Term | Definition |
Abscess | A collection of pus in any part of the body that, in most cases, causes swelling and inflammation around it. |
Adolescence | The period following the onset of puberty during which a young person develops from a child into an adult, commonly referred to as between the ages of 13 and 19. |
Alimentation | Giving or receiving of nourishment, by IV, oral, rectally, and/or injection. |
Alopecia | Hair loss or baldness. |
Alzheimer | The most common form of dementia, a neurologic disease characterized by loss o mental ability severe enough to interfere with normal activities of daily living, lasting at least 6 months, and not present from birth. |
Asphyxia | Condition caused by insufficient intake of O2. |
Asystole | Cardiac standstill; absence of electrical activity and contraction of the heart evidenced on the surface ECG as a flat line during cardiac arrest. |
Auscultation | Listening for sounds within the body, esp. from the chest, neck or abdomen; typically a stethoscope is used. |
Callus | A thickened and hardened part of the skin or soft tissue, especially in an area that has been subjected to friction. |
Catheter | A tube passed within the body for evacuating fluids or injecting them into body cavities. |
Caucasian | OF or relating to the white race as defined by law specifically as composed of persons of European, North Africa, or southwest Asian ancestry. |
Chickenpox | An acute contagious disease especially of children marked by low-grade fever and formation of vesicles and caused by a herpes virus- also known as varicella. |
Cirrhosis | a chronic disease of the liver marked by degeneration of cells, inflammation, and fibrous thickening of tissue. It is typically a result of alcoholism or hepatitis. |
Curettage | A surgical scraping or cleaning by means of an instrument called curette. |
Decubitus | An ulceration of tissue deprived of adequate blood supply by prolonged pressure. |
Diabetes Mellitus | Diabetes is usually a lifelong (chronic) disease in which there are high levels of sugar in the blood. |
Diaphoresis | Profuse perspiration. |
Diaphragm | A body partition of muscle and connective tissue. |
Dilatation | The condition of being stretched beyond normal dimensions especially as a result of overwork or disease or of abnormal relaxation. |
Diphtheria | an acute, highly contagious bacterial disease causing inflammation of the mucous membranes, formation of a false membrane in the throat that hinders breathing and swallowing, and potentially fatal heart and nerve damage by a bacterial toxin in the blood. |
Eczema | A rash that oozes or weeps and may become crusted, thickened or scaly. |
Effusion | Escape of fluid into a part, as the pleural cavity, such as pus, serum, lymph, air, or a combination. |
Elicit | To draw forth, or bring out. |
Epididymitis | Swelling (inflammation) of the epididymis, the tube that connects the testicle with the vas deferens. |
Fascia | A thin sheath of fibrous tissue enclosing a muscle or other organ |
Flaccid | Lacking firmness, resilience or muscle tone. |
Gallbladder | The small sac-shaped organ beneath the liver, in which bile is stored after secretion by the liver and before release into the intestine. |
Gangrene | Localized death and decomposition of body tissue, resulting from either obstructed circulation or bacterial infection. |
Gauge | Normally refers to an instrument used for or a means of measuring or testing. |
Gonorrhea | Common STI or STD |