Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Glossary
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United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) a
government agency that regulates the agriculture
industry and researches and recommends diets for
maintaining and improving general health
ureter a tube that leads from the kidney to the bladder
urethra a thin tube that leads from the bladder to
outside of the body
urinals measuring devices for urine that are used by
males confi ned to a bed
urinalysis the examination of urine’s physical,
chemical, and microscopic properties
US customary units the main system of weights and
measures used in the United States based on the
yard, pound, and gallon as units of length, weight,
and liquid volume respectively; also known as
household measurements
uterus a hollow, muscular organ whose purpose is to
receive and nourish a fertilized egg
V
vacuole an organelle that allows larger enzymes and
waste molecule packages to pass through the cell
membrane
validity the quality of being legitimate, accurate, and
factually sound
valve a part of a vein that prevents backfl ow as
blood moves against gravity toward the heart
vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) a bacterial
infection caused by the bacterium Enterococcus,
which is most often contracted in healthcare settings
vas deferens a duct through which sperm leave a
testicle; also called the ductus deferens
vein a main blood vessel that moves blood from
body tissues toward the heart
ventral a directional term used to describe surfaces
move closer together when you bend a joint
ventral cavity the cavity in the front of the body that
is surrounded by the ribs and pelvic bones
ventricle a chamber at the bottom of the heart that
pumps blood out to the rest of the body
vestibular canals chambers in the ears that sense
movement of fl uid
villi fi nger-like projections in the intestines that
increase their surface area
virus a very small pathogen that invades and
reproduces inside other cells
visual learner a person who prefers to learn through
pictures and has a good understanding of direction,
spacing, and location
vital signs the key measurements that provide
information about a person’s health, including
temperature, pulse, respiration, and blood
pressure
vitreous humor a clear fl uid that maintains the eye’s
shape
W
waived tests simple tests with little risk of error
Western medicine the most common form of
medical care in the United States, which uses
medication and surgery to treat the signs and
symptoms of illness
worker’s compensation government healthcare
program in which plans cover injuries that happen
to people while they are working on a job
work ethic a belief in the benefi ts of working hard,
demonstrating initiative, and being personally
accountable for the work you do
workplace violence acts of verbal abuse, threats,
physical assault, or homicide that occur at work
work styles different methods that individuals might
prefer to complete a job task
World Health Organization (WHO) an agency of the
United Nations that is concerned with international
public health
wrongful discharge dismissal from a job without
cause
Y
yield the number of portions a recipe will produce
Z
zero-tolerance policy a policy in which threats and
harassment are never acceptable behavior
zygote the genetically unique cell that results from
fertilization and contains 46 chromosomes