Nursing Entrance Exam Reviewer General Science and Vocabulary

Practice flashcards covering general science concepts, chemistry symbols, biology terminology, and vocabulary definitions based on the provided nursing entrance exam review material.

Metaphase

The phase of mitosis where chromosomes line up in the center of the cell.

Lysosomes

Cellular organelles containing enzymes that are considered digestive.

Mitosis

The process through which organs repair themselves.

Lock and Key model

The specific model used to describe enzyme action.

Enzymes

Protein-based catalysts that operate most efficiently at an optimum pH.

Prostaglandins

Substances made in the renal medulla that promote inflammation and can lead to pain and fever.

LDL

Stands for Low-density lipoproteins, often associated with cholesterol.

Atheriosclerosis

A medical condition characterized by the hardening of the arteries.

Systolic pressure

The top number on a blood pressure reading.

Blue litmus paper

Stays blue in the presence of a strong base.

Surfactant

A compound that affects the surface tension of alveoli in the lungs to allow for proper breathing.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney.

Ideal gas law

Represented by the formulas $PV = knT$ or $PV = RnT$.

Archimedes’ principle

The principle stating that an object immersed in a fluid is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.

Volatile liquids

Liquids that evaporate quickly.

Overtones

High frequency sound waves.

Albert Michelson

The first American to win a Nobel Prize, awarded for measuring the speed of light.

Esophagus

The anatomical structure that connects the mouth and the stomach.

Peristalsis

The movement of food through the intestines.

Maltase

An enzyme that breaks down maltose to glucose.

Jaundice

A condition resulting from high levels of bilirubin in the bloodstream.

Boron

The element on the periodic table represented by the symbol $B$.

Manganese

The element on the periodic table represented by the symbol $Mn$.

Calcium

The element on the periodic table represented by the symbol $Ca$.

Bromine

The element on the periodic table represented by the symbol $Br$.

Acetic acid

The chemical name for vinegar.

Lewis acid

An electron pair acceptor.

Exothermic

A type of chemical reaction that produces heat.

Boyle’s law

The principle that pressure ($P$) is inversely proportional to volume ($V$) of a gas, represented as $P_1V_1 = P_2V_2$.

Ionic bond

The type of bond formed by the combination of sodium and chlorine to form $NaCl$.

Valence electrons

Electrons found in the outer shell of an atom.

Vectors

Graphical indicators used to represent forces on graph paper.

Primary colors of light

Green, Blue, and Red.

Coulomb

The unit used to measure electric charge.

Ammeter

A device specifically designed to measure electric current.

Fibula and Tibia

The two bones found in the human leg between the knee and the ankle.

Ampere

The current flow of one coulomb per second.

Right ventricle

The chamber of the heart from which blood enters the lungs.

Hemoglobin

A molecule in the blood that can hold 4 molecules of oxygen for transport.

Phenotype

The physical expressions of an organism’s gene.

Synapse

The point where neurons connect together.

Patella

Another word for the kneecap in the human body.

Ball and socket joint

The anatomical description of the shoulder joint.

Organ of Corti

An anatomical structure found within the human ear.

Rickets

A condition associated with a deficiency in Vitamin $D$.

Vagus nerve

The $X$ cranial nerve.

Left Ventricle

The chamber of the heart that pumps blood to the systemic circulation.

Newton’s second law of motion

Represented by the formula $F = ma$.

Abdicated

Gave up, as in a prince giving up a crown.

Absconded

Departed secretly, especially to avoid legal consequences.

Aural

Related to the ear or the sense of hearing.

Benevolent

Kind or charitable.

Buttress

A support or reinforcement.

Cathode

The negative pole of a battery.

Charlatan

A quack or a person falsely claiming to have special knowledge or skill.

Copious

Maximal, abundant, or plentiful in quantity.

Defaming

Slandering or damaging someone's reputation.

Derive

To deduce or obtain from a specific source.

Evoke

To call forth or bring to mind.

Fallible

Capable of making mistakes.

Germane

Relevant or pertinent to the subject at hand.

Grotto

A large cave or cavern.

Heedless

Thoughtless or careless.

Innumerable

Countless or too many to be numbered.

Instill

To infuse or gradually establish an idea in someone's mind.

Jovial

Merry, cheerful, or friendly.

Latent

Dormant or hidden; existing but not yet developed.

Loch

A lake.

Famished

Extremely hungry.

Enamored

Fascinated or in love with something.

Dissect

To analyze a situation or object in detail.

Countenance

A person's facial expression.

Lyre

A stringed instrument belonging to the harp class used in ancient Rome.