Fundies Key Terms and Labs for Exam #5 (Elimination, Nutrition, Fluid/Electrolytes)

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key elimination, nutrition, and fluid/electrolyte concepts and laboratory tests for Nursing Fundamentals Exam #5.

Mastication

The mechanical process of chewing, crushing, and grinding food with the teeth to prepare it for swallowing and digestion.

Micturition

The process of emptying the urinary bladder; urination or voiding.

Osmosis

The passive movement of water or solvent molecules across a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to an area of higher solute concentration.

Diffusion

The passive movement of solute particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration until equilibrium is reached.

Filtration

The movement of fluid and dissolved solutes across a membrane or permeable barrier driven by hydrostatic pressure gradients (from higher pressure to lower pressure).

Active transport

The movement of ions or molecules across a cell membrane against a concentration gradient, requiring cellular energy (ATP) and carrier proteins.

Hypovolemia

An abnormal decrease in the volume of circulating blood plasma or fluid within the body (extracellular fluid/intravascular volume deficit).

Hypervolemia

An abnormal increase in the volume of circulating blood plasma or fluid within the body (fluid volume overload).

Hyponatremia

A lower-than-normal concentration of sodium in the blood (serum sodium level $< 135\,\text{mEq/L}$).

Hypernatremia

A higher-than-normal concentration of sodium in the blood (serum sodium level $> 145\,\text{mEq/L}$).

Hypokalemia

A lower-than-normal concentration of potassium in the blood (serum potassium level $< 3.5\,\text{mEq/L}$).

Hyperkalemia

A higher-than-normal concentration of potassium in the blood (serum potassium level $> 5.0\,\text{mEq/L}$).

Dyspepsia

Impaired digestion or upper abdominal discomfort, bloating, fullness, or pain; commonly referred to as indigestion.

Dysphagia

Difficulty or discomfort in swallowing fluids, solids, or medications.

Hypophosphatemia

An abnormally low concentration of phosphate in the blood (serum phosphate level $< 2.5\,\text{mg/dL}$).

Hyperphosphatemia

An abnormally high concentration of phosphate in the blood (serum phosphate level $> 4.5\,\text{mg/dL}$).

Hemoccult/guiac test (stool)

A diagnostic screening test performed on stool specimens to detect hidden (occult) gastrointestinal bleeding.

Pyelonephritis

An inflammatory bacterial infection affecting the renal pelvis and kidney parenchyma, typically ascending from the lower urinary tract.

Cystitis

Inflammation of the urinary bladder, most frequently caused by a bacterial urinary tract infection.

Enuresis

Involuntary discharge of urine, especially nocturnal bedwetting in children beyond the age when bladder control is normally established.

Encopresis

The repeated involuntary or voluntary passage of feces into inappropriate places (such as clothing) in a child past the developmental age of fecal continence.

Anuria

The severe suppression or absence of urine production by the kidneys (typically characterized by an output $< 50\text{ to }100\,\text{mL}$ per $24\,\text{hours}$).

Dysuria

Painful, burning, or difficult urination.

Hematuria

The presence of blood or red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the urine.

Oliguria

Abnormally decreased urine output (typically characterized by an output $< 400\text{ to }500\,\text{mL}$ per $24\,\text{hours}$ in adults).

Nocturia

Excessive or frequent urination at night that awakens an individual from sleep.

Polyuria

The excretion of an abnormally large volume of urine over a given time period (typically exceeding $2.5\text{ to }3\,\text{L}$ per $24\,\text{hours}$).

Pyuria

The presence of pus or excessive white blood cells (leukocytes) in the urine, indicating infection or inflammation within the urinary tract.

Urgency

A sudden, compelling, and intense urge to urinate that is difficult to suppress or delay.

Frequency

The need to urinate more often than usual, typically without an increase in total daily urine volume.

Constipation

Infrequent, irregular, or difficult evacuation of bowel movements characterized by dry, hard stools.

Diarrhea

The frequent, loose, or watery discharge of unformed fecal matter from the bowels.

Phlebitis

Inflammation of the wall of a vein, characterized by redness, localized heat, pain, and a palpable venous cord, often associated with intravenous catheters.

Thrombosis

The formation or presence of a blood clot (thrombus) inside a blood vessel, which can impede or occlude blood flow.

Infiltration

The unintentional leakage of a non-vesicant intravenous fluid or medication into surrounding subcutaneous tissue rather than into the intended vein.

hematoma

A localized collection of extravasated blood outside the blood vessels, often presenting as a palpable, tender, discolored swelling.

Sp02

Peripheral capillary oxygen saturation; a noninvasive pulse oximetry measurement that estimates the percentage of hemoglobin saturated with oxygen (normal reference: $95\text{ to }100\%$).

Pa02 (02)

Partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood; an arterial blood gas value reflecting the oxygenation status and alveolar-capillary gas exchange (normal reference: $80\text{ to }100\,\text{mmHg}$).

PaCO2 (CO2)

Partial pressure of carbon dioxide dissolved in arterial blood; evaluates alveolar ventilation and the respiratory component of acid-base balance (normal reference: $35\text{ to }45\,\text{mmHg}$).

pH (acidic or alkaline)

The measure of hydrogen ion concentration indicating whether blood is acidic ($< 7.35$) or alkaline ($> 7.45$) (normal arterial reference range: $7.35\text{ to }7.45$).

HCO3- (bicarbonate)

The serum bicarbonate concentration; represents the metabolic/renal buffer system regulating acid-base balance (normal arterial reference range: $22\text{ to }26\,\text{mEq/L}$).

Hemoglobin

The iron-containing respiratory protein in erythrocytes that binds and transports oxygen from the lungs to body tissues (typical reference range: $12\text{ to }18\,\text{g/dL}$, varies by sex).

Potassium

The primary intracellular cation essential for resting membrane potential, neuromuscular excitability, and cardiac rhythm regulation (normal serum reference range: $3.5\text{ to }5.0\,\text{mEq/L}$).

Sodium

The primary extracellular cation responsible for osmotic pressure, fluid balance regulation, and nerve impulse conduction (normal serum reference range: $135\text{ to }145\,\text{mEq/L}$).

Prealbumin

A sensitive transport protein with a short half-life ($\approx 2\,\text{days}$) used as a primary laboratory indicator of acute nutritional status and recent protein intake (normal reference range: $15\text{ to }36\,\text{mg/dL}$).

Albumin

The major plasma protein synthesized by the liver, responsible for maintaining colloid oncotic pressure and reflecting chronic nutritional and hepatic status (normal reference range: $3.5\text{ to }5.0\,\text{g/dL}$).

Magnesium

An essential intracellular mineral cation involved in enzymatic reactions, carbohydrate metabolism, protein synthesis, and neuromuscular/cardiac function (normal serum reference range: $1.5\text{ to }2.5\,\text{mEq/L}$).

Calcium

A vital mineral essential for bone and dental integrity, blood coagulation, cardiac excitability, and neuromuscular transmission (normal total serum reference range: $8.5\text{ to }10.5\,\text{mg/dL}$).

BUN

Blood Urea Nitrogen; a renal panel laboratory test measuring the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood to evaluate kidney excretory function and hydration status (normal reference range: $10\text{ to }20\,\text{mg/dL}$).

Creatinine

A non-protein waste product of skeletal muscle breakdown excreted exclusively by the kidneys; the most specific clinical indicator of glomerular filtration rate and renal function (normal reference range: $0.6\text{ to }1.2\,\text{mg/dL}$).

Glucose

The primary circulating blood sugar utilized by cells for metabolic energy (normal fasting serum reference range: $70\text{ to }100\,\text{mg/dL}$).

WBC

White Blood Cells (leukocytes); immune cells responsible for defending the body against pathogens, infectious agents, and foreign substances (normal reference range: $4{,}500\text{ to }11{,}000/\mu\text{L}$).

Platelets

Thrombocytes; cell fragments circulating in the blood that are essential for primary hemostasis and blood clot formation (normal reference range: $150{,}000\text{ to }450{,}000/\mu\text{L}$).

Specific Gravity

A urinalysis parameter comparing urine density to distilled water, assessing renal concentration ability and client hydration status (normal reference range: $1.005\text{ to }1.030$).

BMR

Basal Metabolic Rate; the baseline rate of energy expenditure required by the body to maintain involuntary life-sustaining physiological functions at complete physical and digestive rest.

Caloric intake (carbs, protein, fat)

The total energy consumed from macronutrients: carbohydrates provide $4\,\text{kcal/g}$, proteins provide $4\,\text{kcal/g}$, and fats provide $9\,\text{kcal/g}$.