Metric Prefixes and Dosage Calculations

Vocabulary flashcards covering metric prefixes, standard units, conversion methods, and clinical dosage calculation examples from the lecture.

Base of one

The standard metric reference value that has an exponent of $10^0$.

Deci

A metric prefix with the symbol $d$, equal to $0.1$ or $10^{-1}$.

Centi

A metric prefix with the symbol $c$, equal to $0.01$ or $10^{-2}$.

Milli

A metric prefix with the symbol $m$, equal to $0.001$ or $10^{-3}$.

Micro

A metric prefix represented by the symbol mu, or $MC$ in healthcare, equal to $10^{-6}$.

Nano

A metric prefix with the symbol $n$, representing a value of $10^{-9}$.

Metric prefixes greater than one

A group of five prefixes consisting of giga, mega, kilo, hecto, and deca.

Kilo

The most commonly encountered prefix greater than one, possessing a multiplier of a thousand ($1,000$) or $10^3$.

Gram

The metric base unit of mass.

Meter

The metric unit of length.

Liter

Represented by the symbol $L$, it is the metric unit of volume.

Second

The unit of time in the metric system.

Factor label method

A calculation method used to convert units by setting up conversion factors that cancel units in the numerator and denominator.

Base unit

The fundamental unit through which multi-step conversions between two different metric prefixes are routed.

Epinephrine

A medication used to treat peanut allergies, discussed in a dosage calculation problem requiring conversion from micrograms to milligrams to milliliters.

Neomycin

An antibiotic prescribed as neomycin sulfate, used in a tablet dosage calculation where grams are converted to milligrams to find the required tablet count.