glossary

Glossary

This glossary provides brief definitions of general medical terminology and is not intended to substitute or replace the professional medical advice you receive from your physician(s) or other health professional. The content provided here is for informational purposes only, and was not designed to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease.

absorption - the process by which nutrients from food move from the small intestine into the cells in the body.

acute - severe; sharp; begins quickly.

amenorrhoea - absence or cessation of menstrual periods.

anorexia nervosa (also called anorexia) - an eating disorder characterized by low body weight (less than 85 percent of normal weight for height and age), a distorted body image, and an intense fear of gaining weight.

antacids - medications that balance acids and gas in the stomach.

arrhythmia (also called dysrhythmia) - an abnormal heartbeat.

basal metabolic rate (BMR) - the measurement of energy required to keep the body functioning at rest. Measured in calories, metabolic rates increase with exertion, stress, fear, and illness.

binge eating disorder - an illness that resembles bulimia nervosa and is characterized by episodes of uncontrolled eating or bingeing. It differs from bulimia, however, because its sufferers do not purge their bodies of the excess food, via vomiting, laxative abuse, or diuretic abuse.

bingeing - persons with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder engage in a destructive pattern of excessively overeating, called bingeing.

bloating - fullness or swelling in the abdomen that often occurs after meals.

body mass index (BMI) - the number, derived by using height and weight measurements, that gives a general indication if weight falls within a healthy range.

bulimia nervosa (also known as bulimia) - a disease in which there are uncontrolled episodes of overeating that are usually followed by purging (self-induced vomiting), misuse of laxatives, enemas, or medications that cause increased production of urine, fasting, and/or excessive exercise to control weight.

carbohydrates - one of the three main classes of food and a source of energy. Carbohydrates are the sugars and starches found in breads, cereals, fruits, and vegetables, which, during digestion, are changed into a simple sugar called glucose. Glucose is stored in the liver until cells need it for energy.

cardiac - pertaining to the heart.

cardiac arrest - stopping of the heartbeat.

chronic - referring to a disease or disorder that usually develops slowly and lasts for a long period of time.

cognition - mental functions such as the ability to think, reason, and remember.

dehydration - loss of fluids from the body, often caused by diarrhoea.

depression - a depressive disorder characterized by extreme feelings of sadness, lack of self-worth, and dejection.

diet-pills – medication that controls or reduces appetite.

digestion - process the body uses to break down food into simple substances for energy, growth, and cell repair.

digestive system - the group of organs that breaks down foods into chemical components that the body can absorb and use for energy, and for building and repairing cells and tissues.

diuretic - a medication that eliminates excess water from the body.

dysrhythmia - an abnormal heart rhythm.

electrolytes - chemicals such as salts and minerals needed for various functions in the body.

enteral nutrition (also called tube feeding) - a way to provide food through a tube placed in the nose, stomach, or small intestine. A tube in the nose is called a nasogastric or nasoantral tube. A tube that goes through the skin into the stomach is called a gastrostomy or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). A tube into the small intestine is called a jejunostomy or percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ) tube.

fat - one of three nutrients that supply calories to the body.

fertile - able to become pregnant.

fibre - substance in foods that comes from plants, which helps with digestion by keeping stool soft so that it moves smoothly through the colon.

gastric - related to the stomach.

gastric juices - liquids produced in the stomach to help break down food and kill bacteria.

glucose - a simple sugar which is the body's main source of energy.

heart rate - the rate at which the heart beats. Normal heart rates range between 60 and 100 beats per minute.

immune system - a collection of cells, proteins, antibodies, and organs that work together to protect the body from potentially harmful, infectious micro-organisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

infertility - not being able to produce a child.

informed consent - a legal document that explains a course of treatment, the risks, benefits, and possible alternatives; the process by which patients agree to treatment.

inpatient - a patient who is admitted to a hospital ward.

intravenous - introducing a fluid into the bloodstream through a vein (usually in the patient's forearm).

Lanugo – growth of a fine layer of downy hair on the body to keep it warm when it is malnourished.

laxatives (also called cathartics) - medications to relieve long-term constipation.

malnutrition - condition caused by not eating enough food or not eating a balanced diet.

massage - mechanical form of therapy in which the soft tissues are made more pliable, promoting increased blood flow and healing.

menses - menstrual flow.

menstruation - periods.

metabolism - the chemical activity that occurs in cells, releasing energy from nutrients or using energy to create other substances, such as proteins.

nutrients - proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals provided by food and necessary for growth and the maintenance of life.

obesity - overweight by 30 percent of the ideal body weight.

oedema - swelling due to the build-up of fluid.

osteoporosis - disorder in which bones thin and become brittle, making them more prone to fracture; most common in women after menopause due to reduced oestrogen.

outpatient – a patient who attends appointments at the hospital or hospital clinics.

palpitation - sensation of rapid heartbeats.

paediatrics - the branch of medicine that deals with diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases in children.

protein - substance found in many parts of the body that helps the body to resist disease and an energy source.

psychiatrist - a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.

psychologist - a non-medical specialist in the study of the structure and function of the brain and related behaviours or mental processes.

purging - persons with bulimia nervosa engage in a destructive pattern of ridding their bodies of the excess calories (to control their weight) by: vomiting, abusing laxatives or diuretics, taking enemas, and/or exercising obsessively - a process called purging.

recommended dietary allowance (RDA) - recommendations for daily intake of specific nutrients for groups of healthy individuals set by the Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council of the National Academy of Science.

reflux (also called regurgitation) - condition that occurs when gastric juices or small amounts of food from the stomach flow back into the mouth.

rehabilitation - the process of helping a person achieve the highest level of function, independence, and quality of life possible. From the Latin "habilitas," which means "to make able."

risk factor - activity or factor that may increase the chance of developing a disease.

stress fractures - weak spots or small cracks in the bone caused by continuous overuse.

syrup of ipecac - an emetic which causes vomiting made from the dried root of a plant called ipecacuanha.

tube feeding (also called enteral nutrition) - a way to provide food through a tube placed in the nose, stomach, or small intestine. A tube in the nose is called a nasogastric or nasoantral tube. A tube that goes through the skin into the stomach is called a gastrostomy or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). A tube into the small intestine is called a jejunostomy or percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (PEJ) tube.

Last Updated 23-Oct-2009. Authorised by: Stephanie Jones. Enquiries: Michelle Roberton.