Glossary 1:
abduction - Movement away from the axial line (for a limb) or
the median plane (for the digits).
accommodation - Process by which the refractive power of the lens of the eye is increased through contraction of the ciliary muscle, which causes increased thickness and curvature of the lens. The accommodation response of the pupils consists of convergence of the eyes and constriction of the pupils as the gaze shifts from a distant to a near point.
range of motion - Purposeful joint movement performed by the patient without assistance from the examiner.
activities of daily living - Basic physical needs of dressing, transferring, feeding, bathing, toileting, bowel and bladder control, walking, climbing stairs, and grooming.
adaptation - Process by which the eye becomes more sensitive to either reduced or increased illumination.
adduction - Movement toward the axial line (for a limb) or the median plane (for the digits).
adnexal - Being next to or near another, related structure - the ovaries in the case of female genitalia.
affect - Outwardly manifested emotional range attached to
ideas.
-Appropriate affect: emotional tone in harmony with
the accompanying idea, thought, or verbalization.
-Blunted affect: disturbance manifested by a severe reduction in the intensity of affect.
-Flat affect: absence or near absence of any signs of affective expression.
-Inappropriate affect: incongruence between the emotional feeling tone and the idea, thought, or speech accompanying it.
-Labile affect: rapid changes in the emotional feeling tone that are unrelated to external stimuli.
afferent neuron - Any neuron that transmits nerve impulses from the periphery toward the central nervous system (sensory).
macular degeneration - Degeneration of the macula leading to decreased central vision.
ageusia - Loss of the sensation of taste or of the ability to discriminate sweet, sour, salty, and bitter tastes.
agnosia - Inability to discriminate sensory stimuli.
-Acoustic or auditory agnosia: impaired ability to recognize familiar
sounds.
-Tactile agnosia: impaired ability to recognize familiar objects by touch or feel.
Visuaal agnosia: impaired ability to recognize familiar objects by sight.
-Somatagnosia: disturbance in recognition of body parts.
alopecia - Partial or complete lack of hair resulting from normal
aging, endocrine disorder, drug reactions, skin disease, and
other causes.
amblyopia - Reduced vision in an eye that appears structurally normal on ophthalmoscopic examination.
amenorrhea - Absence of menstruation.
anastomosing - Joining.
anesthesia - Absence of normal sensation, especially sensitivity to pain, such as induced by an anesthetic substance or hypnosis or as occurs with traumatic or pathophysiological damage to nerve tissue.
aneurysm - Localized dilation of an artery. Most prominent and significant in the aorta but also occurs in peripheral vessels.
angina pectoris - Pain that is substernal and/or radiating to the left arm, neck, or jaw; frequently correlated with myocardial ischemia. May be accompanied by a feeling of suffocation or impending death. Attacks are often related to exertion, emotional stress, or exposure to intense cold.
anisocoria - Condition in which the pupils of the two eyes are of unequal size.
ankylosis - Rigidity and consolidation of a joint.
anonychia - Complete absence of the nail.
anorexia - Loss of appetite.
anosmia - Inability to smell.
anterior triangle - Landmark on the neck formed by the edge of the mandible (superiorly), the sternocleidomastoid muscle (laterally), and the midline of the trachea (medially). Used to describe the location of physical findings.
anuria - Absence of excretion of urine.
anxiety - Motor tension, autonomic hyperactivity apprehension, or hyperattentiveness.
aphasia - Dysfunction or loss of the ability to express thoughts by speech, writing, symbols, or signs.
-Fluent aphasia: ability to produce words but with frequent errors in the choice of appropriate words or in the creation of words.
-Nonfluent aphasia: inability to produce words, either in spoken or written form.
apical impulse - Pulsation of the apex of the heart against the chest wall, normally at the fifth left intercostal space in the midclavicular line.
Apley's sign - Pain, locking of the knee, or clicking evoked with rotation of a flexed knee. Positive sign is indicative of a loose object in the knee (cartilage) that occurs with a torn meniscus.
apnea - Cessation of breathing in the end-expiratory position.
apraxia - Impairment of the ability to carry out purposeful skilled acts despite an intact sensory and motor system, such as an inability to draw or construct forms of two or three dimensions.
arcus senilis - Grayish to gray-white, opaque arc or halo surrounding the cornea; generally occurs in individuals older than 50 years.
areolae - Pigmented areas surrounding the nipples. Their color varies from pink to brown.
arrhythmia - Any deviation from the normal pace of the heart. Kinds of arrhythmias include atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, heart block, premature atrial contraction, and sinus arrhythmia.
arterial insufficiency - Inadequate supply of blood by way of the arteries to peripheral areas.
arteriosclerosis - Common arterial disorder characterized by hardening, thickening, loss of elasticity, and calcification of arterial walls, resulting in a decreased blood supply, especially to the cerebrum and the lower extremities.
arteritis - Inflammatory condition of the inner layers or the outer coat of one or more arteries.
arthralgia - Any pain that affects a joint.
arthritis - Inflammation of a joint.
ascites - Abnormal accumulation of fluid containing large amounts of protein and electrolytes within the abdominal cavity.
asthma - Paroxysmal dyspnea (wheezing) resulting from obstruction of the bronchi or spasm of smooth muscle.
astigmatism - Condition involving irregularity of the spherical curve of the cornea in which light rays cannot be focused in a point on the retina.
ataxia - Impairment of coordination of muscular activity.
atelectasis - Incomplete expansion of a lung compromised since birth; collapse of the adult lung.
atherosclerosis - Type of arteriosclerosis characterized by deposits (atheromas) of cholesterol, lipoid material, and lipophages in the walls of large arteries and arterioles. This condition usually occurs with aging and is often associated with obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.
atony (atonic) - Weak; lacking normal tone.
atrioventricular (AV) block - Impairment of impulse conduction from the atria to the ventricles that occurs at the AV node or the bundle of His (or its branches).
atrioventricular (AV) valves - Valves in the heart through which blood flows from the atria to the ventricles. The left AV valve is the mitral valve. The right AV valve is the tricuspid valve.
atrium (pl, atria) - One of the two upper chambers of the heart.
atrophy - Wasting; decrease in the size of a cell, tissue, organ, or body part.
auditory ossicles - Series of three small bones (malleus, incus, stapes) that extend across the middle ear.
auricle - External ear; also called pinna.
auscultation - Examination technique done by listening, usually through a stethoscope.
autonomic nervous system - Part of the peripheral nervous system that regulates involuntary vital function, including the
activity of the cardiac muscle, the smooth muscle, and the
glands. It has two divisions:
(1) the sympathetic nervous system accelerates heart rate, constricts blood vessels, and raises blood pressure;
(2) the parasympathetic nervous system slows heart rate, increases intestinal peristalsis and gland activity, and relaxes sphincters.
axillary tail of Spence - Anatomical projection of breast tissue into the axilla.
axon - Cylindrical extension of a nerve cell that conducts im- pulses away from the neuron cell body.
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Baker's cyst - Swelling in the popliteal space resulting from herniation of the synovial membrane of the knee.
ballottement - Palpation technique used to assess a floating object. Fluid-filled tissue is pushed toward the examiner's hand so that the object will float against the examiner's fingers.
basal cell (skin) cancer - Nodular, translucen; lesions with small blood vessels often seen inside the nodule. behavior - Any observable, recordable, and measurable move, response, or act (verbal or nonverbal) of an individual.
bigeminal, bigeminy - Pattern of arrhythmia consisting of coupled or paired ventricular beats; alternating QRS complexes are ventricular premature depolarizations.
bigeminal pulse - Abnormal pulse in which two beats in close succession are followed by a pause during which no pulse is felt.
bipolar disorder - Affective or mood disorder characterized by periods of mania alternating with periods of depression, with normal mood intervals occurring between the two.
bitemporal hemianopsia - Loss of vision in both temporal fields of vision.
blepharitis - Inflammation of the eyelid margins.
borborygmi - Audible bowel sounds, generally caused by gas propulsion through the intestine.
bounding pulse - Pulse that, on palpation, feels full and spring-like because of an increased thrust of cardiac contraction or an increased volume of circulating blood within the elastic structures of the vascular system.
bradycardia - Circulatory condition in which the myocardium contracts steadily but at a rate of less than 50 beats per minute.
bradypnea - Abnormally slow rate of breathing.
brainstem - Portion of the brain that comprises the medulla oblongata, the pons, and the mesencephalon. It performs motor, sensory, and reflex functions and contains the corticospinal and the reticulospinal tracts. The 12 pairs of cranial nerves arise mainly from the brainstem.
Braxton Hicks contraction - Irregular tightening of the uterus that begins in the first trimester and increases in frequency, duration, and intensity as the pregnancy advances.
bronchiectasis - Chronic dilation of one or more bronchi.
bronchioles - Small airways of the respiratory system extending from the bronchi into the lobes of the lungs.
bronchitis - Inflammation of one or more bronchi; condition may be chronic or acute.
bronchovesicular - Related to breath sounds from bronchial tubes and alveoli.
bruit - Murmur or blowing sound heard over the peripheral vessels, indicating increased flow or stenosis of the vessel.
bruxism - Compulsive, unconscious grinding of the teeth, especially during sleep.
buffalo hump - Accumulation of fat on the back of the neck associated with the prolonged use of large doses of glucocorticoids or the hypersecretion of cortisol caused by Cushing's syndrome.
bursa - Sac or sac-like cavity filled with fluid and located in sites where friction would otherwise develop, such as in a joint or bursitis Inflammation of a bursa.
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caput succedaneum - Localized pitting edema in the scalp of a newborn that may overlie the sutures of the skull.
caries - Decay of the calcified protein of teeth.
carpal tunnel syndrome - Entrapment of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel, resulting in paresthesia, pain, and muscle weakness.
caruncle - Small, fleshy projection located at the inner canthu of the eye.
cataplexy - Condition characterized by sudden muscular weakness and hypotonia, caused by emotions, such as anger, fear or surprise; often associated with narcolepsy.
cataract - Opacity in the lens that gradually impairs vision over time.
caudad - Toward the tail or end of the body; away from the head.
central sleep apnea - Form of sleep apnea resulting from a decreased respiratory center output. Characterized by cessation of both airflow and respiratory movements.
cephalad - Toward the head; away from the tail or end.
cerebellum - Part of the brain located in the posterior cranial fossa behind the brainstem. Its functions are concerned with coordinating voluntary muscular activity.
cerebrum - Largest part of the brain, consisting of the right and left cerebral hemispheres. Its many functions include movement, sensation, learning, and memory.
cerumen - Earwax produced by the apocrine and sebaceous glands within the ear canal.
chalazion - Sebaceous cyst on the eyelid that is formed by distention of a meibomian gland.
cherry angiomas - Benign, bright red, small, dome-shaped skin lesion.
chief complaint - The major reason for seeking care stated in the patient's own words.
chloasma - Tan or brown pigmentation, particularly of the forehead, cheeks, and nose.
choana - Funnel-shaped channel.
chordae tendineae - Strands of tendon attaching the atrioven tricular valves to the papillary muscles at the heart.
chorionic - Pertaining to the chorion, a fetal membrane com- posed of trophoblast that forms the fetal portion of the placenta.
choroid - Thin, highly vascular membrane covering the posterior five sixths of the eye, located between the retina and the sclera.
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - General term for disease involving airway obstruction, such as chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or asthma.
Chvostek's sign - Spasm of the facial muscle evoked by tapping branches of the facial nerve; may be caused by hypocalcemia or hypomagnesemia.
ciliary body - Thickened part of the vascular tunic of the eye that joins the iris with the anterior portion of the choroid; produces aqueous humor and regulates its outflow.
ciliary movement - Waving motion of the hairlike processes projecting from the epithelium of the respiratory tract.
circadian pattern (circadian rhythm) - Cyclical pattern or period based on a 24-hour cycle, especially the repetition of certain physiological phenomena, such as sleeping and waking.
circumduction - Circular movement.
cirrhosis - Disease characterized by destruction of liver parenchyma. The affected liver is characterized by fibrous tissue and yellow-tan nodules.
claudication - Weakness of the legs accompanied by cramplike pains in the calves, caused by poor circulation of the blood to the leg muscles. This condition is exacerbated by walking.
clubbing - Proliferation of soft tissue of the terminal phalanges, generally associated with relative hypoxia of peripheral tissues, loss of the angle between the skin and the nail base, and sponginess of the nail base.
coarctation - Tightening or compression of the walls of a vessel, producing a narrowed lumen.
cognitive - Pertaining to the mental processes of knowing, thinking, learning, and judging.
colic - Acute abdominal pain associated with smooth muscle contraction of the gastrointestinal tract.
colitis - Inflammation of the colon.
conductive hearing loss - Diminished ability to hear caused by the inability of vibrations to travel to or through the inner ear to an intact auditory nerve.
condyloma (condylomata acuminata) - Hyperkeratotic exophytic lesions of stratified squamous epithelium; these develop as small, elevated, soft nodules that enlarge and coalesce to become cauliflower-like excrescences.
confabulation - Fabrication of facts or events in response to questions about situations that are not recalled because of memory impairment.
congenital - Present at birth.
conjunctiva - Mucous membrane that lines the inner surfaces of the eyelids and the anterior part of the sclera.
conjunctivitis - Inflammation of the conjunctiva.
consensual reaction - Constriction of the pupil of one eye when the other eye is being stimulated by light.
consolidation - Process in which liquid or solid replacement of lung parenchyma as exudate from an inflammatory condition is amassed.
contractures - Abnormal, usually permanent condition of a joint, characterized by flexion and fixation and caused by atrophy and shortening of muscle fibers or loss of the normal elasticity of the skin.
convergence - Coordinated medial movement of the eyes in fixing on a near object.
Cooper's ligaments - Suspensory ligaments of the breast.
cor pulmonale - Right-sided heart hypertrophy and right ventricular failure resulting from pulmonary hypertension.
cornea - Convex, transparent anterior part of the eye that makes up one sixth of the outermost tunic of dhe eye bulb.
coronary artery disease - Any one of the abnormal conditions that may affect the arteries of the heart and produce various pathological effects, especially the reduced flow of oxygen and nutrients to dhe myocardium.
corticotropic - Of or pertaining to stimulanon of the adrenal cortex.
crackles - Discrete, noncontinuous sound resembling fine crackling, radio static, or hairs being rubbed together as heard through a stethoscope; generally produced by air bubbling through an exudate.
cramp - Involuntary, painful skeletal muscle contraction.
crepitus (crepitation) - Dry, crackling sound in (1) the lung, when air passes through abnormally accumulated moisture; (2) the joints, when dry synovial surfaces rub together; and (3) the skin, when air is present subdermally.
cretinism - Disease caused by congenital lack of thyroid hor- mone; characterized by retarded physical and mental development, deafness, dystrophy of bones and soft tissue, and abnormally low concentrations of thyroid hormones.
cryptorchidism - Failure of one or both of the testicles to descend into dhe scrotum.
cue - Something that is noted by using the five senses (taste, touch, smell, sight, and hearing). A cue can be either subjective data or objective data.
cupping - Increased posterior curvature of the optic disc caused by the increased intraocular pressure of glaucoma, which gradually exerts pressure posteriorly against the optic disc.
cyanosis - Dusky blue color of the skin and mucous membranes, seen especially in the lips and nail beds, caused by an excess of deoxygenated hemoglobin in the blood (saturation less than 75% to 85% or PaO2 less than 50 mm Hg), or a structural defect in the hemoglobin molecule.
cystocele - Herniation of the urinary bladder into the anterior vaginal wall.
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decidua - Endometrium during pregnancy that is shed in the postpartum period.
defervescence - The diminishing or disappearance of a fever.
defining characteristics - Signs and svmptoms that help to confirm a diagnosis.
delirium - Clouded state of consciousness; reduction in clarity of awareness of the environment accompanied by a reduced capacity to shift, focus, and sustain attention to environmental stimuli.
delusion - False belief that is improbable in nature; not influenced by contrary experience or related to the patient's cultural and educational background.
dementia - Loss of cognitive abilities of sufficient magnitude to interfere with social or occupational functioning. It involves impairment of memory, abstract thinking, or judgment or other disturbance of high cortical function.
dendrite - Branching process that extends from the cell body of a neuron. Each neuron usually possesses several dendrites, which receive impulses that are conducted to the cell body.
depression - Term used to define (1) a mood, (2) a syndrome, and (3) an illness. The mood of depression is described as dejection and lowering of functional activity; it is a normal experience that may be incurred in response to frustration and loss. The syndrome of depression includes a depressed mood in combination with one or more of the following symptoms: inability to concentrate, anorexia, weight loss, and suicidal ideas. The illness of depression is characterized by the syndrome of depression but lasts longer. Related functional impairment may include the inability to carry on daily activities, particularly work.
dermatome - Area on the surface of a body innervated by afferent fibers from one spinal root.
detrusor - Bladder muscle.
dextrocardia - Rare condition in which the position of the heart is reversed and lies on the right side of the chest.
diagnostic - Pertaining to the identification of a disease or condition by a scientific evaluation of physical signs, symptoms, history, laboratory tests, and procedures.
diarrhea - Increased frequency and liquid content of fecal evacuation.
diastasis recti abdominis - Separation of the two rectus muscles along the median line of the abdominal wall. May occur as a result of pregnancy or obesity.
diastolic (diastole) - The force of blood against the arterial wall during the filling phase of the cardiac cycle, and the time between contractions of the atria or the ventricles during which the blood enters the relaxed chambers.
dicrotic notch -Interval between the two peaks of a dicrotic pulse.
dicrotic pulse - Presence of two sphygmographic waves to one beat of the pulse.
diplopia - Double vision; simultaneous perception of two images for a single object.
disease - Abnormality of structure or function that has a single pathogenic mechanism and a predictable course.
disorientation - Lack of awareness as to time, place, or person.
dorsiflexion - Backward bending.
dullness - Decreased resonance on percussion, such as percussion sound produced over the liver.
dysarthria - Difficult, poorly articulated speech.
dyschezia - Painful defecation.
dyscoria - Abnormality in the shape of the pupil.
dyslexia - Disturbance in understanding the written word; difficulty in reading.
dysmenorrhea - Painful menstruation.
dyspareunia - Difficult or painful sexual intercourse in women.
dyspepsia - Impairment of the ability to digest food, especially discomfort after eating a meal.
dysphagia - Difficult or painful swallowing.
dysplasia - Disorder in the size, shape, or organization of adult cells; any abnormal development of tissues or organs.
dyspnea - Difficult or labored respiration; shortness of breath.
dyssynergia - Inability to perform movements smoothly or an impairment in muscle coordination.
dysuria - Difficult or painful urination.
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ecchymosis - Discoloration of an area of the skin or mucous membranes caused by the extravasation of blood into the subcutaneous tissues as a result of trauma to the underlying blood vessels or fragility of the vessel walls.
ectocervix - The outside portion of the cervix.
ectomorph - A person whose physique is characterized by slenderness, fragility, and predominance of structures derived from the ectoderm.
ectopic pregnancy - Abnormal pregnancy in which the conceptus implants outside the uterine cavity.
ectropion - Turning outward of the lower lid of the eye.
edema - Abnormal increase in the quantity of interstitial fluid.
efferent neuron - Any neuron that transmits nerve impulses from the central nervous system toward the periphery.
ejection click - High-pitched clicking sound produced by the forceful opening of a diseased aortic or pulmonic valve, heard soon after the first heart sound.
embolism - Sudden obstruction of an artery by a clot or other foreign substance. Symptoms vary vith the degree of occlu- sion that the embolism causes, the character of the embolus, I and the size, nature, and location of the occluded vessel.
embolus - Foreign object, quantity of air or gas, bit of tissue or tumor, or piece of thrombus that circulates in the bloodstream until it becomes lodged in a vessel.
emphysema - Condition involving entrapment of air within tissue, either interstitial or pulmonary:
-Pulmonary emphysema, or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, results from permanent dilation or enlargement of the passages peripheral to the terminal bronchiole, which causes increased resistance to airflow.
-Interstitial emphysema is the presence of air in the
subcutaneous tissue mediastinum or connective tissue of the
lung resulting from air leakage through a damaged portion
of the respiratory passages or alveoli; may result in swelling
of tissue or a distinctive crackling sound called crepitation.
endocardium - Lining of the heart chambers.
endocervical - Pertaining to the inside of the cervix.
endocervix - Membrane lining the canal of the uterine cervix.
endolymph - Fluid found in the membranous labyrinth of the internal ear.
endometriosis - Presence of endometrial stroma and glands in ectopic locations, such as the ovaries, pelvic peritoneum, or colon.
endomorph - A person whose body build is characterized by a soft, round physique with a large trunk and thighs, tapering extremities, an accumulation of fat throughout the body, and a predominance of structures derived from the endoderm.
enophthalmos - Recession of the globe of the eye within the orbit.
enterocele - Herniation of the intestine into the vagina.
entropion - Turning inward of the 1ower lid of the eye.
enuresis - Involuntary urination.
epiphora - Tearing that results from faulty drainage of the eyes.
episiotomy - Surgical procedure in which an incision is made in a woman's perineum to enlarge her vaginal opening for delivery.
epispadias - Congenital anomaly in which the urethra opens on the dorsum of the penis.
epistaxis - Bleeding or hemorrhage from the nose.
epulis - Any tumor or growth on the gingiva.
erythema - Dilation of capillaries, resulting in redness of the skin.
esophoria - Deviation of the visual axis of one eye toward that of the other eye that occurs in the absence of visual stimuli for fusion.
esotropia - Strabismus characterized by an inward deviation of one eye relative to the other eye.
essential hypertension - Elevated arterial pressure for which no cause can be found and that is often the only significant clinical finding.
euphoria - False sense of elation or well-being; pathological elevation of mood. This condition is most notable in patients who are experiencing the manic phase of bipolar disorder.
eustachian tube - Cartilaginous and bony passage between the nasopharynx and the middle ear that allows equalization of air pressure between the mi'lldle ear and the external environment.
exophoria - Deviation of the visual axis of one eye away from that of the other eye that occurs in the absence of visual stimuli for fusion.
exophthalmos - Abnormal condition characterized by a marked protrusion of the eyeballs.
exostosis - Abnormal benign growth on the surface of a bone.
exotropia - Strabismus characterized by the outward deviation of one eye relative to the other.
extension - Straightening of a limb so that the joint angle is increased.
external rotation - Turning of a body part away from the central axis or midline of the body.
extinction - Loss of touch perception on one side of the body.
extrapyramidal system - Tract of motor nerves from the brain to the anterior horns of the spinal cord, except for the fibers of the pyramidal tract. It controls and coordinates the postural, static, supporting, and locomotor mechanisms and causes contractions of muscle groups in sequence or simultaneously.
extrasystole - Cardiac contraction that is abnormal in timing or in origin of impulse; premature contraction of the heart.
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facial nerve (CN VII) - Cranial nerve that innervates the scalp, forehead, eyelids, muscles of facial expression, cheeks, and jaw.
fasciculation - Observable, localized, uncoordinated, uncontrollable twitching movements resulting from contraction of a fasciculus (bundle of muscle fibers) served by one anterior horn cell; usually does not cause movement of a joint.
fever - Pyrexia; elevation of the body temperature above normal for a given individual.
fibrillation - Fine, continuous twitching caused by irregular, random contraction of a single muscle or group of fibers. Fibrillation of a chamber of the heart results in inefficient random contraction of that chamber and disruption of the normal sinus rhythm of the heart. This condition is usually described by the part that is contracting abnormally (e.g., atrial fibrillation or ventricular fibrillation). Atrial fibrillation is usually benign; ventricular fibrillation can be life-threatening.
fibroadenoma - Benign tumor composed of dense epithelial and fibroblastic tissue. A fibroadenoma of the breast is non-tender, encapsulated, round, movable, and firm.
fibromyositis - Any one of a large number of disorders in which the common element is stiffness and joint or muscle pain accompanied by localized inflammation of the muscle tissues and of the fibrous connective tissues.
field of vision - Area simultaneously visible to a motionless eye.
flatulence - Presence of an excessive amount of gas in the gastrointestinal tract.
flexion - Bending of a joint so that the joint angle is decreased.
flight of ideas - Nearly continuous flow of rapid speech with abrupt changes from topic to topic. This condition is noted most frequently in organic mental disorders, schizophrenia and psychotic disorders and as a reaction to stress.
floaters - Spots that appear to drift in front of the eye and are caused by a shadow cast on the retina by vitreous debris.
fourchette - Tense band of membranes connecting the posterior angle of the vagina to the posterior ends of the labia minora.
fovea centralis - Central spot of color vision on the retina that contains only cones and no rods.
fremitus - Palpable vibration.
frenulum - Restraining portion or structure. An example is the sublingual frenulum.
friction rub - Crackling, grating sound as heard through a stethoscope when two inflamed, roughened surfaces rub together.
fundus - The base or deepest part of any organ.
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gait - Manner of progression in walking. In ataxic gait the foot is raised high and the sole strikes down suddenly.
gallop rhythm - Heart rate characterized by three sounds.
ganglia - Type of nerve cell, chiefly collected in groups outside the central nervous system. Individual cells and very small groups abound in association with alimentary organs.
genogram - Diagram that depicts family relationships over at least three generations.
gigantism - Excessive growth of the body or its parts; may be a result of hypersecretion of growth hormone in childhood.
gingivitis - Inflammation of the papillary and marginal gingiva.
glans - Small, rounded mass. Glans penis: caplike, conical tip of the penis that covers the end of the corpora cavernosa penis and the corpus spongiosum.
glaucoma - Ocular disease in which increased intraocular pres- sure causes atrophy and excavation of the optic nerve, producing visual field defects.
goiter - Increase in size of the thyroid gland.
goniometer - Instrument used to measure joint angles.
gout - Disease caused by deposition of crystals of monosodium urate; characterized by a disorder in purine metabolism and associated with exacerbations of arthritis of a single joint.
graphesthesia - Ability to identify letters or numbers inscribed with a blunt object on the palm of the hand, back, or other areas. Higher cortical integration is required to perform this function.
grasp reflex - Normal reflex in young infants elicited by stroking the infant's palms; the examiner's fingers are grasped so firmly that the child can be lifted into the air. (In older individuals the tonic grasp reflex is pathological, occurring in diseases of the premotor cortex.) Grey Turner's sign - Bruising of the flank skin.
gynecomastia - Hypertrophy of breast tissue in a male subject.
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Heberden's nodes (nodules) - Small, hard nodules of the terminal interphalangeal joints, associated with osteoarthritis.
helix - Superior and posterior free margin of the ear.
hematemesis - Vomiting of blood.
hematopoietic - Relating to the formation and development of blood cells in the bone marrow.
hematuria - Presence of blood in the urine.
hemianopsia - Defective vision or blindness in one half of the visual field.
hemoptysis - Spitting or coughing up of blood from the respiratory tract.
hemorrhoid - Dilation of a part of the venous hemorrhoidal plexus in the mucosal membrane of the rectum. A hemorrhoid may occur as a result of increased hydrostatic pressure in the venous system, such as in pregnancy, or from disease that causes portal hypertension and straining at stool.
-Internal hemorrhoids: varicosity of superior or middle hemorrhoidal veins below the anal mucosa; may result in bleeding.
-External hemorrhoids: varicosity of the inferior hemorrhoidal vein under the anal skin; may cause pain and swelling around the anal sphincter and itching and bleeding.
hepatomegaly - Abnormal enlargement of the liver, usually a sign of liver disease.
hernia - Abnormal protrusion of an organ or tissue through an
opening.
-Incarcerated hernia: protrusion of abdominal contents through a weakness in the abdominal wall so that the contents cannot be returned to the abdominal cavity.
-Direct inguinal hernia: protrusion of abdominal contents through
a weakness in the abdominal musculature in the region of
Hesselbach's triangle.
-Indirect inguinal hernia: protrusion (generally indirect) of abdominal contents into the scrotal sac.
-Strangulated hernia: hernia in which the blood supply to the protruded tissue is obstructed.
herpes zoster - Acute infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus, affecting primarily adults and characterized by the development of painful vesicular skin eruptions that follow the underlying route of cranial or spinal nerves inflamed by the virus.
hertz (Hz) - Unit of frequency of a periodic process equal to 1 cycle per second.
high-density lipoprotein (HDL) - Plasma protein containing about 50% protein with cholesterol and triglycerides. It may serve to stabilize very low-density lipoprotein. Called "good" cholesterol, it is involved in transporting cholesterol and other lipids from the plasma to the tissues.
hirsutism - Excessive hairiness, especially in females.
homeostasis - Relative constancy in the internal environment of the body, naturally maintained by adaptive responses that promote healthy survival.
homonymous - Having the same name.
homonymous hemianopsia - Blindness or defective vision in the right or left half of the visual field of both eyes.
hordeolum - Inflammation of a sebaceous gland of the eyelid; sty.
horn - Projection or protuberance of a body structure. Examples include the gray horns of the spinal cord, horn of the hyoid bone, and iliac horn.
hydrocele - Circumscribed collection of fluid, particularly in the scrotum.
hypercholesterolemia - Condition in which greater than normal amounts of cholesterol are present in the blood. High levels of cholesterol and other lipids may lead to the development of atherosclerosis.
hyperesthesia - Abnormally increased sensitivity of one of the body's sense organs, such as pain or touch receptors in the skin.
hyperlipidemia - Excess of lipids in the plasma.
hyperopia - Farsightedness.
hyperplasia - Increase in the number of cells in a body part.
hyperpnea - Increased depth of respiration with or without an increase in rate.
hypersomnia - (1) Sleep of excessive depth or abnormal dura- tion, (2) extreme drowsiness, often associated with lethargy; (3) a condition characterized by periods of deep, long sleep.
hypertension - Common, often asymptomatic disorder charac- terized by elevated blood pressure that persistently excceds 140/90 mm Hg.
hyperventilation - Increase in rate and depth of respiration.
hyphema - Blood in the anterior chamber of the eye.
hypoesthesia - Abnormal weakness of sensation in responsc to stimulation of thc sensory nerves.
hypopyon - Purulent material in thc anterior chamber of the eye.
hyposmia - Diminished sense of smell.
hypospadias - Developmental anomaly in which the urethra opens on the underside of the penis.
hypotension - Abnormal condition in which the blood pressure is not adequate for normal perfusion and oxygenation of the tissues.
hypotonia - Decreasc in body tonus.
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idiopathic - Without a known cause.
ipercussion - Use of the finger or hand to strike the body to evaluate the sound waves produced.
incontinence - Failure of control of excretory functions.
infarction - Obstruction of circulation followed by ischemic necrosis.
insomnia - Chronic inability to sleep or to remain asleep throughout the night; wakefulness; sleeplessness.
insufficiency - Inadequate closure of a heart valve, resulting in backflow of blood into the ventricles or atria.
intercostal space - Space between two ribs.
intermittent claudication - Claudication is a weakness of the legs accompanied by cramplike pains in the calves caused by poor circulation to the leg muscles. This disorder is manifested only at certain times, usually after an extended period of walking, and is relieved by a period of rest.
intertrigo (intertriginous) - Erythematous irritation in areas where two skin surfaces come together, such as the groin area or the folds between large, pendulous breasts.
intraepithelian - Within the epithelium.
introitus - Entrance or orifice to a cavity or a hollow tubular structure of the body.
inversion - (1) Turning inward. (2) Invagination or depression of the nipple's central portion. Can occur congenitally or as a response to an invasive process.
ipsilateral - Pertaining to the same side of the body.
iridescent vision - Perception of halos around lights, particular- ly with corneal edema.
iritis - Inflammation of the iris.
ischial spines - The two relatively sharp bony projections inta the pelvic outlet from the ischial bones that form the lo\ver border of the pelvis.
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jaundice - Accumulation of bilirubin-to-serum concentration greater than 2 mg/dL; produces yellow-green to bronze color of skin and itching.
jugular venous pulse - Pulse wave in the jugular veins reflecting cardiac activity on the right side of the heart.
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keloid - Scar formation caused by a dense overgrowth of fibrous tissue, usually raised and thickened.
keratinization - Process by which epithelial cells exposed to the external environment lose their moisture and are replaced by horny tissue.
kinesthetic sensation - Feeling facilitated by the proprioceptive receptors in the muscles, tendons, and joints.
Korotkoff sounds - Turbulent sounds heard when auscultating the blood pressure.
Kussmaul respiration - Rapid and deep respiratory cycles result- ing from stimulation of the medullary respiratory center in metabolic acidosis; associated with a pH less than 7.2 in diabetic ketoacidosis.
kyphosis - Increased posterior convexity of the spine (humpback).
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labyrinth - Intricate communicating passageway, such as the bony and membranous labyrinths of the inner ear.
lacrimation - Production of tears, especially in excess.
laminar flow - Airflow that is concentrated into a narrow pathway.
lens - Transparent biconvex structure located behind the pupil and in front of the vitreous body.
lentigines - Flat, tan to brown macules located in sun-exposed surtaces.
leukorrhea - White discharge from the vagina.
lichen planus - Non-malignant, chronic, pruritic skin condition characterized by small, flat, purplish papules or plaques.
lid lag - Condition in which the eyelid margin is above the limbus and some sclera is visible; it may indicate thyroid disease.
limbus - Edge of the cornea at the point where it meets the sclera.
linea nigra - Pigmentation of the linea alba, the tendinous median line on the anterior abdominal wall, during pregnancy.
lineae albicantes (striae) - Atrophic lines or streaks that differ in texture and color from the surrounding skin and are caused by disrupted elastic fibers of the reticular layer of the skin.
lithotomy position - Position assumed by the patient Iying supine with the hips and the knees flexed and the thighs abducted and rotated externally.
lobule - Small lobe, such as the soft, pendulous lower part of the external ear.
lordosis - Anterior concavity of the lumbar spine (swayback, saddleback).
low-density lipoprotein (LDL) - Plasma protein containing relatively more cholesterol and triglycerides than protein. Called "bad" cholesterol, it is involved with the tormation of atherosclerotic plaques.
lower motor neuron - Peripheral neuron with a motor (efferent) function. Its cell body is located in the anterior horns of the spinal cord or brainstem nuclei, and it terminates in skeletal muscles.
lumpectomy - Surgical excision of a tumor without removal of large amounts of surrounding tissue or adjacent lymph nodes.
luxation - Dislocation.
lymphadenopathy - Any disorder of the lymph nodes or lymph vessels.
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macula - Area of the retina where the receptors for color vision are most concentrated; located temporal to the optic disc.
malaise - Feeling of general discomfort or uneasiness.
mammography - Radiography of the soft tissues of the breast to allow identification of various benign and malignant neoplastic processes.
mastication - Chewing, tearing, or grinding food with the teeth while it becomes mixed with saliva.
mastitis - Inflammation of breast tissue.
mastoid process - Bony prominence of the posterior portion of the temporal bone, located posterior to the lower part of the auricle, serving as the attachment for various muscles, including the sternocleidomastoid.
McBurney's point - Anatomical landmark located approximately 2 inches above the right anterosuperior iliac spine on a line between the umbilicus and the spine.
McMurray's sign - Inability to extend the flexed knee may indicate a loose object in the knee (cartilage) due to a torn meniscus.
meatus - Passage or opening, especially at the external portion of a canal.
mediastinum - Portion of the thoracic cavity in the middle of the thorax, between the pleural sacs that contain the two lungs.
meibomian gland - One of several sebaceous glands that secrete sebum from the ducts on the posterior margin of each eyelid. The glands are embedded in the tarsal plate of each eyelid.
melanocyte - Body cell capable of producing melanin.
menarche - First menstruation and commencement of cyclic menstrual function.
menopause - Gradual cessation of the menses, usually occurring between 45 and 60 years of age.
menorrhagia - Abnormally heavy or long menstrual periods.
mesomorph - A person whose physique is characterized by a predominance of muscle, bone, and connective tissue, structures that develop from the mesodermal layer of the embryo.
metrorrhagia - Irregular and/or dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
microaneurysm - Outpouching in the wall of a capillary that appears as a red dot on the retina.
migraine - Recurring vascular headache characterized by a prodromal aura, unilateral onset, severe pain, photophobia, and autonomic disturbances during the acute phase, which may last for hours or days.
miosis - Constriction of the pupil.
mitral regurgitation - Backward flow of blood from the left ventricle to the left atrium associated with an incompetent mitral valve.
mitral valve - Left atrioventricular valve.
mitral valve stenosis - Fibrosis and thickening of the cusps of the mitral valve with narrowing of the aperture between the left atrium and the left ventricle.
mixed hearing loss - Combination of conductive and sensorineural loss in the same ear.
mixed sleep apnea - Condition marked by signs and symptoms of both central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep agnea.
Montgomery's glands - Small sebaceous glands located on the areola.
morning sickness - Nausea and vomiting occurring from the fifth or sixth week through the 14th to 16th week of pregnancy.
Moro reflex - Normal mass reflex in a young infant elicited by a sudden loud noise resulting in flexion of the legs, an embracing posture of the arms, and usually a brief cry. Also called the startle reflex.
morphology - Study of the physical shape and size of a specimen, plant, or animal.
multiparous - Having delivered one or more viable infants.
murmur - Blowing sound caused by turbulence of blood flow; heard through the stethoscope over the heart; when heard in the great vessels, the sound is called a bruit.
Murphy's sign - Sign noted by a maneuver done during deep palpation in the approximate location of the gallbladder. On deep inspiration, the liver descends, bringing the gallbladder in contact with the examiner's hand. Pain is elicited in the presence of cholecystitis.
mydriasis - Dilation of the pupil.
myelination - Development of the myelin sheath around a nerve fiber.
myocardial infarction - Occlusion of a coronary artery caused by atherosclerosis or thrombosis, resulting in damage to the myocardium.
myocardium - Thick, contractile middle layer of the heart composed of muscle tissue that forms the bulk of this organ.
myopia - Nearsightedness; condition in which parallel rays of light come to focus in front of the retina.
myxedema Hypothyroidism - Hypometabolism is present, and non-pitting edema results from the presence of hydrated mucopolysaccharides in connective tissue.
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nabothian cysts - Cystlike formations of the mucosa of the uterine cervix resulting from an accumulation of retained secretion in occluded glands.
narcolepsy - Syndrome characterized by sudden sleep attacks, cataplexy, sleep paralysis, and visual or auditory hallucination at the onset of sleep.
nasolabial fold - Crease in the skin extending from the angle of the nose to the corner of the mouth.
nausea - Feeling that vomiting is impending.
neoplasia - New and abnormal development of cells that may be benign or malignant.
neuromuscular spindle - Any one of a number of small bundles of delicate muscular fibers, enclosed by a capsule, in which sensory nerve fibers terminate. Spindles vary in length from 0.8 to 5 mm, accommodating as many as four large myelinated nerve fibers that pierce the capsule and lose their myelin sheaths.
nevus - Well-demarcated, pigmented, congenital skin blemish dhat is usually benign but may become cancerous.
nicking - Appearance of indentation of an optic vein where an arteriole crosses it.
night blindness - Slow adjustment from bright to dim light.
nocturia - Excessive urination at night.
nocturnal enuresis - Urinary voiding during sleep.
nodularity - Lumpiness.
nuchal - Pertaining to the nape of the neck.
nuchal rigidity - Pertaining to limited range of motion of the cervical spine, usually associated with pain.
nullipara (nulliparous) - Woman who has not given birth to a viable offspring.
nystagmus - Involuntary rhythmic motion of the eye; may be horizontal, vertical, rotary, or mixed.
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obesity - Condition in which the amount of fat in dhe body is excessive in relation to total body weight; exceeding 20% of ideal body weight.
Obstipation - Severe constipation.
Obstructive sleep apnea - Form of sleep apnea involving a physical obstruction of the upper airway.
Oligomenorrhea - Decreased frequency of menstruation with an interval of 38 to 90 days.
oliguria - Abnormally decreased urine production (less than 400 ml/24 hr).
opening snap - Snapping sound produced by the opening of a diseased mitral or tricuspid valve. It is an early diastolic sound heard soon after the second heart sound.
orchiopexy - Operation in which an undescended testis is mobilized, brought into the scrotum, and attached so that it will not retract.
Orifice - An opening.
Oropharynx - One of the three anatomical divisions of the pharynx. It extends behind the mouhh from the soft palate (above) to the level of dhe hyoid bone (below) and contains the palatine tonsils and the lingual tonsils.
orthopnea - Dyspnea that begins or increases when the patient lies down, and is relieved by sitting upright.
Orthostatic (postural) hypotension - Lower blood pressure of greater than 30 mm Hg that occurs on rising from a Iying or sitting to an erect position.
osteoporosis - Disorder characterized by loss of bone density, occurring most frequently in postmenopausal women, in sedentary or immobilized individuals, and in persons on longterm steroid therapy.
ostium - Orifice.
otalgia - Earache.
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palpation - Examination technique that involves feeling or touching the object to be evaluated.
palpebra - Eyelid.
palpebral fissure - Opening between the margins of the upper and lower eyelids when the eye is open.
palpitation - Pulsations of the heart and arteries that are perceptible to the patient and are associated with normal emotional responses or with certain heart disorders.
papilledema - Edema of the optic disc.
paranasal sinus - One of the air cavities in various bones around the nose. Examples are the frontal sinus in the frontal bone lying deep to the medial part of the superciliary ridge and the maxillary sinus within the maxilla between the orbit, the nasal cavity and the upper teeth.
parenchyma - Tissue of an organ as distinguished from supporting or connective tissue.
paresis - Slight or incomplete paralysis; weakness.
paresthesia - Abnormal or perverted sensation; may include burning, itching, pain, or a feeling of electric shock.
Parkinson's disease - Progressive disorder of the basal ganglia, characterized by tremor, difficulty in initiating voluntary movements, muscle weakness and rigidity, and a peculiar gait.
paronychia - Inflammation and infection of the folds of tissue surrounding a fingernail.
parous - Having borne one or more viable offspring.
paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea - Sudden onset of dyspnea after a period of Iying down. Sitting upright helps relieve the dyspnea.
pars flaccida - Less taut portion of the tympanic membrane.
pars tensa - Taut portion of the tympanic membrane.
passive range of motion - Joint movement of the patient that is produced by the examiner.
pectus carinatum - Structural deformity of the thoracic cage where the sternum is displaced anteriorly, increasing the anteroposterior diameter. The costal cartilages adjacent to the sternum are depressed.
pectus excavatum - Structural deformitv of the thoracic cage where the lower sternum is depressed. Compression of the heart and great vessels may cause murmurs.
percussion - Examination technique used to evaluate the size, borders, and consistency of certain internal organs and to determine the presence of and evaluate the amount of air and fluid in a body cavity. It involves listening to reverberation of tissue after striking the surface with short, sharp blows.
pericardium - Fibrous sac that surrounds the heart and the roots of the great vessels.
periorbital edema - Accumulation of fluid in the eyelids and other tissues surrounding the eye.
peritonitis - Inflammation of the peritoneum.
petechiae - Tiny purple or red spots that appear on the skin as a result of minute hemorrhages within the dermal or submucosal layers.
Peyronie's disease - Disease of unknown cause resulting in fibrous induration of the corpora cavernosa of the penis. The chief symptom is painful erection.
phimosis - Narrowness of the opening of the prepuce that causes difficulty in retraction of the foreskin of the penis.
phobia - Persistent and exaggerated fear of a particular object or situation.
phoria - Mild weakness of the extraocular muscle(s); appears as a deviation of the eye when fusion is suspended.
photophobia - Abnormal sensitivity to light.
physiologic cup (physiologic depression) - Small depression just temporal to the center of the optic disc.
pincer grasp - The index finger in apposition to the thumb.
pinguecula - Small, yellowish white subconjunctival elevation located between the corneoscleral limbus and the canthus.
pinna - Projecting part of the external ear; the auricle.
pitch - Quality of a tone or sound that is dependent on the relative rapidity of the vibrations by which it is produced.
pituitary dwarfism - Condition of being abnormally small, espe- cially small of stature due to a deficiency of growth hormone.
plantar flexion - Bending of the foot toward the floor.
platypnea - Respiratory distress that increases when a person is upright.
plethora - Pertaining to a red, florid complexion.
pleural effusion - Fluid of any kind in the pleural cavity.
pleurisy - Pleural inflammation accompanied by pain.
polydipsia - Excessive thirst.
polymenorrhea - Abnormally frequent menstruation.
polyphagia - Excessive ingestion of food.
polysomnography - Multicomponent sleep study that monitors arterial oxygen saturation, brain waves (electroencephalogram [EEG]), eye movements (electro-oculogram [EOG]), muscle tone and muscle movements (electromyelogram [EMG]), intraesophageal pressure, inspiratory flow, and rib cage and abdominal circumference changes. The length of time slept the total number of apneic periods, the number of agneic periods per hour, the percentage of apneic time, the mean duration of apneas, and the cumulative SaO2 are calculated for each individual.
polyuria - Excessive urinary excretion.
posterior triangle - Landmark on the neck formed by the sternocleidomastoid muscle (laterally), the trapezius muscle (posteriorly), and the clavicle (inferiorly), used to describe the location of physical findings.
Poupart's ligament - Inguinal ligament; the fibrous band that runs from the anterosuperior iliac spine to the pubic spine.
precordium - Area of the anterior chest wall overlying the heart and the great vessels.
prepuce - Foreskin.
presbycusis - Age-related hearing loss.
presbyopia - Decreased ability of the optic lens to accommodate to near vision with increasing age.
preterm infant - Infant born before 37 weeks of gestation.
proctitis - Inflammation of the rectal mucosa.
proctoscopy - Examination of the rectum with a short cylindrical instrument called a proctoscope.
pronation - (1) Assumption of the prone (face down) position; (2) turning the forearm so that the palm is posterior; or (3 eversion and abduction of the foot.
prostatitis - Acute or chronic inflammation of the prostate gland, generally in conjunction with cystitis and urethritis. Symptoms include low back and perineal pain, fever, urinary frequency, and dysuria.
pruritus - Itching.
pterygium - Abnormal triangular thickening of the bulbar conjuncuva on the cornea, with the apex directed toward the pupil.
ptosis - Drooping of the upper eyelid, often interfering with vision.
puberty - The period of life at which the ability to reproduce begins.
pulmonic valve - Heart valve separating the right ventricle from the pulmonary artery.
pulse - Palpable, rhythmic expansion of an artery caused by ejection of blood from the left ventricle during systole.
pulse deficit - Condition that exists when the peripheral pulse count is less than the ventricular rate taken at the apex of the heart. It indicates a lack of peripheral perfusion for some of the heart contractions.
pulse pressure - The difference between the systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
pulsus alternans (alternating pulse) - Pulse characterized by a regular alternation of weak and strong beats without changes in the length of the cycle.
pulsus bisferiens - Arterial pulse that has two palpable peaks, the second of which is slightly stronger than the first.
pulsus paradoxus (paradoxical pulse) - Abnormal decrease in systolic pressure and pulse-wave amplitude during inspiration. The normal fall in pressure is less than 10 mm Hg. An excessive decline may be a sign of precordial tamponade, adhesive pericarditis, severe lung disease, advanced heart failure, or other conditions.
puncta - Tiny apertures in the margins of each eyelid that open into the lacrimal ducts.
pupil - Aperture in the iris that allows for the passage of light.
pyogenic - Substance that tends to cause a rise in body temperature.
pyorrhea - Purulent inflammation of the gums.
pyramidal tract - Pathway composed of groups of nerve fiber in the white matter of the spinal cord through which motor impulses are conducted to the anterior horn cells from the opposite side of the brain. These descending fibers regulate the voluntary and reflex activity of the muscles through the anterior horn cells.
pyrexia - Fever; elevation of the body temperature above normal for a given individual.
pyrosis - Heartburn.
pyuria - Presence of pus in the urine.
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Raynaud's phenomenon - Intermittent attacks of ischemia the extremities, especially the fingers, toes, ears, and nose.
rectocele - Herniation of the rectum into the posterior vagina.
reflex - Involuntary functioning or movement of any organ or part of the body in response to a particular stimulus. The function or action occurs immcdiately, without the involvement of the will or consciousness.
regurgitation - Backward flow of blood through a defective heart valve.
REM sleep - Rapid eye movement sleep characterized by episodic bursts of rapid eye movements on the electrooculogram and by low-voltage, high-frequency waves on the electroencephalogram.
resonance - Low-pitched, hollow sound produced over normal lung tissue whcn the chest is percussed.
reticular activating system - Functional system in the brain that is essential for wakefulness, attention, concentration, and introspection. A network of nerve fibers in the thalamus, hypothalamus, brainstem, and cerebral cortex contribute to the system.
retina - Delicate nervous tissue membrane of the eve that is continuous with the optic nerve; receives images of external objects and transmits visual impulses through the optic nerve to the brain.
retinal exudates - White or yellow infiltrates that develop on the retina.
retraction (1 ) - Condition of being drawn back. (2) Appears as a depression or pucker on the skin (also called dimpling). It usually is caused by the fibrotic shortening and immobilization of Cooper's ligament by an invasive process.
rhonchus - Wheezing or snoring sound produced by airflow
across a partially constricted air passage.
-Sibilant rhonchus: high-pitched wheeze produced in a small air passage.
-Sonorous rhonchus: low-pitched wheeze produced in a large air
passage.
rigor - Common term for shivering accompanying a chill or for muscle rigidity accompanying depletion of adenosine triphosphate, such as in death (rigor mortis).
Rinne test - Test comparing air conduction and bone conduction through the use of a tuning fork. In normal hearing, air conduction sounds are heard longer than bone conduction sounds (positive Rinne).
rugated - Having ridges or folds.
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S1 - First heart sound in the cardiac cycle. It is associated with closure of the mitral and tricuspid valves and is synchronous with the apical pulse. Auscultated at the apex, it is louder, longer, and lower than the second sound (S2), which follows it.
S2 - Second heart sound in the cardiac cycle. It is associated with closure of the aortic and pulmonary valves immediately before ventricular diastole. Auscultated at the base of the heart, the second sound is louder than the first.
S3 - Third heart sound; related to early ventricular filling. Normally, this sound is audible only in children and physically active young adults. In older people it is an abnormal finding and usually indicates myocardial failure.
S4 - Fourth heart sound; related to late ventricular filling. This sound occurs late in diastole on contraction of the atria. Rarely heard in normal patients, it indicates an abnormally increased resistance to ventricular filling, such as in hypertensive cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, myocardiopathy, and aortic stenosis.
salpingitis - Inflammation of the fallopian tubes as a result of infection. Leukorrhea, adnexal tenderness, abdominal pain, and fever may be present.
sciatica - Pain, weakness, or paresthesias associated with the course of the sciatic nerve; may affect the posterior aspect of the thigh and the posterolateral and anterolateral aspects of the leg into the foot.
sclera - Tough, inelastic opaque membrane that covers the posterior five sixths of the eye bulb; maintains the size and form of the bulb and attaches to muscles that move the bulb.
scoliosis - Lateral deviation of the spine.
scotoma - Island-like area of blindness in the field of vision.
screening - Preliminary procedure, such as a test or examination, to detect the most characteristic sign or signs of a disorder that may require further investigation.
sebaceous - Pertaining to or secreting sebum, an oily secretion composed of fat and epithelial debris.
sebaceous cyst - Retention of the fatty secretion of the sebaceous gland.
seborrheic keratoses - Benign, raised, wartlike skin lesions ap- pearing with increasing age.
semilunar valves - Valves with half moon-shaped cusps located between the ventricles and the great vessels. The left semilunar valve is the aortic valve. The right semilunar valve is the pulmonic valve.
senile purpura - Skin bruising caused by leakage of blood through fragile skin capillaries.
sensorineural hearing loss - Diminished ability to hear caused by the inability of the acoustic nerve to transmit nervous impulses from the middle ear to the brain. Also called perceptive hearing loss.
sequela - Any abnormal condition that follows and results from a disease, treatment, or injury.
sign - Objective evidence of disease that is perceptible to the examiner.
sinus - Hollow cavity in a bone or other tissue.
skin tags - Benign, soft, flesh-colored skin lesions.
sleep - State marked by reduced consciousness, diminished activity of dhe skeletal muscles, and depressed metabolism. People normally experience sleep in patterns that follow four observable, progressive stages.
sleep apnea - Periodic cessation of breathing during sleep.
sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) - Sleep disorder characterized by multiple episodes of cessation of breathing during sleep.
sleep terror disorder - Condition occurring during stage 3 or 4 of non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep that is characterized by repeated episodes of abrupt awakening, usually with a panicky scream, accompanied by intense anxiety, confusion, agitation, disorientation, unresponsiveness, marked motor movements, and amnesia concerning the event.
somnambulism - Sleepwalking; a condition occurring during stage 3 or 4 of non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep that is characterized by complex motor activity, usually culminating in leaving the bed and walking about, with no recall of the episode on awakening.
spasm - Involuntary sudden contraction of a muscle or group of muscles accompanied by pain and interference with function.
speculum - Device made of two narrow blades or a hollow tube, used to assist in opening a body cavity.
spermatogenesis - Process of development of spermatozoa, the male germ cells.
spinal accessory nerve (CN Xl) - Function of this nerve is essential for speech, swallowing, and certain movements of the head and shoulders.
squamocolumnar junction - Area of the cervix where the membranes covered by squamous cells of the vaginal portion of the cervix meet the membranes of the columnar portion of the cervix.
standard precautions - Constellation of safeguards for handling materials, tissues, and fluids that may contain human pathogens; exposure to blood and body fluids is minimized by using removable and disposable barriers (e.g., latex and vinyl gloves, protective eyewear, masks and gowns, and "sharps" containers).
stapes - One of the three ossicles of the middle ear, resembling a tiny stirrup. It transmits sound vibrations from the incus to the internal ear.
steatorrhea - Abnormal increase of fat in the feces.
stereognosis - Faculty of perceiving and understanding the form and nature of objects by the sense of touch. Higher cortical integration is required to perform this function.
sternocleidomastoid muscles - Symmetrical muscles of the neck extending from the upper sternum and proximal portion of the clavicle to the mastoid process of the temporal bone behind the ear.
strabismus - Disparity in the anteroposterior axes of the eyes; the optic axes cannot be directed to the same object because of lack of muscular coordination.
stress incontinence - Involuntary urination incurred by straining, coughing, or lifting.
stressor - Stimulus perceived by the individual or the organism as challenging, threatening, or damaging.
stria (pl. striae) (lineae albicantes) - Atrophic line or streak that differs in texture and color from the surrounding skin be- cause of disrupted elastic fibers of the reticular layer of the cutis.
striae gravidarum - Atrophic, pinkish or purplish scarlike lesions observed on the breasts, thighs, abdomen, and buttocks during pregnancy; lesions later become silvery white.
stridor - Abnormal, high-pitched respiratory sound caused by an obstruction in the trachea or larynx.
sty - Inflammation of a sebaceous gland of the eyelid; also called hordeolum.
subluxation - Partial discoloration.
sulcus - Shallow groove, depression, or furrow on the surface of an organ, such as one that separates the convolutions of the cerebral hemisphere.
supination - Assumption of the supine (lying down) position.
symmetry - Similarity in size, shape, and position to the body part on the opposite side.
symptom - Patient's subjective perception of an alteration of bodily or mental function from basal conditions; change perceived by the individual.
synapse - Joining; point of contact between two neurons or between a neuron and an effector organ, across which nerve impulses are transmitted through the action of a neurotransmitter, such as acetylcholine or norepinephrine.
syncope - Fainting; temporary unconsciousness.
systolic hypertension - Systolic blood pressure greater than 140 mm Hg and normal diastolic blood pressure systolic (systole) - The force of blood against the arterial wall during the ejection phase of the cardiac cycle, or contraction of the heart.
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tachycardia - Rapid heart rate (>100 beats per minute).
-Atrial flutter: rapid, regular, uniform atrial contraction caused by AV block; ventricular rhythm varies with the degree of AV block. -Atrial tachycardia: arrhythmia caused by the atria; rapid, regular beat of the entire heart. -Ventricular tachycardia: arrhythmia caused by the ventricles; rapid, relatively regular heartbeat.
tachypnea - Rapid respiratory rate.
tangential lighting - Use of light shining from the side to create shadows over the area being examined; accentuates subtle differences in contour and movement.
taxonomy - Framework for classifying and organizing information according to hierarchical categories.
telangiectasias - Visible dilated capillaries located in skin.
temporal - Of or limited by time.
temporal artery - Artery on the head that runs anterior to the ear over the temporal bone and onto the forehead.
temporomandibular joint - One of two joints connecting the mandible of the jaw to the temporal bone of the skull.
tenesmus - Persistent, ineffectual spasms of the rectum accompanied by the desire to empty the bowel.
term infant - Infant born between 37 and 41 weeks of gestation.
therapeutic relationship - Relationship in which the focus of ex- change is on the patient and the patient's needs.
thrill - Fine vibration accompanying turbulent blood flow in the heart or the great vessels. It is palpable when the examiner's fingers are placed over the site of the altered blood flow.
thrombophlebitis - Inflammation of a vein, often accompanied by formation of a clot.
thrombus - Aggregation of platelets, fibrin, clotting factors, and the cellular elements of the blood attached to the interior wall of a vein or artery that sometimes occludes the lumen of the vessel.
thyroid gland - Endocrine gland at the front of the neck, consisting of bilateral lobes connected in the middle by a narrow isthmus. Secretes thyroxine, which is essential for growth and metabolic stability.
timbre - The quality of a sound that distinguishes it from other sounds of the same pitch and volume.
tinnitus - Sensation of noise in the ear caused by abnormal stim- ulation of the auditory apparatus or its afferent pathways; may be described as ringing, buzzing, swishing, roaring, blowing, or whistling.
tonic neck reflex - Normal response in newborns to extend the arm and the leg on the side of the body to which the head is quickly turned while the infant is supine and to flex the limbs of the opposite side. The reflex prevents the infant from rolling over until adequate neurological and motor development occurs and disappears by 3 to 4 months of age. At this time the reflex is replaced by symmetrical positioning of both sides of the body.
tophi - Deposits of monosodium urate, associated with gout.
torticollis - Abnormal condition in which the contraction of neck muscles causes the head to be inclined to one side. This condition may be congenital or acquired.
tragus - Projection of the cartilage of the auricle at the opening of the external auditory meatus.
transient ischemic attack - Occlusion of a central nervous system vessel that results in a focal neurological disturbance.
transillumination - Passage of light through a solid or liquid substance.
trapezius muscles - Symmetrical, large, flat triangular muscles of the shoulder and upper back. These muscles extend from the occipital bone, the ligamentum nuchae, and the spinous processes of the seventh cervical and all the thoracic vertebrae. They act to rotate the scapula, raise the shoulder, and abduct and flex the arm.
tremor - Involuntary, somewhat rhythmic, oscillatory quivering
of muscles caused by alternating contraction of opposing
groups of muscles.
-Cerebellar tremor: occurs during intentional movement, becoming more pronounced near the end of the movement; associated with lesions of the dentate nucleus.
-Coarse tremor: slow and large-amplitude movements.
-Essential (familial) tremor: usually initially appears around age 50 with fine tremors of the hands; aggravated bv intentional movement; commonly affects the head, jaws, lips, or voice.
-Fine tremor: rapid (10 to 20 oscillations/sec) and low-amplitude movements, usually in the fingers and hands.
-Moderate tremor: medium-rate and medium-amplitude
movements.
-Passive tremor: present at rest; may improve during intentional movement (e.g., pill-rolling tremor or Parkinson's disease. )
-Physiological tremor: experienced by healthy people in fatigue, cold, and stress.
Toxic tremor: caused by endogenous (thyrotoxicosis, uremia) or exogenous toxins (alcohol, drugs).
tricuspid valve - Right atrioventricular valve.
trigeminal nerve (CN V) - Cranial nerve that mediates sensation of the face. It has three branches: ophthalmic, maxillary, and mandibular.
trimester - Period of 13 weeks.
trochanteric - Pertaining to the two bony projections on the proximal end of the femur that serve as the attachment of various muscles.
trophoblast - Peripheral cell layer of the blastocyst that attaches the fertilized ovum to the uterine wall and becomes the placenta and the membranes.
tropia - Permanent deviation of the axis of an eye; strabismus.
tuberosity - Elevation or protuberance, especially of a bone.
two-point discrimination - Ability to sense the simultaneous stimulation of two areas of skin. Higher cortical integration is required to perform this function.
tympanic membrane - Eardrum; membranous structure separating the external ear from the middle ear.
tympany - Resonant sound produced over an air-filled region obtained by percussion.
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ulnar deviation - Turning the wrist away from thc midline of the body.
umbo - Landmark on the tympanic membrane created by the attachment of the membrane to the malleus.
upper motor neuron - Long neurons with cell bodies in the motor portion of the cerebral cortex and axons that extend down the spinal cord, terminating at segmental levels of the spinal cord. They transmit impulses to lower motor neurons.
uvula - Small cone-shaped process, suspended in the mouth from the middle of the posterior border of the soft palate.
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valqus - Deviation of an extremity outward, away from the
midline.
-Genu valgum: condition in which the knees are abnormally close together; knock-knee.
varicocele - Distention of the veins of the spermatic cord.
varicose - Dilated, distended, or bulging. This term is used particularly to describe a vein.
varus - Deviation of an extremity toward the midline.
-Genu varum: condition in which the knees are abnormally separated; bowleg.
ventricle - One of two muscular pumping chambers of the heart. The left ventricle pumps blood into the pulmonary artery.
ventricular fibriliation - Cardiac arrhythmia marked by rapid, disorganized depolarizations of the ventricular myocardium.
ventricular tachycardia - Tachycardia that usually originates in the ventricular Purkinje system.
vertigo - Illusion of movement, with imagined rotation of oneself (subjective vertigo) or one's surrounding (objective vertigo).
vestibule - Space or cavity that serves as the entrance to a pas- sageway.
vital or cardinal signs - Indicators of bodily function such as blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respiration.
vitreous humor - Transparent substance contained in the posterior chamber of the eye.
von Recklinghausen's disease - Also known as neurofibromatosis, this congenital condition is characterized by fibrous tumors of the nerve tissue (neurofibromas), cafe-au-lait spots on the skin, and, in some cases, developmental anomalies of the muscles, bones, and viscera.
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Weber test - Test of bone conduction through the use of a tuning fork placed on the top of the skull or middle forehead. A normal result occurs when the patient reports that the sound is heard equally in both ears. The sound lateralizes when hearing loss is present.
wheeze - Form of rhonchus characterized by a high-pitched musical quality. Caused by a high-velocity flow of air through a narrowed airway, it is heard during both inspiration and expiration.
whispered pectoriloquy - Increased resonance of the whispered voice as heard through a stethoscope in an area of consolidation.
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xanthelasma - Soft yellow spot or plaque that usually occurs in groups on the eyelids.
xeromammography - Done with a xerographic plate instead of film.
xerostomia - Dry mouth, usually caused by medications or radiation therapy.
xiphoid - Lowest portion of the sternum; composed of bone and cardlage.