Unit 2 Terms-Joe Flashcards
Abdominal distention
Occurs when substances such as gas or fluid accumulate in the abdomen, causing its outward expansion beyond the normal girth of the stomach and waist
Abduction
To draw away from the midline of the body or from an adjacent part or limb
Acrocyanosis
Bluish or purple coloring of the hands and feet caused by slow circulation
Adduction
To draw inward toward the median axis of the body or toward an adjacent part or limb
Adventitious breath sounds
Abnormal sounds that are heard over a patient’s lungs and airways, including fine and coarse crackles (rales), wheezes (rhonchi), pleural rubs and stridor
Alopecia
The partial or complete absence of hair from areas of the body where it normally grows; baldness
Ascites
The accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity, causing abdominal swelling
Ataxia
The loss of full control of bodily movements
Atrophy
Waste away, typically due to the degeneration of cells
Auscultation
The act of listening, either directly or through a stethoscope or other instrument, to sounds within the body as a method of diagnosis
Bowel Sounds (i.e.,hypoactive, normoactive, hyperactive)
A rumbling, growling or gurgling noise produced by movement of the contents of the gastro-intestinal tract as they are propelled through the small intestine by a series of muscle contractions called peristalsis
Cachectic
Weakness and wasting of the body due to severe chronic illness
Conjunctiva
Mucous membrane that covers the front of the eye and lines the inside of the eyelids
Contusion
A region of injured tissue or skin in which blood capillaries have been ruptured; a bruise
Crackles
Clicking, rattling, or crackling noises made by one or both lungs of a person with a respiratory disease during inhalation
Crepitus
A grating sound or sensation produced by friction between bone and cartilage or the fractured parts of a bone
Cyanosis
Bluish discoloration of the skin resulting from poor circulation or inadequate oxygenation of the blood
Decerebrate
In decerebrate posturing, the head is arched back, the arms are extended by the sides, and the legs are extended. A hallmark of decerebrate posturing is extended elbows. Decerebrate posturing indicates brain stem damage.
Decorticate
Patients with decorticate posturing present with the arms flexed, or bent inward on the chest, the hands are clenched into fists, and the legs extended and feet turned inward. Decorticate posturing indicates that there may be damage to areas including the cerebral hemispheres, the internal capsule, and the thalamus.
Dysuria
Painful or difficult urination
Ecchymosis
A discoloration of the skin resulting from bleeding underneath, typically caused by bruising
Edema
An excess of watery fluid collecting in the cavities or tissues of the body
Erythema
Superficial reddening of the skin, usually in patches, as a result of injury or irritation causing dilatation of the blood capillarie
Exophthalmos
Abnormal protrusion of the eyeball or eyeballs
Fissure
Split or crack to form a long narrow opening
Flaccid
A part of the body that is soft and hanging loosely or limply
Hematoma
A solid swelling of clotted blood within the tissues
Hyperthermia
The condition of having a body temperature greatly above normal
Hypospadias
A condition in which the opening of the urethra is on the underside of the penis, instead of at the tip
Hypothermia
The condition of having an abnormally low body temperature, typically one that is dangerously low
Jaundice
Yellowish pigmentation of the skin, caused by too much bilirubin
Keloid
An area of irregular fibrous tissue formed at the site of a scar or injury
Kyphosis
An exaggerated rounding of the back
Murmur
A heart murmur is an extra or unusual sound heard during a heartbeat
Nevus
Also known as a mole
Nocturia
The need to wake and pass urine at night
Normocephalic
Having a normal-sized head
Pallor
An unhealthy pale appearance
Palpation
The process of using one’s hands to examine the body, especially while perceiving/diagnosing a disease or illness
Paraphimosis
An uncommon medical condition in which the foreskin of an uncircumcised penis becomes trapped behind the glans penis, and cannot be reduced (pulled back to its normal flaccid position covering the glans).
Petechiae
A small red or purple spot caused by bleeding into the skin
Phimosis
A congenital narrowing of the opening of the foreskin so that it cannot be retracted
Pleural Friction Rub
An audible medical sign present in some patients with pleurisy and other conditions affecting the chest cavity
Polydactyly
Extra fingers on the hands or toes on the feet
Pronation
Rotation of the hand or forearm so that the surface of the palm is facing downward or toward the back
Ptosis
Drooping of the upper eyelid due to paralysis or disease, or as a congenital condition
Purpura
A rash of purple spots on the skin caused by internal bleeding from small blood vessels
Pustule
A small blister or pimple on the skin containing pus
Rebound tenderness
Pain upon removal of pressure rather than application of pressure to the abdomen; Blumberg’s sign
Retraction
When the area between the ribs and in the neck sinks in when a person with asthma attempts to inhale
Rhonchi
Coarse rattling respiratory sounds, usually caused by secretions in bronchial airways
S1S2
The two major sounds of the normal heart sound like lub dub””
Sclera
The white outer layer of the eyeball
Strabismus
A condition in which the visual axes of the eyes are not parallel and the eyes appear to be looking in different directions
Striae
Irregular areas of skin that look like bands, stripes, or lines
Stridor
A harsh vibrating noise when breathing, caused by obstruction of the windpipe or larynx
Supination
Rotation of the forearm and hand so that the palm faces forward or upward
Tachypnea
Abnormally rapid breathing
Thrill
An abnormal fine tremor or vibration in the respiratory or circulatory systems felt on palpation
Tic
An involuntary, compulsive, rapid, repetitive, stereotyped movement or vocalization
Turgor
The state of turgidity and resulting rigidity of cells (or tissues), typically due to the absorption of fluid
Umbilicus
Navel or belly button
Vesicle
A fluid- or air-filled cavity or sac
Wheal
An area of the skin that is temporarily raised, typically reddened, and usually accompanied by itching
Wheeze
Breathing with a whistling or rattling sound in the chest, as a result of obstruction in the air passages
