PLTW Biomedicine 2.1.1-2.1.7

Medical History

a record of past health problems and illnesses

Chief Complaint

the main reason for the patient's visit

Physical Signs

Pieces of evidence that indicate an illness that can be observed externally, such as a rash, coughing, or elevated temperature.

Symptoms

the conditions that together tell a doctor what is wrong

Diagnosis

Identification of an injury or disease

Demeanor

behavior; manner of conducting oneself

Tact

a keen sense for what is appropriate or tasteful in delicate situations

Empathy

the ability to understand and share the feelings of another

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions

pulse

The rhythmic expansion and recoil of arteries resulting from heart contraction; can be felt from the outside of the body.

respiratory rate

the number of breaths taken in one minute

blood pressure

The pressure that the blood exerts against the walls of the arteries as it passes through them.

Triage

The sorting and prioritization of patients based on the urgency of their need for care.

Cancer

A disease caused when the cells of the body divide uncontrollably

Erythrocytes

red blood cells

Leukocytes

white blood cells

Thrombocytes

platelets

Plasma

Liquid part of blood

Metabolism

Chemical reactions in living organisms that are necessary to maintain life

Hormones

A signaling molecule produced by glands

Type 1 diabetes

A form of diabetes that usually develops during childhood or adolescence and is characterized by a severe deficiency of insulin, leading to high blood glucose levels.

Biomolecules

organic molecules which combine to form living organisms; includes carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleic acids

chemical reaction

A process where atoms and or molecules are rearranged to transform matter

ATP

A compound composed of adenosine and three phosphate groups that supplies energy for many biochemical cellular processes by undergoing enzymatic hydrolysis.

Carbohydrates

compounds made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms, usually in a ratio of 1:2:1

Insulin

A hormone produced by the pancreas or taken as a medication by many diabetics

type 2 diabetes

A form of diabetes that develops especially in adults and most often obese individuals and that is characterized by high blood glucose resulting from impaired insulin utilization coupled with the body's inability to compensate with increased insulin production.

negative feedback

mechanism of homeostasis that tends to stabilize a process by reducing its rate or output

positive feedback

Feedback that tends to magnify a process or increase its output.

Glucagon

A protein hormone secreted by pancreatic endocrine cells that raises blood glucose levels; an antagonistic hormone to insulin.

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act