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Medical-Surgical Nursing

Key Terms

Medical-Surgical NursingKey Terms

Key Terms

alopecia
abnormal hair loss
arthrocentesis
joint aspiration
arthroplasty
joint replacement
autoantibody
antibody that attacks its own body cells
autoimmune disorder
condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells
bone spur
bony projection that develops along bone edges
bursitis
inflammation of the bursa
compartment syndrome
condition caused by increased pressure within an area of tissue and resulting in muscle and nerve damage
contusion
bruising
dystrophin
protein involved in maintaining muscle strength and function
external fixation
internal placement of screws on either side of a fracture by drilling pins into the bone and then connecting them to an external brace or bracket
fasciotomy
incision into the skin and fascia to relieve pressure
fracture
break in bone structure
internal fixation
placement of metal pieces into the bone to help it heal as it grows back together
kyphosis
excessive curvature of the upper spine
lymphadenopathy
swelling of the lymph nodes
mobility
ability of a patient to change and control their body position
muscular dystrophy (MD)
rare genetic disorder that causes progressive muscle weakness over time
nephritis
inflammation of the nephrons of the kidneys
osteoarthritis (OA)
degenerative joint disease disorder that involves the wearing down of joint cartilage and tissue over time
osteoclast
cell that breaks down bones
osteopenia
decrease in bone mineral density
osteoporosis bone
disease caused by a significant decrease in bone density and mass
pericarditis
inflammation of the pericardial sac around the heart
pleuritis
inflammation of the pleural tissue around the lungs
Raynaud’s syndrome
condition that occurs when the fingers become pale when exposed to cold or stress states
resorption
breakdown and reabsorption over time of small amounts of minerals from the bone
rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation of the synovial joints in the body
scoliosis
abnormally curved spine
splenomegaly
enlargement of the spleen
systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
autoimmune disorder that results in widespread inflammation and tissue damage
tendinitis
inflammation of a tendon from overuse
vasculitis
inflammation of the blood vessels
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