NURS 208 Fall 2026 Study Guide Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key topics across Chapters 1 through 11 for NURS 208 Fall 2026.

Sensitivity

The ability of a diagnostic test to return a positive result when the condition is present.

Specificity

The ability of a diagnostic test to return a negative result when the condition is NOT present.

Symptoms

Subjective manifestations of disease described by the patient.

Signs

Objective manifestations of disease observed and measured by a healthcare provider.

Epidemiology

The study of disease occurrence, distribution, and determinants in human populations.

Incidence

The rate of new cases arising in a population during a specified period.

Prevalence

A measure of existing disease cases in a population at a given point in time.

Primary Prevention

Disease prevention level focused on removing risk factors so that disease does not occur.

Secondary Prevention

Disease prevention level focused on detecting disease early while still asymptomatic through screening.

Tertiary Prevention

Disease prevention level focused on clinical interventions to reduce complications and restore function.

Membrane Potential

The difference in electrical charge on two sides of a membrane that provides the potential for ion flow.

Afferent Neurons

Neurons carrying impulses or signals traveling towards a central structure or central nervous system.

Efferent Neurons

Neurons carrying impulses or signals traveling away from a structure or central nervous system.

Atrophy

Cellular adaptation resulting in a decrease in cell size and reduced tissue or organ mass.

Hypertrophy

Cellular adaptation resulting in an increase in cell size and enlarged tissue or organ mass.

Hyperplasia

Cellular adaptation resulting in an increase in the total number of cells in an organ or tissue.

Metaplasia

Reversible cellular adaptation where one adult cell type is replaced by another adult cell type.

Dysplasia

Deranged cell growth resulting in cells that vary in size, shape, and organization; often precancerous.

Apoptosis

Programmed, controlled cell death that removes injured or worn-out cells without causing inflammation.

Necrosis

Unregulated cell death caused by injury or disease leading to cell lysis and inflammation.

Caseous Necrosis

Type of necrosis featuring cheese-like granulomatous tissue, classically associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.

Gas Gangrene

Severe gangrenous necrosis caused by an anaerobic organism that produces gas within affected tissues.

Allele

Alternative forms or variations of a gene at a specific locus.

Genotype

The underlying genetic makeup of an individual organism.

Phenotype

The observable physical or clinical traits of an organism resulting from genotype and environment.

Carrier

An individual who holds a recessive mutant allele for a trait without demonstrating clinical symptoms.

Hemophilia A

An X-linked recessive bleeding disorder showing higher prevalence in males.

Down Syndrome

A chromosomal disorder caused by trisomy $21$.

Turners Syndrome

A chromosomal disorder in females missing all or part of an X chromosome ($45, X$).

Kleinfelter Syndrome

A chromosomal disorder in males caused by an extra X chromosome ($47, XXY$).

TORCH

An acronym representing teratogenic infections affecting fetal development: Toxoplasmosis, Other, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, and Herpes simplex.

Anaplasia

Loss of cellular differentiation and structural organization, indicating aggressiveness of a neoplasm.

Tumor Grading

Classification of a tumor based on aggressiveness and degree of cellular anaplasia.

Tumor Staging

Classification system assessing how far a cancer has clinically spread.

Eustress

Positive or constructive stress that enhances adaptation and coping.

Distress

Negative or harmful stress that impairs adaptation and body function.

General Adaptation Syndrome

Selye's stress model comprising three stages: Alarm, Resistance, and Exhaustion.

Endothelium

The vascular cell lining that regulates blood flow, permeability, and leukocyte migration during inflammation.

Histamine

A potent vasodilator released by mast cells to increase vascular permeability during early inflammation.

Neutrophil

A phagocytic granulocyte and the first white blood cell to arrive at the site of acute inflammation.

Leukocytosis

An elevation in the total count of white blood cells in the circulation.

Acute Phase Response

Systemic manifestations of inflammation characterized by malaise, fatigue, and fever, also known as constitutional symptoms.

Lymphadenitis

Inflammation and enlargement of one or more lymph nodes.

Virulence Factors

Traits of pathogens that enable disease establishment, including toxins, adhesion factors, evasive factors, and biofilm.

Zoonotic Disease

An infectious disease transmitted from animals to human beings.

Innate Immunity

Non-specific defense mechanisms present at birth, including physical barriers, inflammation, and phagocytes.

Adaptive Immunity

Acquired specific immune protection featuring memory and targeted defense by B and T lymphocytes.

Plasma Cells

Terminally differentiated B-lymphocytes that synthesize and secrete antibodies.

Human Leukocyte Antigens

Proteins on body cell surfaces encoded by MHC that identify cells as self to the immune system.

IgE

An immunoglobulin antibody involved in allergic reactions and hypersensitivity responses.

IgA

An immunoglobulin antibody primarily present in mucosal body secretions for local immune protection.