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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 group of enzymes that degrade proteins by splitting the protein chain into smaller molecules; also called a 'protease'.






2. A difficult and controversial term to define - in spite of its everyday use. It describes all the information processing carried out by the brain.






3. The tube descending from the larynx to the bronchi and carrying air to the lungs; also known as the windpipe.






4. The tissues that attach muscles to bones.






5. An uncharged particle in the nucleus of an atom.(






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






7. 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.






8. Stimuli that are associated with actual or potential damage to body tissues.






9. Blood that contains very little oxygen.






10. This condition occurs when the arteries supplying oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle become blocked by fatty deposits known as plaques - and areas of muscle die as a result.






11. The total number of people who have a disease - disorder or disability at a particular point in time - expressed as a rate per 1000 (or per 10 000 - or per 100 000 or per million) population.






12. A type of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in which new blood vessels form in an attempt to restore the blood supply to the retina. The new vessels are fragile - and may leak blood into the eye.






13. Vital to many chemical reactions in the body. Crystals containing these form an important part of the structure of bones.






14. An instrument that can be used to measure the volume of air entering and leaving the lungs.






15. Two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds - e.g. hydrogen (H2) - water (H2O) - carbon dioxide (CO2).






16. Immune system cells that circulate around the body helping to protect it from infection and some other types of disease; also known as white cells.






17. A measure of the refracting power of a lens. Calculated as: 1 / focal length of the lens (in metres). The unit used is dioptres (symbol D). The power of a convex lens is positive; for a concave lens it is negative.






18. The unit of absorbed dose of ionising radiation; 1 Gy = 1 joule per kilogram of tissue.






19. The share of all deaths in a population Which is due to a particular cause; it is usually expressed as a percentage.






20. Ducts lined with epithelial cells that originate in the dermis and release sweat onto the surface of the skin.






21. The volume of air inhaled and exhaled at each breath when resting (abbreviated to TV).






22. A lens shape with a greater thickness at each end than through the centre.






23. The amount of air that can be forcefully expired from fully inflated lungs in the first second of expiration - abbreviated to FEV1.






24. Microscopic organisms (bacteria - fungi and protoctists) - together with viruses - whether pathogenic (disease-causing) or harmless; also known as microorganisms.






25. Certain kinds of activity with which the brain is engaged - i.e. the processing of information that is summarised by the term 'mind'. It is exemplified by thinking - memory - reasoning and interpreting.






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






27. In screening - a person whose screening test result is positive (indicating disease) - but who actually does not have the disease.






28. The flow of blood back to the heart in the veins.






29. An intense conscious occupation with thoughts of the object of an addiction.






30. Over time - a need for an increasing amount of drug to obtain the same level of effect - e.g. the amount of alcohol required to produce intoxication.






31. A substance produced by an endocrine gland that is carried around the body in the blood - and affects the structure or functions of specifically receptive target organs or tissues.






32. A value which can be used to calculate the degree to which X-rays (or other radiation) are reduced in intensity when passing through a material (e.g. human tissue).






33. The areas of the medulla region in the brain that integrate sensory information from chemoreceptors monitoring the level of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. They send out appropriate signals to regulate the rate of contraction of the respirato






34. The energy needed to break a bond between two atoms.






35. A condition characterised by inflammation of the walls of the airways and excess production of mucus. It results in a persistent (chronic) cough with production of sputum - obstruction of airflow and increased vulnerability to respiratory infections.






36. A drug that widens the airways of the lungs and eases breathing by relaxing smooth muscle in the walls of bronchioles.






37. A chemical that has the effect of blocking the action of a natural substance such as a neurochemical. (






38. The yellow central area of the retina containing the fovea.






39. The blood pressure that is detected between heart contractions (lower than the systolic blood pressure).






40. A theory of pain that was first proposed by Patrick Wall and Ronald Melzack in 1965. It suggests that there is - metaphorically speaking - a 'gate' within the spinal cord such that - if the gate is closed - nociceptive messages can be blocked. If the






41. A visual impairment in which the lens of the eye loses transparency and exhibits reduced light transmission.






42. Qualified to employ a range of equipment such as X-rays - MRI scanners - etc. to produce images to diagnose an injury or disease. They will then have undergone further specialist training in mammography. (Two types - diagnostic and therapeutic; the l






43. The photoreceptor cells located in the retina that are responsible for daytime and colour vision.






44. Any unintended and undesirable consequences of medical treatment; also known in medicine as an adverse effect or reaction.






45. An alternative way of modelling the energy from an electromagnetic wave; small packets of energy and the energy of each depends on the frequency of the electromagnetic wave.






46. The environmental factors impacting on survival and reproduction in a population of organisms in which there is variation between individuals in their ability to withstand adverse conditions or benefit from advantageous circumstances. The result of t






47. A form of conditioning in which a stimulus with no intrinsic capacity to trigger a particular response acquires such a capacity by being paired with a stimulus that does trigger the response; e.g. a bell can come to trigger salivation in a dog if it






48. A technique where people learn to change their thought patterns and behaviour to create feelings of coping and self-efficacy; e.g. people in chronic pain might be taught to place a less catastrophic interpretation on their pain.






49. The ability to stand - walk and run - supported only by the hind limbs.






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