144 MedTerm #2

fontanels

the spaces where the sutures of the skull intersect

presyncope

feeling faint caused by decreased blood flow to the brain/heart causing decreased cardiac output

vertigo

true rotational spinning caused by a disorder of the inner ear

objective: room is spinning

subjective: person feels like they are spinning

disequilibrium

shakiness or instability when walking related to a musculoskeletal disorder

normocephalic

denotes a round symmetric skill that appropriately relates to body size

lymphadenopathy

enlargement of the lymph nodes

pupillary light reflex

normal constriction of the pupils when light shines on the retina

fixation

a reflex direction of the eye toward an object attracting our attention

accommodation

adaptation of the eye for near vision

presbyopia

the decrease in power of accommodation with aging; ex. when an older person has to move something farther away to read

cataract

a clouding of the crystalline lens due to continual growth of lens fibers with aging

glaucoma

an optic nerve compression caused by increased intraocular pressure

diplopia

double vision

nystagmus

a fine, oscillating movement best seen around the iris; caused by disease of the ear canals, paretic eye muscle, MS, or brain lesions

conductive

hearing loss that is caused by a mechanical dysfunction of the external or middle ear; partial loss

sensorineural

hearing loss that signifies pathology of the inner ear, cranial nerves, or the auditory areas; harder to understand words even with increase in amplitude

otalgia

occurs directly from ear disease or is referred pain from a problem in teeth or oropharynx

otitis media

infection of the middle ear that causes inflammation and a build up of fluid behind the eardrum

cerumen

ear wax

atresia

absence or closure of the ear canal

bifid uvula

uvula split completely or partially

cleft lip

birth defect when a baby’s upper lip does not form completely

cleft palate

the tissue that makes up the roof of the mouth does not join together during pregnancy

torus palantinus

bony growth in the roof of the mouth

leukoedema

benign, milky opaque appearance of the buccal (cheek) mucosa that occurs commonly in black people

rhinitis

nasal mucosa is swollen and bright red; discharge is common

epistaxis

nosebleeds

dysphasia

difficulty swallowing

xerostomia

condition of not having enough saliva to keep the mouth wet

BID

twice a day

TID

three times a day

QID

four times a day

T

temperature

P

pulse

R

respirations

BP

blood pressure

O2 Sat

oxygen saturation

female

male