Chapter 4- Allied Health

Diagnosis (Dx), Diagnoses

The identification of a disease or condition by a scientific evaluation

Prognosis, Progneses

The predicted outcome of a disease

Symptoms (Sx) vs. Sign

Symptoms are subjective evidence as perceived by the patient. Signs are objective, or definite, evidence of an illness or disordered function that are perceived by an examiner

Acute vs. Chronic

Acute means having a short and relatively severe course. Chronic means that the disease exists over a long time

Specimen

A small sample taken from the body to represent the whole

Vital Signs

Pulse rate, respiration rate, temperature, blood pressure

Blood Pressure (BP) (Systolic vs. Diastolic)

Systolic blood pressure indicates pressure on the arteries when the heart is contracted, and diastolic shows the pressure when the heart is relaxed

Inspection

Examiner uses the eyes and ears to observe and listen to the patient

Palpation

Examiner feels the texture, size, consistency, and location of certain body parts with the hands

Percussion

Tapping the body with the fingertips or fist during a physical examination

Asuscultation

Listening for sounds within the body using a stethoscope

Pulse

An intermittent throbbing sensation felt when the fingers are pressed against an artery

Temperature

Can be measured electronically, orally, rectally, under the arm, in the ear, or on the temple

Cephalometry

Measurement of the head

Opthalmoscopy

Visualization of the interior of the eye

Endoscopy

Visual inspection of the body by means of an endoscope (illuminated instrument for the visualization of the interior of a body cavity or organ)

Catheterization

The introduction of a catheter (hallow flexible tube that can be inserted into a cavity of the body)

Radiopaque

X-rays do not penetrate the structure and it appears white on the image

Radiolucent

X-rays can penetrate, so those structures appear at varying levels of gray

Noninvasive

The skin is not broken

Invasive

Entry through a body cavity or interruption of normal body function

ech/o, son/o

sound

electr/o

electricity

fluor/o

emitting light

radi/o

radiant energy

tom/o

to cut

ultra-

excessive

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Noninvasive, using magnetic properties of elements in the body to produce images

Sonography

Images deep structures of the body by sending and receiving high-frequency sound waves that are reflected back as echoes from tissue interfaces

Contrast Imaging

Uses radiopaque material to help outline structures

Fluoroscopy

Provides continuous imaging of the motion of internal organs using a fluoroscope

Nuclear Scans

Detect radiopharmacueticals (radioactive medicines) given to a patient orally, by breathing, or in a vein. Gamma cameras detect the radioactivity to create images

Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

Combines tomography with radioactive substances to produce enhanced images

algesi/o

sensitivity to pain

chem/o

chemical

pharmac/o, pharmacuet/i

drugs or medicine

plast/o

repair

therapuet/o, -therapy

treatment

tox/o

poison

AMA

American Medical Association

BP

Blood pressure

CPT

current procedural terminology

CT, CAT

computed tomography, computerized axial tomography, or computed axial tomography

Dx

Diagnosis

ICD

International Classification of Diseases

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

OTC

Over the Counter

PET

Positron Emission Tomography

Sx

Symptoms

WNL

Within normal limits

Clinical

Observation, examination, and treatment of a patient

Laboratory

Where specialists test patient samples

Imaging

Using non-invasive technologies to create visual representations of the interior structure and function

Pulse

Rhythmic expansion of an artery that occurs as the heart beats

Respirations

Refers either to the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide within the body or to breathing

Blood Pressure

Pressure exerted by the circulating volume of blood on the walls of the arteries and veins on the chambers of the heart