Glossary Terms S-Z (123.0K)

sacrum	A triangular-shaped bone that consists of five fused vertebra. (See page(s) 25)
sagittal	An anatomical term that refers to the plane that divides the body into left and right portions. (See page(s) 23)
salutation	A written greeting, such as “Dear,” used at the beginning of a letter. (See page(s) 7)
sanitization	A reduction of the number of microorganisms on an object or a surface to a fairly safe level. (See page(s) 19)
sarcolemma	The cell membrane of a muscle fiber. (See page(s) 26)
sarcoplasm	The cytoplasm of a muscle fiber. (See page(s) 26)
sarcoplasmic reticulum	The endoplasmic reticulum of a muscle fiber. (See page(s) 26)
SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome)	A severe and acute respiratory illness characterized by fever and a nonproductive cough that progresses to the point at which insufficient oxygen is present in the blood. (See page(s) 38)
saturated fat	Fats, derived primarily from animal sources, that are usually solid at room temperature and that tend to raise blood cholesterol levels. (See page(s) 49)
scabies	Skin lesions that are very itchy and caused by a burrowing mite. Scabies is most commonly found between the fingers and on the genitalia. (See page(s) 24)
scanner	An optical device that converts printed matter into a format that can be read by the computer and inputs the converted information. (See page(s) 6)
scapula	Thin, triangularshaped, flat bones located on the dorsal surface of the rib cage; also called shoulder blades. (See page(s) 25)
Schwann cell	A neuroglial cell whose cell membrane coats the axons. (See page(s) 27)
sciatica	Pain in the low back and hip radiating down the back of the leg along the sciatic nerve. (See page(s) 27)
sclera	The tough, outermost layer, or “white,” of the eye, through which light cannot pass; covers all except the front of the eye. (See page(s) 33)
scoliosis	A lateral curvature of the spine, which is normally straight when viewed from behind. (See page(s) 25)
scratch test	An allergy test in which extracts of suspected allergens are applied to the patient's skin and the skin is then scratched to allow the extracts to penetrate. (See page(s) 41)
screening	Performing a diagnostic test on a person who is typically free of symptoms. (See page(s) 14)
screen saver	A program that automatically changes the monitor display at short intervals or constantly shows moving images to prevent burn-in of images on the computer screen. (See page(s) 6)
scrotum	In a male, the sac of skin below the pelvic cavity that contains the testes. (See page(s) 35)
sebaceous	A type of oil gland found in the dermis. (See page(s) 24)
sebum	An oily substance produced by sebaceous glands. (See page(s) 24)
Security Rule	The technical safeguards that protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of health information covered by HIPAA. The Security Rule specifies how patient information is protected on computer networks, the Internet, disks, and other storage media. (See page(s) 3)
seizure	A series of violent and involuntary contractions of the muscles; also called a convulsion. (See page(s) 27)
sella turcica	A deep depression in the sphenoid bone where the pituitary gland sits. (See page(s) 25)
semen	Sperm and the various substances that nourish and transport them. (See page(s) 35)
semicircular canals	Structures in the inner ear that help a person maintain balance; each of the three canals is positioned at right angles to the other two. (See page(s) 33)
seminal vesicles	A pair of convoluted tubes that lie behind the bladder. These tubes secrete a fluid that provides nutrition for the sperm. (See page(s) 35)
seminiferous tubules	These tubes contain spermatogenic cells and are located in the lobules of the testes. (See page(s) 35)
sensorineural hearing loss	This type of hearing loss occurs when neural structures associated with the ear are damaged. Neural structures include hearing receptors and the auditory nerve. (See page(s) 33)
sensory	Afferent neurons that carry sensory information from the periphery to the central nervous system. (See page(s) 27)
sensory adaptation	A process in which the same chemical can stimulate receptors only for a limited amount of time until the receptors eventually no longer respond to the chemical. (See page(s) 33)
septic shock	A state of shock resulting from massive, widespread infection that affects the blood vessels' ability to circulate blood. (See page(s) 44)
sequential order	One after another in a predictable pattern or sequence. (See page(s) 10)
serosa	The outermost layer of the alimentary canal; also known as the visceral peritoneum. (See page(s) 31)
serous cells	One of two types of cells that make up the salivary glands. These cells secrete a watery fluid that contains amylase. (See page(s) 31)
serum	The clear, yellow liquid that remains after a blood clot forms; it is separated from the clotted elements by centrifugation. (See page(s) 48)
service contract	A contract that covers services for equipment that are not included in a standard maintenance contract. (See page(s) 5)
sex chromosome	Chromosome of the 23rd pair. (See page(s) 23)
sex-linked trait	Traits that are carried on the sex chromosomes, or X and Y chromosomes. (See page(s) 23)
sigmoid colon	An S-shaped tube that lies between the descending colon and the rectum.
sigmoidoscopy	A procedure in which the interior of the sigmoid area of the large intestine, between the descending colon and the rectum, is examined with a sigmoidoscope, a lighted instrument with a magnifying lens. (See page(s) 41)
sign	An objective or external factor, such as blood pressure, rash, or swelling, that can be seen or felt by the physician or measured by an instrument. (See page(s) 9)
simplified letter style	A modification of the full-block style in which the salutation and complimentary closing are omitted and a subject line typed in all capital letters is placed between the address and the body of the letter. (See page(s) 7)
single-entry account	An account that has only one charge, usually for a small amount, for a patient who does not come in regularly. (See page(s) 17)
sinoatrial node	A small bundle of heart muscle tissue in the superior wall of the right atrium that sets the rhythm (or pattern) of the heart's contractions; also called sinus node or pacemaker. (See page(s) 28)
sinusitis	Inflammation of the lining of a sinus. (See page(s) 30)
skinfold test	A method of measuring fat as a percentage of body weight by measuring the thickness of a fold of skin with a caliper. (See page(s) 49)
slit lamp	An instrument composed of a magnifying lens combined with a light source; used to provide a minute examination of the eye's anatomy. (See page(s) 41)
smear	A specimen spread thinly and unevenly across a slide. (See page(s) 46)
SOAP	An approach to medical records documentation that documents information in the following order:S (subjective data), O (objective data), A (assessment), P (plan of action). (See page(s) 9)
software	A program, or set of instructions, that tells a computer what to do. (See page(s) 6)
solution	A homogeneous mixture of a solid, liquid, or gaseous substance in a liquid, such as a dissolved drug in liquid form. (See page(s) 51)
somatic	A division of the peripheral nervous system that connects the central nervous system to skin and skeletal muscle. (See page(s) 27)
SPECT	Single photon emission computed tomography; a radiologic procedure in which a gamma camera detects signals induced by gamma radiation and a computer converts these signals into two- or threedimensional images that are displayed on a screen. (See page(s) 53)
speculum	An instrument that expands the vaginal opening to permit viewing of the vagina and cervix. (See page(s) 40)
spermatids	Immature sperm before they develop their flagella (tails). (See page(s) 35)
spermatocytes	The cells that result when spermatogonia undergo mitosis. (See page(s) 35)
spermatogenesis	The process of sperm cell formation. (See page(s) 35)
spermatogenic cells	The cells that give rise to sperm cells.
spermatogonia	The earliest cell in the process of spermatogenesis. (See page(s) 35)
sphenoid	A bone that forms part of the floor of the cranium. (See page(s) 25)
sphincter	A valve-like structure formed from circular bands of muscle. Sphincters are located around various body openings and passages. (See page(s) 26)
sphygmomanometer	An instrument for measuring blood pressure; consists of an inflatable cuff, a pressure bulb used to inflate the cuff, and a device to read the pressure. (See page(s) 37)
spinal nerves	Peripheral nerves that originate from the spinal cord. (See page(s) 27)
spirillum	A spiralshaped bacterium. (See page(s) 46)
spirometer	An instrument that measures the air taken in and expelled from the lungs. (See page(s) 52)
spirometry	A test used to measure breathing capacity. (See page(s) 52)
splint	A device used to immobilize and protect a body part. (See page(s) 44)
splinting catheter	A type of catheter inserted after plastic repair of the ureter; it must remain in place for at least a week after surgery. (See page(s) 47)
sprain	An injury characterized by partial tearing of a ligament that supports a joint, such as the ankle. A sprain may also involve injuries to tendons, muscles, and local blood vessels and contusions of the surrounding soft tissue. (See page(s) 44)
stain	In microbiology, a solution of a dye or group of dyes that impart a color to microorganisms. (See page(s) 46)
standard	A specimen for which test values are already known; used to calibrate test equipment. (See page(s) 45)
Standard Precautions	A combination of Universal Precautions and Body Substance Isolation guidelines; used in hospitals for the care of all patients. (See page(s) 19)
stapes	A small bone in the middle ear that is attached to the inner ear; also called the stirrup. (See page(s) 39)
statement	A form similar to an invoice; contains a courteous reminder to the patient that payment is due. (See page(s) 17)
statute of limitations	A state law that sets a time limit on when a collection suit on a past-due account can legally be filed. (See page(s) 17)
stereoscopy	An xray procedure that uses a specially designed microscope (stereoscopic, or Greenough, microscope) with double eyepieces and objectives to take films at different angles and produce threedimensional images; used primarily to study the skull. (See page(s) 53)
sterile field	An area free of microorganisms used as a work area during a surgical rocedure. (See page(s) 42)
sterile scrub assistant	An assistant who handles sterile equipment during a surgical procedure. (See page(s) 42)
sterilization	The destruction of all microorganisms, including bacterial spores, by specific means. (See page(s) 19)
sterilization indicator	A tag, insert, tape, tube, or strip that confirms that the items in an autoclave have been exposed to the correct volume of steam at the correct temperature for the correct amount of time. (See page(s) 20)
steroid hormone	A hormone derived from steroids that are soluble in lipids and can cross cell membranes very easily. (See page(s) 32)
sternum	A bone that forms the front and middle portion of the rib cage; also called the breastbone or breast plate. (See page(s) 25)
stethoscope	An instrument that amplifies body sounds. (See page(s) 37)
strabismus	A condition that results in a lack of parallel visual axes of the eyes; commonly called crossed eyes. (See page(s) 33)
strain	A muscle injury that results from overexertion or overstretching. (See page(s) 44)
stratum basale	The deepest layer of the epidermis of the skin. (See page(s) 24)
stratum corneum	The most superficial layer of the epidermis of the skin. (See page(s) 24)
stressor	Any stimulus that produces stress. (See page(s) 32)
stress test	A procedure that involves recording an electrocardiogram while the patient is exercising on a stationary bicycle, treadmill, or stair-stepping ergometer, which measures work performed. (See page(s) 41)
striations	Bands produced from the arrangement of filaments in myofibrils in skeletal and cardiac muscle cells. (See page(s) 26)
stroke	A condition that occurs when the blood supply to the brain is impaired. It may cause temporary or permanent damage. (See page(s) 44)
stylus	A penlike instrument that records electrical impulses on ECG paper. (See page(s) 52)
subarachnoid space	An area between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater. (See page(s) 27)
subclinical case	An infection in which the host experiences only some of the symptoms of the infection or milder symptoms than in a full case. (See page(s) 19)
subcutaneous (SC)	Under the skin. (See page(s) 24)
subjective	Pertaining to data that is obtained from conversation with a person or patient. (See page(s) 9)
sublingual	Under the tongue. (See page(s) 51)
sublingual gland	The smallest of the salivary glands. (See page(s) 31)
submandibular gland	The gland that is located in the floor of the mouth. (See page(s) 31)
submucosa	The layer of the alimentary canal located between the mucosa and the muscular layer. (See page(s) 31)
subpoena	A written court order that is addressed to a specific person and requires that person's presence in court on a specific date at a specific time. (See page(s) 3)
substance abuse	The use of a substance in a way that is not medically approved, such as using diet pills to stay awake or consuming large quantities of cough syrup that contains codeine. Substance abusers are not necessarily addicts. (See page(s) 36)
sucrose	An enzyme that digests sugars. (See page(s) 31)
sulci	The grooves on the surface of the cerebrum. (See page(s) 27)
superbill	A form that combines the charges for services rendered, an invoice for payment or insurance co-payment, and all the information for submitting an insurance claim. (See page(s) 17)
superficial	Anatomical term meaning closer to the surface of the body. (See page(s) 23)
superior	Anatomical term meaning above or closer to the head; also called cranial. (See page(s) 23)
supernatant	The liquid portion of a substance from which solids have settled to the bottom, as with a urine specimen after centrifugation. (See page(s) 47)
supination	Turning the palm of the hand upward. (See page(s) 26)
surgeon	A physician who uses hands and medical instruments to diagnose and correct deformities and treat external and internal injuries or disease. (See page(s) 2)
surgical asepsis	The elimination of all microorganisms from objects or working areas; also called sterile technique. (See page(s) 42)
susceptible host	An individual who has little or no immunity to infection by a particular organism. (See page(s) 19)
suture	Fibrous joints in the skull. A surgical stitch made to close a wound. (See page(s) 25,42)
symmetry	The degree to which one side of the body is the same as the other. (See page(s) 38)
sympathetic	A division of the autonomic nervous system that prepares organs for fight-or-flight (stressful) situations. (See page(s) 27)
symptom	A subjective, or internal, condition felt by a patient, such as pain, headache, or nausea, or another indication that generally cannot be seen or felt by the doctor or measured by instruments. (See page(s) 9)
synaptic knob	The end of the axon branch. (See page(s) 27)
synergist	Muscles that help the prime mover by stabilizing points. (See page(s) 26)
synovial	A type of joint,such as the elbow or knee, that is freely moveable. (See page(s) 25)
systemic circuit	The route that blood takes from the heart through the body and back to the heart. (See page(s) 28)
systolic pressure	The blood pressure measured when the left ventricle of the heart contracts. (See page(s) 28)
tab	A tapered rectangular or rounded extension at the top of a file folder. (See page(s) 10)
Tabular List	One of two ways that diagnoses are listed in the ICD-9. In the Tabular List, the diagnosis codes are listed in numerical order with additional instructions. (See page(s) 16)
tachycardia	Rapid heart rate, generally in excess of 100 beats per minute. (See page(s) 44)
tachypnea	Abnormally rapid breathing. (See page(s) 37)
targeted résumé	A résumé that is focused on a specific job target. (See page(s) 54)
tarsals	Bones of the ankle. (See page(s) 25)
taste bud	A structure that is made of taste cells (a type of chemoreceptor) and supporting cells. (See page(s) 33)
tax liability	Money withheld from employees' paychecks and held in a separate account that must be used to pay taxes to appropriate government agencies. (See page(s) 18)
telephone triage	A process of determining the level of urgency of each incoming telephone call and how it should be handled. (See page(s) 11)
teletherapy	A radiation therapy technique that allows deeper penetration than brachytherapy; used primarily for deep tumors. (See page(s) 53)
teletype (TTY) device	A specially designed telephone that looks very much like a laptop computer with a cradle for the receiver of a traditional telephone. It is used by the hearing impaired to type communications onto a keyboard. (See page(s) 13)
template	A guide that ensures consistency and accuracy. (See page(s) 7)
temporal	Bones that form the lower sides of the skull. (See page(s) 25)
tendon	A cordlike fibrous tissue that connects muscle to bone. (See page(s) 26)
terminal	Fatal. (See page(s) 21)
testes	The primary organs of the male reproductive system. Testes produce the hormone testosterone. (See page(s) 35)
testosterone	A hormone produced by the testes that maintains the male reproductive structures and male characteristics such as deep voice, body hair, and muscle mass. (See page(s) 32)
tetanus	A disease caused by clostridium tetani living in the soil and water; more commonly called lockjaw. thalamus (th¢al´ -m s) Structure that acts as a relay station for sensory information heading to the cerebral cortex for interpretation; a subdivision of the diencephalon. (See page(s) 26)
therapeutic team	A group of physicians, nurses, medical assistants, and other specialists who work with patients dealing with chronic illness or recovery from major injuries. (See page(s) 43)
thermography	A radiologic procedure in which an infrared camera is used to take photographs that record variations in skin temperature as dark (cool areas),light (warm areas), or shades of gray (areas with temperatures between cool and warm); used to diagnose breast tumors, breast abscesses, and fibrocystic breast disease. (See page(s) 53)
thermotherapy	The application of heat to the body to treat a disorder or injury. (See page(s) 43)
third-party check	A check made out to one recipient and given in payment to another, as with one made out to a patient rather than the medical practice. (See page(s) 18)
third-party payer	A health plan that agrees to carry the risk of paying for patient services. (See page(s) 15)
thrombocytes	See platelets. (See page(s) 48)
thrombophlebitis	Amedical condition that most commonly occurs in leg veins when a blood clot and inflammation develop. (28) (See page(s) 28)
thrombus	A blood clot that forms on the inside of an injured blood vessel wall. (See page(s) 28)
thymosin	A hormone that promotes the production of certain lymphocytes. (See page(s) 32)
thymus gland	A gland that lies between the lungs. It secretes a hormone called thymosin. (See page(s) 32)
thyroid cartilage	The largest cartilage in the larynx. It forms the anterior wall of the larynx. (See page(s) 30)
thyroid hormone	A hormone produced by the thyroid gland that increases energy production, stimulates protein synthesis, and speeds up the repair of damaged tissue. (See page(s) 32)
thyroid stimulating hormone	A hormone that stimulates the thyroid gland to release its hormone. (See page(s) 32)
tibia	The medial bone of the lower leg; commonly called the shin bone. (See page(s) 25)
tickler file	A reminder file for keeping track of time-sensitive obligations. (See page(s) 10)
timed urine specimen	A specimen of a patient's urine collected over a specific time period. (See page(s) 47)
time-specified scheduling	A system of scheduling where patients arrive at regular, specified intervals, assuring the practice a steady stream of patients throughout the day. (See page(s) 12)
tinnitus	An abnormal ringing in the ear. (See page(s) 33)
tissue	A structure that is formed when cells of the same type organize together. (See page(s) 23)
T lymphocyte	A type of nongranular leukocyte that regulates immunologic response; includes helper T cells and suppressor T cells. (See page(s) 48)
topical	Applied to the skin. (See page(s) 42)
tort	In civil law, a breach of some obligation that causes harm or injury to someone. (See page(s) 3)
tower case	A vertical housing for the system unit of a personal computer. (See page(s) 6)
toxicology	The study of poisons or poisonous effects of drugs. (See page(s) 50)
trachea	The part of the respiratory tract between the larynx and the bronchial tree that is tubular and made of rings of cartilage and smooth muscle; also called the windpipe. (See page(s) 30)
tracking	(financial) Watching for changes in spending so as to help control expenses. (See page(s) 18)
traction	The pulling or stretching of the musculoskeletal system to treat dislocated joints, joints afflicted by arthritis or other diseases, and fractured bones. (See page(s) 43)
trade name	A drug's brand or proprietary name. (See page(s) 50)
transcription	The transforming of spoken notes into accurate written form. (See page(s) 9)
transcutaneous absorption	Entry (as of a pathogen) through a cut or crack in the skin. (See page(s) 22)
transdermal	A type of topical drug administration that slowly and evenly releases a systemic drug through the skin directly into the bloodstream; a transdermal unit is also called a patch. (See page(s) 51)
transfer	To give something, such as information, to another party outside the doctor's office. (See page(s) 9)
transverse	Anatomical term that refers to the plane that divides the body into superior and inferior portions. (See page(s) 23)
transverse colon	The segment of the large intestine that crosses the upper abdominal cavity between the ascending and descending colon. (See page(s) 31)
traveler's check	A check purchased and signed at a bank and later signed over to a payee. (See page(s) 18)
treatment, payments and operations (TPO)	The portion of HIPAA that allows the provider to use and share patient health-care information for treatment, payment, and operations (such as quality improvement). (See page(s) 3)
triage	To assess the urgency and types of conditions patients present as well as their immediate medical needs. (See page(s) 2)
TRICARE	A program that provides health-care benefits for families of military personnel and military retirees. (See page(s) 15)
trichinosis	A disease caused by a worm that is usually ingested from undercooked meat. (See page(s) 26)
tricuspid valve	A heart valve that has three cusps and is situated between the right atrium and the right ventricle. (See page(s) 28)
triglycerides	Simple lipids consisting of glycerol (an alcohol) and three fatty acids. (See page(s) 49)
trigone	The triangle formed by the openings of the two ureters and the urethra in the internal floor of the bladder. (See page(s) 34)
troubleshooting	Trying to determine and correct a problem without having to call a service supplier. (See page(s) 5)
trypsin	A pancreatic enzyme that digests proteins. (See page(s) 31)
tubular reabsorption	The second process of urine formation in which the glomerular filtrate flows into the proximal convoluted tubule. (See page(s) 34)
tubular secretion	The third process of urine formation in which substances move out of the blood in the peritubular capillaries into renal tubules. (See page(s) 34)
tutorial	A small program included in a software pakage designed to give users an overall picture of the product and its functions. (See page(s) 6)
tympanic membrane	A fibrous partition located at the inner end of the ear canal and separating the outer ear from the middle ear; also called the eardrum. (See page(s) 33)
tympanic thermometer	A type of electronic thermometer that measures infrared energy emitted from the tympanic membrane. (See page(s) 37)
ulna	The medial bone of the lower arm. (See page(s) 25)
ultrasonic cleaning	A method of sanitization that involves placing instruments in a cleaning solution in a special receptacle that generates sound waves through the cleaning solution, loosening contaminants. Ultrasonic cleaning is safe for even very fragile nstruments. (See page(s) 20)
ultrasound	The noninvasive therapeutic or diagnostic use of ultrasound for examination of internal body structures. (See page(s) 53)
umbilical cord	The rope-like connection between the fetus and the placenta. It contains the umbilical blood vessels. (See page(s) 35)
underbooking	Leaving large, unused gaps in the doctor's schedule; this approach does not make the best use of the doctor's time. (See page(s) 12)
uniform donor card	A legal document that states a person's wish to make a gift upon death of one or more organs for medical research, organ transplants, or placement in a tissue bank. (See page(s) 3)
unit price	The total price of a package divided by the number of items that comprise the package. (See page(s) 8)
Universal Precautions	Specific precautions required by the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prevent health-care workers from exposing themselves and others to infection by blood-borne pathogens. (See page(s) 19)
unsaturated fats	Fats, including most vegetable oils, that are usually liquid at room temperature and tend to lower blood cholesterol. (See page(s) 49)
urea	Waste product formed by the breakdown of proteins and nucleic acids. (See page(s) 34)
ureters	Long, slender, muscular tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder. (See page(s) 34)
urethra	The tube that conveys urine from the bladder during urination. (See page(s) 34)
uric acid	Waste product formed by the breakdown of proteins and nucleic acids. (See page(s) 34)
urinalysis	The physical,chemical, and microscopic evaluation of urine to obtain information about body health and disease. (See page(s) 47)
urinary catheter	A sterile plastic tube inserted to provide urinary drainage. (See page(s) 47)
urinary pH	A measure of the degree of acidity or alkalinity of urine. (See page(s) 47)
urine specific gravity	A measure of the concentration or amount (total weight) of substances dissolved in urine. (See page(s) 47)
urobilinogen	A colorless compound formed by the breakdown of hemoglobin in the intestines. Elevated levels in urine may indicate increased red blood cell destruction or liver disease, whereas lack of urobilinogen in the urine may suggest total bile duct obstruction. (See page(s) 47)
urologist	A specialist who diagnoses and treats diseases of the kidney, bladder, and urinary system. (See page(s) 2)
use	The sharing, employing, applying, utilizing, examining, or analyzing of individually identifiable health information by employees or other members of an organization's workforce. (See page(s) 3)
uterus	A hollow, muscular organ that functions to receive an embryo and sustain its development; also called the womb. (See page(s) 35)
uvula	The part of the soft palate that hangs down in the back of the throat. (See page(s) 31)
vaccine	A special preparation made from microorganisms and administered to a person to produce reduced sensitivity to, or increased immunity to, an infectious disease. (See page(s) 50)
vagina	A tubular organ that extends from the uterus to the labia. (See page(s) 35)
vaginitis	Inflammation of the vagina characterized by an abnormal vaginal discharge. (See page(s) 35)
varicose veins	Distended veins that result when vein valves are destroyed and blood pools in the veins, causing these veins to dilate. (See page(s) 28)
vas deferens	A tube that connects the epididymis with the urethra and that carries sperm. (See page(s) 35)
vasectomy	A male sterilization procedure in which a section of each vas deferens is removed. (See page(s) 41)
vasoconstriction	The constriction of the muscular wall of an artery to increase blood pressure. (See page(s) 28)
vasodilation	The widening of the muscular wall of an artery to decrease blood pressure. (See page(s) 28)
V code	A code used to identify encounters for reasons other than illness or injury, such as annual checkups, immunizations, and normal childbirth. (See page(s) 16)
vector	A living organism, such as an insect, that carries microorganisms from an infected person to another person. (See page(s) 19)
venipuncture	The puncture of a vein, usually with a needle, for the purpose of drawing blood. (See page(s) 48)
ventilation	Moving air in and out of the lungs; also called breathing. (See page(s) 30)
ventral	See anterior. (See page(s) 23)
ventral root	A portion of the spinal nerve that contains axons of motor neurons only. (See page(s) 27)
ventricle	Interconnected cavities in the brain filled with cerebrospinal fluid. (See page(s) 27)
ventricular fibrillation	An abnormal heart rhythm that is the most common cause of cardiac arrest. (See page(s) 44)
verbalizing	Stating what you believe the patient is suggesting or implying. (See page(s) 36)
vermiform appendix	A structure made mostly of lymphoid tissue and projecting off the cecum. It is commonly referred to as simply the appendix. (See page(s) 31)
vertical file	A filing cabinet featuring pull-out drawers that usually contain a metal frame or bar equipped to handle letter- or legal-sized documents in hanging file folders. (See page(s) 10)
vesicles	Small sacs within the synaptic knobs that contain chemicals called neurotransmitters. (See page(s) 27)
vestibular glands	Glands that secrete mucus into the vestibule of the female during sexual excitement. (See page(s) 35)
vestibule	The area in the inner ear between the semicircular canals and the cochlea. (See page(s) 33)
vial	A small glass bottle with a self-sealing rubber stopper. (See page(s) 42)
vibrio	A comma-shaped bacterium. (See page(s) 46)
virulence	A microorganism's disease-producing power. (See page(s) 19)
virus	One of the smallest known infectious agents, consisting only of nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat; can live and grow only within the living cells of other organisms. (See page(s) 46)
visceral pericardium	The innermost layer of the pericardium that lies directly on top of the heart; also known as the epicardium. (See page(s) 28)
visceral smooth muscle	A type of smooth muscle containing sheets of muscle that closely contact each other. It is found in the walls of hollow organs such as the stomach, intestines, bladder, and uterus. (See page(s) 26)
vitamins	Organic substances that are essential for normal body growth and maintenance and resistance to infection. (See page(s) 49)
vitreous humor	A jellylike substance that fills the part of the eye behind the lens and helps the eye keep its shape. (See page(s) 33)
voice mail	An advanced form of answering machine that allows a caller to leave a message when the phone line is busy. (See page(s) 5)
void	(legal) A term used to describe something that is not legally enforceable. (See page(s) 3)
volume	The amount of space an object, such as a drug, occupies. (See page(s) 51)
vomer	A thin bone that divides the nasal cavity. (See page(s) 25)
voucher check	A business check with an attached stub, which is kept as a receipt. (See page(s) 18)
walk-in	A patient who arrives without an appointment. (See page(s) 12)
warranty	A contract that specifies free service and replacement of parts for a piece of equipment during a certain period, usually a year. (See page(s) 5)
warts	Flesh-colored skin lesions with distinct round borders that are raised and often have small fingerlike projections; also called verruca. (See page(s) 24)
wave scheduling	A system of scheduling in which the number of patients seen each hour is determined by dividing the hour by the length of the average visit and then giving that number of patients appointments with the doctor at the beginning of each hour. (See page(s) 12)
Western blot test	A blood test used to confirm enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test results for HIV infection. (See page(s) 21)
wet mount	A preparation of a specimen in a liquid that allows the organisms to remain alive and mobile while they are being identified. (See page(s) 46)
white matter	The outer tissue of the spinal cord that is lighter in color than gray matter.It contains myelinated axons. (See page(s) 27)
whole blood	The total volume of plasma and formed elements, or blood in which the elements have not been separated by coagulation or centrifugation. (See page(s) 48)
whole-body skin examination	An examination of the visible top layer of the entire surface of the skin, including the scalp, genital area, and areas between the toes, to look for lesions, especially suspicious moles or precancerous growths. (See page(s) 41)
Wood's light examination	A type of dermatologic examination in which a physician inspects the patient's skin under an ultraviolet lamp in a darkened room. (See page(s) 41)
written-contract account	An agreement between the physician and patient stating that the patient will pay a bill in more than four installments. (See page(s) 17)
X12 837 Health Care Claim	An electronic claim transaction that is the HIPAA Health Care Claim or Equivalent Encounter Information (“HIPAA claim”). (See page(s) 15)
xeroradiography	A radiologic procedure in which xrays are developed with a powder toner, similar to the toner in photocopiers, and the x-ray image is processed on specially treated xerographic paper; used to diagnose breast cancer, abscesses, lesions, or calcifications. (See page(s) 53)
xiphoid process	The lower extension of the breastbone. (See page(s) 44)
yeast	A fungus that grows mainly as a single-celled organism and reproduces by budding. (See page(s) 46)
yolk sac	The sac that holds the materials for the nutrition of the embryo. (See page(s) 35)
zona pellucida	A layer that surrounds the cell membrane of an egg. (See page(s) 35)
zygomatic	The bones that form the prominence of the cheeks. (See page(s) 25)
zygote	The cell that is formed from the union of the egg and sperm. (See page(s) 35)
Z-track method	A technique used when injecting an intramuscular (IM) drug that can irritate subcutaneous tissue; involves pulling the skin and subcutaneous tissue to the side before inserting the needle at the site, creating a zigzag path in the tissue layers that prevents the drug from leaking into the subcutaneous tissue and causing irritation. (See page(s) 51)