CMS Health Science I Final Study Guide

A study guide for the CMS state final exam for Health Science I

a-, an-

without

ab-

away from

Abduction

movement away from the midline

Abrasion

scraping away of the top layer of skin

Absorption

passing of a substance into body fluids and tissues

-ac

pertaining to

ad-

toward

Adduction

movement toward the midline

adeno

gland

Adipose

fatty tissue

Aerobic

requiring oxygen

Agonist

contracts the muscle to cause movement

Albinism

deficiency in pigment

-algia

pain

Alopecia

baldness to all or small portions of the head

Anaerobic

requiring no oxygen

Anaphylaxis

a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur within seconds or minutes of exposure to an allergen

Anatomy

the study of the structure of an organism

Antagonist

produces movement in the opposite direction of prime mover

anuria

absence of urine

Aqueous humor

clear fluid that fills the anterior chamber of the eye

Asphyxia

condition in which the body may lose consciousness due to inadequate amounts of oxygen

Atlas

first cervical vertebra, jointed with the occipital bone allowing the head to nod

Bile

yellow to green substance produced by the liver; emulsifies fat

Bilirubin

one of two pigments that determines the color of bile, comes from the breakdown of the hemoglobin molecule

Blood-brain barrier

inability of some substances to penetrate the brain tissue

Bolus

a ball-like mixture of food and saliva that forms in the mouth during the process of chewing

Buccal

of, relating to, involving, or lying in the cheek and mouth

Bursae

fluid filled sac on the sides of the joint to help with friction

Calcify

to deposit mineral salts

Cecum

pouch at the proximal end of the large intestine

Cephalic

of or relating to the head

Chyme

the semi-liquid mass of partly digested food that is expelled by the stomach into the duodenum

Circumcision

removal of the foreskin of the penis

CVA

cerebrovascular accident; stroke

Cytology

the study of cells

Deciduous Teeth

temporary teeth, also called baby teeth, erupt by age 6 and fall out by the age of 12

Dermatitis

noncontagious, inflammation of the skin

Diuretic

drug that increases urinary output

Ectopic pregnancy

implantation of a fertilized egg outside of the uterus, often in the fallopian tube

Elastin

elastic like fibers found in connective tissue

Emergency

a serious, unexpected, and often dangerous situation requiring immediate action

Endocrine

ductless glands

Eversion

turn outward

Exocrine

secretions from these glands must go through a duct

Extension

act of increasing the angle between two bones, straightening motion

Fascia

thin flexible band of a membrane of connective tissue that holds, separates or binds muscles

Fertilization

process of the union of the egg and sperm

Fetus

developing human from three months after conception until birth

Goiter

enlargement of the thyroid gland

Good Samaritan Law

law that offers legal protection to people who give reasonable assistance to those who are injured, ill, in danger, or incapacitated

Granulation

tiny red granules that are visible in the base of a healing wound; granules consist of newly formed capillaries and fibroblasts

Hemorrhage

heavy discharge of blood from the blood vessels

Histology

microscopic study of living tissues

Homeostasis

state of balance; the ability of the healthy body to regulate the internal environment within narrow limits

Hyperglycemia

elevated concentration of glucose in the blood

Hypoglycemia

low concentration of glucose in the blood

Impetigo

contagious skin disorders characterized by vesicles that rupture and develop yellow crust

Inversion

turn inward

Isometric

contraction of a muscle, but the joint does not move

Lymphatic fluid

straw colored fluid that goes between capillary blood and tissues

Mastication

process of chewing

Melanin

pigment that gives skin, hair, and eyes color

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

bacteria that causes infection to different parts of the body that has become resistant to standard antibiotic treatment medications

Neurotransmitter

a chemical messenger that carries, boosts, and balances signals between neurons

nocturia

frequent urination at night

oliguria

small amount of urine output

Oogenesis

process of origin, growth, and formation of ovum in the ovary during preparation for fertilization

Open fracture

broken bone that breaks through the skin

Ophthalmoscope

a lighted instrument for inspecting the retina and other parts of the eye

Oral

relating to the mouth

Orbital cavity

bony cavity in the skull that houses and protects the eyeball

Origin

attachment site for skeletal muscle to bone that does not move during muscle contraction

Ossicles

three tiny bones in the middle ear that transmit sounds to the cochlea

Osteoblasts

bone-forming cells

Osteoclasts

absorbs bone tissue during growth/healing

Osteocytes

mature bone cells

Otoscope

a lighted instrument used to examine the ear

Oxygen Debt

deficiency of oxygen from physical activity

Pallor

unusually pale appearance of the skin most noticeably in the facial region

Papillae

projections on the tongue that contain taste buds

Papule

elevated, solid area that forms on the skin

Paralysis

the loss of the ability to move (and sometimes to feel anything) in part or most of the body, typically as a result of illness, poison, or injury

Parietal membrane

lining of a body cavity

Peristalsis

a series of wave-like motions made by muscle contractions in the digestive tract to move food through the process of digestion

Peritoneal membrane

lining of the abdominal cavity that protects the abdominal organs

Polydipsia

excessive thirst

Polyphagia

excessive hunger

Polyuria

excessive urination

Pustule

a vesicle that becomes filled with pus

Quadrant

one of four parts created by a medial sagittal plane and a transverse plane passing through the umbilicus at right angles

Radial pulse

pulse felt by placing fingertips over the radial artery along the thumb side of the wrist

Rhinitis

inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose

Rods

a type of specialized light-sensitive cell in the retina of the eye that provides side vision and the ability to see objects in dim light (night vision)

Seizure

uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain, which may produce a physical convulsion, minor physical signs, thought disturbances, or a combination of symptoms

Sebum

oil

Spleen

sac-like mass of lymphatic tissue located in the left abdominal cavity, just below the diaphragm

Spongy bone

porous bone usually at the epiphysis, surrounded by compact bone

Stratum corneum

dead, flat cells that flake off daily

Tonsils

masses of lymphatic tissue that produce lymphocytes