Unified Clinical Glossary

121 terms · Med-Surg

Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT)

A blood test measuring how long clot formation takes through selected coagulation pathways. It is used in some unfractionated heparin monitoring protocols; it is not a universal monitoring test for every anticoagulant.

Med-SurgVenous thromboembolism: treatment distinction

Course connection: MS Day 10 anticoagulation monitoring.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Partial thromboplastin time test

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

A group of conditions caused by an acute reduction in blood flow to the heart muscle, including unstable angina and myocardial infarction. The umbrella term signals an urgent problem while evaluation determines whether heart muscle injury has occurred.

Med-SurgCoronary perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 7 explicit exemplar and its subtypes.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Acute coronary syndrome

Afterload

The load the ventricle must overcome to eject blood. Greater arterial pressure or outflow resistance can increase the heart's work and reduce effective forward flow.

Med-SurgHeart failure

Course connection: MS Day 9 pumping mechanics.

Reference: Merck Manual: Overview of heart failure

Anemia

A hemoglobin concentration below the appropriate reference range, reducing the blood's ability to carry oxygen. It can result from blood loss, inadequate red-cell production, or accelerated red-cell destruction; it is not synonymous with iron deficiency.

Med-SurgOBRed blood cells and oxygen transport

Course connection: MS Day 5 anemia mechanisms and OB fetal/newborn anemia.

Reference: Hemoglobin test — MedlinePlus

Ankle-brachial index (ABI)

A comparison of systolic blood pressure at the ankle with systolic pressure in the arm. It helps identify reduced arterial flow to the leg; the result must be interpreted in context rather than used as a complete diagnosis alone.

Med-SurgPeripheral perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 8 PAD diagnostic assessment.

Reference: NHLBI: Peripheral artery disease diagnosis

Anticoagulant

A medicine that reduces the blood's ability to form clots. It helps prevent new clots and enlargement of existing clots, but does not directly dissolve an established clot.

Med-SurgVenous thromboembolism: treatment distinction

Course connection: MS Day 10, evaluating VTE treatment.

Antiplatelet medicine

A medicine that reduces platelets' ability to stick together and form a plug. It helps reduce certain arterial clots and acts differently from medicines that mainly inhibit the coagulation cascade.

Med-SurgCoronary perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 7 coronary treatment comparison.

Appendicitis

Inflammation of the appendix, the small pouch attached to the large intestine. If it progresses to rupture, infection can spread within the abdomen, so worsening findings require timely evaluation.

Med-SurgGI inflammation

Course connection: MS Day 12 exemplar.

Reference: Definition and facts for appendicitis — NIDDK

Arterial blood gas (ABG)

A blood test taken from an artery that helps assess oxygenation, carbon dioxide removal, and acid-base balance. Reading pH together with carbon dioxide and bicarbonate helps identify the process disturbing the balance.

Med-SurgAcid-base balance

Course connection: MS Day 2, interpreting diagnostic data.

Arterial ulcer

An open wound caused by inadequate arterial blood supply to tissue. Poor oxygen delivery makes healing difficult and distinguishes the underlying problem from venous pressure-related ulceration.

Med-SurgPeripheral perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 8 PAD-versus-CVI manifestations.

Reference: NHLBI: Peripheral artery disease symptoms

Aspiration, pulmonary

Entry of food, liquid, saliva, or stomach contents into the airway and lungs. It can obstruct airflow or injure lung tissue and helps explain why airway protection and preoperative preparation matter.

Med-SurgPerioperative care

Course connection: MS Day 6 perioperative respiratory safety.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Aspiration

Atelectasis

Collapse or incomplete expansion of lung air sacs, reducing ventilation in the affected area. After surgery, shallow breathing and retained secretions can contribute to this problem.

Med-SurgPerioperative care

Course connection: MS Day 6 postoperative respiratory complications.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Atelectasis

Atherosclerosis

The buildup of fatty, inflammatory plaque within artery walls. Plaque can narrow blood flow, and rupture or erosion of a plaque can trigger a clot that suddenly reduces blood supply.

Med-SurgCoronary perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 7, mechanism of coronary artery disease.

Bicarbonate (HCO3−)

A base that helps buffer acids in body fluids. In ABG interpretation, bicarbonate represents an important metabolic component of acid-base balance, with the kidneys playing a major role in its regulation.

Med-SurgAcid-base balance

Course connection: MS Day 2 ABG interpretation.

Bilirubin

A pigment formed mainly when hemoglobin from old red cells is broken down. The liver normally processes it for elimination in bile; increased production or impaired processing or excretion can raise its level.

Med-SurgOBBilirubin and jaundice

Course connection: MS hepatitis and hemolytic anemia; OB newborn jaundice.

Reference: Merck Manual: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

Cardiac output (CO)

The volume of blood one ventricle pumps per minute, calculated as heart rate multiplied by stroke volume. A fast pulse does not guarantee adequate output if too little blood is ejected with each beat.

Med-SurgHeart failure

Course connection: MS Day 9 perfusion and chamber function.

Reference: Merck Manual: Overview of heart failure

Cellulitis

A bacterial infection of the deeper skin layers and underlying tissue. The affected area can become warm, tender, swollen, and red or otherwise discolored; spreading findings may indicate progression.

Med-SurgInfection

Course connection: MS Day 11 explicit skin/soft tissue exemplar.

Reference: CDC: About cellulitis

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)

A long-term problem with venous return that allows blood and pressure to build up in the legs. This can cause swelling, skin changes, and venous ulcers, even though the main problem is blood returning to the heart rather than arterial blood reaching the leg.

Med-SurgPeripheral perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 8 exemplar and comparison with PAD.

Colonization

The presence of a microorganism on or in the body without it causing an active infection. A colonized person may still carry and transmit the organism, so infection prevention and treatment decisions address different questions.

Med-SurgInfection

Course connection: MS Day 11 MRSA/MDRO interpretation.

Compensation, acid-base

The body's response to a primary acid-base disturbance: the lungs change carbon dioxide removal or the kidneys change acid and bicarbonate handling to move pH toward normal. A normal pH does not prove the underlying problem has resolved or exclude a mixed disorder.

Med-SurgAcid-base balance

Course connection: MS Day 2, explaining ABG patterns.

Reference: Overview of acid-base balance — Merck Manual

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

Surgery that uses another blood vessel to create a route around a narrowed or blocked coronary artery. The graft supplies blood beyond the blockage to improve heart muscle perfusion.

Med-SurgCoronary perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 7 treatment of impaired coronary perfusion.

Reference: NHLBI: Heart treatments

Coronary artery disease (CAD)

Disease of the arteries supplying the heart muscle, most commonly caused by atherosclerotic plaque. Reduced coronary blood flow can leave the heart muscle without enough oxygen, particularly when its workload rises.

Med-SurgCoronary perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 7 exemplar.

COVID-19

The illness caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It can range from no symptoms to severe disease; respiratory inflammation may impair gas exchange, and increasing breathing effort or oxygen needs can signal deterioration.

Med-SurgInfection

Course connection: MS Day 11 instructor Canvas focus.

D-dimer

A fragment produced when cross-linked fibrin in a clot is broken down. A raised result can occur for many reasons and does not confirm DVT or PE by itself.

Med-SurgVenous thromboembolism: treatment distinction

Course connection: MS Day 10 diagnostic meaning and clot breakdown.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

A blood clot in a deep vein, usually in the leg or pelvis. It may cause swelling, warmth, and pain, but can also be less obvious; part of the clot can break off and travel to the lungs.

Med-SurgOBVenous clots

Course connection: MS Day 10 exemplar; OB Day 8 postpartum DVT.

Reference: Venous thromboembolism — NHLBI

Delayed emergence

Slower-than-expected awakening after anesthesia. Prolonged medicine effects are one possible cause, but the patient's breathing, circulation, and neurologic status still need assessment.

Med-SurgPerioperative care

Course connection: MS Day 6 postoperative consciousness assessment.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)

A serious metabolic complication in which too little effective insulin leads to increased fat breakdown and accumulation of acidic ketones. Dehydration and electrolyte losses accompany the acidosis; it occurs most often with type 1 diabetes but can occur with type 2 diabetes.

Med-SurgDiabetes

Course connection: MS Days 3–4, acute diabetes complications.

Echocardiogram (echo)

An ultrasound examination of the heart. It shows structures and movement, including valves, chamber function, and estimates of ejection fraction.

Med-SurgHeart failure

Course connection: MS Day 9 diagnostic assessment.

Edema

Swelling caused by excess fluid in the tissues. It can result from increased vessel pressure, fluid retention, inflammation, or reduced proteins that normally help retain fluid in the bloodstream.

Med-SurgOBPerfusion, bleeding, and infection

Course connection: MS HF/CVI and OB pregnancy/postpartum assessment.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Edema

Ejection fraction (EF)

The percentage of a ventricle's filled blood volume ejected with each contraction, usually referring to the left ventricle. It describes a fraction per beat rather than the total amount of blood pumped per minute.

Med-SurgHeart failure

Course connection: MS Day 9 HFrEF-versus-HFpEF distinction.

Reference: NHLBI: Heart failure diagnosis

Electrocardiogram (ECG; EKG)

A recording of the heart's electrical activity. It helps evaluate rhythm and patterns that may suggest ischemia or injury; it does not directly measure coronary blood flow.

Med-SurgCoronary perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 7 assessment and diagnostic interpretation.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Electrocardiogram

Emergence delirium

An acute period of confusion, agitation, or disorientation while recovering from anesthesia. Hypoxemia, pain, and other reversible problems can contribute, so restlessness requires assessment of its cause.

Med-SurgPerioperative care

Course connection: MS Day 6 immediate postoperative complications.

Ferritin

A protein that stores iron. A blood ferritin result helps assess iron reserves and is useful when investigating iron-deficiency anemia, although inflammation and other conditions can affect interpretation.

Med-SurgAnemias

Course connection: MS Day 5 diagnostic meaning in iron-deficiency anemia.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Ferritin blood test

Folate-deficiency anemia (folic acid deficiency anemia)

Anemia caused by insufficient folate, a vitamin needed to make DNA for developing red blood cells. Cells do not mature normally, producing a megaloblastic pattern; the characteristic neurologic injury of vitamin B12 deficiency is not a typical feature.

Med-SurgAnemias

Course connection: MS Day 5 exemplar and comparison with pernicious anemia.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)

A condition in which repeated backward flow of stomach contents into the esophagus causes troublesome symptoms or injury. The lower esophageal sphincter normally limits this backflow; impaired closure can expose the esophagus to irritating stomach contents.

Med-SurgGI inflammation

Course connection: MS Day 12 exemplar.

Glucagon

A pancreatic hormone that raises blood glucose by promoting release of stored glucose from the liver. Its effect helps maintain glucose availability between meals and opposes some of insulin's glucose-lowering effects.

Med-SurgDiabetes

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 normal glucose metabolism.

Glycogen

The storage form of glucose, found especially in the liver and skeletal muscle. Liver glycogen can be broken down to help supply glucose when blood glucose falls.

Med-SurgDiabetes

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 food-to-fuel physiology.

Heart failure (HF; congestive heart failure, CHF)

A clinical syndrome in which abnormal heart filling or pumping prevents adequate circulation or requires abnormally high pressures to maintain it. Blood and fluid can back up into the lungs or systemic circulation, while organs may receive too little effective blood flow.

Med-SurgHeart failure

Course connection: MS Day 9 exemplar.

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)

Heart failure in which the proportion of blood ejected by the left ventricle remains preserved, but filling is often impaired because the ventricle does not relax normally. A preserved ejection fraction therefore does not mean that heart function or filling pressures are normal.

Med-SurgHeart failure

Course connection: MS Day 9, filling-versus-contraction distinction.

Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)

Heart failure in which the left ventricle ejects a reduced proportion of its blood with each beat, usually because contraction is weakened. Less effective forward flow and increased filling pressures can produce both poor perfusion and congestion.

Med-SurgHeart failure

Course connection: MS Day 9, filling-versus-contraction distinction.

Hematocrit (Hct)

The proportion of whole blood made up of red blood cells. It helps assess anemia, but changes in plasma volume can also change the result.

Med-SurgAnemias

Course connection: MS Day 5 anemia diagnostic data.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Complete blood count

Hemoglobin (Hgb; Hb)

The iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low hemoglobin concentration can reduce the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity even when the oxygen saturation percentage is normal.

Med-SurgOBRed blood cells and oxygen transport

Course connection: MS Day 5 oxygen-transport objective; OB Day 10 fetal/newborn anemia and hemolytic disorders.

Reference: Hemoglobin test — MedlinePlus

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c; A1C)

A blood test measuring the proportion of hemoglobin with glucose attached, which reflects average glucose over roughly the previous three months. It helps assess longer-term glucose control rather than showing the glucose level at one moment.

Med-SurgDiabetes

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 diagnostic data and evaluation of treatment.

Reference: NIDDK: The A1C test and diabetes

Hemolysis

Breakdown of red blood cells, releasing their contents before or at the end of their lifespan. Excessive hemolysis can contribute to anemia and increase the bilirubin load produced as hemoglobin is broken down.

Med-SurgOBRed blood cells and oxygen transport

Course connection: MS Day 5 hemolytic anemia; OB Day 4 HELLP and Day 10 hemolytic disorders.

Reference: Preeclampsia and eclampsia condition information — NICHD

Hemolytic anemia

Anemia that develops when red blood cells are destroyed faster than the bone marrow can replace them. Causes differ, so recognizing increased destruction is only the beginning of identifying the underlying disorder.

Med-SurgAnemias

Course connection: MS Day 5 exemplar; related newborn hemolysis is addressed in shared concepts.

Hemorrhage

Bleeding that may occur externally or within the body. Substantial or ongoing blood loss can reduce circulating volume and oxygen delivery, leading to shock; visible blood does not always reveal the full amount lost.

Med-SurgOBPerfusion, bleeding, and infection

Course connection: MS perioperative care and OB pregnancy/postpartum hemorrhage.

Reference: Postpartum hemorrhage — Merck Manual Professional

Hepatitis A (HAV infection)

Liver inflammation caused by hepatitis A virus, usually spread through ingestion of virus from contaminated food, water, or close contact. It causes an acute infection and does not become chronic.

Med-SurgGI inflammation

Course connection: MS Day 12 named hepatitis exemplar.

Reference: CDC: Clinical overview of viral hepatitis

Hepatitis B (HBV infection)

Liver inflammation caused by hepatitis B virus, transmitted through infected blood or certain body fluids, including during birth. Infection may clear or become chronic; vaccination can prevent infection.

Med-SurgGI inflammation

Course connection: MS Day 12 named hepatitis exemplar.

Reference: CDC: Clinical overview of viral hepatitis

Hepatitis C (HCV infection)

Liver inflammation caused by hepatitis C virus, most commonly acquired through exposure to infected blood. It frequently becomes chronic, but current antiviral treatment can cure infection; there is no vaccine.

Med-SurgGI inflammation

Course connection: MS Day 12 named hepatitis exemplar.

Reference: CDC: Clinical overview of viral hepatitis

Hepatitis D (HDV infection)

Liver infection caused by hepatitis D virus in a person who also has hepatitis B virus. The viruses may be acquired together or HDV may be acquired later, and the combination can cause more severe liver disease.

Med-SurgGI inflammation

Course connection: MS Day 12 named hepatitis exemplar.

Reference: CDC: About hepatitis D

Hepatitis E (HEV infection)

Liver inflammation caused by hepatitis E virus, often acquired from fecally contaminated water or contaminated undercooked meat. It is usually acute, but chronic infection can occur in some immunocompromised people; pregnancy increases the risk of severe outcomes.

Med-SurgGI inflammation

Course connection: MS Day 12 named hepatitis exemplar.

Reference: CDC: About hepatitis E

Hypercalcemia

An abnormally high calcium concentration in blood. It can reduce neuromuscular activity and cause constipation, weakness, confusion, or kidney stones; the calcium result must be interpreted with the laboratory's method and the patient's condition.

Med-SurgElectrolyte balance

Course connection: MS Day 1, calcium excess exemplar.

Hyperchloremia

An abnormally high chloride concentration in blood. It can accompany fluid loss or certain metabolic acid-base disturbances, so sodium, bicarbonate, and fluid findings help explain its significance.

Med-SurgElectrolyte balance

Course connection: MS Day 1 chloride excess and Day 2 acid-base interpretation.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Chloride blood test

Hyperglycemia

Blood glucose above the expected range for the person's situation. When sufficiently high, glucose draws water into the urine and can contribute to increased urination, thirst, and dehydration; diagnostic and treatment thresholds depend on the clinical context.

Med-SurgOBGlucose regulation

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 glucose objectives; OB Day 4 maternal diabetes.

Reference: Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome — MedlinePlus

Hyperkalemia

An abnormally high potassium concentration in blood. It can interfere with cardiac electrical conduction and muscle function, potentially causing dangerous dysrhythmias even when other symptoms are limited.

Med-SurgElectrolyte balance

Course connection: MS Day 1 potassium excess exemplar.

Hypermagnesemia

An abnormally high magnesium concentration in blood. Increasing levels can suppress reflexes, breathing, and cardiovascular function, especially when the kidneys cannot remove magnesium adequately.

Med-SurgElectrolyte balance

Course connection: MS Day 1 magnesium excess exemplar.

Hypernatremia

An abnormally high sodium concentration in blood, indicating too little water relative to sodium. Water shifts out of cells, and neurologic changes may occur; the patient is not necessarily fluid overloaded.

Med-SurgElectrolyte balance

Course connection: MS Day 1 sodium excess exemplar.

Reference: Sodium blood test — MedlinePlus

Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS)

A severe diabetes complication involving marked hyperglycemia, increased blood concentration, and profound dehydration, usually with little or no significant ketoacidosis. Water loss can cause altered consciousness; this is an emergency distinct from DKA.

Med-SurgDiabetes

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 acute hyperglycemia mechanisms and comparison with DKA.

Reference: Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome — MedlinePlus

Hyperphosphatemia

An abnormally high phosphate concentration in blood. Reduced kidney excretion is one cause; associated changes in calcium can contribute to neuromuscular symptoms.

Med-SurgElectrolyte balance

Course connection: MS Day 1 phosphorus excess exemplar.

Hypocalcemia

An abnormally low calcium concentration in blood. A low biologically active calcium level can increase nerve and muscle excitability, producing tingling, spasms, or severe complications such as seizures.

Med-SurgElectrolyte balance

Course connection: MS Day 1 calcium deficit exemplar.

Hypochloremia

An abnormally low chloride concentration in blood. It may accompany vomiting, other fluid changes, or metabolic alkalosis; the result needs interpretation with the other electrolytes and the clinical situation.

Med-SurgElectrolyte balance

Course connection: MS Day 1 chloride deficit and Day 2 acid-base interpretation.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Chloride blood test

Hypoglycemia

Blood glucose low enough to threaten normal body function. It can produce sweating, shakiness, or confusion in adults, while newborn signs can be less specific; severe or prolonged deficiency can injure the brain.

Med-SurgOBGlucose regulation

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 glucose objectives; OB Day 10 newborn hypoglycemia.

Reference: Low blood sugar in newborns — MedlinePlus

Hypokalemia

An abnormally low potassium concentration in blood. It can cause weakness, reduced intestinal activity, and dangerous changes in heart rhythm; losses from the body and shifts into cells are different possible mechanisms.

Med-SurgElectrolyte balance

Course connection: MS Day 1 potassium deficit exemplar.

Hypomagnesemia

An abnormally low magnesium concentration in blood. It can increase neuromuscular irritability and contribute to seizures or dysrhythmias, making magnesium relevant when evaluating other electrolyte abnormalities.

Med-SurgElectrolyte balance

Course connection: MS Day 1 magnesium deficit exemplar.

Hyponatremia

An abnormally low sodium concentration in blood, reflecting too much water relative to sodium. It can follow sodium loss or water retention, and significant changes can disturb brain function; a low sodium level alone does not establish low circulating volume.

Med-SurgElectrolyte balance

Course connection: MS Day 1 sodium deficit exemplar.

Reference: Sodium blood test — MedlinePlus

Hypophosphatemia

An abnormally low phosphate concentration in blood. Severe deficiency can impair cellular energy use and weaken muscles, including those needed for breathing.

Med-SurgElectrolyte balance

Course connection: MS Day 1 phosphorus deficit exemplar.

Hypoproliferative anemia

Anemia resulting from inadequate red blood cell production. Nutrient deficiency or impaired bone marrow activity can cause this pattern, which differs from losing or destroying cells faster than they can be replaced.

Med-SurgAnemias

Course connection: MS Day 5 production-versus-destruction distinction.

Hypoxemia

An abnormally low level of oxygen in arterial blood. It can limit tissue oxygen delivery, but it differs from anemia, in which reduced hemoglobin can lower oxygen-carrying capacity even when arterial oxygen pressure is normal.

Med-SurgOBRed blood cells and oxygen transport

Course connection: MS ABG/postoperative respiratory assessment and OB newborn respiratory disorders.

Reference: NHLBI: Respiratory failure diagnosis

Hypoxia

An inadequate oxygen supply to body tissues. It may result from low blood oxygen, reduced oxygen-carrying capacity, or inadequate blood flow, so oxygenation and perfusion must both be considered.

Med-SurgOBRed blood cells and oxygen transport

Course connection: MS anemia/perfusion and OB fetal/newborn compromise.

Reference: NCI: Hypoxia definition

Influenza (flu)

A contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It often begins abruptly with respiratory symptoms and systemic symptoms such as body aches and fatigue, though not everyone has fever.

Med-SurgInfection

Course connection: MS Day 11 official and Canvas exemplar.

Reference: CDC: About influenza

Insulin

A hormone made by pancreatic beta cells that helps regulate blood glucose by supporting glucose use and storage. As a medication, it replaces or supplements the body's insulin when needed.

Med-SurgOBGlucose regulation

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 physiology and treatment; OB Day 4 diabetes in pregnancy.

Reference: Gestational diabetes — NIDDK

Insulin resistance

A reduced response of body cells to insulin. More insulin is needed to achieve the usual effect, and blood glucose rises when insulin supply cannot keep up with that need.

Med-SurgDiabetes

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 mechanism of type 2 diabetes.

Reference: Type 2 diabetes — NIDDK

Intermittent claudication

Muscle discomfort brought on by activity and relieved by rest because blood flow cannot meet the exercising muscle's needs. In PAD it often affects the calf, but location depends on which arteries are narrowed.

Med-SurgPeripheral perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 8 arterial perfusion assessment.

Reference: NHLBI: Peripheral artery disease symptoms

Intrinsic factor

A protein made in the stomach that is needed for normal vitamin B12 absorption. Loss of its function explains why adequate B12 intake alone may not prevent deficiency in pernicious anemia.

Med-SurgAnemias

Course connection: MS Day 5 pernicious anemia mechanism.

Reference: Pernicious anemia — MedlinePlus

Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA)

Anemia caused by too little iron to make adequate hemoglobin. Red blood cells often become smaller and carry less hemoglobin; blood loss, inadequate intake, and increased iron needs are possible causes.

Med-SurgAnemias

Course connection: MS Day 5 exemplar.

Jaundice (icterus)

Yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by bilirubin buildup. It is a finding with different causes, including increased red-cell breakdown and liver or bile-flow problems; its significance depends on the patient and timing.

Med-SurgOBBilirubin and jaundice

Course connection: MS hepatitis and OB newborn jaundice.

Reference: Merck Manual: Neonatal hyperbilirubinemia

Ketones

Substances produced when the body breaks down fat for energy. Excessive production during severe insulin deficiency can lead to an accumulation of acids, which is central to diabetic ketoacidosis.

Med-SurgDiabetes

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 DKA mechanism and assessment.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH)

A potentially fatal reaction to certain anesthetic medicines in a susceptible person, causing excessive muscle activity and rapidly increased metabolism. Muscle rigidity, rising carbon dioxide, and temperature elevation are important features requiring emergency treatment.

Med-SurgPerioperative care

Course connection: MS Day 6 anesthesia-related complication.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Malignant hyperthermia

Mean corpuscular volume (MCV)

The average size of red blood cells in a blood sample. A low, normal, or high MCV helps organize possible causes of anemia, but it does not identify the cause by itself.

Med-SurgAnemias

Course connection: MS Day 5, distinguishing anemia patterns.

Megaloblastic anemia

A pattern of anemia in which impaired DNA production causes developing red blood cells to mature abnormally. Vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies are important causes, and circulating red cells are often unusually large.

Med-SurgAnemias

Course connection: MS Day 5 exemplar family.

Reference: Vitamin B12-deficiency anemia — NHLBI

Metabolic acidosis

An acid-base disturbance caused by accumulating acid or losing bicarbonate, which pushes blood pH downward. Diabetic ketoacidosis, impaired kidney acid removal, and significant diarrhea are different ways this can occur.

Med-SurgAcid-base balance

Course connection: MS Day 2 exemplar and diabetes connection.

Metabolic alkalosis

An acid-base disturbance caused by losing acid or accumulating bicarbonate, which pushes blood pH upward. Loss of stomach acid through vomiting or gastric suction is one example.

Med-SurgAcid-base balance

Course connection: MS Day 2 exemplar.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

A type of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin and related antibiotics. A person may carry it without active illness or develop an infection; treatment depends on the infection site and which medicines remain effective.

Med-SurgInfection

Course connection: MS Day 11, official exemplar and instructor MDRO example.

Multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO)

A microorganism resistant to multiple antimicrobial medicines. Resistance can limit treatment options, but it does not mean that every drug will fail or that simply carrying the organism proves an active infection.

Med-SurgInfection

Course connection: MS Day 11 instructor Canvas focus.

Myocardial infarction (MI; heart attack)

Death of heart muscle cells from an inadequate blood and oxygen supply. It is a time-sensitive emergency because ongoing loss of blood flow causes further injury and can disrupt the heart's pumping or electrical function.

Med-SurgCoronary perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 7 exemplar.

Reference: Heart attack — NHLBI

Nitrate

A medicine class that relaxes blood vessels and can reduce the heart's workload and oxygen demand. Nitroglycerin is an example used for angina; the medication's purpose differs from dissolving a coronary clot.

Med-SurgCoronary perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 7 angina treatment mechanism.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Nitroglycerin sublingual

Orthopnea

Shortness of breath when lying flat that improves with sitting or standing. It is an important symptom to assess in heart failure because lying down can worsen pulmonary congestion.

Med-SurgHeart failure

Course connection: MS Day 9 heart failure findings.

Reference: NHLBI: Heart failure symptoms

Osmotic diuresis

Increased urine production because dissolved substances retain water in the kidney's filtering tubules. With severe hyperglycemia, glucose in urine draws water with it, contributing to dehydration and electrolyte loss.

Med-SurgDiabetes

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 mechanism linking hyperglycemia to fluid loss.

Reference: Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome — MedlinePlus

Pancreatitis

Inflammation of the pancreas. In acute pancreatitis, digestive enzymes become active within the pancreas and injure its tissue, which can produce local swelling and serious systemic effects.

Med-SurgGI inflammation

Course connection: MS Day 12 exemplar.

Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea (PND)

Episodes of breathlessness that awaken a person from sleep and improve after sitting up. In heart failure, this pattern can reflect worsening pulmonary congestion and differs from simply becoming short of breath immediately on lying down.

Med-SurgHeart failure

Course connection: MS Day 9 symptom assessment and deterioration.

Reference: Merck Manual: Chronic heart failure

Partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2)

The pressure exerted by carbon dioxide dissolved in arterial blood. It helps assess ventilation: retaining carbon dioxide promotes respiratory acidosis, while removing too much promotes respiratory alkalosis.

Med-SurgAcid-base balance

Course connection: MS Day 2 respiratory component of ABGs.

Partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2)

The pressure exerted by oxygen dissolved in arterial blood. It helps assess oxygenation and differs from the percentage of hemoglobin binding sites occupied by oxygen.

Med-SurgAcid-base balance

Course connection: MS Day 2 diagnostic interpretation and postoperative respiratory assessment.

Reference: NHLBI: Respiratory failure diagnosis

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI; coronary angioplasty)

A catheter-based procedure that opens a narrowed or blocked coronary artery, usually using a balloon and often a stent. Restoring blood flow can limit ongoing ischemic injury.

Med-SurgCoronary perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 7 coronary reperfusion treatment.

Reference: NHLBI: Heart treatments

Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

Narrowing or blockage of arteries supplying the limbs, commonly from atherosclerosis. Reduced oxygen delivery can cause exertional muscle pain and, when more severe, pain at rest, poor wound healing, or tissue loss.

Med-SurgPeripheral perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 8 exemplar.

Pernicious anemia

A form of vitamin B12-deficiency anemia caused by an autoimmune process that interferes with intrinsic factor, the stomach protein needed for normal B12 absorption. It is a specific cause of B12 deficiency, rather than a name for every B12 deficiency; nerve problems may occur as well as anemia.

Med-SurgAnemias

Course connection: MS Day 5 exemplar and distinction from folate deficiency.

Reference: Vitamin B12-deficiency anemia — NHLBI

pH

A measure of how acidic or alkaline a solution is, related to its hydrogen ion concentration. A lower blood pH indicates greater acidity; interpreting pH together with carbon dioxide and bicarbonate helps identify the disturbance.

Med-SurgAcid-base balance

Course connection: MS Day 2 acid-base objectives.

Platelets (thrombocytes)

Small blood cell fragments that collect at a damaged vessel to help form an initial plug. They work with clotting proteins to control bleeding; a platelet count measures quantity, not every aspect of platelet function.

Med-SurgOBPerfusion, bleeding, and infection

Course connection: MS coronary antiplatelet therapy/VTE and OB HELLP/hemorrhage.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Complete blood count

Pneumonia

An infection of lung tissue that can fill air sacs with inflammatory fluid or pus. This interferes with gas exchange and can cause cough, fever, or breathing difficulty; causes include bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Med-SurgInfection

Course connection: MS Day 11 official and Canvas exemplar.

Reference: NHLBI: Pneumonia

Polyuria

Passing an unusually large volume of urine. In uncontrolled diabetes, glucose-related osmotic diuresis can cause polyuria; it differs from frequent small voids.

Med-SurgDiabetes

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 assessment findings of hyperglycemia.

Reference: Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome — MedlinePlus

Postanesthesia care unit (PACU)

The area where patients receive close monitoring while recovering from anesthesia. Immediate assessment focuses on airway, breathing, circulation, consciousness, and other effects of surgery and anesthesia.

Med-SurgPerioperative care

Course connection: MS Day 6, immediate postoperative recovery.

Potassium (K+)

An electrolyte needed for electrical signaling in nerves and muscles, including the heart. Changes in blood potassium can disrupt muscle function and heart rhythm.

Med-SurgElectrolyte balance

Course connection: MS Day 1, electrolyte roles and cardiac effects.

Preload

The stretch of ventricular muscle at the end of filling, just before contraction. It is influenced by venous return and ventricular properties; excessive filling pressure in heart failure can promote congestion.

Med-SurgHeart failure

Course connection: MS Day 9 filling-versus-ejection mechanics.

Reference: Merck Manual: Overview of heart failure

Preoperative care

Assessment and preparation before a surgical procedure. It includes identifying risks, establishing baseline findings, preparing the patient physically, and providing teaching that supports safe surgery and recovery.

Med-SurgPerioperative care

Course connection: MS Day 6 exemplar.

Prothrombin time/international normalized ratio (PT/INR)

PT measures how long blood takes to clot through selected pathways; INR standardizes the result across testing methods. INR is used to monitor warfarin's effect, with the target depending on the treatment indication.

Med-SurgVenous thromboembolism: treatment distinction

Course connection: MS Day 10 warfarin monitoring.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Prothrombin time test and INR

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI)

A medication class that reduces stomach acid production by blocking the final acid-secretion step in stomach cells. In GERD, reducing acid exposure can relieve symptoms and help an injured esophagus heal.

Med-SurgGI inflammation

Course connection: MS Day 12, GERD treatment mechanism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE)

Blockage of a pulmonary artery, most often by a clot that traveled from a deep vein. The obstruction impairs blood flow through the lungs and can cause sudden breathing difficulty, reduced oxygenation, and circulatory collapse.

Med-SurgOBVenous clots

Course connection: MS Day 10 exemplar; essential complication of OB Day 8 thromboembolic conditions.

Respiratory acidosis

An acid-base disturbance in which inadequate ventilation allows carbon dioxide to build up, pushing blood pH downward. The central problem is failure to remove enough carbon dioxide, even if supplemental oxygen improves the oxygen level.

Med-SurgAcid-base balance

Course connection: MS Day 2 exemplar and postoperative respiratory assessment.

Respiratory alkalosis

An acid-base disturbance in which ventilation removes more carbon dioxide than the body produces, pushing blood pH upward. Anxiety can cause this pattern, but hypoxemia and other illnesses can also cause rapid breathing and must not be dismissed as anxiety.

Med-SurgAcid-base balance

Course connection: MS Day 2 exemplar.

Reticulocyte count

A test measuring immature red blood cells circulating in blood. It helps show how actively the bone marrow is responding to anemia; a response to blood loss or hemolysis differs from inadequate cell production.

Med-SurgAnemias

Course connection: MS Day 5 diagnostic comparison of anemia mechanisms.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Reticulocyte count

Sepsis

Life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by the body's harmful response to an infection. Infection alone is not sepsis; worsening circulation, breathing, mental status, or organ function can signal an emergency.

Med-SurgOBPerfusion, bleeding, and infection

Course connection: MS infection and OB postpartum/newborn infection.

Reference: CDC: About sepsis

Shock, circulatory

A life-threatening failure of circulation to supply organs adequately with blood and oxygen. Blood loss, severe infection, pump failure, or obstruction can cause different forms of shock; low blood pressure may develop as the condition progresses.

Med-SurgOBPerfusion, bleeding, and infection

Course connection: MS perfusion/perioperative complications and OB postpartum hemorrhage/shock.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Shock

Sickle-cell anemia

A form of inherited sickle cell disease, usually involving two hemoglobin S genes. Abnormal hemoglobin can make red cells rigid and sickle shaped, leading to early cell destruction and blocked small blood vessels that cause pain and organ injury.

Med-SurgAnemias

Course connection: MS Day 5 exemplar.

Reference: Sickle cell disease milestones — NHLBI

Sodium (Na+)

An electrolyte that helps regulate fluid balance and supports nerve signaling. Its concentration in blood reflects the balance between sodium and water, so an abnormal result does not by itself tell you whether total body fluid is low or high.

Med-SurgElectrolyte balance

Course connection: MS Day 1, sodium imbalances.

Reference: Sodium blood test — MedlinePlus

Stable angina (chronic stable angina; CSA)

A recurring pattern of discomfort caused by the heart muscle temporarily receiving too little oxygen, often during exertion or stress. Symptoms usually improve with rest or prescribed angina medicine; a change in the usual pattern requires reassessment.

Med-SurgCoronary perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 7 exemplar and stable-versus-unstable comparison.

Reference: Angina types — NHLBI

Thrombolytic (fibrinolytic; “clot-busting” medicine)

A medicine that promotes breakdown of fibrin, the mesh supporting a blood clot. Unlike an anticoagulant, it can actively break down an existing clot, but it also carries a major bleeding risk.

Med-SurgVenous thromboembolism: treatment distinction

Course connection: MS Day 10, distinction between clot prevention and clot breakdown.

Troponin

A protein involved in heart muscle contraction that can be measured in blood when heart muscle cells are injured. An elevated cardiac troponin needs interpretation with symptoms, ECG findings, and changes over time because injury has more than one possible cause.

Med-SurgCoronary perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 7 cardiac markers and MI assessment.

Reference: MedlinePlus: Troponin test

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM)

Diabetes usually caused by an autoimmune attack on the pancreatic beta cells that make insulin. As insulin production is lost, insulin replacement becomes necessary; the condition can begin at any age.

Med-SurgDiabetes

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 exemplar.

Reference: Type 1 diabetes — NIDDK

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)

Diabetes in which the body's cells respond poorly to insulin and the pancreas cannot make enough insulin to meet the body's needs. Insulin production may still be present, and treatment needs vary as the disease changes.

Med-SurgDiabetes

Course connection: MS Days 3–4 exemplar.

Reference: Type 2 diabetes — NIDDK

Unstable angina

New, worsening, or unpredictable discomfort from inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle, including symptoms that occur at rest. It is an emergency because it can progress to a myocardial infarction; symptom improvement alone does not make it safe to ignore.

Med-SurgCoronary perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 7 exemplar.

Reference: Angina types — NHLBI

Venous thromboembolism (VTE)

The linked conditions of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The term connects clot formation in a vein with the possibility that clot material travels and blocks blood flow in the lungs.

Med-SurgOBVenous clots

Course connection: MS Day 10 exemplar group; OB Day 8 thromboembolic conditions.

Venous ulcer

An open wound associated with chronically elevated venous pressure, commonly on the lower leg. Blood pooling and swelling damage tissue, so the mechanism differs from an ulcer caused mainly by inadequate arterial inflow.

Med-SurgPeripheral perfusion

Course connection: MS Day 8 CVI complications.