Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
770
Introduction to Health Science
bioreactor an apparatus in which a biological
process is carried out
biorepositories libraries of biological information
that may be accessed for medical research
biotechnology the manipulation of living organisms
to produce useful products
biotechnology research laboratories research
facilities that develop new products or treatments
and are located on college campuses, in hospitals,
and in private biotechnology companies
bladder a hollow, muscular organ that stores urine
blastocyst a fl uid-fi lled cavity that develops in a
morula
Bloodborne Pathogens Standard an OSHA
regulation that protects employees from
exposure to blood and other potentially
infectious materials
blood pressure the force of blood pushing against
the inside of the blood vessel (artery) walls
body alignment term used to describe a position
of the body in which the spine is not crooked or
twisted
body cavity a hollow space within the body that is
lined by a membrane and contains bodily organs
body language nonverbal communication that
occurs through conscious or unconscious gestures
and movements
body mass index (BMI) a method of relating weight
to height used to defi ne normal weight, overweight,
and obesity
body mechanics specifi c positions for muscles and
joints that help a person avoid injury during a
physical task
body plane a fl at or level surface seen by cutting
away part of the body through surgery or medical
imaging to serve as a point of reference when
discussing anatomy
body region an area of the body with a specifi c
name, which is used as a reference point when
discussing anatomy
body system a group of organs working together to
perform a vital function in the body
brainstem area of the brain that controls the smooth
muscles of the heart and lungs; also known as the
vital functions center
breach access, use, or disclosure of protected health
information that compromises the security or
privacy of that information
bronchi tubes that branch out from the trachea into
the right and left lungs
bronchioles tubes that branch out from the bronchi
and travel down to the air sacs in the lungs
business letters formal letters written to people
outside one’s healthcare facility for a variety of
purposes
business-to-business selling exchanging goods
between businesses rather than between businesses
and individuals
C
calibration the adjustment of a piece of equipment
so that it operates within its intended standards of
performance
calories the units used to measure energy gained
from digestion
cancer uncontrolled cell growth
capillary bed a network of very small, thin-walled
blood vessels (capillaries) located in body tissues
carcinogenic cancer-causing
cardiac arrest a condition in which a person’s heart
stops beating or does not beat well enough to
circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs
cardiac muscle an involuntary, striated muscle tissue
located in the walls of the heart
cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) a procedure
that keeps the brain and other vital organs
supplied with oxygen until advanced medical care
arrives
cardiovascular related to the heart and blood vessels
cardiovascular technologists healthcare workers
who assist physicians in diagnosing heart and blood
vessel disorders
career assessments tools such as questionnaires and
surveys that you can use to fi nd careers that will
match your individual needs
career clusters groups of similar occupations and
industries that share a core set of basic knowledge
and skills for all workers
career ladder a sequence of job positions progressing
from entry-level to higher levels of responsibility
and authority based on education, experience, and
performance
career pathways smaller groups of specialized
occupations within a career cluster that require
more specifi c sets of knowledge, skills, and
training
career portfolio a written record of career planning
and preparation
caregiver background form an application that
collects information about a prospective healthcare
employee’s past
cartilage fi rm, whitish, fl exible connective tissue
found in various body parts, including where two
bones meet to form a joint
case manager an RN who develops a care plan along
with the client and his or her family and supervises
the care being provided
catheters tube-shaped medical devices that can be
inserted into blood vessels or body cavities for
diagnostic and therapeutic purposes
caudal a directional term used to reference a point
closer to the tailbone
cell a small group of organelles that fulfi ll a specifi c
purpose and are held together by a membrane
cell body part of a neuron that contains the nucleus
cell membrane a semipermeable outer covering of a
cell with holes that act as its doors and windows