CNA Vocab: Block 8

Nares

The nostrils

Trachea

A large membranous tube reinforced by rings of cartilage, extending from the larynx to the bronchial tubes and conveying air to and from the lungs; the windpipe

Larynx

The hollow muscular organ forming an air passage to the lungs and holding the vocal cords in humans and other mammals; the voice box

Epiglottis

A flap of cartilage at the root of the tongue, which is depressed during swallowing to cover the opening of the windpipe

Bronchi

The two main branches leading from the trachea to the lungs

Alveoli

Any of the main tiny air sacs of the lungs which allow for rapid gaseous exchange.

Diaphragm

Dyspnea

difficulty breathing

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

A lung disease characterized by chronic obstruction of lung airflow that interferes with normal breathing and is not fully reversible

Emphysema

a condition in which the air sacs of the lungs are damaged and enlarged, causing breathlesness

Bronchitis

inflammation of the mucous membrane in the bronchial tubes. It typically causes bronchospasm and coughing

Shortness of Breath (SOB)

a feeling of difficult or labored breathing that is out of proportion to the person’s level of physical activity.

Cyanotic

Skin that is blue or gray

Apnea

a temporary cessation of breathing, especially during sleep.

Expectorate

cough or spit out (phlegm) from the throat or lungs.

Pneumonia

Infection that inflames air sacs in one or both lungs, which may fill with fluid

• spreads by droplets

• some can be vaccinated for

symptoms:

• coughing

• fever

• shaking chills

• shortness of breath

Asthma

a respiratory condition marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs, causing difficulty in breathing

Pertussis

also known as “whooping cough“ is a highly contagious, acute respiratory illness characterized by fits of coughing and caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis

Normal Aging Conditions

• lung strength decreases

• lung capacity decrease

• oxygen in the blood decreases

• voice weakens

Infections vs. Chronic

Infections:

• influenza

• bacterial/viral pneumonia

• enterovirus respiratory virus

Chronic

• Asthma

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Symptoms to observe and Report

• Change in respiratory rate

• shallow breathing

• Coughing or wheezing

• nasal congestion/discharge

• sore throat, difficulty swallowing, swollen tonsils

• needing to sit after mild exertion

• bluish color of lips, arms, or legs

• pain in chest area

• discolored sputum

Bladder

A membranous sac in humans and other animals, in which urine is collected for excretion

Urination

the discharge of urine from the body

Voiding

urinating

Urinary Retention

the inability to empty the bladder completely or partially

Dysuria

painful or difficult urination

Nocturia

a condition where the individual has to wake at night one or more times for voiding

Urinary Incontinence

the inability to hold urine in the bladder due to loss of voluntary control over the urinary sphincters resulting in the involuntary passage of urine.

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

infection within any part of the urinary system that can cause symptoms of burning, cramping, and a frequent urge to urinate.

Kidney Stone

clumps of minerals that form in the kidneys and bladder. Symptoms include severe flank pain and blood in the urine.

Renal Failure

a condition in which the kidneys fail to function adequately.

Dialysis

a procedure that is done to remove waste products and fluids from the body when a person's kidneys fail and can no longer perform this task.

Ureterostomy

the creation of a stoma (a new, artificial outlet) for a ureter or kidney to permit urine to pass.

Bowel Movement (BM)

an act of defecation

Defecation

the discharge of feces from the body

Feces

waste matter discharged from the bowels after food has been digested; excrement

Stool

the semi-solid waste product of digestion

Flatus

gas in or from the stomach or intestines, produced by swallowing air or by bacterial fermentation.

Incontinence

the inability to control the bladder or bowels

Constipation

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

Enema

a specific amount of water, with or without an additive, which is introduced into the colon to stimulate the elimination of stool.

Fecal Impaction

a solid, immobile bulk of feces that can develop in the rectum as a result of chronic constipation

Bowel Obstruction

Also known as intestinal obstruction, is a mechanical or functional obstruction of the intestines that prevents the normal movement of the products of digestion.

Hemorrhoids

A swollen vein of group of veins in the region of the anus

Diarrhea

a condition in which feces are discharged from the bowels frequently and in a liquid form.

Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD)

a chronic condition in which the liquid contents of the stomach back up into te esophagus. This can result in inflammation and damage to the lining of the esophagus.

Reflux

The term used when liquid backs up into the esophagus from the stomach

Ulcer

a lesion in the lining (mucosa) of the digestive tract, typically in the stomach or duodenum, caused by the digestive action of pepsin and stomach acid

Ostomy

A surgically created opening from an area inside the body to the outside.

Stoma

an artificial opening in the body from which waste can be eliminated.

Colostomy

A surgical operation in which a piece of the colon is diverted to an artificial opening in the abdominal wall so as to bypass a damaged part of the colon.

Ileostomy

a surgical operation in which a piece of the ileum is diverted to an artificial opening in the abdominal wall.

Ostomy Bag

A prosthetic medical device that provides a means for the collection of waste from a surgically diverted biological system (colon, ileum, bladder) and the creation of a stoma

Gland

An organ that creates and releases hormones in the body

Hormones

Chemical substances created by the body that control numerous body functions

Metabolism

Physical and chemical processes by which substances are produced or broken down into energy or products for use by the body.

Diabetes Type 1 (T1DM)

Usually diagnosed in children or young adults, a chronic and lifelong disease where the pancreas either produced no insulin or too little insulin and is usually managed through daily insulin injections

Diabetes Type 2 (T2DM)

A disease process where the body does not produce enough insulin, or the body fails to properly use insulin. Usually occurs in people who are obese or have a family history of diabetes and can usually be controlled with diet and/or oral medications.

Insulin

A hormone produced in the pancreas by the islets of Langerhans that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood. The lack of insulin causes a form of diabetes.

Pancreas

A large gland behind the stomach that secrets digestive enzymes into the duodenum. Embedded in the pancreas are the islets of Langerhans, which secrete into the blood the hormones insulin and glucagon.

Blood Glucose

The concentration of glucose in the blood.

Glucometer

A medical device for determining the approximate concentration of glucose in the blood.

Polyuria

Production of abnormally large volumes of diluted urine.

Prediabetes

occurs when a person’s blood glucose levels are above normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

Thyroid

A large ductless gland in the neck that secretes hormones regulating growth and development through the rate of metabolism.

Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH)

A common, noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland

Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI)

An infection a person can get by having sex

Immune System

The body’s defense system which protects from disease, toxins, and infections caused by bacteria, viruses, or fungi

Nonspecific Immunity

the body’s defense system to protect the body from disease in general

Specific Immunity

The body’s defense system to protect against a particular disease produced by prior exposure or immunization

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

A disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in which the body’s immune system is weakened and unable to fight infection

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

A virus that attacks the immune system, the body’s natural defense system.

Tumor

A cluster of abnormally growing cells

Cancer

A general term used to describe a disease in which abnormal cells grow in an uncontrolled way.