Anthropometric measurements
Set of techniques for determining an individual's body fat composition by measuring and recording dimensions of the body such as height and weight.
Biohazard bag
A container designed to collect any biological waste or product that has been contaminated with biological waste.
Bronchodilators
A substance that dilates the bronchi in the lungs decreasing resistance in the respiratory airways.
Conjunctiva
A clear mucous membrane that covers the inner surface of the eyelid and the white part of the eyeball.
Prehypertension
A state of having a high normal blood pressure with the potential for developing high blood pressure.
Respirations
The vital sign assessment of observing the number of times the chest rises in 1 minute.
Sharps container
A puncture-proof container designed specifically to safely dispose of needles, scalpels, and other sharp disposable medical instruments.
Sim's position
Patient lies on the left side with the right knee sharply bent and resting on the exam table.
Transdermal patch
An adhesive patch, placed on the skin to administer a specific dose of medication through the skin and into the bloodstream.
Tympanic membrane
A thin membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear; also known as the ear drum.
Ventricles
The two large chambers that collect blood from the atria and expel blood to the entire body or to the lungs.
Vital signs
Measurements observed, measured and monitored to check a patient's level of physical function.
Community services
A service or activity performed by a group of people for the benefit of the public; may be a non-profit organization.
Electronic health record
Systematic collection of a patient's health care and treatment in a digital form.
Electronic communication
Methods of communication via digital methods such as fax, email, voicemail, or by computer.
Electronic medical record
Systematic collection of a patient's health care and treatment in a digital format in the physician's office or medical facility.
EMS
Emergency Medical Service; organization that provides acute medical care out of the hospital and may provide transport to patients in medical crisis.
Fax
Facsimile, the machine or the method by which a scanned printed material is transported via telephone transmission.
HIPAA
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act; a law that governs the sharing or disclosure of patient information.
Office manager
Person responsible for day-to-day operation of a company or in our case medical office or clinic.
Practice management software
Software that stores patient information for use in billing, scheduling, patient calls, and registration.
Controlled substances
Medications or substances listed by schedule and controlled under the Controlled Substance Act according to the potential for addiction or medical use.
DEA
Drug Enforcement Agency. A federal law enforcement agency tasked with regulation of controlled substances.
Federal Register
The official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of federal agencies and organizations.
Global periods
Includes all services related to a procedure during a period of time depending on payer guidelines.
Informed consent
A form of patient consent in which the patient has been told and understands the procedure that has been prescribed.
Medicare
Government-based health insurance for people over the age of 65 and others with certain disabilities.
CDC
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; provides safety guidelines for medical offices and facilities.
DNA testing
Identification by looking at the genetic material; includes tests that determine paternity of a pediatric patient.
Domestic abuse
Physical, emotional, or verbal abuse performed by someone related to or living with a person.
Immunizations
Injections or medications that help an individual's immune system become fortified against disease.
OSHA
Occupational Safety and Health Association; An organization that sets guidelines to ensure medical professional safety.
PPE
Personal Protection Equipment; items used to help prevent contamination from biohazardous materials.
Sanitation
The process of cleaning equipment and devices after use on a patient and before decontamination or sterilization.
Sharps container
A leak-proof, puncture-proof container labeled with a biohazard symbol for the disposal of needles and other sharp medical instruments.
Standard precautions
Originally called Universal Precautions when the CDC created the guidelines in the 1980s; guidelines to instruct health care providers to minimize the risk of disease transmission when giving care.
Biohazard
Anything that is a risk to organisms, such as ionizing radiation or harmful bacteria or viruses.
Bloodborne pathogens
Pathogenic micro-organisms that are present in human blood and can cause disease in humans.
Blood culture
A laboratory test used to check for bacteria or other micro-organisms in a blood sample.
Catheter
A hollow, flexible tube that can be inserted into a vessel or cavity of the body to withdraw fluids.
Chain of custody
The chronological documentation, or paper trail, showing the seizure, custody, control, transfer, analysis, and disposition of specimens, which can be used as evidence.
Chemical reagent strip testing
A method of urinanalysis involving the use of plastic strips to which chemically specific reagent pads are affixed.
Clean-catch midstream specimen
A method of urine collection that may be ordered to diagnose urinary tract infections or to evaluate the effectiveness of drug therapy.
Dermal puncture
A procedure in which a finger or heel is lanced to obtain a small quantity of blood for testing; also called a capillary draw, finger stick, heel stick, or skin puncture.
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or EDTA
Used as an anticoagulant to keep blood specimens from clotting.
Galactosemia
An inherited disorder in which the body is unable to use, or metabolize, the simple sugar galactose, causing the affected patient to be unable to tolerate any form of milk, as well as other foods containing galactose.
Hematocrit
The proportion of the blood that consists of packaged red blood cells, expressed as a percentage by volume; the hematocrit test measures the percentage of hematocrit in the blood.
Phenyketonuria or PKU
A metabolic genetic disorder characterized by a deficiency in the hepatic enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase; classic PKU causes permanent intellectual disability, seizures, delayed development, behavioral problems, psychiatric disorders, a "mousy" body odor, lightening of skin and hair, and eczema.
Quality control
A method of repeated assay of known standard materials and monitoring reaction parameters to ensure precision and accuracy.
Reagents
Chemical substances known to react in specific ways; used to detect or synthesize other substances in chemical reactions.
Reference laboratory
A laboratory that is outside a patient care facility; usually, it is able to perform many more types of testing than are available at the average hospital laboratory.
Semen
The thick, whitish secretion of the male reproductive organs discharged from the urethra during ejaculation.
Stool
Waste or excrement from the digestive tract that is formed in the intestine and expelled through the rectum; also called feces.
Suprapubic
Pertaining to a location above the symphysis pubis, which is the slightly movable interpubic joint of the pelvis, consisting of two bones separated by a disk of fibrocartilage and connected by two ligaments.
Timed specimen
Collected over a predetermined time period to obtain more specific information; such specimens are sometimes collected 2 hours after a meal to test for diabetes.
Urine
The fluid secreted by the kidneys, transported by the ureters, stored in the bladder, and voided through the urethra.
Angina pectoris
The sensation of pain or discomfort in the chest. (for more details look on page 186 of your study guide.)
Aortic valve or aortic semilunar
Prevents blood in the aorta from returning to the left ventricle during diastole.
Atrioventricular (AV) node
Consists of specialized tissue that is able to regulate the impulses between atria and ventricles. It is in the upper right side above the right atrium.
Augmented leads
Leads created by combing two of the three limb leads to create a positive electrode; the third creates the negative electrode.