Medical-Surgical Nursing Review Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, diagnostic tests, and clinical findings from Oncology, Hematology, Cardiovascular, Renal, and Orthopedic Nursing.

Neoplasm

Uncontrolled cell growth that follows no physiologic demand, literally meaning new growth.

Teletherapy

External radiation therapy where X-rays destroy cancer cells from a source positioned far from the client.

Brachytherapy

Internal radiation therapy involving the delivery of a high dose of radiation to a localized area via an implanted source.

Whipple Procedure

Surgical pancreaticoduodenectomy involving the removal of the gallbladder, common bile duct, part of the duodenum, and the head of the pancreas.

Koilonychia

Brittle, spoon-shaped nails resulting from the atrophy of epidermal cells in Iron Deficiency Anemia.

Plummer-Vinson's Syndrome

Condition characterized by atrophic glossitis, stomatitis, and dysphagia due to atrophy of the tongue, mouth, and pharyngeal cells.

Glossitis

Red, beefy tongue that serves as a pathognomonic sign for Pernicious Anemia.

Schilling's Test

Diagnostic procedure for Vitamin B12 absorption where the patient receives radioactive B12 orally followed by a 24-hour urine collection.

Pancytopenia

A marked decrease in RBCs, WBCs, and platelets caused by bone marrow stem cell damage or destruction.

Polycythemia Vera

Proliferative disorder of myeloid stem cells characterized by hypercellular bone marrow and elevated levels of RBCs, WBCs, and platelets.

Hemarthroses

Bleeding into joint spaces, which accounts for 75% of all bleeding events in patients with hemophilia.

Preload

Degree of myocardial stretch at the end of diastole and just before contraction.

Afterload

Pressure or resistance that the ventricles must overcome to eject blood through the semilunar valves.

Beck's Triad

Diagnostic clinical triad for cardiac tamponade consisting of jugular vein distention, hypotension, and distant or muffled heart sounds.

Pulsus Paradoxus

A drop in systolic blood pressure $> 10\text{ mmHg}$ during inspiration, commonly observed in cardiac tamponade and pericarditis.

Osler's Nodes

Small, painful nodules present in the pads of fingers or toes in patients with infective endocarditis.

Janeway Lesions

Irregular, red or purple, painless, flat macules on the palms, fingers, and toes associated with infective endocarditis.

Prinzmetal's Angina

Variant form of angina characterized by chest pain at rest with reversible ST-segment elevation caused by coronary artery vasospasm.

Virchow's Triad

Three underlying factors contributing to venous thromboembolism: vessel wall injury, venous stasis, and altered blood coagulation.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

The rate at which fluid is filtered by the renal glomerulus, normally constant at $125\text{ mL/min}$.

Anasarca

Generalized severe edema, which serves as a pathognomonic sign for Nephrotic Syndrome.

Uremic Frost

Deposition of urea crystals on the skin observed in patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

Trousseau's Sign

Carpopedal spasm induced by inflating a blood pressure cuff above systolic pressure, indicating hypocalcemia.

Chvostek's Sign

Facial muscle twitching elicited by tapping over the facial nerve, indicating hypocalcemia.

Kussmaul's Respiration

Deep, rapid breathing pattern adopted by the respiratory system to compensate for metabolic acidosis.

Osteon

Microscopic functioning structural unit of mature cortical bone.

Compartment Syndrome

Condition occurring when increased tissue pressure within a confined anatomical space compromises circulation and tissue function.

Volkmann's Contracture

Specific type of compartment syndrome causing permanent flexion contracture of the fingers and wrist due to obstructed arterial blood flow in the forearm.

Phalen's Test

Diagnostic maneuver for carpal tunnel syndrome performed by holding the backs of both hands together in forced flexion for 1 minute to elicit tingling or numbness.

Tinel's Sign

Diagnostic test for carpal tunnel syndrome elicited by percussing lightly over the median nerve at the wrist to produce tingling, numbness, or pain.

Dowager's Hump

Spinal kyphosis resulting from vertebral compression fractures in osteoporosis.

Osteitis Deformans

Alternative name for Paget's disease, characterized by localized rapid bone turnover producing a structurally weak mosaic bone pattern.

Podagra

Excruciating pain and uric acid crystal accumulation occurring specifically in the big toe joint in gout.

Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease

Self-limiting childhood disease characterized by avascular necrosis of the femoral head caused by interrupted blood supply.