Nursing

Front 1

acromegaly

Back 1

Chronic metabolic condition caused by overproduction of growth hormone and characterized by gradual, marked enlargement and elongation of bones of the face, jaw, and extremities.

Front 2

adventitious sounds

Back 2

Abnormal lung sounds heard with auscultation.

Front 3

Allen's test

Back 3

Test for the patency of the radial artery. The client's hand is formed into a fist while the nurse compresses the ulnar artery. Compression of the ulnar artery is continued while the fist is opened. If blood perfusion through the radial artery is adequate, the hand should flush and resume normal pinkish coloration.

Front 4

apical impulse

Back 4

Point at which the apex of the heart touches the anterior chest wall; best site for auscultation of heart sounds; also called the point of maximal impulse (PMI).

Front 5

arcus senilis

Back 5

Thin white ring along the margin of the iris.

Front 6

basal cell carcinoma

Back 6

Malignant epithelial cell tumor that begins as a papule and enlarges peripherally, developing a central crater that erodes, crusts, and bleeds. Metastasis is rare. Primary cause is excessive exposure to the sun or to x-rays.

Front 7

borborygmi

Back 7

Audible abdominal sound produced by hyperactive intestinal peristalsis

Front 8

bronchophony

Back 8

Increase in intensity and clarity of the vocal resonance that may result from an increase in the lung tissue density, such as in the consolidation of pneumonia.

Front 9

bruit

Back 9

Abnormal sound or murmur heard while auscultating an organ, gland, or artery.

Front 10

cholecystitis

Back 10

Inflammation of the gallbladder; may be acute or chronic.

Front 11

cystocele

Back 11

Portion of the vaginal wall and bladder that has prolapsed or fallen into the anterior vaginal orifice.

Front 12

distention

Back 12

Swelling of a body cavity; may be caused by fluid, gas, or a mass.

Front 13

ectropion

Back 13

Eversion of the eyelid that exposes the conjunctival membrane and part of the eyeball.

Front 14

entropion

Back 14

Condition in which the eyelid turns inward toward the eye.

Front 15

erythema

Back 15

Redness or inflammation of the skin or mucous membranes that is a result of dilation and congestion of superficial capillaries; sunburn is an example.

Front 16

excoriation

Back 16

Injury to the skin's surface caused by abrasion.

Front 17

exophthalmos

Back 17

Abnormal protrusion of one or both eyeballs.

Front 18

exostosis

Back 18

Abnormal benign growth on the surface of a bone.

Front 19

hirsutism

Back 19

Excessive body hair in a masculine distribution caused by heredity, hormonal dysfunction, or medication.

Front 20

hypertonicity

Back 20

Increased muscle tone.

Front 21

indurated

Back 21

Hardened tissue, particularly skin, due to edema, inflammation, or infiltration by a tumor.

Front 22

kyphosis

Back 22

Exaggeration of the posterior curvature of the thoracic spine.

Front 23

leukoplakia

Back 23

Thick, raised, pearly-white patch of precancerous tissue found on the lips, buccal mucosa, penis, or vulva.

Front 24

lordosis

Back 24

Increased lumbar curvature.

Front 25

melanoma

Back 25

Group of malignant neoplasms, primarily of the skin, that are composed of melanocytes; common in fair-skinned people having light-colored eyes and in persons who have had a sunburn; any black or brown spot having an irregular border, pigment appearing to radiate beyond that border, or a red, black, and blue coloration observable on close examination.

Front 26

metastasize

Back 26

To spread.

Front 27

nystagmus

Back 27

Involuntary rhythmic movements of the eyes; the oscillations may be horizontal, vertical, rotary, or mixed.

Front 28

occlusion

Back 28

Blockage in a canal, vessel, or passage of the body.

Front 29

ophthalmoscope

Back 29

Instrument used to illuminate the structures of the eye for the examination of the fundus, which includes the retina, choroid, optic nerve disc, macula, fovea centralis, and retinal vessels

Front 30

otoscope

Back 30

Instrument with a special ear speculum used to examine the deeper structures of the external and middle ear

Front 31

ototoxicity

Back 31

Referring to the characteristic of any drug or substance that has a harmful effect on the eighth cranial nerve or the organs of hearing and balance.

Front 32

paralytic ileus

Back 32

Usually temporary paralysis of intestinal wall that may occur after abdominal surgery or peritoneal injury and that causes cessation of peristalsis; leads to abdominal distention and symptoms of obstruction.

Front 33

peritonitis

Back 33

Inflammation of the peritoneum produced by bacteria or irritating substances introduced into the abdominal cavity by a penetrating wound or perforation of an organ in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract or the reproductive tract.

Front 34

phlebitis

Back 34

Inflammation of a vein.

Front 35

point of maximal impulse (PMI)

Back 35

Anatomical point along the fourth to fifth intercostal space at the midclavicular line where the heartbeat can most easily be palpated through the chest wall.

Front 36

ptosis

Back 36

Abnormal condition of one or both upper eyelids in which the eyelid droops; caused by weakness of the levator muscle or paralysis of the third cranial nerve.

Front 37

pulse deficit

Back 37

Condition that exists when the radial pulse is less than the ventricular rate as auscultated at the apex or seen on an electrocardiogram; indicates a lack of peripheral perfusion for some of the heart contractions.

Front 38

scoliosis

Back 38

Lateral spinal curvature.

Front 39

senile keratosis

Back 39

Slowly developing, localized thickening of the outer layers of the skin as a result of chronic, excessive exposure to the sun; commonly develops in older adults.

Front 40

stenosis

Back 40

Abnormal condition characterized by the constriction or narrowing of an opening or passageway in a body structure.

Front 41

tactile fremitus

Back 41

Tremulous vibration of the chest wall during breathing that is palpable on physical examination.

Front 42

thrill

Back 42

Continuous palpable sensation, like the purring of a cat.

Front 43

varicosities

Back 43

Superficial veins that become dilated, for example, varicose veins on the lag or esophageal varicosities along the surface of the esophagus

Front 44

ventricular gallop

Back 44

Abnormal low-pitched extra heart sound (S3) heard in early diastole.

Front 45

vocal fremitus

Back 45

Vibrations created by sound waves that can be palpated externally.

Front 46

whispered pectoriloquy

Back 46

Transmission of a whisper through the pulmonary structures so that it is heard as normal audible speech on auscultation.