Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
768
Introduction to Health Science
Glossary
24-hour clock a method of telling time that assigns
a number to each hour of the day; also known as
military time
8 and 80 system a system that allows an employee to
work more than fi ve 8-hour days in one week and
fewer days in the following week without receiving
overtime
A
abdominal quadrant one of the four regions used to
divide the abdomen into sections
abdominal region one of nine equal areas of the
abdomen that are named and used as reference
points when discussing the body
abdominopelvic cavity the part of the ventral cavity
that lies below the diaphragm muscle; includes the
abdominal cavity for the digestive organs and the
pelvic cavity that houses the reproductive organs,
bladder, and rectum
abduction an action that moves a limb laterally away
from the side of the body
absolute risk ratio of the number of people who
have a medical event to those who could have the
event because of a medical condition
absorption the act of taking up a substance into a
tissue, such as the movement of nutrients from the
small intestines into the bloodstream
abuse an act that infl icts physical or emotional harm
accessory organs organs attached to the alimentary
canal, including the salivary glands, pancreas, and
liver
accreditation offi cial recognition from a professional
association that an educational program meets
minimum educational standards for an occupation
acculturation the process by which immigrants learn
the beliefs and customs of the dominant culture and
adopt some of them, while maintaining beliefs and
customs of their own culture
acronyms an abbreviation in which each letter stands
for a word
addendum a note that is added to correct an error,
explains the new or corrected information, and
gives a reason for the change
adduction an action that returns a limb to the side of
the body
adenoids lymphatic tissues located behind the nose,
which help protect against infection
adrenal glands glands that are located just above the
kidneys and contain two parts, the adrenal cortex
and the adrenal medulla
advance directive a legal document prepared by
a patient before a health crisis occurs to guide
healthcare decisions in situations when the patient
is unable to speak for himself or herself
advocate to promote or support
afferent term that describes sensory transmitters that
send impulses from receptors in the skin, muscles,
and joints to the central nervous system
Affordable Care Act (ACA) healthcare reform
legislation that encourages the use of electronic
health records and the electronic exchange of
information and aims to extend coverage to
uninsured Americans
Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) a
federal law that extends civil rights protection to
workers 40 years of age and older
airborne precautions practices used when an
infection can be spread over a long distance and
through air
algorithms sets of rules that computers follow to
process and analyze information
alimentary canal a long, hollow tube that is made
up of digestive organs and runs from the mouth to
the anus
alternative, complementary, integrative
therapies healthcare practices and treatments that
minimize or avoid the use of surgery and drugs
alveoli tiny, hollow air sacs clustered like bunches
of grapes at the ends of the bronchioles, which
exchange gas with the surrounding capillaries
ambulatory care nonemergency or outpatient
services provided at walk-in clinics
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) a federal
law that extends civil rights protection to workers
with physical or mental disabilities
amino acids substances in proteins that provide the
building blocks for the body to repair and make
new cells
amputate to cut off a limb or extremity, usually by
surgical operation
anatomy the physical structures or parts of the body
aneurysms conditions characterized by weakened
blood vessels, which can then burst
anterior a directional term that refers to the front
side of the body
antibiotics medications used to control bacterial
infections
antibodies proteins produced by leukocytes that
bind with and disable antigens
antigen a foreign substance that causes the body to
make antibodies
antioxidant a substance that promotes good health
by reducing cell deterioration and may contribute to
disease prevention
apical pulse a pulse measurement taken by listening
over the apex (lower tip) of the heart using a
stethoscope
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