| A | B |
|---|
| assessment | evaluation or appraisal of a condition |
| Temperature | 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Pulse | number of times the heart beagts each minute; may be measured at different points on the body; normal adult pulse range = 50 to 80 beats per minute |
| Respiration rate (RR) | number of respirations each minute (a single respiration is one inhalation and one exhalation); normal RR for an adult = 20 breaths per minute |
| Auscultation | listening thru a stethoscope for sounds within the body to determine the condition of the lungs, pleura, heart, and abdomen |
| bruit | abnormal sound or murmur heard in auscultation |
| rale | abnormal rattle or crackle-like respiratory sound heard during inspiration |
| Rhonchus (wheezing) | added sound with a musical pitch occurring during inspiration or expiration that results from a partially obstructed airway caused by inflammation, spasm of smooth muscles, or the presence of mucus in the airways |
| Stridor | abnormal, high-pitched, harsh or crowing sound heard during inspiration that results from a partial blockage of the pharynx, larynx, and trachea |
| Palpation | examination technique in which the examiner's hands are used to feel the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body parts |
| Percussion | diagnostic procedure to determine the density of a body area by the sound produced by tapping the surface with the finger or instrument |
| ophthalmoscope | used to examine the interior of the eye |
| PERLLA | pupils are equal, round, responsive to light and accommodation |
| otoscope | used to visually examine the external ear canal and tympanic membrane |
| speculum | used to enlarge the opening of any canal or cavity to facilitate inspection of its interior |
| prone position | lying on the belly face down; used for the examination and treatment of the back and buttocks |
| supine position (horizontal recumbent position) | lying on the back with the face up; used for examination and treatment of the anterior surface of the body and for x-rays |
| dorsal recumbent position | pt is supine with the knees bent; used for the examination and treatment of the abdominal area and for vaginal or rectal examinations |
| Sims' position | lying on the left side with the right knee and thigh drawn up with the left arm placed along the back; used in the examination and treatment of the rectal area |
| knee-chest position | lying face down with the hips flexed so the knees and chest rest on the table; used for rectal exams |
| lithotomy position | supine with the feet and legs raised and supported in stirrups; used for vaginal and rectal examinations |
| Trendelenburg position | lying on the back with the pelvis higher than the head; the knees are slightly bent, and the legs are hanging off the end of the table; used for pelvic surgery, some radiographic exams and used in the treatment of shock |
| profile | tests that are frequently performed as a group on automated multichannel laboratory testing equipment |
| stat | immediately |
| Phlebotomy | puncture of a vein for the purpose of drawing blood |
| phlebotomist | individual trained and skilled in phlebotomy |
| capillary puncture | technique used when only a small amt of blood is needed as a specimen for a blood test |
| complete blood cell count (CBC) | series of tests performed as a group to evaluate several blood conditions |
| Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR); also known as sed rate | test based on the rate at which the RBC separate from the plasma and settle to the bottom of the container; elevated count indicates the presence of inflammation in the body |
| hematocrit test (HCT) | measures the percentage by volume of packed rbc's in a whole blood sample; used to diagnose abnormal states of hydration, polycythemia, and anemia |
| platelet count (PLC) | measures the number of platelets in a specified amt of blood; used to assess the effects of chemotherapy and radioation therapy and to aid in the diagnosis of thrombocytopenia |
| red blood cell (RBC) count | determination of the number of erythrocytes in the blood; decreased count may indicate anemia or a hemorrhage lasting more than 24 hrs |
| total hemoglobin (Hb) test | measures the amt of hemoglobin found in whole blood; measure the severity of anemia or polycythemia and monitor the response to therapy |
| shite blood cell (WBC) count | is a determination of the number of leukocytes in the blood; elevagted count may be an indication of infection or inflammation |
| white blood cell differential | determines what percentage of the total WBC count is composed of each of the 5 types of leukocyte; provides info about the pt's immune system, detects certain types of leukemia, and determines the severity of infection |
| Agglutination testing | includes a variety of tests that involve the clumping togethter of cells or particles when mixed with incompatible serum; used to determine the pt's blood type and to check compatibility of donor and recipient blood before a transfusion |
| Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) | amt of urea present in the blood; urea is the major end product of protein metabolism found in urine and blood and this test is a rough indicator of kidney function |
| Lipid tests (lipid panel) | measures the amts of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides in a blood sample |
| Prothrombin time (pro time) | used to diagnose conditions associated with abnormal bleeding and to monitor anticoagulant therapy |
| Serum enzyme tests | usede to measure the blood enzymes; are useful as evidence of a myocardial infarction (heart attack) |
| serum bilirubin test | measures how well RBC's are being broken down; elevated levels of bilirubin, which cause jaundice, may indicate liver problems or gallstones |
| thyroid-stimulating hormone assay | measures circulating blood levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) that may indicate abnormal thyroid activity |
| Urinalysis | examination of the physical and chemical properties of urine to determine the presence of abnormal elements |
| dipstick | chemicals are impregnated on this plastic strip that react with substances in the urine and change color when abnormalities are present |
| Casts | fibrous or protein materials, such as pus and fats, that are thrown off into the urine in kidney disease |
| pH range | 4.5 to 8.0 |
| pH value below 7 | indicates acid urine and is an indication of acidosis |
| pH value above 7 | indicates alkaline urine and may indicate conditions like a urinary tract infection |
| pH | degree of acidity or alkalinity of a substance |
| specific gravity | reflects the amt of wastes, minerals, and solids in the urine; low specific gravity (dilute urine) is characteristic of diabetes insipidus; high specific gravity (concentrated urine) occurs in conditions such as dehydration, liver failure, and shock |
| Acetone | sweet fruity odor is found in small quantitites in normal urine and in larger amt in diabetic urine |
| Albuminuria | presence of the serum protein albumin in the urine and is a sign of impaired kidney function |
| Bacteriuria | presence of bacteria in the urine |
| Calciuria | presence of calcium in the urine; abnormally high levels may be diagnostic for hyperparathyroidism; lower than normal levels may indicate osteomalacia |
| Creatinuria | increased concentration of creatine in the urine |
| Creatinine | waste product of muscle metabolism and is normally removed by the kidneys; presence in urine is an indication of increased muscle breakdown or a disrution of kidney function |
| Glycosuria | presence of glucose in the urine and is most commonly caused by diabetes |
| Hematuria | presence of blood in the urine; can be caused by kidney stones, infection, damage to the kidney, or bladder cancer |
| gross hematuria | urine may look pink, brown, or bright red, and the presence of blood can be detected without magnification |
| Ketonuria | presence of ketones in the urine |
| Ketones | formed when the body breaks down fat; their presence in urine may indicate starvation or uncontrolled diabetes |
| Proteinuria | excess of serum protein in the urine and is usually a sign of kidney disease |
| Pyuria | presence of pus in the urine |
| Urine culture and sensitivity | additional lab test to identify the cause of a urinary tract infection and to determine which antibiotic would be the most effective treatment |
| Endoscopy | visual examination of the interior of a body cavity; the fiber optic instrument used in this exam is and endoscope |
| Centesis | surgical puncture to remove fluid for diagnostic purposes or to remove excess fluid |
| Abdominocentesis | surgical puncture of the abdominal cavity |
| Amniocentesis | diagnostic test to evaluate fetal health |
| Cardiocentesis | puncture of a chamber of the heart for diagnosis or therapy |
| Pericardiocentesis | drawing of fluid from the pericardial sac |
| Thoracentesis | puncture of the chest wall to obtain fluid for diagnostic purposes, to drain pleural effusions, or to reexpand a collapsed lung |
| radiographic contrast medium | substance used to make visible structures that are otherwise hard to see |
| radiopaque contrast medium (such as barium sulfate) | does not allow the x-rays to pass thru and appears white or light gray on the resulting film |
| radiolucent contrast medium (such as air or nitrogen gas) | does allow the x-rays to pass thru and appears black or dark gray on the resulting film |
| Barium (Ba) | radiopaque contrast medium used primarily to visualize the GI system; is administered orally or rectally |
| intravenous contrast medium | is injected into the vein to make visible the flow of blood thru blood vessels and organs; are usually named for the vessels or organs involved |
| lymphangiography | radiographic exam of the lymphatic vessels after the injection of a contrast medium |
| Radiologist | physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and disorders with x-rays and other forms of radiant energy |
| radiology | an image of hard-tissue internal structures is created by the exposure of sensitized film to x-radiation |
| positioning | describes the body placement and the part of the body closest to the film |
| projections | describes the path that the x-ray beam follows thru the body from entrance to exit; may be exposed with the pt in a standing or recumbent position; when the name of the projection combines 2 terms into a single word, the term listed first is the one that the x-ray penetrates first |
| anteroposterior projection (AP) | pt positioned with the back parallel to the film; the x-ray beam travels from anterior to posterior |
| posteroanterior projection (PA) | pt positioned facing the film and parallel to it; the x-ray beam travels thru the body from posterior to anterior |
| lateral projection (Lat) (side view) | pt positioned at right angles to the film; named for the side of the body nearest the film |
| oblique projection (Obli) | pt positioned so the body is slanted sideways to the film; halfway bnetween a parallel and a right angle position; named for the side of the body nearest the film |
| Oblique | slanted sideways |
| Extraoral radiography | used in dentistry and means that the film is placed outside of the mouth |
| Intraoral radiography | used in dentistry and means that the film is placed within the mouth |
| Periapical radiographs | show the entire tooth and some surrounding tissue; are used to detect abnormalities |
| Bitewing radiographs | show the crowns of teeth in both arches and are used primarily to detect decay between the teeth |
| Computed tomography (CT) CAT) (computed axial tomography) | uses a thin, fan-shaped x-ray beam that rotates around the pt to produce multiple cross-sectional views of the body |
| Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) | uses a combination of radio waves and a strong magnetic field to create signals that are sent to a computer and converted into images of any plane thru the body |
| Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) (MR angio) | shows veins and arteries without the injection of contrast material or dye |
| Fluoroscopy | used to visualize body parts in motion by projecting x-ray images on a luminous fluorescent screen |
| Cineradiography | the recording of images as they appear in motion on a fluorescent screen |
| Diagnostic ultrasound (ultrasonography) | imaging of deep body structures by recording the echoes of pulses of sound waves above the range of human hearing; most effective for viewing solid organs of the abdomen and soft tissues where the signal is not stopped by intervening bone or air |
| Nuclear medicine (NM) (radionuclide imaging) | used for both diagnosis and treatment; looks at physiological processes to determine how well body organs or systems are functioning |
| radiopharmaceuticals | injected or inhaled into the body and taken up (absorbed) by a particular organ |
| gamma-ray camera | attached to a computer is used to generate an image showing the pattern of absorption; it is the pattern of absorption that indicates pathology |
| nuclear scan (scintigram) | uses nuclear medicine technologyh to gather info about the structure and function of organs or systems that cannot be seen on conventional x-rays |
| bone scan | the radionuclide tracer is injected into the bloodstream and then the pt waits while the meterial travels thru the body tissues; only pathology in the bones absorbs the radionuclide |
| thyroid scan | radiopharmaceutical containing radioactive iodine is administered; the rate of iodine uptake by the thyroid is an indicator of thyroid function |
| Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) | is a nuclear imaging technique in which pictures are taken by one to three gamma cameras after a radionuclide tracer has been injected into the blood; used to study myocardial perfusion |
| Perfusion | flow of blood thru the vessels of an organ |
| Positron emission tomography (PET) | combines tomography with radionuclide tracers to produce enhanced images of selected body organs or areas; used to determine cardiac or cerebral perfusion and for brain imaging to aid in the diagnosis of epilepsy, dementia, and recurrent brain tumors |
| Radioimmunoassay (radioassay) | is a laboratory technique in which a radioactively labeled substanc eis mixed with a blood specimen |
| Assay | means to determine the amt of a particular substance in a mixture |
| Immunofluorescence | method of tagging antibodies with a fluorescent dye to detect or localize antigen-antibody combinations |
| Pharmacology | study of the nature, uses, and effecgts of drugs for medical purposes |
| Pharmacist | a specialist who is licensed in formulating and disspensing medications |
| prescription | an order for medication, therapy, or a therapeutic device given (usually in writing) byb an authorized person to a person properly authorized to dispense or perform the order |
| prescription drug | medication that may be dispensed only with a prescription from an appropriately licensed professional such as a physician or dentist |
| over-the-counter drug (OTC) | medication that may be dispensed without a written prescription |
| generic drug | usually named for its chemical structure and is not protected by a brand name or trademark |
| brand name | drug is sold under the name given the drug by the manufacturer; is always spelled with a capital letter |
| Addiction | compulsive, uncontrollable dependence on a substance, habit, or practice to the degree that stopping causes severe emotional, mental, or physiologic reactions |
| adverse drug reaction (ADR) (side effect) (adverse drug event (ADE) | an undesirable drug response that accompanies the principal response for which the drug was taken |
| Compliance | pt's consistency and accuracy in following the regimen prescribed by a physician or other healthcare professional |
| regimen | directions or rules |
| contraindication | a factor in the pt's condition that makes the use of a drug dangerous or ill advised |
| drug interaction | occurs when the effect of one drug is modified (changed) when it is administered at the same time as another drug |
| idiosyncratic reaction | is an unexpected reaction to a drug |
| palliative | is a substance that eases the pain or severity of a disease but does not cure it |
| placebo | is a substance containing no active ingredients that is given for its suggestive effects |
| Potentiation (synergism) | is a drug interaction that occurs when the effect of one drug is potentiated (increased) by another drug |
| Inhalation administration | refers to vapor and gases taken in thru the nose or mouth and absorbed into the bloodstream thru the lungs |
| Oral administration | refers to drugs taken by mouth to be absorbed from the stomach or small intestine |
| enteric coating | is applied to some tablets or capsules to prevent the release and absorption of their contents until they reach the small intestine |
| Percutaneous treatment | a procedure performed thru the skin |
| Rectal administration | is the insertion of medication in the rectum by use of either suppositories or liquid solutions |
| suppository | is a medication in a semisolid form that is introduced into the rectum; it melts at body temperature, and the medication is absorbed thru the surrounding tissues |
| sublingual administration | the medication is placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve slowly |
| Topical administration | refers to the drugs such as lotions, ointments, and eyedrops, that are applied for local action |
| Transdermal delivery | method of applying a drug to unbroken skin via a patch worn on the pt's skin; the drug is absorbed thru the skin and into systemic circulation |
| Parenteral administration | the administration of medication by injection thru a hypodermic syringe |
| intramuscular injection (IM) | made directly into muscle tissue |
| subcutaneous injection (SC) | made into the fatty layer just below the skin |
| intravenous injection (IV) | made directly into a vein |
| intradermal injection (ID) | made into the middle layers of the skin |
