asphyxia: suffocation; deficiency of oxygen.
aspiration: withdrawal of fluid or gas from a cavity by means of suction; the act of inhaling (pathologic drawing of fluids into the lungs), often causing aspiration pneumonia.
assault: a violent act, either physical or verbal.
assaultive: threatening to hurt others or actually striking someone.
assertiveness: confidence without aggression or passivity, an important skill for a nurse to possess in interpersonal communication.
assessment: phase of the nursing process in which the nurse systematically and continuously collects and analyzes data about a client.
assisted living: programs that allow older adults to age in place, maintain independence, and choose services they want and need.
assisted suicide: helping an individual who wants to end his or her life to do so.
asthma: a disease marked by breathing difficulty, caused by spasmodic contractions of the bronchial tubes; bronchial asthma.
astigmatism: condition in which the eye cannot bring horizontal and vertical lines into focus at the same time, causing blurry vision, as a result of irregularities in the curvature of the cornea and lens.
ataxia: failure or irregularity of muscle coordination, often a chronic condition; inability to walk.
ataxic cerebral palsy: type of cerebral palsy that results in tremors, unsteady gait, lack of coordination and balance, rapid repeated movements of the eyeball, muscle weakness, and lack of leg movement during infancy.
atelectasis: collapse of all or part of a lung.
atherectomy: type of angioplasty in which a sharp device is used to shave away plaque from the coronary or other artery.
atherosclerosis: arteriosclerosis characterized by deposits of cholesterol, fatty acids, or plaques on the inner wall of the artery.
athetoid: involuntary writing movements of fingers, toes, or extremities.
athetoid cerebral palsy (dyskinetic cerebral palsy): a type of CP characterized by slow, writhing involuntary movements such as twisting, grimacing, and sharp jerks that disappear during sleep and increase with stress.
athetosis: slow, repetitive, involuntary writhing movements.
atom: the smallest particle of an element that retains the original properties of that element.
atony: lack of firmness, as in the uterus.
atrial ablation: procedure which uses a catheter to determine the location of the abnormality within the heart and using radiofrequency energy, destroys the diseased tissue.
atrioventricular valves: valves that lie between the atria and the ventricles. atrium: entrance (usually refers to upper chambers of the heart).
(pl: atria) atrophy: to waste away. auditory tube: (see eustachian tube).
aura: a subjective sensation prior to a seizure, such as before an epileptic attack or a migraine headache; a warning. aural: pertaining to the ear (otic).
auricle: flap of cartilage and skin that comprises the outer ear; external ear, pinna. A portion of the atrium of the heart. (Sometimes used to refer to entire atrium.)
auscultation: externally listening to sounds from within the body to determine abnormal conditions, as auscultation of blood pressure with a stethoscope.
autism: condition marked by preoccupation with inner thoughts and withdrawal from the outside world.
autoclave: a pressure steam sterilizer.
autocratic leadership: leadership style that is self directed and calls for little input from others.
autograft: a graft that is transplanted from one place to another on the same person’s body.
autoimmune disorder: disorder in which the body fails to recognize its own cells as “self’ and begins to destroy them.
autoimmune: allergic response of one’s own body to cells or organs within the body; inability of the body to differentiate between “self’ and “nonself.”
autologous: related to self, pertaining to the same person or organism, as an autologous skin graft from another place on one’s own body.
Automated external defibrillator (AED): a portable defibrillation device designed to recognize specific cardiac dysrhythmias and initiate defibrillation (electroshock) therapy; user-friendly and available in medical facilities or public places (such as airports) for emergency treatment of major cardiac events such as asystole or severe cardiac dysrhythmias.
automated external defibrillator: a portable unit that analyzes the heart’s rhythm and indicates when an electric shock is necessary; considered definitive treatment for those in cardiac arrest.
autonomic dysreflexia (AD): hyper-reflexia or exaggerated autonomic nervous system reflexes occurring, for example, in clients with a spinal cord injury, especially injury above T-6.
autonomic: not subject to voluntary control, as the autonomic nervous system, “automatic.”
autopsy: examination of the body after death; postmortem.
aversion therapy: a psychological treatment that uses adverse conditioning to prevent a person from repeating bad or destructive behaviors.
avulsion: the tearing away of a structure or part, as an avulsion injury when a tooth is knocked out.
axilla: the armpit.
axon: outgrowth of the body of a nerve cell that conducts impulses away from the cell body.
B
B cells: lymphocytes that originate in the bone marrow; B lymphocytes.
Babinski reflex: a reflex caused by scraping the sole of the foot (normal in a newborn; a sign of neurologic damage in an adult).
bacillus: a rod-shaped bacterium (plural: bacilli).
bacteremia: presence of bacteria in the blood.
bacteria: microorganisms, some of which are disease-causing; common forms are staphylococci, streptococci, bacilli, and spirochetes.
bacteriology: the study of bacteria, commonly used to denote the study of all organisms.
bacterial vaginosis: infection of the vagina caused by a gram-negative bacteria, Gardnerella vaginalis; also called nonspecific vaginitis; formerly known as Hemophilus vaginalis.
bactericidal: a substance that kills bacteria.
bacteriophage: virus that destroys bacteria by lysis.
bacteriostatic: a substance that arrests bacterial growth. bacteriuria: bacteria in urine. balking: refusing to do something.
ballottement: a specific palpation to test for a floating object, such as a fetus. bandage: a strip of material (gauze, tape, cloth, etc.) used to cover a wound or to hold a dressing in place, in order to give support or to apply pressure. (verb: to apply a bandage, to bandage)
baroreceptors: sensory receptors in blood vessel walls stimulated by blood pressure changes.
Bartholin’s glands: glands in the vagina that provide it with lubrication.
basal metabolism: minimum amount of energy the body uses at rest. base: also called an alkali, a compound that contains the hydroxyl ion (OH-).
base of support: balance or stability provided by the feet and their positioning.
basic cardiac life support: life-saving measures such as rapid entry into emergency medical services, performance of CPR, and use of techniques to clear obstructed airway.
Basic metabolic panel (BMP): various combinations of fundamental laboratory tests as defined by a specific laboratory that commonly include electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride), glucose, bicarbonate, carbon dioxide, plus assorted liver enzymes or kidney studies. See comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP).
battery: physical striking or beating, as assault and battery. bed cradle: a frame used to prevent bedclothes from touching all or part of a person’s body.
beliefs: concepts that a person or group thinks are true. benign: harmless, not malignant.
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): narrowing of the urethra which results as the prostate continues to grow throughout a man’s life.
benzodiazepine: class of common antianxiety medication.
bereavement: normal period of mourning or grieving following the death of a loved one.
beriberi: disease of the nervous system that can lead to paralysis and death from heart failure, caused by a severe thiamine deficiency.
beta (ß) endorphins: hormones that have the same effect as opiate drugs,whose release is stimulated by stress and exercise.
bicuspid (mitral) valve: valve between the left atrium and left ventricle formed of two tissue flaps.
bile: fluid produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder that aids in fat digestion.
biliary atresia: defect in the bile ducts that prevents bile from escaping the liver.
binuclear family: a family in which a separation or divorce of the adult partners occurs, but both adults continue to assume a high level of childrearing responsibilities.
biofeedback: using an electronic device to measure the effectiveness of internal exercises, such as Kegel’s, or to expand one’s ability to control the autonomic nervous system.
biohazardous: harmful to humans or animals; infectious.
biological death: permanent and irreversible cessation of the body’s physical and chemical processes and failure of body cells.
Biological response modifiers (BRMs): used in immunotherapy (biotherapy). BRMs are produced by normal cells and are designed to treat assorted cancers, and to repair, stimulate, or enhance substances within the immune system to kill cancer cells.See Immunotherapy.
bionomics: study of the environment and its relationship to living things.
biopsy: removal of a sample of body tissue or fluid for diagnostic examination, usually microscopic; most often used to detect the presence of cancer.
biotherapy: the use of biologic response modifiers (BRM) in cancer treatment.
bipolar disorder: severe disorder in which behavior alternates between overactivity and depression.
birth plan: written document in which the expectant mother expresses her desires for labor and birth.
birthing room: room in a hospital in which both labor and delivery take place; also called labor/delivery/ recovery/postpartum (LDRP) rooms.
bisexual: sexual attraction to persons of both sexes; exhibiting both heterosexuality and homosexuality.
blackout: temporary loss of vision and consciousness due to lack of blood supply to the brain and retina; sometimes refers to fainting.
bladder: a membranous muscular sac, as the gall- or urinary bladder.
bland diet: diet that is limited in gastric acid stimulants.
blended family: family that results when two people who already have children marry, blending two families into one.
blepharitis: inflammation of the eyelid.
Blood glucose monitoring: a laboratory or home-base blood test used to determine the level of blood glucose. Often done several times per day to monitor serum glucose in a diabetic client.
blood pressure: pressure of the blood on the walls of the blood vessels, expressed as systolic (contraction phase) over diastolic (relaxation phase).
body cavity: a space within the body that contains internal organs.
body cue: feelings experienced in response to body rhythms, selfmonitoring.
body language: impressions one conveys through body movements and posture, eye contact, and other nonverbal means.
body mass index: weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared.
body mechanics: use of safe and efficient methods of moving and lifting.
body temperature: measure of heat inside a person’s body; balance between heat produced and heat lost.
bolus: a rounded mass, as an amount of food in the intestine, a pill, or a rounded pad. A dose of IV medication given quickly, as a bolus dose.
bonding: the development of a close emotional tie, as between parent and child.
bore: a needle’s inner diameter.
Bowman’s capsule: funnel-shaped structure that encloses the glomerulus of the kidney.
bradycardia: abnormally slow heart action; slow pulse.
bradykinesia: slowness of movement.
bradypnea: condition in which breaths are abnormally slow and fall below ten per minute.
braille: an alphabet system for the nonsighted, with raised dots that one can feel with the fingers.
brain death: irreversible cessation of brain and brain stem function to the extent that cardiopulmonary function must be mechanically maintained. Criteria for determination vary between states. (Also called cerebral death, irreversible coma, and persistent vegetative state.)
brain stem: part of the brain that connects the cerebral hemispheres and the spinal cord.
brand name: copyrighted name assigned by a company that makes a medication; also called trade name.
Braxton-Hicks contractions: during pregnancy, naturally occurring tightening and relaxing of uterine muscles in preparation for labor and delivery; usually irregular and painless.
breech: positioning of the fetus in which the buttocks or either or both feet present rather than the head.
broad spectrum: classification of an antibiotic that is effective against many different organisms.
bronchi: tubular-shaped air passages that connect the trachea and lungs. (sing: bronchus)
bronchiectasis: chronic dilation of the bronchi, with large amounts of sputum production.
bronchioles: smaller bronchi.
bronchiolitis: inflammation of the bronchioles.
bronchitis: inflammation of the bronchi.
bronchodilator: a medication that causes the bronchioles to expand (dilate), thus improving respiration.
bronchoscope: a lighted instrument used to examine the interior of the bronchi (bronchoscopy).
brown fat: stored fat occurring only in infants born at term, used to produce heat; once it is used, the baby cannot create more.
bruxism: grinding of the teeth during sleep.
buccal: pertaining to the cheek or mouth.
buffer: a chemical system set up to resist changes, particularly in the level of hydrogen ions.
bulbourethral glands: glands that secrete an alkaline mucus that lubricates the penis and neutralizes the pH of urine residue, also known as Cowper’s gland.
bulimia: a condition in which a person eats huge amounts of food and then self-induces vomiting or uses large amounts of laxatives (binge-purge syndrome); also called bulimia nervosa.
bureaucratic leadership: leadership style that is policy minded and relies on established protocols for decision making.
bursa: a small, fluid-filled sac that prevents friction, as in bursae of the shoulder. (pl: bursae)
bursitis: inflammation of a bursa.
C
cachexia: severe ill health and malnutrition; debilitated state.
caduceus: modern symbols of medicine, two sets of wings atop two serpents twined around a staff, based on mythical figures (also known as the staff of Aesculapius).
cafe coronary: slang term for a person who dies by choking while eating, often after rushing from a restaurant to avoid embarrassment. calcaneous: the largest tarsal bone, located in the heel (os calcis).
calcium: most abundant mineral element in the body; found especially in bones and teeth.
calculus: an abnormal concretion usually composed of mineral salts, occurring in the hollow body organs; a “stone,” as a calculus in the kidney (pl: calculi); deposit on the teeth (tartar).
calyces: cuplike extensions of the renal pelvis into which urine flows from the collecting tubules (singular: calyx).
cancer: a malignant growth, neoplasm, carcinoma. cancer pain: specific type of pain identified by IASP, caused by a malignancy; often intractable and severe; usually chronic.
candidiasis: most common cause of vaginitis, resulting primarily by an overgrowth of the normal population of the fungus Candida albicans; also known as moniliasis, thrush, fungal infection, and yeast infection.
