Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
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Introduction to Health Science
K
ketoacidosis a serious condition that can lead to
diabetic coma and needs further medical care
kidneys organs that fi lter, concentrate, and remove
waste from the blood to form urine
kinesthetic learner a person who uses his or her
body, hands, and sense of touch to learn
L
lab information system (LIS) a computer system
that manages data about patients, lab test requests,
and lab test results
laboratory documentation written records of
observable, measurable, and reproducible fi ndings
obtained through examination, testing, research
studies, and experiments
lacteal a specialized lymphatic vessel that picks up
digested fats and fat-soluble vitamins in the villi of
the small intestine
laparoscopic pertaining to operations that use
tubes with cameras and tools attached to them and
require very small incisions
larynx a space near the pharynx that aids in voice
production; also known as the voice box
lateral a directional term that refers to a point
toward the side of the body
learning style an individual’s preferred way of
gaining or processing new information
legal a term used to describe issues that are defi ned
by laws that are enforced by the government
legal disability a condition that results in a person
being unable to enter a contract, such as being
under the age of consent, being ruled mentally
incompetent, or having an altered mental state due
to drugs or semi-consciousness
lens a transparent, fl exible structure that focuses
light at the back of the eye
letter of resignation a written document that
formally states an employee’s decision to leave a job
leukocyte a white blood cell that is involved in
fi ghting infection
liable legally responsible
libel written defamation
licensed practical nurse (LPN) a healthcare worker
who completes a one-year technical training program
and can perform basic nursing tasks such as giving
injections, monitoring catheters, and dressing wounds
licensed vocational nurse (LVN) a healthcare worker
who completes a one-year technical training program
and can perform basic nursing tasks such as giving
injections, monitoring catheters, and dressing wounds
licensure a credential that is required by law for
some professions to protect public health, safety,
and welfare
ligament a tough, fi brous tissue that connects bones
to other bones and holds organs in place
line graph a chart that shows the changes in data
over time
lines of authority term that describes the hierarchy
of command from the top down through all the
different ranks of employees
liver the organ that breaks down and removes toxic
substances, drugs, bacteria, and dead red blood
cells from the body
living will a patient’s written document giving
instructions about which procedures may or may not
be used to sustain or prolong his or her life, such as
feeding tubes or ventilation
long bone a bone that is longer than it is wide and
has a hollow diaphysis
long-term care facility healthcare facility that
provides skilled nursing care and rehabilitation
services for residents who will live in the facility for
many months or years
lymph blood plasma that remains between cells after
delivering its oxygen, nutrients, and hormones
lymphatic related to or containing the watery fl uid
(lymph) collected from body tissues
lymph node a small capsule where lymphocytes
collect to remove dead cells, destroy pathogens, and
create antibodies against infection
lymphocyte a cell that makes antibodies to mark and
destroy invading pathogens
lysosomes organelles that use digestive enzymes to
destroy used, dead, and foreign materials that are
left behind after energy is used up
M
malpractice term for actions that violate a
professional’s scope of practice or standard of
care and result in injury to a patient that could
reasonably have been expected
mammogram X-rays that test for breast cancer
managed care a system that limits access to and use
of healthcare to control costs
mandatory overtime required hours of work outside
an employee’s typical schedule
mandatory reporting the legal requirement for
certain health issues to be reported to authorities
marketing term that describes a fi eld specializing in
making others aware of a company’s or individual’s
products and services
mean the mathematical average of a set of data
meaningful use the use of electronic health records
that follows a series of stages with sets of objectives
for healthcare providers to meet in each stage
medial a directional term that refers to a point closer
to the center of the body
median term that describes the number found
exactly in the middle when a data is listed in
numerical order
Medicaid a government-provided health insurance
program that provides hospital and medical
insurance for people with low incomes, children in
low-income families, and those who are disabled
and cannot work