Nursing Assistant Foundation Key Terms Flashcards : Ch 15,16, and 17

A comprehensive collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key terms across Chapters 15, 16, and 17 of Nursing Assistant Foundation.

sphincter

A ring-like muscle that opens and closes an opening in the body.

micturition

The process of emptying the bladder of urine; also called urination or voiding.

voiding

The process of emptying the bladder of urine; also called urination or micturition.

urinary incontinence

The inability to control the bladder, which leads to an involuntary loss of urine.

renal calculi

Kidney stones.

urinary tract infection (UTI)

An infection of the urethra, bladder, ureter, or kidney.

dialysis

A process that cleans the body of wastes that the kidneys cannot remove due to kidney failure.

end-stage renal disease (ESRD)

Condition in which kidneys have failed and dialysis or transplantation is required to sustain life.

straight catheter

A catheter that does not remain inside the person; it is removed immediately after urine is drained or collected.

indwelling catheter

A catheter that stays inside the bladder for a period of time, with urine draining into a bag.

condom catheter

A catheter that has an attachment on the end that fits onto the penis; also called an external or Texas catheter.

catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI)

An infection that occurs in the urethra, bladder, ureter, or kidney when bacteria travels up a catheter.

routine urine specimen

A urine specimen that can be collected any time a person voids.

clean-catch specimen

A urine specimen that does not include the first and last urine that is voided; also called midstream specimen.

24-hour urine specimen

A urine specimen consisting of all urine voided in a 24-hour period.

ketones

Chemical substances that the body produces when it does not have enough insulin in the blood.

specific gravity

A test performed to measure the density of urine.

sperm

Male sex cells.

ovum

Female sex cell or egg.

gonads

The male and female sexual reproductive glands.

glands

Organs that produce and secrete chemicals called hormones.

hormones

Chemical substances produced by the body that control numerous body functions.

menstruation

The shedding of the lining of the uterus that occurs approximately every 28 days; also known as period.

menopause

The end of menstruation; occurs when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 months.

sexually-transmitted infections (STIs)

Infections caused by sexual contact with infected people; signs and symptoms are not always apparent.

chlamydia

A sexually-transmitted infection caused by bacteria.

genital herpes

A sexually-transmitted, incurable infection caused by herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) or type 2 (HSV-2).

genital HPV infection

A sexually-transmitted infection caused by human papillomavirus.

gonorrhea

A sexually-transmitted infection caused by bacteria.

syphilis

A sexually-transmitted infection caused by bacteria.

trichomoniasis

A sexually-transmitted infection caused by protozoa (single-celled animals).

vaginitis

An inflammation of the vagina.

breast cancer

A type of cancer that begins in the breast.

ovarian cancer

A type of cancer that begins in the ovaries or, in some cases, the fallopian tubes.

endometrial cancer

A type of cancer that begins in the endometrium, the lining of the uterus.

cervical cancer

Type of cancer that begins in the cells that line the cervix.

benign prostatic hyperplasia

A disorder that can occur in men as they age, in which the prostate becomes enlarged and causes problems with urination and/or emptying the bladder.

prostate cancer

A type of cancer that begins in the prostate gland.

testicular cancer

A type of cancer that begins in the testes.

erectile dysfunction (ED)

The inability to have or maintain a penile erection.

biology

The study of all life forms.

anatomy

The study of body structure.

physiology

The study of how body parts function.

cells

The basic structural units of all organisms.

tissues

A group of cells that performs similar tasks.

organ

A structural unit in the human body that performs a specific function.

body systems

Groups of organs that perform specific functions in the human body.

homeostasis

The condition in which all of the body’s systems are balanced and are working at their best.

pathophysiology

The study of the disorders that occur in the body.

gastrointestinal tract

A continuous tube from the opening of the mouth all the way to the anus, where solid wastes are eliminated from the body.

peristalsis

Muscular contractions that push food through the gastrointestinal tract.

chyme

Semiliquid substance made as a result of the chemical breakdown of food in the stomach.

duodenum

The first part of the small intestine, where the common bile duct enters the small intestine.

absorption

The transfer of nutrients from the intestines to the cells.

feces

Solid body waste excreted through the anus from the large intestine; also called stool.

electrolytes

Chemical substances that are essential to maintaining fluid balance and homeostasis in the body.

colon

The large intestine.

defecation

The process of eliminating feces from the rectum through the anus.

ingestion

The process of taking food or fluids into the body.

digestion

The process of converting food so that it can be absorbed into the blood and used by body tissues.

elimination

The process of expelling wastes.

bowel elimination

The physical process of releasing or emptying the colon or large intestine of solid waste, called stool or feces.

stool

Solid body waste excreted through the anus from the large intestine; also called feces.

fracture pan

A bedpan that is flatter than a regular bedpan; used for small or thin people or those who cannot lift their buttocks onto a standard bedpan.

portable commode

A chair with a toilet seat and a removable container underneath that is used for elimination; also called bedside commode.

heartburn

A condition that results from a weakening of the sphincter muscle which joins the esophagus and the stomach; also known as acid reflux.

gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

A chronic condition in which the liquid contents of the stomach back up into the esophagus.

Crohn’s disease

A disease that causes the lining of the digestive tract to become inflamed (red, sore, and swollen).

ulcerative colitis

A chronic inflammatory disease of the large intestine.

diverticulosis

A disorder in which sac-like pouchings develop in weakened areas of the wall of the large intestine (colon).

diverticulitis

Inflammation of sacs that develop in the wall of the large intestine due to diverticulosis.

flatulence

Air in the intestine that is passed through the rectum; also called gas or flatus.

malabsorption

A condition in which the body cannot absorb or digest a particular nutrient properly.

irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

A chronic condition of the large intestine that is worsened by stress.

constipation

The inability to eliminate stool, or the infrequent, difficult, and often painful elimination of hard, dry stool.

enema

A specific amount of water or other fluid, with or without an additive, introduced into the colon to stimulate the elimination of stool.

rectal suppository

A medication in a cylindrical shape that is given rectally to cause a bowel movement.

diarrhea

Frequent elimination of liquid or semiliquid feces.

fecal incontinence

An inability to control the muscles of the bowels, which leads to an involuntary passage of stool or gas.

fecal impaction

A mass of dry, hard stool that remains packed in the rectum and cannot be expelled.

hemorrhoids

Enlarged veins in the rectum that can cause itching, burning, pain, and bleeding.

specimen

A sample, such as tissue, blood, urine, stool, or sputum, used for analysis and diagnosis.

occult

Hidden.

ostomy

Surgical creation of an opening from an area inside the body to the outside.

stoma

An artificial opening in the body.

ileostomy

Surgically created opening into the end of the small intestine, the ileum, to allow feces to be expelled.

colostomy

Surgically created opening through the abdominal wall into the large intestine to allow feces to be expelled.

urostomy

Any surgical procedure that diverts the passage of urine by redirecting the ureters.