Chapter 33 Geriatric Emergencies

Front 1

abdominal aortic aneurysm

Back 1

a condition in which the walls of the aorta in the abdomen weaken and blood leaks into layers of the vessel, causing it to bulge

Front 2

aneurysm

Back 2

a swelling or enlargement of a part of an artery, resulting from weakening of the arterial wall

Front 3

arteriosclerosis

Back 3

a disease characterized by hardening, thickening, and calcification of the arterial walls

Front 4

atherosclerosis

Back 4

a disorder in which choesterol and calcium build up inside the walls of blood cessels, forming plaque, which eventually leads to partial or complete blockage of blood flow and the formation of clots that can break off and embolize

Front 5

cataracts

Back 5

clouding of the lens of the eyes or its surrounding transparent membranes

Front 6

collagen

Back 6

a protein that is the chief component of connective tissues and bones

Front 7

delirium

Back 7

a change in mental status marked by the inability to focus, think logically, and maintain attention

Front 8

dementia

Back 8

the slow onset of progressive disorientation, shortened attention span, and loss of cognitive function

Front 9

elastin

Back 9

a protein found in elastic tissues such as skin and artery walls

Front 10

kyphosis

Back 10

a forward curling of the back caused by an abnormal increase in the curvature of the spine

Front 11

osteoporosis

Back 11

a generalized bone disease, commonly associated with postmenopausal women, in which there is a reduction in the amount of bone mass leading to fractures after minimal trauma in either sex

Front 12

vasoconstriction

Back 12

the narrowing of the blood vessel

Front 13

vasodilations

Back 13

the widening of a blood vessel