MATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH NURSING-
CARE OF THE CHILDBEARING &
CHILDREARING FAMILY, 7TH EDITION –
GLOSSARY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
UPDATED 2024 - 2025
A,,ANS,-,,
abortion:,,ANS,-,,any,interruption,of,a,pregnancy,before,the,fetus,is,viable,(a,stage,of,development,that
will,enable,the,fetus,to,survive,outside,the,uterus,if,born,at,that,time)
absorption:,,ANS,-,,transfer,of,a,drug,from,its,point,of,entry,in,the,body,into,the,bloodstream
abstinence:,,ANS,-,,refraining,from,sexual,intercourse
abstract,thought:,,ANS,-,,final,stage,in,cognitive,thought,processes;,allows,problem,solving,and
creating,hypotheses
accommodation:,,ANS,-,,adjustment,of,the,eye,to,focus,on,a,close,image,(ophthalmology);,the,ability,to
adapt,thought,processes,to,fit,what,is,perceived,(Piaget)
acculturation:,,ANS,-,,the,process,of,losing,cultural,beliefs,and,values,to,those,of,a,dominant,society
acrocyanosis:,,ANS,-,,cyanosis,(blue,color),in,the,feet,and,hands
acute,bilirubin,encephalopathy:,permanent,damage,of,brain,cells,caused,when,high,levels
(about,20,mg-100,ml),of,indirect,bilirubin,leave,the,bloodstream,and,interfere,with,the,chemical
synthesis,of,brain,cells
,acute,pain:,,ANS,-,,sharp,pain,,generally,occurring,abruptly,after,an,injury
acyanotic,heart,disease:,heart,or,circulatory,anomalies,that,involve,either,a,stricture,to,the,flow
of,blood,or,a,shunt,that,moves,blood,from,the,arterial,to,the,venous,system,(oxygenated,to
unoxygenated,blood,,or,left-to-right,shunts)
adolescence:,,ANS,-,,the,time,period,between,13,years,and,18,to,20,years
adrenarche:,,ANS,-,,pubic,and,axillary,hair,that,occur,with,puberty
adventitious,sounds:,extra,or,abnormal,breathing,sounds
affective,learning:,learning,that,involves,a,change,in,attitude
afterload:,,ANS,-,,the,resistance,against,which,the,cardiac,ventricles,must,pump
afterpains:,,ANS,-,,intermittent,cramping,due,to,uterine,contraction,during,involution,in,the,postpartal
period
age,of,viability:,,ANS,-,,the,earliest,age,at,which,fetuses,could,survive,if,they,were,born,at,that,time;
generally,accepted,as,24,weeks,,or,fetuses,weighing,more,than,400,g
alleles:,,ANS,-,,two,like,genes
allergen:,,ANS,-,,antigen,that,causes,the,release,of,mediating,substances,causing,tissue,injury,and
allergic,symptoms
allogeneic,transplantation:,,ANS,-,,transfer,of,body,tissues,from,an,immune-compatible
(histocompatible),donor
allografting:,,ANS,-,,transfer,of,body,tissue,between,two,genetically,dissimilar,individuals
,Alport's,syndrome:,,ANS,-,,a,progressive,chronic,glomerulonephritis,inherited,as,an,autosomal
dominant,disorder
alternative,birthing,center:,,ANS,-,,a,setting,for,birth,separate,from,a,hospital
alternative,insemination:,,ANS,-,,assistive,reproductive,technique,,in,which,sperm,is,deposited,into,a
woman's,cervix,or,uterus
amblyopia:,,ANS,-,,reduced,vision,in,one,eye;,―lazy,eye‖
amenorrhea:,,ANS,-,,absence,of,a,menstrual,flow
amniocentesis:,,ANS,-,,the,withdrawal,of,amniotic,fluid,from,the,uterus,by,means,of,introduction,of,a
needle,through,the,abdominal,and,uterine,wall
amnioinfusion:,,ANS,-,,enlarging,the,amount,of,amniotic,fluid,by,administration,of,normal,saline,or
lactated,Ringer's,solution,intravaginally,into,the,uterus
amniotic,fluid,embolism:,,ANS,-,,condition,in,which,amniotic,fluid,is,forced,into,maternal,circulation
and,travels,to,the,lungs,as,small,emboli
amniotic,membrane:,,ANS,-,,the,innermost,membrane,surrounding,the,fetus;,it,secretes,amniotic,fluid
amniotomy:,,ANS,-,,artificial,rupturing,of,membranes,during,labor,if,they,do,not,rupture,spontaneously
analgesia:,,ANS,-,,a,medication,that,reduces,or,decreases,awareness,of,pain
anaphylaxis:,,ANS,-,,acute,hypersensitivity,(type,I),reaction,characterized,by,extreme,vasodilation,that
leads,to,circulatory,shock,and,extreme,bronchoconstriction,that,decreases,the,airway,lumens
, andrology:,,ANS,-,,the,branch,of,medicine,that,treats,the,male,and,diseases,specific,to,the,male,sex
anesthesia:,,ANS,-,,a,medication,that,causes,partial,or,complete,loss,of,sensation
anhedonia:,,ANS,-,,inability,to,remember,the,last,time,when,a,person,felt,happy,or,had,a,good,time
ankle,clonus:,,ANS,-,,continued,motion,of,the,foot
ankyloglossia:,,ANS,-,,an,abnormal,restriction,of,the,tongue,caused,by,an,abnormally,tight,frenulum
anovulation:,,ANS,-,,faulty,or,inadequate,release,of,ova
anoxia:,,ANS,-,,lack,of,oxygen,in,body,cells
anteflexion:,,ANS,-,,a,uterus,that,is,bent,forward,just,above,the,cervix
anteversion:,,ANS,-,,a,uterus,that,is,tipped,abnormally,forward,including,the,cervix
anticipatory,grief:,,ANS,-,,preparatory,phase,in,which,people,gradually,incorporate,the,reality,of
impending,death,into,their,thoughts
antigen:,,ANS,-,,any,foreign,substance,(molecule),capable,of,stimulating,an,immune,response
antiphospholipid,antibodies:,antibodies,that,attack,phospholipids,,often,associated,with,an
autoimmune,disorder
antitoxins:,,ANS,-,,antibodies,against,toxin-producing,bacteria
apnea:,,ANS,-,,pause,in,respirations,longer,than,20,seconds,with,accompanying,bradycardia
CARE OF THE CHILDBEARING &
CHILDREARING FAMILY, 7TH EDITION –
GLOSSARY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
UPDATED 2024 - 2025
A,,ANS,-,,
abortion:,,ANS,-,,any,interruption,of,a,pregnancy,before,the,fetus,is,viable,(a,stage,of,development,that
will,enable,the,fetus,to,survive,outside,the,uterus,if,born,at,that,time)
absorption:,,ANS,-,,transfer,of,a,drug,from,its,point,of,entry,in,the,body,into,the,bloodstream
abstinence:,,ANS,-,,refraining,from,sexual,intercourse
abstract,thought:,,ANS,-,,final,stage,in,cognitive,thought,processes;,allows,problem,solving,and
creating,hypotheses
accommodation:,,ANS,-,,adjustment,of,the,eye,to,focus,on,a,close,image,(ophthalmology);,the,ability,to
adapt,thought,processes,to,fit,what,is,perceived,(Piaget)
acculturation:,,ANS,-,,the,process,of,losing,cultural,beliefs,and,values,to,those,of,a,dominant,society
acrocyanosis:,,ANS,-,,cyanosis,(blue,color),in,the,feet,and,hands
acute,bilirubin,encephalopathy:,permanent,damage,of,brain,cells,caused,when,high,levels
(about,20,mg-100,ml),of,indirect,bilirubin,leave,the,bloodstream,and,interfere,with,the,chemical
synthesis,of,brain,cells
,acute,pain:,,ANS,-,,sharp,pain,,generally,occurring,abruptly,after,an,injury
acyanotic,heart,disease:,heart,or,circulatory,anomalies,that,involve,either,a,stricture,to,the,flow
of,blood,or,a,shunt,that,moves,blood,from,the,arterial,to,the,venous,system,(oxygenated,to
unoxygenated,blood,,or,left-to-right,shunts)
adolescence:,,ANS,-,,the,time,period,between,13,years,and,18,to,20,years
adrenarche:,,ANS,-,,pubic,and,axillary,hair,that,occur,with,puberty
adventitious,sounds:,extra,or,abnormal,breathing,sounds
affective,learning:,learning,that,involves,a,change,in,attitude
afterload:,,ANS,-,,the,resistance,against,which,the,cardiac,ventricles,must,pump
afterpains:,,ANS,-,,intermittent,cramping,due,to,uterine,contraction,during,involution,in,the,postpartal
period
age,of,viability:,,ANS,-,,the,earliest,age,at,which,fetuses,could,survive,if,they,were,born,at,that,time;
generally,accepted,as,24,weeks,,or,fetuses,weighing,more,than,400,g
alleles:,,ANS,-,,two,like,genes
allergen:,,ANS,-,,antigen,that,causes,the,release,of,mediating,substances,causing,tissue,injury,and
allergic,symptoms
allogeneic,transplantation:,,ANS,-,,transfer,of,body,tissues,from,an,immune-compatible
(histocompatible),donor
allografting:,,ANS,-,,transfer,of,body,tissue,between,two,genetically,dissimilar,individuals
,Alport's,syndrome:,,ANS,-,,a,progressive,chronic,glomerulonephritis,inherited,as,an,autosomal
dominant,disorder
alternative,birthing,center:,,ANS,-,,a,setting,for,birth,separate,from,a,hospital
alternative,insemination:,,ANS,-,,assistive,reproductive,technique,,in,which,sperm,is,deposited,into,a
woman's,cervix,or,uterus
amblyopia:,,ANS,-,,reduced,vision,in,one,eye;,―lazy,eye‖
amenorrhea:,,ANS,-,,absence,of,a,menstrual,flow
amniocentesis:,,ANS,-,,the,withdrawal,of,amniotic,fluid,from,the,uterus,by,means,of,introduction,of,a
needle,through,the,abdominal,and,uterine,wall
amnioinfusion:,,ANS,-,,enlarging,the,amount,of,amniotic,fluid,by,administration,of,normal,saline,or
lactated,Ringer's,solution,intravaginally,into,the,uterus
amniotic,fluid,embolism:,,ANS,-,,condition,in,which,amniotic,fluid,is,forced,into,maternal,circulation
and,travels,to,the,lungs,as,small,emboli
amniotic,membrane:,,ANS,-,,the,innermost,membrane,surrounding,the,fetus;,it,secretes,amniotic,fluid
amniotomy:,,ANS,-,,artificial,rupturing,of,membranes,during,labor,if,they,do,not,rupture,spontaneously
analgesia:,,ANS,-,,a,medication,that,reduces,or,decreases,awareness,of,pain
anaphylaxis:,,ANS,-,,acute,hypersensitivity,(type,I),reaction,characterized,by,extreme,vasodilation,that
leads,to,circulatory,shock,and,extreme,bronchoconstriction,that,decreases,the,airway,lumens
, andrology:,,ANS,-,,the,branch,of,medicine,that,treats,the,male,and,diseases,specific,to,the,male,sex
anesthesia:,,ANS,-,,a,medication,that,causes,partial,or,complete,loss,of,sensation
anhedonia:,,ANS,-,,inability,to,remember,the,last,time,when,a,person,felt,happy,or,had,a,good,time
ankle,clonus:,,ANS,-,,continued,motion,of,the,foot
ankyloglossia:,,ANS,-,,an,abnormal,restriction,of,the,tongue,caused,by,an,abnormally,tight,frenulum
anovulation:,,ANS,-,,faulty,or,inadequate,release,of,ova
anoxia:,,ANS,-,,lack,of,oxygen,in,body,cells
anteflexion:,,ANS,-,,a,uterus,that,is,bent,forward,just,above,the,cervix
anteversion:,,ANS,-,,a,uterus,that,is,tipped,abnormally,forward,including,the,cervix
anticipatory,grief:,,ANS,-,,preparatory,phase,in,which,people,gradually,incorporate,the,reality,of
impending,death,into,their,thoughts
antigen:,,ANS,-,,any,foreign,substance,(molecule),capable,of,stimulating,an,immune,response
antiphospholipid,antibodies:,antibodies,that,attack,phospholipids,,often,associated,with,an
autoimmune,disorder
antitoxins:,,ANS,-,,antibodies,against,toxin-producing,bacteria
apnea:,,ANS,-,,pause,in,respirations,longer,than,20,seconds,with,accompanying,bradycardia
