Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
APPENDIXE
E
GLOSSARY
Abrasion:
A wound of the skin—and sometimes the underlying tissue—caused by scrap-
ing or rubbing.
Abscess:
A localized collection of pus caused by infection and inflammation that destroy
tissue. (Pimples and boils are small abscesses in the skin.)
Acute:
1. Appearing after or persisting for a relatively brief period of time. (Does not in-
dicate a specific time interval, but a short period of time in relation to the condition for
which it is used. An acute onset would be minutes for some disorders, weeks for oth-
ers.) 2. Requiring immediate or urgent attention.
Aerosinusitis:
A painful condition of the paranasal sinuses produced by a rapid increase in
external pressure (due to water submersion or a rapid descent from altitude) while the
openings into the sinuses are closed and the pressure within the sinuses remains lower
than external pressure.
Aerotitis:
A painful condition of the middle ear, similar to aerosinusitis but produced by
pressure changes while the eustachian tube is closed.
Airway:
Passages through which air enters and leaves the lungs.
Alveoli:
The smallest functional units of the lungs.
Analgesia:
Relief of pain.
Analgesic:
A medication that relieves pain.
Anemia:
A reduced number of red blood cells in the circulating blood.
Aneurysm:
A localized dilatation of an artery that can rupture and hemorrhage. Caused by
weakening of the arterial wall.
Angina pectoris:
Crushing or squeezing chest pain caused by a reduction in coronary
artery blood flow due to arteriosclerosis.
Anoxia:
Total absence of oxygen.
Arrhythmia:
An abnormal rhythm, usually referring to the heartbeat.
Arteriosclerosis:
A disease of arteries characterized by deposits of material that narrows
the lumens (most significantly) and also stiffens or “hardens” the arterial walls.
Aspirate:
To inspire (air is aspirated into the lungs); to draw in by suction (fluid is aspir-
ated into a syringe).
Asthma:
A disorder, typically allergic in origin, characterized by respiratory difficulty and
caused by spasm of the muscle in small bronchioles that narrows their lumens.
Ataxia:
Loss of the ability to coordinate muscular movement.
Search WWH ::
Custom Search