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Medical-Surgical Nursing

Key Terms

Medical-Surgical NursingKey Terms

Key Terms

arteriovenous fistula
surgical joining of an artery and a vein in the arm to be used for performing hemodialysis on a long-term basis
chancre
painless sore associated with a syphilis infection that develops where the organism entered the body
chronic kidney disease
long-standing kidney dysfunction lasting longer than three months
continuous bladder irrigation (CBI)
procedure in which a three-way urinary catheter is used to constantly irrigate the bladder and allow for adequate urinary drainage
cryptorchidism
undescended testicles in an adult man
dialysis
use of a dialyzer machine to filter the blood and remove toxins when kidney function is decreased
digital rectal exam (DRE)
assessment conducted by a provider noting the size, shape, and regularity of a prostate
ectopic pregnancy
pregnancy occurring somewhere in the reproductive tract other than the uterus (most often in a fallopian tube)
ejaculation
release of sperm from the penis
endometriosis
condition resulting in growth of uterine tissue in areas located outside of the uterus, resulting in severe pain and possible infertility
erectile dysfunction
condition in which the male individual cannot maintain a full erection of the penis for sexual intercourse
genital vesicle
painful, fluid-filled sac on the genitals
genitourinary system
encompasses the organs of both the reproductive and urinary systems
hematuria
blood in the urine
histology
study of the microanatomy of cell and tissue types
infertility
inability to conceive despite frequent and unprotected sexual intercourse for at least a year
lymphedema
swelling that occurs to the affected limb from the same side of the breast cancer
menstruation
process of a discharge of blood and other materials from the uterus through the vagina as part of the female menstrual cycle that lasts from puberty to menopause
nephropathy
problems with kidney vasculature
nocturia
increased urinary frequency experienced during nighttime hours
nulliparity
having no children
oliguria
decreased urine output (typically less than 30 mL/h)
orchiectomy
surgical removal of the testicle(s)
ovulation
release of an egg from one of the ovaries
pelvic inflammatory disease
disease that surfaces in the pelvic unit after untreated STIs
prophylactic mastectomy
complete removal of breast tissue prior to a cancer diagnosis
radiation proctitis
inflammation of the rectum lining, which can result in diarrhea and rectal leakage
sexually transmitted infection (STI)
infection that is transmitted through close sexual contact
spermatogenesis
production of sperm in the testes
testicular torsion
occurs when the spermatic cord, the supplier of blood to the testicles, becomes twisted
total mastectomy
complete removal of breast tissue
urinary hesitancy
difficulty starting urinary stream
uterine fibroid
another name for uterine leiomyoma
uterine leiomyoma
most common benign tumor affecting women
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