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Medical Terms Chapter 10

Terms

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accerlerated care unit (ACU)
Separate unit in the hospital where patients are prepared to better care for themselves and their condition after being discharged from the hospital.
acidosis
Acid/base imbalance causing the blood and body tissues to become excessively acidic.
acute
A severe condition rising rapidly to a peak and then subsiding.
additive (parenteral)
An addition of an active ingredient to a solution that is intended for intravenous administration or irrigation.
alkalosis
Acid/base imbalance causing the blood and body tissue to become excessively alkaline or basic.
allergen
An agent that provokes the symptoms of an allergy.
allergy
An abnormal reaction to a substance, situation, or physical state.
ambulatory patient
A patient who is able to walk and is not restricted to bed.
amphetamine
A stimulant drug; also known as uppers, bam bennies, browns, bumblebee, butterflies
anabolic agent
A substance that builds up tissue protein.
anabolism
The body process during which proteins are synthesized and tissues are formed.
analgesic
A substance the relieves pain.
anaphylaxis
A hypersensitivity reaction that is immediate, shock-like, andpossibly fatal.
anesthetic
A drug used to decrease sensation
aneurysm
A dilation or bulging out of a blood vessel wall.
antepartum
Before the onset of childbirth.
antibiotic
A substance that is able to kill or inhibit the growth of bacterial or other microorganisms.
anticoagulant
A drug that prevents or delays coagulation or clotting of blood; a "blood thinner".
antiflatulent
A drug that cacilitates expulsion of gas from the GI tract.
antigen
An agent that stimulates antibody formation.
antineoplastic
A substance that prevents the development or spread of tumor cells
antipruritic
A drug that relieves itch.
antipyretic
A drug that reduces fever.
antiseptic
An agent that inhibits the growth of microorganisms, but does not necessarily kill them.
antitoxin
A specific agent neutralizing a poison or toxin.
antitussive
A drug used for the relief of cough.
arrhymia
An abnormal, irregular heatbeat.
arteriosclerosis
Hardening of the arteries.
arthritis
Inflammation of joints.
ascites
Accumulation of fluid within the abdoninal cavity.
aspetic technique
A method of preparation that will prevent contanimation of a site or product.
athersclerosis
Lipid (fat) deposits in large and medium size arteries.
atonic
Weak tone or absence of tone.
bactericide
An agent capable of killing bacterias.
bacteriostat
An agent that inhibits the growth of bacteria.
benign
Not malignang or invasive.
biopsy
Excision of a small piece of tissue for diagnostic purposes.
blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
An indication of kidney function.
bradycardia
Slow heart rate.
buccal
Between the gum and cheek.
calibration
A method of standardizing a measuring device
carcinogen
Any substance that causes cancer.
cathartic
A drug used to produce evacuation of the bowel.
central service
An area in the hospital where general sterillization procedures are performed; serves as a storage facility for various equipment.
chemotherapy
Treatment of a condition with drugs. Currently used in reference to the treatment of cancer.
chronic
Of a long duration or frequent recurrence.
coagulation
Blood-clotting process.
cocaine
A topical anesthetic; also known as coke, crack, snow, blow, white horse, 8-ball.
colostomy
Creation of an opening into the colon through the abdominal wall.
compliance
Act of adhering to prescribed directions.
congestive heart failure (CHF)
Failure or diminished ability of the heart to pump an adequate blood supply to the rest of the body.
crack
an illicit, pure form of cocaine, usually smoked in a pipe.
creatine clearance
A measure of renal function.
decongestant
A drug used to open the air passages of the nose and lungs.
decubitus ulcer
A bedsore.
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)
A double-stranded structure that is the molecular basis of heredity.
diabetes mellitus
A chronic disease affecting carbohydrate metabolism.
diagnosis
The indentification of a disease from its signs and symptoms.
diastolic pressure
The force exerted by the blood on the vessels when the ventricles of the heart are in a state of rest before systole.
diluent
An agent that dilutes or reconstitutes a solution or mixture.
diuretic
A drug used to increase urinary output.
eletrocardiogram
A graphic record of the heart's action by electronic measurment.
electroencephalogram
A tracing or electronic recording of brain waves.
embolism
A traveling blood clot that may deposit in a vessel and obstruct flow through that vessel.
ER
A hospital unit where patients are treated for conditions that require immediate attention.
equivalent weight
The gram molecular weight divided by the highest valent ion in the molecule.
erythrocyte
A red blood cell.
estrogen
A hormone that produces secondary sex characterisitics in the female.
etiology
The causes of disease.
expectorant
A drug that promotes the secretion and excretion of mucus from the lungs and trachea.
febrile
Body temperature above normal.
fibrillation
Rapid, ineffectual heartbeat.
floor stock
Medications that are routinely kept on the nursing unit.
gastric
Pertaining to the stomach.
generic drug name
The nonproprietary (non-brand) name of a drug.
glucose tolerance test
A test for diabetes based on a ability of the liver to store glucose.
hemorrhage
Severe bleeding.
hemostat
An agent used to arrest hemorrhage.
hepatitis
Inflammation of the liver.
heroin
An illicit drug derived from morphine; also known as brown sugar.
hyperalimentation
Intravenous feeding; total parenteral nutrition (TPN).
hypertension
High blood pressure.
hypnotic
A drug used to induce sleep.
hypotension
Low blood pressure.
immunity
Resistance to infection.
incubation
The period between exposure to an infective disease process and the symptoms of infection.
infection
The successful invasion of the body by pathogenic organisms.
inflammation
The condition characterized by pain, heat, redness, and swelling.
infusion
The slow injection of a solution into a vein, subcutaneous tissue, or other tissue.
injection
The act of forcing a liquid medication into the blood or body.
inpatient
A patient who requires the use of a hospital bed and is registered in the hospital to receive medical or surgical care.
ICU
A hospital unit where the patient recieves constant and vigilant attention.
intradermal
Situated or applied within the skin.
intrathecal
Within the subdural space of the spinal cord.
intramuscular
Within the muscle.
iontophoresis
Introduction of medication into the tissue by means of an electric current.
jaundice
Yellow appearance of skin and mucous membranes resulting from the deposition of bile pigment.
laboratory
A hospital department where chemicals or biological testing is performed for the purpose of aiding diagnosis.
leukemia
A disease characterized by an extremely high white blood cell count.
lozenge
A small, medicated or flavored disk intended to be disolved in the mouth.
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, a hallucinogen also known as beast, black sunshine, the chief.
MAO inhibitors
A class of drugs that act as antidepressants by inhibiting the enzyme monoamine oxidase.
malignant
A type of tumor that invades healthy tissue and becomes progressively worse.
marijuana
Substance from hemp, that has an effect on mood, perception and psychomotor coordination; also known as sinse, weed, herb, grass, dope reefer, maryjane.
mastectomy
Removal of the breast.
medication administration record (MAR)
A record maintained by the nursing staff containing information about the patient's medicatoin and its frequency of administration.
meniges
The membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.
metabilism
The process by which an organism converts food to energy needed for anabolism.
metastasis
The spread of disease from one organ to another.
milliequivalent (mEq)
One-thousanth of an equivalent weight.
miotic
A drug that causes constriction of the pupil.
mnemonic code
A abbreviation used in computerized medication order entry.
morgue
A place where a corpse is kept until released for burial.
mucolytic
A substance that liquifies, dissolves, or digests mucus.
mydriatic
An agent that dilates the pupils of the eye.
myocardial infarction (MI)
Injury to the heart muscle due to inadequate oxygen supply caused by occlusion of the coronary atery.
narcotic
A drug that is habit formng and addictive and produces relief from pain.
nephritis
Inflammation of the nephron.
nephron
Functional unit of the kidney.
obstructive jaundice
Jaundice that results from an impediment to the flow of bile from the liver to the duodenum.
occlusion
Blockage of a blood vessel.
operating room
A unit in the hospital where major surgical procedures are performed.
outpatient department
An area of the hospital where various medical services are provided to patients who do not require a hospital bed.
oxytocic
An agent that cuases uterine contractions.
palliative
A treatment that provides relief but no cure for a condition.
parenteral solution
Sterile solutions intended for subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous injection,
pathogen
Any disease-producing organism.
pathology
That branch of medicine concerned with the essential nature of disease, especially the structural functional changes in tissue caused by the disease process.
patient medication profile
A record kept in the pharmacy of patient data and current durg therapy. It contains such info as initiation and discontinuation of meds orders and dosage for and strenghth.
PCP
Phencyclidine, a hallucinogen; also known as busy bee, buzz, zombie.
pertussis
Whooping cough; an acute infectious disease of the respiratory tract.
pH
A measurement of acidity or alkalinity.
pharmaceutics
The science of drug-delivery systems.
pharmacist
A person licensed to dispense medication and to counsel on drug therapy.
pharmacogenetics
The study of the relationship between heredity and response to drugs.
pharmacognosy
The study of theraputic agents derived for natuaral sources.
pharmacokinetics
The study of bodily absorption, distribution, matabolism, and excretion of drugs.
pharmacology
The study of the action of drugs on the body.
pharmacotherapeutics
Pertaining to the use of drugs in the prevention or treatment of disease.
pharmacy, contemporary
A health service concerning itself with the knowledge of durgs and their effects on the body.
pharmacy intern
A person obtaining practical experience and training in pharmacy to meet the requirements of the state board of pharmacy for licensure as a pharmacist.
pharmacy resident
A graduate from an accredited pharmacy school enrolled in a program designed to develop expert skills in pharmacy practice.
pharmacy technician
Support personnel with education and training that allows performance of select tasks as delegated by the supervising pharmacist.
pharmacy, traditional
The art and science of compounding and sidpensing medications.
phlebitis
Inflammation of the veins.
physical therapy (PT)
Physical manipulation for the purpose of rehabilitation.
plasma
The fluid portion of the blood in which the blood cells are suspended.
postpartum
Occuring after childbirth or delivery.
prognosis
The expected outcome of the course of the disease.
pulmonary
Pertaining to the lungs.
purified protien derivative (PPD)
Product used as a skin test for tuberculosis antibodies.
radiation therapy
The use of x-rays in the treatment of a disease.
radiopharmacy
A branch of pharmacy dealing with radioactive diagnostics.
radiology (x-ray) department
An area of the hospital whre diagnosis and treatment are performed using x-rays, radioisotopes, and other similar methods.
recovery room (RR)
An area in the hospital where patients are monitored and treated immediately after leaving the operating room.
renal
Pertaining to the kidney.
respiration
The breathing process.
ribonucleic acid (RNA)
A single stranded structure that is the molecular basis for protein synthesis.
rubella
German measles.
sedative
A drug used to allay anxiety and excitement; often used to help a patient sleep.
serum
The clear fluid of the blood separated from solid part.
signs
Objective bodily evidence of distress found by physical examination.
solvent
A substance used to dissolve another substance.
sterilization
The act or process of rendering sterile; the complete destruction of microorganisms by heat ir bacteria compounds.
styptic
An agent that stops or slows bleeding by contracting blood vessels when applied.
subcutaneous
Under the skin.
sublingual
Under the tongue.
symptom
subjective evidence of a disease; evidence of disease as percieved by the patient.
syncope
Fainting; a transient loss of consciousness due to inadequete blood flow to the brain.
syndrome
A joint action of agents in which the total effect of the combination is greater than the sum of their individual independents effects.
systolic
The force exerted by the blood when the ventricles are in a state of contraction.
tachycardia
Rapid heart beat.
telephone order
An order for a drug or other form of treatment that is given over the phone to an authorized reciever by an authorized prescriber.
testosterone
A hormone that produces secondary sex characteristics in the male.
toxic
A toxin that has been detoxified by heat and chemical treatment that retains its anitgencity.
toxin, bacterial
A noxious or poisonous product that causes the formation of antibodies called antitoxins.
trachea
Windpipe.
tracheotomy
An incision in the trachea.
tranquillizer
A drug to relieve anxiety or agitation.
urticaria
Eruption or rash associated with severe itching.
vaccine
Any material that produces active immunization in the formation of antibodies.
valence
Those electrons that are associated with bonds between elements.
vasconstriction
Narrowing of blood vessels.
vasodillation
Relaxation of smooth muscles of the vascular system that produces dilation of the blood vessel.
ventricular fibrillation
Rapid ineffectual action of the ventricle of the heart.
verbal order
An order for a drug or other treatment that is given verbally to an authorized reciever by an authorized prescriber.
vertigo
A sensation the patient experiences that the external world is revolving around the patient; dizziness.
virus
A submicroscopic agent of infectious disease that is capable of reproduction.
viscosity
An expression of the resistance of a fluid to flow.
vitamin
A general term for a number of organic substances that occur in many foods in small amounts required for normal growth and maintenance of life.
written order
An order for a drug or other form of treatment that is written on the appropriate form by an authorized prescriber.

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