Test your basic knowledge |

Introduction To Health Sciences Vocab

Subject : health-sciences
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. A chemical that has the effect of blocking the action of a natural substance such as a neurochemical. (






2. An event that follows a particular behaviour and which strengthens the tendency to repeat that behaviour. For example - if relaxation follows drinking alcohol it would be said to reinforce the tendency to drink alcohol.






3. The curved transparent layer that covers the front part of the eye. This (together with the lens) refracts light to form of an image on the retina - as well as protecting the eye from frontal damage.






4. A gradual change in about 10% of chronic heavy drinkers whereby liver cells are replaced by scar tissue.






5. Fine particles of a solid suspended in the air.






6. The level of intensity of stimulation of a neuron at which it first shows activity. The term is used particularly in the context of sensory neurons.






7. Condition in which the full range of colours cannot be clearly distinguished.






8. Diseases that cannot be transmitted from person to person (also known as 'non-infectious diseases' or 'chronic conditions' or 'long-term conditions'); they mainly develop slowly over time and persist for a long period - or are irreversible; e.g. canc






9. The organelles found inside myofibres that run the length of the cell and cause contraction.






10. The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and spinal cord.






11. Deliberately deciding never to drink alcohol.






12. The process of expiring or breathing out; the emission of air from the lungs.






13. An excessive engagement in an activity despite negative consequences and a dependence upon the activity such that when access is denied - craving and withdrawal symptoms are seen. Most usually refers to dependency on a chemical substance but need not






14. A class of neuron that detects the presence of stimuli in the world - such as tactile events - heat - cold or tissue damage.






15. A molecule that has both negatively and positively charged regions.






16. Substances in which an interaction or reaction occurs - or in which an event takes place - or chemicals or objects are transported or supported - e.g. a medium through which a wave is transmitted in the refraction of light.






17. A screening programme (sometimes called 'mass screening') that aims to screen everyone in a particular population group (rarely every citizen) - e.g. everyone over the age of 50 years - or all newborn babies. Attempts are made to screen everyone in t






18. A group of primates - to which modern humans belong - characterised by upright posture and a very large brain in relation to body size.






19. A covalent bond formed by the sharing of two electrons - one from each atom at either end of the bond.






20. Pain that arises from tissue damage in one part of the body - but Which is felt to be arising in a different part of the body. It is said to be 'referred to' a part that is not damaged.






21. The process of breaking down foods in the body into the molecules needed to maintain life.






22. A response to a stimulus or substance (such as alcohol) which occurs rapidly and produces severe - possibly life-threatening - symptoms.






23. The process by which collagen is produced by fibroblasts following tissue damage - often resulting in scar formation.






24. A technique for monitoring the activity of the different regions of the brain. One method involves injecting a radioactive tracer substance and measuring its later appearance in different brain regions; high concentrations correspond to regions of hi






25. The opening at the centre of the iris that allows light to enter into the eye.






26. An outbreak of an infectious disease in a community - region or country - characterised by a sharp increase in the number of cases - followed after an interval by a decline to a normal level






27. Microbes living in and around us - most of which are harmless or beneficial but some of which can cause disease.






28. Damage to the retina due to the abnormal blood flow that may develop in people with diabetes.






29. The layer of the eye - between retina and sclera - which absorbs any light that has not interacted with the rods and cones in the retina.






30. The process of urban development - i.e. of towns and cities - and the movement of an increasing proportion of a country's population from rural to urban environments.






31. A chemical that reduces microbial contamination of water - surfaces - etc.






32. The type of bone that is less dense (compared with compact bone) and contains struts (trabeculae) to provide strength. It is found within the widened areas inside the ends of the bones.






33. A device that produces light of a single wavelength Which is transmitted in a narrow and powerful beam.






34. A condition in which a person exceeds a certain threshold for the proportion of body weight that consists of fat. In most assessments based on body mass index - a BMI of greater than 30 is defined as clinically obese.






35. The transparent gelatinous fluid within the eyeball (between the lens and the retina).






36. Often abbreviated to 'risk factors'; anything that is statistically associated with an increased chance of developing a particular disease - disorder or disability in a population; when the incidence of the disease is examined in different population






37. The problem of trying to explain how the subjective feelings of consciousness arise from the physical matter of the brain.






38. Leading global causes of visual impairment that have been identified by the WHO's Vision 2020 project as targets that can be prevented or treated. They include refractive errors and low vision - cataract - glaucoma - AMD - diabetic retinopathy and tr






39. A group of steroid hormones produced mainly by the ovaries (some are also produced by fat deposits in the body) - which are responsible for promoting the development and maintenance of female sexual characteristics.






40. The smallest unit of an element that still has the properties of the element. Made up of a positively charged atomic nucleus - containing protons and neutrons - surrounded by negatively charged electrons.






41. An eye care professional qualified to perform eye tests and record the findings in a lens prescription.






42. A factor that strengthens a tendency to engage in a particular behaviour.






43. A very long macromolecule found in the cell nucleus - abbreviated to DNA. It is the main component of chromosomes and is the material that transfers genetic characteristics through the generations in all organisms. The genetic information is carried






44. Severe psychological shock.






45. A protein produced in the liver that circulates around the body and blocks the destructive effects of certain proteinase enzymes such as elastase.






46. The spread of malignant - cancerous cells to other parts of the body by way of the blood or lymph vessels.






47. A condition in which the optic nerve becomes damaged - usually because the pressure of fluid within the eye becomes too high - leading to a progressive loss of vision.






48. A measure of the real impact of a particular disease - disorder or disability on people's lives (DALY) - combining an estimate of the number of years lived with a reduced quality of life - taking into account the severity of the condition (every cond






49. A group of specialised cells that work together to fulfil a specific function in the body - e.g. muscle.






50. That part of the nervous system that exerts control over the skeletal muscles and thereby over behaviour.