N-Z Vocab Flashcards
NIDA
National institute on drug abuse
NP
Nasopharyngeal
NPO
Nothing by mouth
Nosocomial infection
An infection acquired in a health care facility
Occlusion
Obstruction
Occupational safety and health administration (OSHA)
U.S. Government agency that mandates and enforces safe working conditions for employees
O&P
Ova and parasites; a test to detect the presence of intestinal parasites and their eggs in feces
Order of draw
A special sequence in tube collection that is intended to minimize additive carryover or cross-contamination problems
Osteochondritis
Inflammation of the bone and cartilage
Osteomyelitis
Inflammation of the bone marrow and adjacent bone
Oxalates
Anticoagulants that prevent clotting by precipitating calcium
Palmar
Concerning the palm of the hand
Palpate
Examine by feel or touch
Password
A secret code that uniquely identifies a person and allows him or her to become a system user
Patency
State of being freely open, as in the normal condition of the vein
Pathogenic
Capable of causing disease
Pathogens
Microbes capable of causing disease
Neutropenic
Pertaining to an abnormally small number of neutrophils in the blood.
Patient ID
The process of verifying a patient’s identity
Peak level
Drug level collected when the highest serum concentration of the drug is anticipated.
Per-cutaneous
Through the skin
Pericardial fluid
Fluid aspirated from the pericardial cavity that surrounds the heart.
Peritoneal fluid
Fluid aspirated from the abdominal cavity
Permucosal
Through mucous membranes
Personal protective equipment (PPE)
Protective clothing and other protective items worn by an individual
Petechiae
Tiny, nonraised red spots that appear on a patient’s skin upon tourniquet application. They are minute drops of blood that escape the capillaries and come to the surface of the skin below the tourniquet, most commonly as a result of capillary wall defects of platelet abnormalities
Phalanges (phalanx)
Bones of the fingers or toes
Phlebotomy
Incision into the vein for the purpose of drawing blood
Plantar surface
The sole or bottom surface of the foot
Plasma
The top layer of clear liquid used for testing;also the fluid portion of the blood in the living body
Platelets
Cellular elements that play a role in blood clotting
Pleural fluid
Fluid aspirated from the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs
Polycythemia
A disorder involving overproduction of red blood cells
Posterior curvature
Medical term for the back of the heel
Postprandial
After a meal
Potassium (K+)
A mineral that is essential for normal muscle activity and the conduction of nerve impulses
Potassium oxalate
An anticoagulant commonly used with the antiglycolytic agent sodium fluoride
Preanalytical
Prior to analysis
Primary hemostasis
The first two stages of coagulation process, involving vasoconstriction and the formation of the platelet plug
Prone
Lying face down
Prothrombin test (PT)
A test used to evaluate the function of the extrinsic pathway and monitor coumarin therapy