virulence
the ability to produce disease
efface
to wipe out, to rub out, do away with; (medical) the thinning of the cervix during labor
ubiquitous
omnipresent, existing or being everywhere
osmosis
process of fluid passing through semi-permeable membrane from higher to lower concentration
labile
apt or likely to change, changing quickly
-Because the children fever was very labile the nurse instructed the unlicensed assistive personnel to check the temp frequently.
febrile
having or showing symptoms of a fever
dynamic
energetic, lively
insidious
dangerous, treacherous, so gradual as to not become apparent for a long time
-The doctor explained that the cancer probably started years ago but had not been detected because it spread was so insidious.
empathy
understanding another’s pain, suffering alongside someone else
anticipatory
showing anticipation, looking forward to
ominous
threatening, menacing
preferred
to set above or hold above another, to like better than another
acute
sharp, intense, coming about quickly
chronic
(medical) refers to a disease or condition that is long-lasting and reoccurring
exploratory
(medical) refers to a surgery or procedure used to diagnose a disease or condition but not treat it
recessive
(genetics) A trait or a gene that can be dominated by another (dominant) trait or gene
assent
To agree (not the same as ascend, to go up or higher), to give consent
toxic
poisonous
subjective data
(medical) Symptoms. Information that is apparent only to the person affected; that person is the only one who can verify it. Examples are pain, fear, and itching.
objective data
(medical) Signs. Information that can be detected or measured by an observer against a standard. Examples are blood pressure, body temperature, and observing a patient crying.
effect
more often used as a noun, meaning result or outcome
affect
Often seen as a verb, meaning to influence or to change. In medical terminology, it may be used as a noun meaning a person’s emotional response or disposition.
overt
in the open, clearly visible, not hidden
anterior
toward the front
contract
pronounced with the accent on the second syllable (and used as a verb), it means to draw up, to draw together
-The physical therapist exercises the patients muscles so they contract and expand.
rigidity
stiffness, the stat of not being flexible
persecute
to harass or annoy constantly
longevity
long life
impervious
cannot be penetrated or affected
distension
swollen and protruding out further than normal
ambivalent
uncertain, having contradictory feelings, unable to make a decision between two conflicting choices
patent
(medical) Pronounced with a long a ̅, refers to something tube-shaped that is open and unblocked (such as an artery)
potent
powerful, producing a strong effect
-the medicine was very potent and it immediately relieved the pateint pain
adhere
to stick to, either literally or figuratively (to adhere to the wall); to adhere to a strict diet
euthanasia
referred to as a “mercy killing,” to choose to end the life of someone who is terminally ill
prognosis
predicting the likely outcome of an illness
antigen
a foreign substance that causes the immune system to make antibodies against it
abstain
to voluntarily refrain from
incidence
the rate at which something occurs, such as injuries or illnesses
hydrophilic
attracted to water (“water loving”)
hydrophobic
not attracted to water or water-repelling (“fear of water”)
occluded
blocked, closed; the opposite of patent
-Because the patient foot was cold and blue the nurse reported that the patient circulation to the foot was occluded.
precipitous
(medical) a sudden and dramatic change for the worse
vital
necessary for the maintenance of life; essential
ingest
to take into the body by the mouth for digestion
proscribe
to forbid
prescribe
recommend or authorize the use of
supplement
something that is added in order to make up for something that is lacking or missing
paroxysm
a violent seizure; or something that begins suddenly and uncontrollably
carniore
meat-eater
belligerent
aggressively hostile, combative, pugnatious
bilateral
present on both sides
-The unlicensed assistive personnel reported o the nurse that the patient had bilateral weakness in the leg when walking.
recur
to occur again
flaccid
limp, lacking tone
- After a stroke , the patient could not feed herself because her arms were flaccid.
androgynous
having both male and female characteristics
untoward
improper or unfortunate, adverse or negative
-The patient became very confused which was an untoward effect of the medication received.
endogenous
occurring or resulting from within the body
-The nurse explained that endogenous insulin produced by the body’s pancreas helps regulate the body blood sugar levels.
exogenous
occurring or resulting from outside the body
-The nurse explained that people with diabetes often need to receive exogenous forms of insulin because their bodies are unable to produce enough insulin.
intrusive
invasive
parameter
guideline, a characteristic or constant factor, limit
-The dietician explained that the number of calories needed for energy is one of the important parameters of a healthy diet.
void
(medial) to urinate; excrete or expel urine
-The patient was instructed to void into the container so the nurse could examine the urine.
lethargic
sluggish, difficult to arouse
-The unlicensed assitive personnel observed that the morning after a patient received a sleeping pill, the patient was to lethargic to eat breakfast.
offsetting
counteracting
atrophy
the degeneration or wasting away of a part of the body
discrete
apart or detached, separate, distinct
-The paramedics observed several discrete bruise marks on patients body.
site
location
exposure
to surgically lay open; to be subjected to something (such as sunlight or germs)
exacerbate
to aggravate, to worsen
neuron
a nerve cell
adverse
unfavorable, undesired, possibly harmful
-Vommiting is an adverse effect of many medications.