Key Terms
- ampule
- a glass container that holds a single dose of liquid medication
- aspiration
- pulling back on the plunger to assess for blood return prior to injecting a medication
- bevel
- sharp, angled tip of the needle
- buccal
- placed between the gum and cheek
- caplet
- solid, compressed powder or granules
- capsule
- a powder or granules contained in a gelatin shell
- compatibility
- the capability of administering two or more medications together without the two interacting with one another
- diluent
- the liquid used to dilute a powdered medication into a liquid form
- elixir
- a liquid form of a medication that contains added sugars, flavors, and alcohol
- emulsion
- a solution that contains a medication, water, and oil mixture
- enteric-coated tablet
- a tablet covered in a substance that delays the medication from dissolving
- gauge
- the diameter of the hole in a needle
- gelcap
- a soft gelatin shell with a liquid medication inside
- injector device
- a spring-loaded syringe that delivers a single, preloaded dose of a medication when the device is firmly pressed against the body
- intradermal (ID)
- a medication route that injects the medication into the dermis
- intramuscular (IM)
- a medication route that injects the medication into a muscle
- intrathecal
- a medication route that injects the medication into the subarachnoid space around the spinal cord
- intravenous (IV)
- a medication route that injects the medication into a vein
- lipoatrophy
- the selective loss of subcutaneous fat without exudative reaction or fibrosis
- lipohypertrophy
- a lump of fatty tissue under the skin caused by repeated injections in the same place
- lozenge
- a medication with a candy base
- Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST)
- a skin test used to diagnose latent TB
- needle
- a hollow metal tube with a sharp pointed tip, called a bevel, and a hub that attaches the needle to the syringe or a needleless system
- needleless system
- a system that allows parenteral medications to be administered without the use of a needle
- parenteral
- a medication route that bypasses the gastrointestinal (GI) system, eliminating the effects of first-pass metabolism when they are digested in the GI tract
- powder
- fine particles created from grinding a solid
- prefilled syringe
- a disposable syringe that is supplied with the necessary amount of the medication to be injected in a single dose
- reconstitute
- to add a liquid to a powdered medication to form a solution
- subcutaneous (SQ)
- a medication route that injects the medication into the adipose tissue
- sublingual
- placed under the tongue
- suspension
- undissolved medication particles that are mixed with a liquid agent
- syringe
- a sterile device that consists of a calibrated, cylinder-shaped barrel with a sliding plunger at one end and an open tip that attaches to a needle at the other end
- syrup
- a liquid form of a medication that contains added sugars and flavors
- tablet
- a compressed powder that has been formed into a solid, which disintegrates with body warmth and may be absorbed into the bloodstream
- time-released
- slow release of a medication for prolonged action
- vial
- a plastic or glass container with a rubber stopper on top that contains a liquid medication
- wheal
- a visible induration (elevation) of the skin
- Z-track method
- a method of IM medication administration that helps prevent the medication from leaking into the subcutaneous tissue