Glossary

Glossary Terms

 

alternative medicine: a form of treatment used instead of standard medical approaches

 

Complementary and alternative medicine may include dietary supplements, megadose vitamins, herbal preparations, special teas, acupuncture, massage therapy, magnet therapy, spiritual healing, and meditation.

 

Complementary medicine, alternative medicine, and integrative health are sometimes referred to as being the same or similar. While they are related, they are not the same.

 

anatomy: the study of structure and the relationships among structures—in this case, structures of the body

 

bloodborne pathogens: micro-organisms that may be present in human blood; can be transmitted to people who are exposed to contaminated blood or body fluids

 

complementary medicine: a form of treatment used in addition to standard medical approaches

 

Complementary and alternative medicine may include dietary supplements, megadose vitamins, herbal preparations, special teas, acupuncture, massage therapy, magnet therapy, spiritual healing, and meditation.

 

Complementary medicine, alternative medicine, and integrative health are sometimes referred to as being the same or similar. While they are related, they are not the same.

 

disease: an impairment or deterioration of functioning of an otherwise healthy organism

 

homeostasis: the tendency of an organism or cell to regulate its internal conditions, such as the chemical composition of its body fluids, so as to maintain health and functioning regardless of outside conditions

 

integrative health: a philosophy of approaching health and wellness by addressing the whole person—body, mind, spirit, and lifestyle—as opposed to treating the body alone or addressing only the symptoms of a disease

 

Complementary medicine, alternative medicine, and integrative health are sometimes referred to as being the same or similar. While they are related, they are not the same.

 

integrative medicine: a combination of standard medical approaches and complementary and/or alternative medicine used where it is proven to be safe and effective to do so

 

pathological anatomy: the study of structural changes related to disease

 

pathology: the scientific study of the nature of disease and its causes, processes, development, and consequences

 

physiology: the study of the function of body parts and how they work

 

preventative medicine: an approach to medicine that aims to prevent an illness or injury so that treatment is not required

 

prognosis: the potential progress and outcomes for a condition or disease

 

The prognosis for a cold is that it will likely take five to seven days for you to feel better.

 

sign of disease: evidence of a disease that can be determined by observation or a test

 

For example, if you had strep throat, your doctor would take a swab of your throat to confirm that you had the bacteria that cause strep throat. If the bacteria are present, this would be a sign.

 

syndrome: a group of signs and symptoms that occur together to indicate a particular condition

 

In Down syndrome, for example, the signs and symptoms include certain physical characteristics, some medical conditions, and some developmental delays.

 

symptom: an experience described by the patient

 

The symptoms of strep throat include a really sore throat; only you can describe what your sore throat feels like.

 

therapy: the course of treatment for a condition or disease

 

universal precautions: infection-control guidelines designed to protect workers from exposure to diseases spread by blood and certain body fluids