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These vocabulary flashcards cover the major terms and concepts introduced in Chapter 2, providing definitions for body planes, directions, cavities, disease categories, clinical terminology, healthcare professionals, care settings, examination techniques, and electronic health records.
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Health
A state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being (WHO).
Anatomy
The study of the structures of the human body.
Physiology
The study of the functions of body structures.
Cell
The smallest independently functioning structure in the body.
Tissue
A group of similar cells that perform a common function.
Organ
A structure formed by several tissues that performs a specific task.
Body system
Organs that work together to carry out major body functions.
Anatomical position
Standing erect, head and eyes forward, arms at sides with palms forward, legs straight, toes forward.
Sagittal plane
Imaginary plane dividing the body into right and left portions.
Coronal (frontal) plane
Plane dividing the body into anterior (front) and posterior (back) sections.
Transverse plane
Plane dividing the body into superior (upper) and inferior (lower) portions.
Medial
Moving toward the midline of the body.
Lateral
Moving away from the body’s midline.
Anterior (ventral)
Toward the front of the body.
Posterior (dorsal)
Toward the back of the body.
Posteroanterior (PA)
X-ray beam travels from back to front through the body.
Anteroposterior (AP)
X-ray beam travels from front to back through the body.
Superior
Located above or toward the head.
Inferior
Located below or toward the feet.
Cephalad
Moving toward the head.
Caudad
Moving toward the tailbone.
Distal
Moving away from the trunk toward the fingers or toes.
Proximal
Moving from the fingers or toes toward the trunk.
External (superficial)
On or near the surface of the body or an organ.
Internal (deep)
Located within or far from the surface of the body or an organ.
Cranial cavity
Hollow space inside the skull housing the brain.
Spinal cavity
Canal within the vertebral column containing the spinal cord.
Thoracic cavity
Chest cavity containing lungs and heart.
Abdominal cavity
Upper portion of the abdominopelvic cavity containing digestive organs.
Pelvic cavity
Lower abdominopelvic space containing urinary and reproductive organs.
Right Upper Quadrant (RUQ)
Upper-right section of the abdomen; contains most of the liver.
Left Upper Quadrant (LUQ)
Upper-left abdominal section; houses the stomach.
Right Lower Quadrant (RLQ)
Lower-right abdominal area; site of appendiceal pain.
Left Lower Quadrant (LLQ)
Lower-left abdominal area opposite the RLQ.
Disease
Any change in normal structure or function of the body.
Etiology
The cause or origin of a disease or disorder.
Disorder
A disturbance of action or function in the body.
Preventive medicine
Health care focused on maintaining health and preventing disease.
Congenital disease
Condition present at birth due to fetal abnormality or birth process.
Degenerative disease
Progressive destruction of cells due to aging or disease.
Environmental disease
Illness resulting from exposure to external substances.
Genetic disease
Condition caused by gene or chromosome mutation during fetal development.
Hereditary disease
Disorder passed to offspring via defective parental gene.
Hospital-acquired infection
Disease contracted within the hospital environment; nosocomial infection.
Iatrogenic disease
Condition caused by medical treatment or medication.
Idiopathic disease
Illness with no identifiable cause.
Infectious disease
Disorder produced by a pathogen such as a bacterium or virus.
Neoplastic disease
Illness involving growth of benign or malignant masses.
Nutritional disease
Condition resulting from lack of or inability to use nutrients.
Symptom
Any deviation from health experienced or felt by the patient.
Sign
Objective evidence of disease observed or measured by others.
Acute condition
Sudden onset, severe intensity of signs or symptoms.
Subacute condition
Less severe symptoms than acute; intermediate in duration.
Chronic condition
Illness lasting three months or longer.
Exacerbation
Sudden worsening of disease symptoms or signs.
Remission
Period during which disease signs and symptoms disappear.
Relapse
Return of original disease symptoms after improvement.
Sequela
Residual complication that remains after a disease has resolved.
Symptomatology
Complete clinical picture of a patient’s signs and symptoms.
Asymptomatic
Having a disease but exhibiting no noticeable signs or symptoms.
Syndrome
Characteristic set of signs and symptoms occurring together.
Therapeutic treatment
Intervention that makes disease signs and symptoms disappear.
Refractory disease
Condition that does not respond to treatment; resistant.
Recuperation
Complete recovery returning the patient to normal health.
Terminal illness
Disease from which recovery is not possible and leads to death.
Physician
MD or DO who diagnoses and treats diseases; leads the healthcare team.
Primary Care Physician (PCP)
Doctor specializing in family practice or pediatrics who provides first-contact care.
Attending physician
Physician responsible for inpatient care, admissions, and discharges in a hospital.
Physician extender
Healthcare professional (PA, NP, CNM, CRNA) performing some physician duties under supervision.
Nurse
Licensed professional who combines medical science with compassionate care, carries out treatments, and documents in the EHR.
Allied health professional
Therapist, technologist, technician, dietitian, or similar provider supporting patients and nurses.
Hospital
Facility providing medical or surgical care to acutely ill patients for more than 24 hours.
Inpatient
A patient admitted to and staying in the hospital.
Clinic
Facility offering healthcare for one patient type or disease category.
Outpatient clinic
Hospital-based or nearby center where patients receive care without overnight stay.
Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC)
Facility where minor surgeries are performed on an outpatient basis.
Long-term care facility
Residential center for older adults or disabled individuals requiring ongoing assistance.
Home health agency
Service providing healthcare to patients in their homes.
Hospice
Facility or service delivering palliative care to patients with less than six months to live.
Physical examination
Hands-on assessment of a patient’s body by a healthcare provider.
Inspection
Visual examination of external surfaces and cavities.
Palpation
Use of fingers to feel organs, masses, tenderness, or pain.
Auscultation
Listening to body sounds with a stethoscope.
Percussion
Tapping over body cavities to assess underlying structures.
Vital signs
Temperature, pulse, respiration (TPR), and blood pressure (BP).
Electronic Health Record (EHR)
Computerized system for documenting and storing patient care information.
History & Physical (H & P)
Comprehensive admission document containing patient history and physical exam findings.
Discharge Summary (DS)
Hospital report summarizing patient’s stay, treatments, and follow-up plan.
Chief Complaint (CC)
Primary symptom or reason a patient seeks medical care.
History of Present Illness (HPI)
Detailed narrative of the onset, duration, and severity of the patient’s current problem.
Past Medical History (PMH)
Record of prior illnesses, surgeries, and hospitalizations.
Review of Systems (ROS)
System-by-system checklist of symptoms reported by the patient.
Diagnosis (Dx)
Identification of a disease based on history, physical exam, and tests.
Disposition
Plan for patient care after an encounter—discharge, admit, or follow-up.