Health Assessment Final Vocab

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Dyspepsia

upper abdominal discomfort “Indigestion”

GERD

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease “Heartburn”

Reflux

backwards flow

Emesis

vomit

Hematemesis

vomiting blood

Hematochezia

fresh (red) blood in stools

Melena

dark tarry stools (digested blood)

Constipation

decrease in normal frequency of bowel movements

Anorexia

loss of appetite

Cachexia

nutritional deficit resulting in wasting

Halitosis

bad breath

Hemorrhoids

varicose rectal veins (internal or external)

Jaundice

yellow tint of skin due to increase in bilirubin levels

Hepatitis

inflammation of liver

Hyperemesis

excessive vomiting

Dysphagia

difficulty swallowing

Hepatomegaly

enlarged liver

Cholecystitis

inflammation of the gallbladder

Endocardium

layer of cells in the heart closest to the blood

Myocardium

myo- (muscle); -cardium (hear)

Pericardium

membrane surrounding the heart

Ischemia

decreased blood flow to an area

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

heart cell death due to myocardial ischemia

Heart failure

when the heart fails to meet the demand of the body’s cells

Aneurysm

weakened artery; often balloons before bursting

Angina pectoris

chest pain caused by relative lack of oxygen in the heart from atherosclerosis

Claudication

leg pain caused by relative lack of oxygen in the legs from atherosclerosis

Bradycardia

heart rate < 60 bpm

Tachycardia

heart rate \> 100 bpm

Bruit

whoosing noise from turbulent blood flow in an artery

Murmur

sound made by turbulent blood through a malfunctioning heart valve

Thrill

a murmur that is so strong it is palpable through the skin

Dyspnea on exertion (DOE)

shortness of breath with activity

Orthopnea

shortness of breath when lying down

Dysrhythmia

any heart rhythm other than normal

Fibrillation

dysrhythmia where heart does not beat, but quivers (may be atrial or ventricular)

Flutter

dysrhythmia where heart rapidly and abnormally contracts, (may be atrial or ventricular)

Palpitation

sensation of rapid or irregular heartbeat

Edema

swelling

Pitting edema

swelling where the skin will stay indented (pitted) if pressure is applied

Syncope

fainting

Thrombus

blood clot

Thrombophlebitis

inflammation of a blood vessel due to a clot

Embolism

blockage of an artery usually by a clot that has broken loose

Varicose

distended vein

Shunt

a tube connecting an artery and vein so blood mixes; used in some dialysis patients

AV Fistula

joining of an artery and vein together, so blood mixes; used in some dialysis patients

HOB

Head of Bed

Fowler’s

Head of bed raised to 45°

Semi-Fowler’s

Head of bed raised to 30°

High Fowler’s

Head of bed raised to 60°

Trendelenburg

bed is flat but declined so that the head is lower than the feet.

Reverse Trendelenburg

bed is flat but inclined so that head is higher than feet.

Supine

patient is lying flat on back

Prone

patient is lying flat on stomach

Anterior (ventral)

front surface of the body.

Distal

Far from the point of attachment to the trunk or far from the beginning of a structure

Lateral

pertaining to the side.

Medial

pertaining to the middle or near the medial plane of the body.

Posterior (dorsal)

back surface of the body

Superior (cephalic)

Above another structure; pertaining to the head.

Sims

patient is lying on one side

Lithotomy

patient lying on back with legs spread and knees bent

Lesion

circumscribed pathology alteration of the skin

Primary skin lesion

lesion arising from normal skin

Secondary skin lesion

lesion arising from changes in a primary lesion

Macule

non-palpable colored area, < 1cm diameter

Papule

raised area, < 1cm diameter

Patch

colored area \> 1 cm diameter

Nodule

marble-like lesion (deeper/firmer than a papule) raised area \>0.5cm

Plaque

raised area \>1cm with diameter \> elevation

Vesicle

serous fluid filled sac < 1 cm diameter

Bulla

serous fluid filled sac \> 1 cm diameter

Pustule

vesicle that contains pus

Cyst

pocket of skin cells that form a pouch with expressible material

Wheal

superficial area of localized edema (hive)

Urticaria

several wheals (hives) together

Petechiae

small red spots caused by subdermal bleeding; does not blanch

Ecchymosis

bruising

Hematoma

blood that forms a mass under skin

Excoriation

secondary lesion caused by scratching primary lesions.

Fissure

linear crack in the skin

Eczema

scaly patches mainly on flexor surfaces

Pruritis

itching

Ulcer

absence of skin one or more skin layers

Decubitis ulcer

ulcer caused by unrelieved pressure resulting in ischemic damage to underlying tissue; sometimes called bed sores (pressure ulcers are staged 1, 2, 3, or 4)

Mottling

skin that is multicolored, usually appears blotchy

Erythema

red hue due to increased blood flow

Milia

pinhead, white, keratin filled cysts

Bradypnea

breathing rate < 12 breaths per minute

Tachypnea

breathing rate \> 20 breaths per minute

Dyspnea

difficulty breathing. Nonpainful but uncomfortable awareness of breathing for the level of exertion ("shortness of breath")

Eupnea

breathing normally (rate plus quality)

Atelectasis

collapsing of alveoli in pulmonary tissue

Fremitus

palpable vibrations transmitted through the bronchopulmonary tree to the chest wall as the patient is speaking

Consolidation

filling of alveoli with liquid or solid material

Pneumothorax

partial or complete collapse of a lung due to pleural puncture

Hemothorax

a pneumothorax where the space has been filled with blood

Sputum

mucus produced in the bronchial tree to remove inhaled debris (not to be confused with saliva)

Hemoptysis

coughing up blood