HESI Vocabulary

abstain

to voluntarily refrain from something

accountable

to be responsible

acute

sudden, intense

adhere

to hold fast or stick together

adverse

undesired, possibly harmful

ambivalent

uncertain, having contradictory feelings

ambulate

to walk

apply

to place, put on, or spread something

assent

to give consent; to agree

audible

able to be heard

bacteria

single-celled, microscopic organisms

bilateral

present on two sides

cardiac

of or relating to the heart

cavity

an opening or an empty area

cease

come to an end or bring to an end

chronic

lasting or recurring over a long period of time

chronology

order of events as they occurred; timeline

compensatory

offsetting or making up for something

concave

rounded inward

concise

brief, to the point

congential

present at birth

consistency

degree of viscosity; how thick or thin a fluid is in relation to how it flows

constrict

to draw together or become smaller

contingent

dependent

contraindication

a reason something is not advisable or should not be done

convulsive

having or causing convulsions, i.e., violent shaking of the body

cursory

quick, perfunctory, not thorough

defecate

expel feces

deficit

a deficiency or lack of something

depress

press downward

depth

downward measurement from a surface

deteriorating

worsening

diagnosis

identification of an injury or disease

diffuse

spread over a large area; generalized

dilate

to enlarge or expand

dilute

to make a liquid less concentrated

discrete

distinct, separate

distal

distant; away from the center (such as of the body)

distended

enlarged or expanded from pressure

dysfunction

impaired or abnormal functioning

empathy

ability to share what others are feeling; understanding the feelings of others

equilibrium

balance

etiology

origin or cause of a disease or condition

exacerbate

to make worse or more severe

exposure

to come in contact

extension

lengthening; unbending a joint

fatal

resulting in death

fatigue

extreme tiredness, exhaustion

febrile

related to or caused by a fever

flexion

bending a joint

flushed

reddened or ruddy appearance

gastrointestinal

of or relating to the stomach and the intestines

hematologic

of or relating to blood

hydration

maintenance of body fluid balance

hygiene

measures contributing to cleanliness and good health

impaired

diminished or lacking some usual quality or level

impending

occurring in the near future, about to happen

impervious

impenetrable, not allowing anything to pass through

imply

to suggest without implicity stating

incidence

occurrence

infection

contamination of invasion of body tissue by pathogenic organisms

infer

ro conclude or deduce

inflamed

reddened, swollen, warm, and often tender

ingest

to swallow for digestion

initiate

to begin or put into practice

insidious

so gradual as to not become apparent for a long time

intact

in place, unharmed

intubate

to insert a tube into something (usually a patient’s airway)

invasive

inserting or entering into a body part

kinetic

of or relating to movement

labile

changing rapidly and often

laceration

cut; tear

latent

present but not active or visible

lateral

on the side

lethargic

difficult to arouse

manifestation

an indication or sign of a condition

musculoskeletal

of or relating to muscle and skeleton

neurologic

of or relating to the nervous system

neurovascular

of or relating to the nervous system and blood vessels

nutrient

substance or ingredient that provides nourishment

occluded

closed or obstructed

ongoing

continous

oral

given through or affecting the mouth

otic

of the ear

parameter

a characteristic or constant factor, limit

patent

open

pathogenic

causing or able to cause disease

pathology

processes, causes, and effects of a disease; abnormality

posterior

located behind; in the back

potent

producing a strong effect

potential

capable of occurring or likely to occur

precaution

preventative measure

precipitous

rapid, uncontrolled

predispose

to make more susceptible or more likely to occur

preexisting

already present

primary

first or most significant

priority

of great importance

prognosis

the anticipated or expected course or outcome

rationale

underlying reason

recur

occur again