Abdominal Cavity

The Abdominal Cavity extends from the diaphragm to the pelvis.

Abduction

Abduction is movement away from the midline, or to abduct.

Afebrile

Without fever.

Anatomical Position

The patient is standing erect, facing the examiner with their arms at their sides and the palms facing forward.

Anterior

Anterior refers to the front surface of the body.

Appendicular Skeleton

Bony framework of the upper and lower extremities.

Articulate

To meet, as in the formation of a joint where two or more bones come together.

Auscultate

To listen, usually with a stethoscope.

Axial skeleton

Longitudinal axis of the body as it is related to the skeleton.

Axilla

The armpit.

Blood pressure

Refers to the pressure exerted by the blood on the walls of the arteries as the heartbeats.

Bradycardia

Slow heart rate (Pulse rate below 60 bpm).

Bradypnea

Slow breathing. Respiratory rate that is below the range determined to be normal for a person's age group.

Bronchitis

Inflammation of the bronchus.

Cardiovascular

Pertaining to the heart and vessels.

Cartilage

The elastic tissue that covers the ends of the bones which form joints.

Cervical Spine

The cervical spine consists of the first seven vertebrae of the spinal column, and forms the neck.

Coccyx

The Coccyx, or tailbone, is formed by the four fused vertebrae below the sacrum.

Core body temperature

The body's temperature in deep structures such as the liver or heart.

Crepitus

A grating sensation or sound made when fractured bone ends rub together.

Cyanosis

Condition of blueness.

Diastolic pressure

The force of blood exerted against the arterial wall when the heart is relaxing. Recorded in milligrams of mercury (mmHg) as the bottom number of the blood pressure.

Distal

Distal means further from a point of reference.

Dyspnea

Difficult breathing.

Endocarditis

Inflammation within the heart.

Endotracheal

Within the trachea.

Eupnea

Normal respiratory rate and rhythm.

Extension

Extension is to straighten at a joint, or to increase the angle, for example, from 90 degrees to 180 degrees.

Flexion

Flexion is to bend at a joint, or to reduce the angle.

Fowler's Position

The Fowler's position is sitting straight up or leaning slightly back. The patient's legs may either be straight or bent.

Gastroenteritis

Inflammation of the stomach and intestine.

Hematoma

Blood filled tumor.

Hematuria

Blood in the urine.

Hepatitis

Inflammation of the liver.

Hyperglycemia

High blood sugar.

Hypertension

High blood pressure.

Hypoglycemia

Low blood sugar.

Hypotension

Low blood pressure.

Hypothermia

A deviation in temperature which persists below the normal average.

Inferior

The portion of the body or body part that is nearer the feet.

Intercostal

Between the ribs.

Intracerebral

Within the brain.

Intracranial

Within the cranium.

Joint

Contact point between two bones, named by the two bones that form it. Surrounded by capsule, ligament, muscles, and tendons.

Lateral

Lateral means lying away from the midline.

Lateral Rotation

Lateral rotation is to turn outward.

Left Lateral Recumbent

The left lateral recumbent, or LLR, means that the patient is lying on their left side.

Ligament

The tissues that connect bone to bone.

Lower Extremities

The lower extremities include all structures from the hip to the toes. Your legs.

Lumbar Spine

The lumbar spine, or midback is composed of the next five vertebrae after the thoracic vertebrae.

Medial

Medial means towards the midline.

Medial Rotation

Medial rotation is to turn inward.

Mediastinum

The Mediastinum is the area between the lungs that lies within the thoracic cavity.

Midline

The "midline" divides the body into right and left halves. It is an imaginary vertical line drawn from the mid-forehead, through the nose and the umbilicus (navel) to the floor.

Muscular system

Body system made up of tissue that contracts and relaxes to permit body movement or function. Comprised of muscles, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage.

Musculoskeletal system

The system of bones and skeletal muscles that support and protect the body and permit movement.

Myocardial

Pertaining to the heart muscle.

Palpate

To feel, examine by touch.

Pelvic Cavity

The Pelvic Cavity extends from the lower portion of the abdominal cavity to the inferior portion of the pelvic girdle.

Posterior

Posterior refers to the back surface of the body.

Pronation

Pronation is to rotate the forearm so that the palm faces backward.

Prone

Someone in the prone position is lying face down.

Proximal

Proximal means nearest or closer to a point of reference.

Pulse

The expansion and contraction of an artery, felt or heard when the ventricles contract.

Pulse point

The site where the pulse can be palpated by holding a superficial artery against firm tissue and/or a bony prominence.

Pulse rate

The rate at which the heart is contracting, measured in beats per minute.

Pyrexia (fever)

An elevation in temperature above the normal average.

Rales

Cracking, rattling breath sounds.

Respiration

One complete cycle of breathing; comprised of one inhalation and one exhalation.

Right Lateral Recumbent

The Right lateral recumbent, or RLR, means that the patient is lying on their right side.

Sacrum

The five vertebrae below the lumbar vertebrae form the sacrum, or lower back. These vertebrae are fused into a single structure.

Skeletal system

All bones and joints of the body.

Sphygmomanometer

An instrument used to measure the arterial blood pressure. It consists of an arm or leg cuff with an air bladder connected to a tube and bulb for pumping air into the bladder, and a gauge to indicate the amount of pressure being exerted against the artery.

Stethoscope

An instrument used to auscultate sounds produced in the body. Consists of two earpieces connected by flexible tubing to a diaphragm, which is placed against the patient's skin.

Superior

The portion of the body or body part that is nearer the head.

Supination

Supination is to rotate the forearm so that the palm faces forward.

Supine

The supine position is lying on the back.

Systolic pressure

The force of blood exerted against the artery walls when the heart contracts. Recorded in milligrams of mercury (mmHg) as the top number of the blood pressure.

Tachycardia

Rapid heart rate. Pulse rate greater than 100 bpm.

Tachypnea

Faster than normal breathing. A respiratory rate that is above the range determined to be normal for a person's age group

Tendon

The tissues that attach muscle to bone.

Thoracic Cavity

The Thoracic cavity is the entire chest cavity, which is enclosed by the twelve pairs of ribs forming the rib cage.

Thoracic Spine

The next twelve vertebrae after the cervical vertebrae form the thoracic spine, or upper back.

Trendelenberg Position

A person is the Trendelenberg position is lying supine with their head slightly lower than their feet.

Upper Extremities

The upper extremities include all structures from the shoulder to the fingertips.

Urticaria

Hives. Small areas of generalized itching and burning that appear as multiple, reddened, raised areas of the skin.