Basic nutrition for nurses Test 2

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering water balance, minerals, fat- and water-soluble vitamins, pregnancy and lactation nutrition, weight management strategies, energy balance, and body composition.

Dehydration

A fluid imbalance condition occurring when water output exceeds water input, leading to symptoms such as thirst, fatigue, and potential collapse.

Hyponatremia

A decreased concentration of sodium in the blood that can result from excessive water intake or excessive fluid losses without electrolyte replacement.

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

A hormone released by the pituitary gland in response to high salt concentration or low blood volume that prompts the kidneys to reabsorb water, thereby decreasing urine excretion.

Buffers

Compounds that can reversibly combine with hydrogen ions to maintain a constant cellular and fluid pH.

DASH Diet

The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension eating plan, which emphasizes fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products to lower blood pressure.

Peak Bone Mass

The highest level of bone density achieved during a person's lifetime, typically reached between $20$ and $30$ years of age before age-related bone loss begins.

Hepcidin

A hormone produced by the liver that serves as a central regulator of iron balance by inhibiting intestinal iron absorption and controlling iron release from storage.

Iron-Deficiency Anemia

A severe depletion of iron stores resulting in low hemoglobin levels, characterized by small (microcytic) and pale (hypochromic) red blood cells.

Pica

A behavior seen in some iron-deficient individuals characterized by a persistent craving for and consumption of nonfood items such as ice, clay, or dirt.

Heme Iron

The form of iron bound to hemoglobin and myoglobin proteins found exclusively in meat, poultry, and fish, which has an absorption rate of approximately $23\%$.

Goiter

An enlargement of the thyroid gland caused by iodine deficiency, thyroid dysfunction, or overconsumption of goitrogens.

Cretinism

A severe congenital condition characterized by physical and mental retardation resulting from severe maternal iodine deficiency during pregnancy.

Bioavailability

The rate at which, and the extent to which, a nutrient is absorbed and utilized by the human body.

Precursors

Inactive chemical compounds found in foods that can be converted into active vitamins within the body; also known as provitamins.

Rhodopsin

A light-sensitive visual pigment found in the retina cells (rods) formed by the union of retinal (a vitamin A molecule) and the protein opsin.

Xerophthalmia

Progressive blindness caused by severe vitamin A deficiency, marked by dryness of the cornea (xerosis) that advances to softening and destruction of the eye (keratomalacia).

Rickets

A bone-softening deficiency disease in children caused by inadequate vitamin D, leading to bowed legs and skeletal deformities.

Erythrocyte Hemolysis

The rupture of red blood cells caused by vitamin E deficiency, seen predominantly in premature infants.

Blood Clotting Cascade

A series of biochemical reactions dependent on vitamin K that converts precursor proteins to prothrombin, then to active thrombin, and ultimately turns soluble fibrinogen into a solid fibrin clot.

Beriberi

The thiamin-deficiency disease characterized by muscle weakness, loss of sensation, nerve damage, and edema.

Pellagra

The niacin-deficiency disease characterized by symptoms known as the four Ds: diarrhea, dermatitis, dementia, and death.

Pernicious Anemia

A blood disorder caused by a lack of intrinsic factor, leading to impaired vitamin B12 absorption and macrocytic anemia.

Phytochemicals

Non-nutrient, bioactive plant compounds that provide health benefits such as antioxidant activity and protection against chronic diseases.

Spina Bifida

A neural tube defect characterized by incomplete closure of the spinal cord's vertebral encasement, leaving a sac of fluid and spinal cord tissues protruding through the spine.

Anencephaly

A fatal neural tube defect characterized by the absence of a brain and spinal cord during embryonic development.

Listeriosis

A severe foodborne illness caused by contamination with Listeria monocytogenes, posing major risks of miscarriage, stillbirth, or systemic infection during pregnancy.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

A spectrum of physical, mental, and behavioral abnormalities caused by maternal alcohol intake during pregnancy.

Gestational Diabetes

Glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy, requiring glycemic control to prevent complications during labor and delivery.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

A federal assistance program providing nutritious foods, nutrition education, and referrals to healthcare for low-income pregnant or breastfeeding women, infants, and young children.

Lipoprotein Lipase (LPL)

An enzyme located on fat cell membranes that hydrolyzes circulating blood triglycerides, promoting the entry and storage of fatty acids into adipose cells.

Leptin

A protein hormone synthesized by fat cells (and coded for by the ob gene) that suppresses appetite and increases energy expenditure.

Ghrelin

A hormone produced primarily by stomach cells that acts on the brain to stimulate appetite and promote energy storage.

Set-Point Theory

The hypothesis asserting that body weight is physiologically maintained within a tight range by internal homeostatic control systems.

Satiation

The feeling of fullness and satisfaction that develops during the course of a meal and signals the body to cease eating.

Satiety

The ongoing sensation of fullness and satisfaction experienced after a meal that suppresses hunger until the next meal.

Gastric Bypass

A surgical treatment for severe obesity that constructs a small pouch at the top of the stomach and connects it directly to the lower small intestine to limit food capacity and absorption.

Ketone Bodies

Acidic, water-soluble molecules generated by the liver from fatty acid fragments when glucose and glycogen reserves are depleted, providing alternative fuel for the brain.

Basal Metabolism

The total energy expended to maintain life-sustaining physiological functions (such as heartbeat and respiration) when the body is in a complete state of rest.

Components of Energy Expenditure

The three primary ways human bodies expend energy: Basal metabolism ($50\text{--}65\%$), Physical activity ($30\text{--}50\%$), and the Thermic effect of food ($10\%$).

Body Mass Index (BMI)

A measure of body weight relative to height, calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared ($\text{kg/m}^2$).

BMI Mortality Curve

A U-shaped curve illustrating that health risks and mortality rates increase at both low BMI values ($<18.5$) and elevated BMI values ($\ge 30$).

Visceral Fat

Adipose tissue stored inside the abdominal cavity surrounding internal organs, associated with central obesity and increased risk of heart disease, hypertension, stroke, and diabetes.

Apple and Pear Body Shapes

A comparison of fat distribution patterns: upper-body fat (apple shape) is more common in men and linked to chronic illness, whereas lower-body fat (pear shape) is more common in women and less linked to chronic disease.

Waist Circumference

A clinical measurement used to assess abdominal fatness, where thresholds above $35\,\text{inches}$ in women and $40\,\text{inches}$ in men indicate high risk for central obesity-related disease.