Clinical Medical Assistant Exam Review – Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering major clinical concepts, procedures, and regulations discussed in the lecture notes. Use these for rapid review before the exam.

Appropriate intramuscular-injection site

Upper lateral thigh

Blood-pressure cuff sizing consideration

Select cuff size based primarily on the patient’s weight

Antihistamine used to relieve allergies

Example of an indication (therapeutic use) for the drug

Maslow level for spontaneity & creativity

Self-actualization

Quality control for CLIA-waived tests

Perform routine in-house testing for accuracy

Minimum chest-compression rate in CPR

At least 100 compressions per minute

Time frame for an urgent referral

Within 24 hours

Hormone detected by pregnancy tests

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)

Eye-rinse duration after chemical splash

Rinse for 15 minutes

Buffered / enteric-coated tablet characteristic

Coating reduces stomach irritation

Plane dividing body into upper & lower parts

Transverse plane

Organelle that produces cellular energy

Mitochondria

Korotkoff sound representing systolic BP

First tapping sound heard

Acceptable pulse-oximetry site

Clip probe to the earlobe

Key item on wound-culture requisition

Recent antibiotic use

Wave scheduling

Three patients booked at the same time and seen in arrival order

Body language – arms crossed, leaning back

Often signals anger or defensiveness

OSHA exposure-control plan requirement

Provide personal protective equipment at no cost

ICD alphabetical-index lookup term

Use the main term from the diagnostic statement

Goal of patient-centered care

Include patients and families in team communication

Airborne-precaution disease example

Measles

24-hour Holter monitor instruction

Avoid getting the electrodes wet

Instrument for contact-lens evaluation

Ophthalmoscope

Medical term for hair loss

Alopecia

Bandage providing ankle support

Figure-eight bandage

Ground electrode in a 12-lead ECG

Right leg (RL) lead

Effect of reinforcing medication teaching

Improves patient compliance

Procedure that requires glove use

Removing a cyst (minor surgery)

Maintaining a sterile field – package opening

Open packages away from your body

Sharps-container disposal step

Place container into a secondary biohazard waste container

Test for flank pain and dysuria

Urinalysis (UA)

First imaging test when multiple studies ordered

Chest X-ray

Failed urine-dipstick control action

Verify the reagent’s expiration date

First insurance verification for new patient

At the time of scheduling the appointment

Lab test for menopausal symptoms

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) level

Pharmacokinetic term: drug to target tissue

Distribution

Key step when removing sutures

Lift the knot toward the wound before cutting

Hand hygiene for aseptic technique

Use an alcohol-based rub if hands are not visibly soiled

Ensuring accurate ECG on sweaty patient

Clean and completely dry the skin before electrode placement

Essential diabetes follow-up result

Hemoglobin A1C

Joint Commission safety goal example

Identify patients correctly

Chronic diabetes complication

Retinopathy

Cleaning a contaminated jagged wound

Irrigate with sterile normal saline

Best communication with hearing-impaired patient

Use written communication directly with the patient

Chain-of-custody urine test step

Seal the specimen container in front of the patient

Possible cause of mid-back pain

Pyelonephritis

Sterile packs with no expiration date

Reprocess and re-wrap the instruments

Most abundant white-blood-cell type

Neutrophils

Pre-pulmonary-function-test instruction

Refrain from using bronchodilators beforehand

Universal outpatient claim form

CMS-1500 form

Pharmacokinetic process affected by liver disease

Metabolism

Procedure typically done by respiratory therapist

Arterial blood draw

Appropriate response to treatment refusal

Restate the patient’s concern and ask a clarifying question

Greatest venipuncture risk for dizzy patient

Syncope

Purpose of hemostasis

Promotes coagulation to stop bleeding

Instrument needed for suture removal

Sterile thumb dressing forceps

Start time for glucose-tolerance test

When the patient finishes drinking the glucose solution

First action on entering lab with seated patient

Identify the patient

Likely test for fever, aches, cough

Influenza test

Component of the chain of infection

Reservoir host

Drugs that lower body temperature

Antipyretics

Fecal occult blood test detects

Erythrocytes (hidden blood)

EKG lead modification for dextrocardia

Adjust precordial leads

Resource for post-CABG statistics

American Heart Association

Hormone released when blood calcium drops

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)

CPT code type for repeated procedure

Modifier

Blood-culture collection volume

8–10 mL per bottle (set)

V2 lead placement after left mastectomy

Right chest

Chart for color-vision testing

Ishihara chart

Proper skin antisepsis for venipuncture

Clean in a circular motion from center outward

Referral for elevated hemoglobin A1C

Endocrinologist