to the route of medication administration that does not use the gastrointestinal tract, such as with an intravenous medication
Parenteral (medication)
Air in the chest cavity
Pneumothorax
The feeling of extreme thirstiness that is often linked to urinary conditions
Polydipsia
The feeling of extreme hunger
Polyphagia
The excessive passage of urine of at least 2.5 liters per day for an adult, resulting in high urination and frequency
Polyuria
Lying facedown
Prone
Closer to the torso
Proximal
The rhythmic beats that are felt through the skin and that are caused as waves of blood move through and expand the arteries
Pulse
The diffusion of oxygen and carbon dioxide between the alveoli and the blood (pulmonary respiration) and between the blood and the cells (cellular respiration); the act of breathing in and out.
Respiration
A life-threatening condition resulting from the abnormal and counterproductive response by the body that causes damage to tissues and organs. The body overreacts and secretes substances that, instead of helping, hurts cells, tissues, and organs.
Sepsis
A condition of altered function caused when an artery in the brain is blcoked or ruptured, disrupting the supply of oxygenated blood or causing bleeding into the brain. Formerly called a cerebrovascular accident (CVA).
Stroke
Syncope
Fainting
A condition of above normal or rapid breathing
Tachypnea
Changes in a patient’s condition over time, such as slowing respirations or rising pulse rate, that may show improvement
Trending (vital signs)
Narrowing of the blood vessels that results from the contraction of the muscular walls of the vessels
Vasoconstriction
Widening of blood vessels that results from relaxation of the muscular walls of the vessels
Vasodilation
