Vocab Fill in the Blank

Active transport

Even when sodium is more concentrated outside the cell, the cell can continue moving it outward through ________.

Aerobic

A bacterial culture grows near the oxygen-rich surface of the medium, suggesting that its metabolism is ________.

Algae

A pond sample contains green organisms that continue producing sugars when exposed to sunlight; these organisms are likely ________.

Anaerobic

A deep wound with poor oxygen delivery creates favorable conditions for bacteria whose metabolism is ________.

Bacilli

The laboratory describes the organisms in a wound culture as elongated rods rather than spheres, placing them among the ________.

Bacteria

A culture grows single-celled organisms that reproduce by binary fission and lack a membrane-bound nucleus; these organisms are ________.

Bacteriophage

A researcher introduces an infectious agent into a bacterial culture and observes the bacterial cells rupture; the agent is a ________.

Biofilm

Repeated rinsing fails to remove the microbial community coating the inside of a catheter because the organisms have formed a ________.

Cilia

After damage to the airway lining, mucus clearance slows because the coordinated movement of the ________ is impaired.

Cocci

A microscope reveals bacteria arranged in grape-like clusters of round cells; these organisms are classified as ________.

Commensalism

A skin microorganism obtains nutrients from its host without producing a measurable benefit or injury to the host, illustrating ________.

Diffusion

After a concentration difference develops across a membrane, oxygen moves toward the side with less oxygen through ________.

Filtration

When pressure rises on one side of a membrane, water and small solutes are pushed through it by ________.

Flagella

A motile bacterial cell loses its ability to swim after damage to its long external appendages, called ________.

Fungi

A patient develops an infection caused by yeast rather than bacteria; the responsible organisms belong to the ________.

Mutualism

Intestinal microbes receive nutrients and shelter while supplying useful substances to their host, illustrating ________.

Parasitism

An organism obtains nutrients from a patient while damaging the patient's tissues, demonstrating ________.

Passive transport

A substance crosses the cell membrane down its concentration gradient even after ATP production is inhibited, indicating ________.

Pathogen

An organism isolated from a surgical wound is identified as the cause of the patient's infection, making it a ________.

Prion

An infectious agent associated with progressive brain damage contains no DNA or RNA; the agent is a ________.

Protozoa

A contaminated water sample contains single-celled eukaryotes that move and consume other organisms; these are classified as ________.

Spirilla

A bacterial specimen contains rigid, corkscrew-shaped cells rather than rods or spheres; these organisms are ________.

Symbiosis

A researcher studies the ongoing association between two different species before determining whether either benefits; the broad term for this association is ________.

Toxin

A patient continues experiencing harmful effects from a bacterial product even after many of the bacteria have been eliminated; that product is a ________.

Viroid

A plant disease is traced to a small RNA molecule without a protein coat; the infectious agent is a ________.

Virus

An infectious agent fails to multiply in nutrient broth but produces new particles after entering living cells; it is a ________.

Autoclave

A compatible instrument tray is placed in a chamber that runs a validated cycle using saturated steam under pressure; the chamber is an ________.

Bioburden

Two instrument sets undergo the same cleaning procedure, but the heavily soiled set starts with a greater ________.

Biological Indicator (BI)

A sterilization monitor containing resistant bacterial spores is incubated after processing to check for surviving organisms; this monitor is a ________.

Bowie-Dick Test

Before processing the first load of the day, staff check whether a pre-vacuum steam sterilizer removes air adequately by performing a ________.

Cavitation

During ultrasonic cleaning, microscopic bubbles collapse near instrument surfaces and loosen trapped debris through ________.

Chemical Indicator/Integrator

A marker inside a wrapped tray changes after exposure to specified processing conditions; this marker is a ________, although its change alone does not prove sterility.

Contaminated

A sterile instrument touches the outside of a used suction container and must now be treated as ________.

Endoscopes

The team prepares instruments that provide a view inside the gastrointestinal tract without requiring a large open incision; these instruments are ________.

Event-related sterility

A properly processed package remains suitable for use until moisture, tearing, or another compromising incident occurs, reflecting ________.

Immediate-use Steam Sterilization (IUSS)

An urgently needed instrument is cleaned, processed through an appropriate rapid steam cycle, and transferred aseptically for immediate use; this process is ________.

Immersion

Before soaking begins, staff confirm that the entire compatible instrument lies below the solution's surface, ensuring complete ________.

Integrity

Before opening a sterile package, the CST inspects its seams and wrapping for damage that would compromise its ________.

Intermediate-level Disinfection

A protocol requires activity against mycobacteria but does not reliably eliminate bacterial spores; the selected process is ________.

Julian Date

A tracking label identifies February 1 of a non-leap year as day 032, using the ________ system.

Permeability

A packaging material can withstand handling but must also permit the sterilant to reach the contents; this depends on its ________.

Sterile Field

Once the draped table is prepared, the CST keeps unsterile objects from crossing into the ________.

Sterile Technique

While gowning, gloving, and passing instruments, the team follows a coordinated set of practices referred to as ________.

Sterilization

A processing method suitable for instruments entering sterile tissue must eliminate resistant bacterial spores as well as other microorganisms; this process is ________.

Ultrasonic Cleaner

After gross soil is removed, a compatible instrument with difficult-to-reach surfaces is placed in an ________ to help loosen remaining debris.

Aperture

Before attaching the accessory, the CST checks that the instrument's ________ is unobstructed so material can pass through it.

Aspiration

Fluid collecting in the operative site is removed through a suction tip by ________.

Blunt dissection

The surgeon separates loose tissue planes using a finger and the closed tips of an instrument, performing ________.

Cannula

After the penetrating component is withdrawn, the remaining hollow sleeve provides a route for instruments or fluid; this sleeve is a ________.

Capillary action

Fluid travels along the narrow spaces between gauze fibers even without suction, demonstrating ________.

Catheter

To provide ongoing urinary drainage, the team inserts a flexible ________ into the bladder.

Cottonoid

During a neurosurgical procedure, the CST passes a small protective sponge that must be carefully tracked during counts; this item is a ________.

Count sheet

When additional sponges are introduced during the procedure, the circulator records them on the ________.

Cryotherapy

The provider selects a technique that destroys abnormal tissue by freezing it, using ________.

Dilate

Before passing a larger instrument through a narrow opening, the surgeon must ________ the opening.

Ebonized

For a laser procedure, the team selects an instrument with a dark, glare-reducing finish described as ________.

Fenestration

The opening within a Babcock forceps jaw allows tissue to sit inside the jaw rather than being compressed by a solid surface; this opening is a ________.

Impervious

To prevent fluid from soaking through to the surface underneath, the team selects a barrier that is ________.

Indwelling

A urinary catheter remains in place after the operation for continued drainage, so it is described as ________.

Magnification

The surgeon adjusts the microscope to make a tiny vessel appear larger before placing a suture, increasing the ________.

Non-retaining

An assistant must continuously hold the retractor to maintain exposure because the device is ________.

Occlude

Before dividing the vessel, the surgeon applies a clamp to ________ its lumen.

Oscillating

A powered saw blade sweeps through a small arc around its attachment point; its motion is described as ________.

Pneumatic tourniquet

Before an extremity procedure, a cuff connected to a regulated pressure source is applied to help maintain a bloodless field; this device is a ________.

Reciprocating

A powered saw blade travels forward and backward along the same straight path; its motion is described as ________.

Retract

To improve access to the deeper tissue, the assistant is asked to ________ the wound edges.

Scalpel

The CST checks that the selected blade is securely mounted before passing the ________ for the initial incision.

Self-retaining

After its arms are positioned and locked, the retractor maintains exposure while the assistant performs another task; the retractor is ________.

Serrations

The CST checks the textured ridges along a clamp's jaws for debris because material can collect between the ________.

Surgical grade

Before adding a replacement instrument to a tray, staff verify that it meets the material and manufacturing requirements for ________ equipment.

Teeth

An Allis clamp grips tissue through small interlocking projections at its tips, called ________.

Trocar

To establish laparoscopic access, the surgeon uses a sharp penetrating component within a cannula; this component is a ________.