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Nutrition for Nurses

Key Terms

Nutrition for NursesKey Terms

Key Terms

absorption
the taking in of broken-down substances into the cells
Bitot’s spots
oval or triangular patches on the conjunctiva of built-up keratin
chyme
gastric juices and digested food particles
digestion
the process by which the body breaks down what is ingested into absorbable substances
icterus
another word for jaundice, a yellowish pigmentation of the skin
ingestion
the taking in of substances into the body through swallowing or transdermal absorption
koilonychia
soft nails with a concave indentation, making them appear “scooped out”
mastication
digestion of food using mostly mechanical and some chemical processes
metabolism
the chemical processes in the body that convert absorbed substances to energy
xanthelasmas
yellow plaques on or near the eyelids
xanthomas
localized lipid deposits
xeroderma
dry skin
xerosis
extreme dryness of skin or tissue; in corneal xerosis, the cornea may appear hazy
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