Medical Terminology

Dysphagia

Difficulty swallowing

Geriatrics

Study of the elderly/aging

Acute

Sudden, short term

Degeneration

Breakdown, deteriorate

Cognition

The ability to think, reason, make and remember decisions

Involuntary

Not able to control

Dementia

Progressive deterioration of mental function

Validation therapy

The caregiver accepts value and beliefs of the resident with dementia, even though they may differ from reality

Ambulatory

Able to walk

Pathogen

Disease causing microorganism; germ

Shearing

Force of skin over a bone when the bone moves but the skin stays at point of contact

Incontinence

Inability to control urine or stool

Void

Urinate

Abductor wedge

A health device that enables the user to maintain proper leg positioning while

recovering from hip replacements or fracture

Adduction

Moving a limb toward the body’s midline

Alzheimer's

A progressive incurable disease that causes tangled nerve fibers and protein

deposits to form in the brain, which eventually causes dementia

AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is a disease of the immune system transmitted through blood products especially by sexual contact or contaminated needles

Angina

Chest pain due to lack of blood flow to heart muscle

Aphasia

Loss of speech due to injury or illness

Apnea

Absence of breathing

Arthritis

Inflammation of the joints causing pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility

Aspiration

Inhaling food, drink, or other materials into the lungs

Bacteria

A type of microorganism (germ) that can cause disease. Some are considered beneficial and are normally present in the body

Abduction

Moving a limb away from the body’s midline