Medical Term I struggle with

Question 1

Asthenia

Answer 1

refers to generalized weakness, typically secondary to cerebellar pathology

Question 2

Dysdiadochokinesia

Answer 2

refers to inability to perform rapid alternating movements. Condition is result of damage to cerebellum
Test with alternating finger to nose

Question 3

Dysmetria

Answer 3

• refers to inability to control the range of movement and force of muscular activity. (overshoot or undershoot)
• test by having pt walk on floor markers
• condition results from damage to cerebellum

Question 4

Thrombocytosis

Answer 4

increase in platelet count of the blood

• blood viscosity increases due to high platelet count
• not associated with an increase in BP

Question 5

Polycythemia

Answer 5

increase in the number of RBC’s and concentration of hemoglobin. This condition results in increased blood viscosity and increased blood volume, thus resulting in elevated BP.
Other S/S: fatigue, dyspnea, headache, dizziness, irritability, blurred vision, decreased mental acuity and sensory disturbances

Question 6

Describe patient controlled analgesia

Answer 6

This is a PCA pump like you saw in the hospital

• pt delivers an intravenous analgesic dose with preset parameters by pushing a button. Receives a preset does of medicine
• locks out when patient is unable to have meds

Question 7

tenosynovitis

Answer 7

inflammation of the tendon sheath

Question 8

premature ventricular contractions (PVCs)

Answer 8

premature beats arising from an ectopic focus in one of the ventricles of the heart
Causes of PVCs: caffeine, nicotine, stress, alcohol, and certain electrolyte imbalances

Question 9

ectopic foci

Answer 9

abnormal pacemaker sites outside the SA node that display automaticity
cause premature heart beat

Question 10

pruritis

Answer 10

itching

Question 11

amyloidosis

Answer 11

build up of amyloid in body tissue

Amyloids are proteins that can stick together and make fibrils that lead to disease

Question 12

erythropoesis

Answer 12

RBC production

• Kidneys help make erythropoietin, the protein that controls RBC production
• Poor functioning kidneys = low erythropeoitin = decrease in RBC = anemia

Question 13

coulomb

Answer 13

describes electrical charge, measures phase charge

1 coulomb = 6.25 x 10^18 electrons per second

Question 14

tactile fremitus

Answer 14

vibration of spoken words felt through the chest wall

-can be assessed using ulnar or palmar surface of the hand(s)

Question 15

Ballismus

Answer 15

large amplitude involunatry movements affecting the proximal limb musculature, manifested in jerking, flinging movements of the extremity

• usually results from a lesion in the subthalamic nucleus.
• often one side of the body is involved = hemiballismus

Question 16

equinus gait

Answer 16

gait characterized by excessive plantar flexion of the ankle

Question 17

hemoptysis

Answer 17

the coughing up of blood

Question 18

Athetoid CP

Answer 18

fluctuate between hypotonia and hypertonia

Question 19

Hyperplasia

Answer 19

increase in the number of cells, but not the size

Question 20

hypertrophy

Answer 20

increase in the size of the cells not the number

Question 21

alopecia areata

Answer 21

autoimmune disease that targets hair follicles resulting in patches of hair loss

Question 22

dyspesia

Answer 22

describes a group of symptoms

indigestion: upper abdominal discomfort, burning sensation, bloating, gassiness, nausea