A
acetaminophen:
    coal/tar derivative; pain reliever; antipyretic; blocks pain impulses due to inhibition    of synthetic prostaglandins; doesn't affect other prostaglandins elsewhere in the body; can be used if individual is allergic to aspirin (ASA).

anaphylactic shock:
    severe & sometimes fatal allergic reaction to a sensitizing substance (food, drugs, chemicals)

aneurysm:
    sac formed by dilation of walls of an artery/vien/heart. Sym: formation of pulsating tumors (bruit heard over swelling).

angia:
    chest pain secondary to decrease in delivery of O2 to heart muscle. Sym: heavy/squeezing pain (midsternal area of chest)

angiogram:
    diagnostic procedure done in X-RAY dept to visualize blood vessels due to contrast material (dye) in artery (nuclear radiology - isotopes)

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B
basal metabolism:
    rest state - 12hrs after eating, sleep, etc.

blood pressure:
    pressure of blood measured in systolic (maximum arterial pressure during contraction of (L+) ventricles of heart) and diastolic/distole (time between ventricular contraction (systole) at which ventricular filings occur.
Normal SYS BP:
    Adult:100+ <age>
    Children: (2*<age>) + 80
Normal DIA:
    2/3   of SYS

barotrauma - iatrogenic pneumothorax

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C
cardiac arrest:
    complete cessation of cardiac activity; heart beat.

cardiac contusions:
    (BCI contusions) bruise/injury to a part w/o break in skin

cardioplegic solutions:
    solutions which cause temporary arrest of cardiac activity; used in preformation of heart surgery.

carotid:
    calibre veins passing both sides of neck supplying O2 blood to the brain

cd4-helper T-cells:
    allows HIV to attach, re-enter & infect a cell

congenital anomaly:
    before birth

croup:
    viral disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Sym: upper respiratory sym; runny nose; barky cough (seal-like); loud noise when inhaling (stridor). Treatment: vaporizer & antipyretics.

CVA:
    cerebrovascular accident

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D
dementia:
    impairment of memory, judgment, abstract thinking, or change in personality.

duct:
    passage defined by walls - tube for passage of excresions/secretions.

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E
ENT:
    ear, nose, & throat specialist

etiology/aetiolog:
    branch of knowledge concerned with causes of particular phenomena specifically a branch of medical science concerned with the causes & origins of diseases.

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F
focal -
    limited to a specific area.

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G
gastrointestinal tract:
    starts with the oral cavity and follows: esophagus, duodenum, small intestine, colon, rectum, and exists through the anus.

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H
hemorrhage:
    escape of blood from vessels; bleeding

heart arrest, induced:
    arrest of the contraction of the myocardium by use of cardioplegic chemical compounds (cardioplegic solutions) or during heart surgery.

hypoxia:
    reduction of O2 supply to tissue below physiological levels despite adequate perfussion of the tissue by blood

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I
ibuprofen:
    ponsterodial anti-inflammatory drug: inhibits body's production of harmone-like substance (prostaglandin) which triggers fever, pain, and inflammation; shouldn't be taken 2 weeks before pre-op or before examination by physician.

ischaemia:
    low O2 state - obstruction of arterial blood supply/inadequate blood flow leading to hypoxia in tissue.

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J

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K

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L

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M
MAC:
    caused by mycobacteriumavium & mycobacterium intercellular found in solid & dust particles. Sym: night sweats, weight loss, fever, fatigue, diarrhea & enlarged spleen found in people w/cd4 counts < 100.

multiple sclerosis:
    neurodegenrative disease characteristic of gradual accumulation of focal plaques of demglination especially in periventrivular areas of the brain.

myocardial infarction:
    damage occurs to the heart when coronary arteries become occluded. Sym: chest pain (angia) at L+ arm accompanied w/nausea & sob.

myxoedema:
    result of decrease in basal metabolism

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N

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O

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P
Prinzmetal's angia:
    chest pain due to inadequate O2 in heart muscle. Sym: heavy/squeezing pain.

peritoneum:
    smooth serous membrane -one of the delicate membranes of connecting tissue which lines the internal cavity of the whole body and esp the abdomen when this is no diaphragm and turning back surrounding the viscera forming closed nearly closed sac.

peritoneal cavity:
    space enclosed by the peritoneum. Two sections: Greater  sac & Lesser sac (omental barsal: lies behind stomach). Two sacs connected by foramen of winslow (epipoloic foramen).

peritoneal lavage:
    washing out peritoneal cavity. Procedure is diagnostic & therapeutic technique following abdominal/trauma inflation.

prophylactic:
    preventive measures (medication - vitamins etc.)

PVCs:
    premature ventricular contractions - contractions of the lower chambers of the ventricles which occur earlier than usual b/c of abnormal electrical activity. Premature contractions are followed by a pause as the electrical system resets itself & the contraction following the pause are usually more forceful than normal. Forceful contractions are also known as palpitations. Unstable & can degrade to a more serious rhythm (MI)

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Q

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R
respiratory syncytial virus:
    (RSV) includes: pneumonia, bronchiolitis, croup. RNA virus member of paramyxoviridaephanie -major pathogen in upper respiratory tract infects infants & younger children.

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S
stroke:
    lack of O2 to brain; irreversable/reversable paralysis; caused by blood clot or hemorrhaging of blood vessels; prognosis is coma, paralysis, speech impairment, dementia.

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T
thorax:
    neck/diaphram

TPA:
    (tissue plasminogenactivator) Dissolves blood clots (into IV)

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U

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V
Ventricular arrhythmia:
    arrhythmia occurs in the lower ventricles of the heart and travels back up to the normal route causing electrical impulses.

V-Fib:
    (ventricular fibrillation) random firing of electrical impulses from multiple sites in the ventricles, producing chaotic electrical activity & uncoordinated contraction.

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W

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X

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Y

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Z

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