QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (LATEST
2025 UPDATE)
blood gases - Answer-the gases present in the blood that are a result of use of oxygen
and production of carbon dioxide during metabolism; the blood is analyzed for evidence
of deviations (acidosis or alkalosis) from normal levels
blood urea nitrogen (BUN) - Answer-a measurement of urea nitrogen (a substance
formed during protein breakdown) in the serum or plasma; an elevated level of this may
indicate impaired renal function
breech - Answer-buttocks
bronchoscopy - Answer-examination of the bronchial tree with a bronchoscope to obtain
a biopsy, remove an obstruction, or diagnose a disease
bruit - Answer-an abnormal sound heard in auscultation
cachexia - Answer-a profound and marked wasting disorder, usually associated with
malnutrition and such diseases as cancer and tuberculosis
calculus - Answer-a stone usually composed of mineral salts (e.g. kidney stones and
gallstones) or calcified deposits on the teeth
carcinogen - Answer-a substance that produces cancer or that causes transformation of
a normal cell to a cancerous one
cardiac sphincter - Answer-the circular muscle at the opening of the esophagus into the
stomach
cardiomegaly - Answer-enlargement of the heart
cardiomyopathy - Answer-a defect of the heart muscle
cast - Answer-a negative mold or copy formed in a hollow organ or part; a urinary cast is
a small structure formed within the urinary system from mineral or protein matter and
extruded from the body in urine
cataract - Answer-a progressive disease in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy,
impairing vision or causing blindness
,catatonic posturing - Answer-a state of not being able to move, with the assumption of a
rigid, often bizarre posture
cautery - Answer-an instrument or chemical that destroys tissue as a therapeutic
measure
cellulitis - Answer-an acute, diffuse, spreading infection of the skin and subcutaneous
tissue
centromere - Answer-the constricted area of a chromosome
cephalgia - Answer-pain in the head; headache
cephalic - Answer-referring to the head; cranial
cerclage - Answer-encircling of the cervix with a metal ring or suture ring to treat
cervical incompetence during pregnancy to help prevent spontaneous abortion
chancre - Answer-a type of skin lesion usually associated with primary syphilis
cheilectomy - Answer-surgical removal of abnormal bone around a joint; also refers to
surgical removal of a lip
cholangiogram - Answer-a diagnostic radiographic study of the gallbladder and bile
ducts
cholecystogram - Answer-a diagnostic radiographic study of the gallbladder
cholinergic - Answer-an agent that produces the effect of acetylcholine at the
connections of the muscles and nerves
chorea - Answer-the ceaseless occurrence of involuntary muscular movements of the
limbs or facial muscles
chromosome - Answer-structures in the nucleus of a cell that function in the
transmission of genetic information
cicatricial - Answer-refers to a scar or the nature of a scar
circadian rhythm - Answer-the biologic clock in humans; the rhythmic repetition of
certain phenomena, such as hunger, fatigue, and changes in blood pressure, that tend
to fluctuate within a 24-hour period
circumoral cyanosis - Answer-a bluish discoloration around the mouth
,clean-catch urine specimen - Answer-a urine specimen obtained by cleaning the
genitalia and then capturing a midstream urine sample for laboratory analysis
clonic - Answer-pertaining to increased reflex activity
closed reduction - Answer-the nonsurgical manipulative reduction of a dislocation or
fracture
cognitive - Answer-pertaining to the mental processes of thinking, knowing,
remembering, and perceiving
collateral - Answer-a small side branch of a blood vessel or nerve
colporrhaphy - Answer-suturing of the vagina
colposcopy - Answer-examination of the vagina and cervix with an optical magnifying
instrument frequently associated with biopsy of the cervix
comedo - Answer-a blackhead, as seen in acne
commissurotomy - Answer-surgical incision of component parts at the sites of junction
between adjacent cusps of the heart valves to increase the size of the opening
comorbid - Answer-two or more existing medical conditions
computed tomography (CT) - Answer-a diagnostic technique using ionizing x-rays
passed through a patient around specific sections of the body at multiple angles; useful
in the detection of tumors
continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) - Answer-a form of respiratory therapy in
which ventilation is assisted by a flow of oxygen delivered at a constant pressure
throughout the respiratory cycle
contracture - Answer-immobility of muscles or a joint caused by shortening or wasting of
tissue or muscle fibers
controlled drug - Answer-a drug regulated by the Federal Controlled Substance Act
corneal ulcer - Answer-ulcerative keratitis
corticotrophin/adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) - Answer-a hormone secreted by
the anterior lobe of the pituitary
cortisol - Answer-major natural glucocorticoid synthesized in the adrenal cortex
, craniotomy - Answer-incision into the skull, usually to relieve pressure, to remove a
lesion, or to control bleeding
creatinine - Answer-an important nitrogen compound that is a normal constituent of
urine and blood; increased levels may indicate renal damage
crede maneuver method - Answer-manual external compression of the bladder to aid in
expulsion of urine
cryoablation - Answer-the removal of tissue by destroying it with extreme cold
cryotherapy - Answer-the therapeutic use of cold
cryptorchidism - Answer-failure of one or both testicles to descent into the scrotum
cul-de-sac - Answer-an area at the end of the abdominal cavity that is midway between
the rectum and the uterus
curettage - Answer-the removal of growths or other material from the wall of a cavity or
other surface
cyanosis - Answer-bluish appearance of the skin and mucous membrane that usually
indicates reduced hemoglobin levels in the blood
cytology - Answer-the scientific study of cells
cytoreduction - Answer-a decrease in the number of cells (such as in a tumor)
débride - Answer-remove foreign material or dead tissue in a wound
deficit - Answer-a deficiency from what is normal
delusion - Answer-a fixed false belief
demise - Answer-destruction or death
dermatome - Answer-a configured zone of skin innervated by a spinal cord segment
dialysate - Answer-the fluid that passes through a semipermeable membrane during
dialysis
dialysis - Answer-a procedure that filters out unwanted substances from the blood,
usually in cases of renal failure
diaphoresis - Answer-profuse perspiration