Nur 102 Vocabulary

Vocabulary Bowel Elimination Peristalsis: a progressive wavelike movement that occurs involuntarily in hollow tubes of the body, esp. the alimentary canal. Effluent: output Stoma: a surgically created opening in the abdominal wall to create a bowel diversion. Reanastomosis: surgical reconnection of the bowel. Diverticulosis: saclike outpouchings of mucosa through the muscle layers of the colon walls. Diverticulitis: inflammation of a diverticulum or diverticula in the intestinal tract, esp. in the colon, causing pain, fevers, and rarely intestinal perforation, hemorrhage, and abscess. Ileostomy: a surgical passage through the abdominal wall, through which a segment of ileum is exteriorized. Colectomy: excision of part or all of the colon. Colostomy: the opening of a portion of the colon through the abdominal wall to its skin surface. Fecal impaction: constipation caused by a firm mass of feces in the distal colon or rectum. The size or firmness of the mass prevents its passage. Flatulence: excessive gas in the stomach and intestines.

Comfort Nociceptors: pain receptors Neuropathic pain: a complex and often chronic pain that arises when injury to one or more nerves results in repeated transmission of pain signals even in the absence of painful stimuli. Intractable pain: both chronic and highly resistant to relief. Visceral pain: caused by the stimulation of deep internal pain receptors. Often experienced in the abdominal cavity, cranium, or thorax. Somatic pain: originates in the ligaments, tendons, nerves, blood vessels, and bones. More diffuse than cutaneous pain and tends to last longer. Radiating pain: starts at the source but extends to other locations. Referred pain: occurs in an area that is distant from the original site. Phantom pain: pain that is perceived to originate from an area that has been surgically removed. Psychogenic pain: pain that is believed to arise from the mind. Acute pain: has a short duration and is generally rapid in onset. Varies in intensity and may last up to six months. Chronic pain: pain that has lasted six months or longer and often interferes with daily activities.

Pain threshold: the point at which the

Hypoventilation: reduced rate and depth of breathing that causes an increase in carbon dioxide.

brain recognizes and defines a stimulus as pain. Pain tolerance: the duration or intensity of pain that a person is willing to endure. Activity and Exercise Hypertrophy: an increase in the size of an organ or structure, or of the body owing to growth rather than tumor formation. This is based on an increase of cellular components.

Cyanosis: a blue, gray, slate, or dark purple discoloration of the skin or mucous membranes caused by deoxygenated or reduced hemoglobin in the blood. Found most often in hypoxemic patients. Rest and Sleep Rest: a condition in which the body is inactive or engaging in mild activity after which the person feels refreshed.

Nutrition Basal metabolic rate: the metabolic rate as measured 12 hours after eating; after a restful sleep, no exercise or activity preceding testing, elimination of emotional

Hypoxia: an oxygen deficiency in body tissues; decreased concentration of oxygen in inspired air.

excitement,

and

in

a

comfortable temperature. Albumin: one of a group of simple proteins widely distributed in plant and animal tissues; it is found in the blood as serum albumin. Oxygenation Upper airway: any or all of the airconducting passages of the respiratory system that extend to the larynx from the two external openings of the nose and from the lips through the mouth. Lower airway: The portion of the respiratory tract that extends from the subglottis through the terminal bronchioles. Hyperventilation: increased minute volume ventilation, which results in a lowered carbon dioxide level.

Sleep: a cyclically occurring state of decreased motor activity and perception. Biorhythms: “biological clocks” that are controlled within the body and synchronized with environmental factors. Circadian rhythm: a biorhythm based on the day-night pattern in a 24 hour cycle. Insomnia: inability to fall asleep, remain asleep, or go back to sleep. May be transient/short term (less than a month) or chronic (longer than a month). Sleep apnea: periodic lack of breathing during sleep. An absence of air flow through the nose or mouth for at least 10 seconds at a time. Sleep deprivation: a NANDA nursing diagnosis. It is not actually a sleep disorder, but rather a result of prolonged sleep disturbances.

Narcolepsy: a chronic disorder that

Somnambulism: (sleepwalking) occurs

causes uncontrollable episodes of

during stages III and IV of NREM sleep.

sleep during the day, even though the

The sleeper leaves the bed and walks

person sleeps well at night.

about with little awareness of

Characterized by sleepiness, slurred

surroundings.

speech, slackening of facial muscles,

Sedative: an agent that exerts a

paralysis, and hallucinations.

soothing or tranquilizing effect.

Parasomnia: patterns of waking

Hypnotic: an agent that causes

behavior that appear during sleep.

insensitivity to pain by inhibiting

Bruxism: grinding and clenching teeth

afferent impulses.

(usually occurs during stage II NREM sleep). Skin Integrity

rather to a decrease in the capacity of

Epidermis: the outermost layer of the

the bladder to hold urine.

skin.

Urinary hesitancy: difficulty in

Dermis: the layer of the skin lying

beginning the flow of urine; associated

immediately under the epidermis; the

with prostate enlargement in men and

true skin.

with narrowing of the urethral opening

Subcutaneous tissue: beneath the skin.

in women; may be caused by

Maceration: softening of the skin which

emotional stress in either men or

increases the likelihood of skin

women

breakdown.

Urinary incontinence: the unintentional

Urinary Elimination

loss of urine; inability to hold urine in

Anuria: absence of urine formation

the bladder due to loss of voluntary

Dysuria: painful or difficult urination,

control over the urinary sphincters

symptomatic of numerous conditions.

resulting in the involuntary passage of

Micturation: urination.

urine.

Polyuria: excessive urination; may be

Urinary retention: holding urine in the

caused by excessive dehydration,

urinary bladder.

kidney disease, diabetes.

Bacteriuria: the presence of bacteria in

Residual urine: the urine remaining in

the urine.

the bladder after urination.

Hematuria: blood in the urine; may be

Urinary frequency: urinating too often,

due to trauma, kidney stones,

at too frequent intervals, not due to an

infection, and menstruation.

unusually large volume of urine, but

Oliguria: urine output of less than 400 mL in 24 hours.

Voiding: the bodily process of discharging waste matter. Glucosuria: excretion of glucose in the urine, especially in elevated quantities; also called glycosuria. Nocturia: frequent urination after going to bed; may be caused by excessive fluid intake as well as a variety of urinary tract and cardiovascular problems. Proteinuria: the presence of protein in the urine; may be a sign of infection or kidney disease.