Principles of Biomedical Science Chapter 2.1 Study Guide

Medical Technician

Uses sophisticated equipment and has different responsibilities; some work directly with patients (a phlebotomist draws blood) while others work in a lab (a histotechnician analyzes tissues)

Non-Physician Practitioner

Healthcare provider who practices either in collaboration with or under the supervision of a physician

Normal WBC Range

4,500 to 11,000 per micro liter

Normal RBC Range

Male: 4.7 million to 6.1 million per micro liter
Female: 4.2 million to 5.4 million per micro liter

Normal Hemoglobin Range

Male: 138 to 172 grams per liter
Female: 121 to 151 grams per liter

Normal Hematocrit Range

Male: 40.7% to 50.3%
Female: 36.1% to 44.3%

Normal Platelet Range

150,000 to 400,000 per micro liter

Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP)

a test measuring eight different substances in the blood, three of them including glucose, electrolytes, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine

Medical Student

A student enrolled in medical school who is training to become a physician

Medical Assistant

An unlicensed caregiver who works primarily in doctors' offices and clinics; assist their medical director in a wide variety of duties

Nurse

Licensed healthcare professional who is skilled in promoting and maintaining health

Patient Liason

Works with patients and their families to address needs and concerns; acts as an intermediary between patients, their families, and the hospital administration

Primary Care Physician

A specialist physician trained to work in the front line of a healthcare system and provide care for any health problems that a patient might have

Pediatrician

A specialist physician who provides medical care to infants, children, and adolescents

Define Medical History

a record of information about a patient's past and current health

Define Chief Complaint

the patient's description of what they feel is their main health problem

Define Physical Signs

pieces of evidence that indicate an illness that can be observed externally

Define Symptoms

any subjective evidence of disease a patient perceives; allow the healthcare provider to narrow down the possible conditions affecting the patient

Define Demeanor

outward behavior of bearing

Define Tact

discretion and sensitivity in dealing with others

Define Empathy

the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person

Define Temperature

measure of how warm your body is

Normal Range for Temperature

98.6°F

Unit and Tool used for Heart Rate

bpm (beats per minute); fingers and timer/stopwatch

Normal Range for Resting Heart Rate

60-100 bpm

Define Respiratory Rate

the number of breaths you take in one minute

Unit and Tool used for Respiratory Rate

bpm (breaths per minute); timer/stopwatch

Normal Range for Resting Respiratory Rate

12-25 bpm

Define Oxygen Saturation

measure of the amount of oxygen found in blood

Unit and Tool used for Oxygen Saturation

SpO₂; pulse oxymeter

Normal Range for Oxygen Saturation

95-100%

Define Blood Pressure

caused by the movement of blood through the vessels in your body

Normal Range for Blood Pressure

≤ 120/80

Define Breathing Sounds

the sound and clarity of breaths

Tool used for Breathing Sounds

Stethoscope

Define Height

measure of how tall a person is from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet

Unit and Tool used for Height

Feet (ft)/inches (in) or meters (m)/centimeters (cm); measuring tape or other type of ruler

Normal Range for Height

1.16 m

Define Weight

the amount a person weighs

Unit and Tool used for Weight

Pounds (lbs) or kilograms (kg); scale

Define Body Mass Index (BMI)

measure of body fat that is the ratio of the weight to height of the body

Equation used to calculate Body Mass Index (BMI)

(lbs/in²) × 703

Licensed Practical Nurse

Monitors patient health and administers basic medical and comfort care

Registered Nurse

Observes and records patients' conditions, medical history, and symptoms; administers patients' medications and treatments

Nurse Practitioner

Takes and records medical history and symptoms; performs physical examinations; orders diagnostic tests and analyzes test results

Cornea

Outermost layer that shields the eyes from dust, germs, etc (also helps eyes focus)

Pupil

Black opening in the eye in the middle of the iris (gets bigger and smaller in response to changes of light)

Iris

The colored part of the eye surrounding the pupil

Lens

Clear, round structure behind the iris

Retina

Light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eyeball

Retinal Blood Vessels

Central retinal artery and vein and their branches

Optic Nerve

Bundle of nerve fibers that serves as the communication cable between your eyes and your brain

Eardrum

Separates the outer ear from the middle ear; when sound waves reach the tympanic membrane, they cause it to vibrate

Semicircular Canals

Three very small tubes whose primary job is to regulate balance and sense head position

Eustachian Tube

Used to equalize air pressure between the atmosphere and the middle ear; yawning and swallowing cause contraction of the muscles connected to it, enabling it to open to small amounts of air

Cochlea

A fluid-filled, spiral-shaped cavity in the inner ear that participates in the process of auditory transduction

What does ABCDE stand for?

Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, Evolving

How is Eye Movement tested?

By holding an object (like a pen) in front of the face and moving it slowly to see if the eyes can follow it without moving the head

How is Reflex tested?

By tapping a hammer against the knee to see if there is a response

How is Peripheral Vision tested?

By covering one eye and focusing on an object ahead, patient must say how many fingers the doctor is holding up

How is Pupillary Response tested?

By shining light indirectly into eyes to check for a dilation of pupils

How is Memory Tested?

By saying five words to patient and asking them to repeat them back in the same order

Second number when checking for visual actuity

Distance (in feet) at which a person with normal eyesight (20/20 vision) could read the same line you read correctly.

Crackles (Rales) Breathing Sounds

short and intermittent clicking, rattling, or popping sounds heard during inhalation when air is forced through an airway narrowed by fluid

Stridor Breathing Sounds

harsh, shrill sound, similar to wheezing, usually heard closest to the back of the neck, as it is caused by a partially obstructed windpipe

Rhonchi Breathing Sounds

a snore-like sound heard when airways are partially obstructed

White Blood Cells (WBC)

the five types of cells that the body uses to fight infection and injury; maintain our health

Red Blood Cells (RBC)

the cells that transport oxygen around the body

Hemoglobin (HB/HgB)

the oxygen carrying protein in red blood cells

Hematocrit (HCT)

the proportion of red blood cells in the blood

Complete Blood Count (CBC)

blood test that is run as part of a routine exam or if there are signs or symptoms that may indicate a potential condition impacting blood cells

Leukemia

a blood cancer caused by the production of abnormal white blood cells known as leukemic blasts; abnormally low platelet or red blood cell counts can indicate this

LDL Cholesterol

type of lipoprotein responsible for transporting cholesterol to the cells

Cholesterol

a lipid that is an essential component of animal cell membranes and acts as a precursor molecule for the synthesis of other biologically important steroids

Risk Factors contributing to High Cholesterol

High blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, lack of physical activity, unhealthy diet, age, and family history

Saturated Fats

foods high in this are typically solid at room temperature and cause an increase in LDL cholesterol

Unsaturated Fats

help cholesterol balance by decreasing LDL cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol; healthier

Hematology

the study of blood disorders

Phlebotomy

the act of removing blood from a patient using a needle

Telehealth

literally translates to "learning at a distance;" a way for individuals to remotely access health-related services using technology, rather than in-person contact

Benefits of Telehealth

people who travel a lot can access it at any time; people who have anxiety with in-person visits or don't have time for in-person visits can speak with their doctor from the comfort of their home

Explain how the body turns food into fuel using terms like biomolecules, ATP, chemical reactions, cellular respiration & mitochondria.

Biomolecules, macromolecules produced by living organisms, go through chemical reactions in cells during cellular respiration. This process occurs in the mitochondria, where glucose is broken down. The energy is then released, producing ATP to provide energy to cells.

Carbohydrates

a compound, such as sugar, starch, and cellulose; type of macromolecule/biomolecule; primary source of energy for cells

Lipids

one of a family of compounds including fats, phospholipids, and steroids; insoluble in water; type of macromolecule/biomolecule; secondary source of energy for cells

Protein

a biomolecule/macromolecule made up of amino acids; form and function determined by cell's nucleic acid sequence; last resort source of energy for cells

Macromolecule/Biomolecule

a type of giant molecule formed by joining smaller molecules which includes proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and nucleic acids

Adenosine Tri-phosphate (ATP)

a compound composed of adenosine and three phosphate groups that supplies energy for many biochemical cellular processes by undergoing enzymatic hydrolysis

Nucleic Acids

carry instructions for producing proteins; ex: DNA/RNA; not a source of energy for cells

Type 1 Diabetes

the type of diabetes that's genetically inherited and normally appears at an early age

Type 2 Diabetes

the type of diabetes that occurs due to lifestyle choices such as diet and exercise

Homeostasis

The maintenance of relatively stable internal physiological conditions (as body temperature or the pH of blood) in higher animals under fluctuating environmental conditions

Hormone

a product of living cells that circulates in blood and produces a specific, often stimulatory, effect on the activity of cells that are often far from the source of it

Glucose

a monomer of carbohydrate, simple sugar

Insulin

a hormone released by the pancreas that helps regulate the metabolism of glucose and disgust carbs

Negative Feedback

(or balancing feedback) occurs when some function of the output of a system, process, or mechanism is fed back in a manner that tends to reduce the fluctuations in the output, whether caused by changes in the input or by other disturbances

Positive Feedback

enhance or amplify changes; this tends to move a system away from its equilibrium state and make it more unstable. Negative feedback tends to dampen or buffer changes; this tends to hold a system to some equilibrium state making it more stable

Hyperglycemia

high blood glucose level

What is HIPAA?

a comprehensive set of standards and practices designed to give patients specific rights regarding their personal health information (PHI); stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

Medical History Components

Patient's habits, lifestyle, and family's history of health

Unit and Tool used for Temperature

Fahrenheit; disposable thermometer