Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Glossary
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Human Genome Project an international scientifi c
research project with the goal of determining the
sequence of chemical base pairs which make up
human DNA
human resources term that describes workers who
specialize in maximizing workers’ effectiveness and
productivity
hypertension a condition in which blood pressure is
too high
hypodermis the innermost layer of the skin, which
stores fat
hypotension a condition in which blood pressure is
too low
hypothalamus the brain’s center for emotions and
instincts, which controls pleasure, pain, sleep,
hunger, and thirst
hypothesis a theory or proposed explanation
that serves as the starting point for further
investigation
I
Illness and Injury Prevention Program (I2P2) a
proactive, systemic approach to fi nding and fi xing
hazards before people are injured
immunization the injection of a harmless form of a
pathogen into the body, which trains the body to
protect itself against a disease
implied a term that means an agreement is assumed
based on the actions of both parties
incident report a form used to record the details of
an unusual event, such as an accident or injury
incompetence a lack of qualifi cations or ability to
perform job tasks
indirect contact interaction with fomites, droplets,
and other objects that can cause infection
transmission
indispensable absolutely necessary
industrial engineer a worker who identifi es the most
effi cient ways to use space, time, workers, and other
resources
infectious able to live in a host and cause disease
infectious agent a pathogen that can cause infection
inferior a directional term that means lower down
on the body
informed consent a patient’s choice to accept or
reject a procedure after receiving information on
available options and possible consequences
infrastructure term that describes the internal
systems that a facility needs to operate, such as
power supplies; electrical, plumbing, and heating
and cooling systems; water; waste management;
and phones and computer systems
infusion injection of drugs or another solution
directly into a vein
ingestion the stage of digestion in which food is
taken into the body through the mouth
ingredient cost a numerical value representing the
total cost of one ingredient in a recipe
initiative the ability to decide independently what to
do and when to do it
innervate to provide an area with a nerve connection
to the brain
input the factor of a system that includes the
population being served and why they need or
want service through this system; also includes
the resources the system needs to function, such as
workers, equipment, and fi nancial resources
inspection visual examination used to assess parts of
the body by looking for abnormal color, shape, size,
or texture
intake and output (I&O) term for measurements of
all the fl uids that enter and leave the body
integrity adherence to ethical principles and
professional standards
integumentary related to the skin
interdisciplinary healthcare team a group of
professionals from different health science training
backgrounds working in coordination toward a
common goal for the patient
intern a term that describes a student doctor when
he or she is completing rotations through various
specialties in the fi rst year of residency
International Classifi cation of Diseases Clinical
Modifi cations (ICD-CM) a system published by
the Department of Health and Human Services that
contains the coding system for diagnoses based on
information from the World Health Organization
International Units (IU) a system of measurement
that describes the effect or potency of manufactured
drugs and vitamins
internship practical work or training experience that
allows students to apply what they have learned in
class
interoperability the ability to exchange and use
computer information within and across networks
interview etiquette accepted appearance and
behavior for the interview process
invasion of privacy intrusion on a person’s privacy;
applies to personal information as well as a person’s
body
invasive procedure a test or treatment that requires
incisions to the skin or the insertion of instruments
or other materials into the body
inventory a count of disposable and durable medical
equipment
in vitro a fertilization process that takes place in a
test tube, or otherwise outside the body
involuntary seclusion the practice of isolating a
person and preventing him or her from interacting
with others
irregular bone a bone that is a complex shape and
contains mostly spongy bone with a covering of
compact bone
islets of Langerhans clusters of cells located on the
pancreas that make the hormones insulin and glucagon
isolation confi nement to a private room to prevent
the spread of infection