Long Term Care Glossary of Terms
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Paget's disease- a disorder occurring in the middle-aged and elderly in which bone does not form properly, causing bone weakening, thickening, and deformity. (Source: AMA)

Palliative treatment- treatment that relieves the symptoms of a disorder without curing it. (Source: AMA)

Palpitation- an abnormally rapid and strong heartbeat. (Source: AMA)

Palsy- loss of sensation or ability to move. (Source: AMA)

Pancreas- a long gland located behind the stomach that produces enzymes that help to break down food and hormones (insulin and glucagon) that help to regulate glucose levels in the blood. (Source: AMA)

Pancreatitis- inflammation of the pancreas, which is often caused by alcohol abuse. (Source: AMA)

Panic disorder- an emotional disorder characterized by attacks of anxiety that have no normal causes; usually made worse by stress. (Source: AMA)

Paracentesis- the insertion of a needle into a body cavity to relieve pressure, inject a drug, or remove a sample for analysis. (Source: AMA)

Paralysis- the inability to use a muscle because of injury to or disease of the nerves leading to the muscle. (Source: AMA)

Paraplegia- complete or partial loss of sensation and movement of the legs. (Source: AMA)

Parasite- an organisms that lives on or in other organisms, from which it obtains nutrients. (Source: AMA)

Parkinson's disease- a brain disorder in which there is a lack of the chemical messenger dopamine, which helps control muscle movement; leads to muscle stiffness, weakness, and trembling. (Source: AMA)

Partial seizure- an abnormal electrical discharge in a certain area of the brain, affecting only certain functions. (Source: AMA)

Passive exercise- exercise of an injured part of the body involving no effort from that injured part. (Source: AMA)

Patent ductus arteriosus- a genetic disorder of the heart in which a channel connecting the pulmonary artery and the aorta fails to close and the heart must work harder to supply the body with blood. (Source: AMA)

Patient-controlled analgesia- a system for administering pain-killing drugs in which the amount of drug delivered is controlled by the patient. (Source: AMA)

Peak flow measurement- the maximum speed that air is exhaled from the lungs; used to diagnose asthma or to determine the effectiveness of asthma medications. (Source: AMA)

Pectoral muscles- the muscles of the upper part of the chest that move the arm across the body, raise some of the ribs, and move the shoulders. (Source: AMA)

Pelvic inflammatory disease- inflammation of a woman's internal reproductive organs, usually as a result of a bacterial infection; one of the most common causes of pelvic pain and infertility in women. (Source: AMA)

Peptic ulcer- an erosion in the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine, usually caused in part by the corrosive action of gastric acid. (Source: AMA)

Perforation- a hole in an organ or body structure caused by disease or injury. (Source: AMA)

Periarteritis nodosa- inflammation and weakening of small and medium arteries. (Source: AMA)

Pericardial effusion- fluid buildup inside of the pericardium, affecting the performance of the heart. (Source: AMA)

Pericarditis- inflammation of the membranous sac that covers the heart, causing chest pain and fever. (Source: AMA)

Pericardium- the membranous sac that covers the heart and the base of the blood vessels that are attached to the heart. (Source: AMA)

Periosteum- the tissue covering bones, except the surfaces in joints. (Source: AMA)

Peripheral nervous system- the nerves that branch out from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. (Source: AMA)

Peripheral vascular disease- the narrowing of blood vessels in the legs or arms, causing pain and possibly tissue death (gangrene) as a result of a reduced flow of blood to areas supplied by the narrowed vessels. (Source: AMA)

Peritoneum- the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers the abdominal organs. (Source: AMA)

Peritonitis- inflammation of the peritoneum. (Source: AMA)

PET scanning- see Positron emission tomography scanning. (Source: AMA)

Pharmacology- the study of medications, including drug development

Pharyngitis- inflammation of the throat (the pharynx), causing sore throat, fever, earache, and swollen glands. (Source: AMA)

Pheochromocytoma- a noncancerous tumor of cells that produce epinephrine and norepinephrine, causing higher levels of these hormones in the blood and an increase in blood pressure. (Source: AMA)

Phlegm- mucus and other material produced by the lining of the respiratory tract; also called sputum. (Source: AMA)

Phobia- a persisting fear of and desire to avoid something. (Source: AMA)

Phosphates- salts containing phosphorus; essential to some body functions such as the bones and teeth

Phospholipids- fatty substances that make up the membranes surrounding cells. (Source: AMA)

Physical therapy- the treatment of injuries or disorders using physical methods, such as exercise, massage, or the application of heat. (Source: AMA)

Pickwickian syndrome- extreme obesity along with shallow breathing, sleep apnea, excessive sleepiness, and heart failure. (Source: AMA)

Pinkeye- inflammation of the membrane that covers the white of the eyes and lines the eyelids, causing redness, discomfort, and a discharge; can be caused by infection or allergies. (Source: AMA)

Pinworm- a small parasite worm that can live in the intestines; commonly affects children

Pituitary adenoma- a noncancerous tumor of the pituitary gland. (Source: AMA)

Pituitary gland- a small, round gland located at the base of the brain that releases hormones that control other glands and body processes. (Source: AMA)

Placebo- a chemically inactive substance given in place of a drug to test how much of a drug's effectiveness can be attributed to a patient's expectations that the drug will have a positive effect. (Source: AMA)

Placebo effect- the positive or negative response to a drug that is caused by a person's expectations of a drug rather than the drug itself. (Source: AMA)

Plaque- an area of buildup of fat deposits in an artery, causing narrowing of the artery and possibly heart disease; dental plaque refers to a coating on the teeth, consisting of saliva, bacteria, and food debris, which causes tooth decay. (Source: AMA)

Plasma- the liquid part of the blood, containing substances such as nutrients, salts, and proteins. (Source: AMA)

Plasma cell- a white blood cell that makes antibodies. (Source: AMA)

Plasmapheresis- a procedure for removing unwanted substances from the blood in which blood is drawn, its plasma is separated and replaced, and the cleansed blood is returned to the body. (Source: AMA)

Platelet- the smallest particle found in the blood, which plays a major role in forming blood clots. (Source: AMA)

Pleural effusion- a buildup of fluid between the membranes that line the lungs and chest cavity (the pleura); causes compression of the lungs, which leads to breathing difficulty. (Source: AMA)

Pleural rub- a rubbing sound produced by inflamed pleural membranes that can be heard when breathing. (Source: AMA)

Pleural space- the space between the two layers of the pleura. (Source: AMA)

Pleurisy- inflammation of the lining of the lungs and chest cavity, usually caused by a lung infection; characterized by sharp chest pain. (Source: AMA)

Pneumonia- inflammation of the lungs due to a bacterial or viral infection, which causes fever, shortness of breath, and the coughing up of phlegm. (Source: AMA)

Pneumothorax- a condition in which air enters the space between the chest wall and the lungs, causing chest pain and shortness of breath; may occur spontaneously or be the result of a disease or an accident. (Source: AMA)

Poliomyelitis- an infectious disease caused by a virus; usually causes only mild symptoms but in rare cases can attack the brain and spinal cord and cause paralysis or death. (Source: AMA)

Polycystic kidney disease- a condition in which there are multiple, slow-growing cysts on both kidneys. (Source: AMA)

Polycystic ovary syndrome- a hereditary disease characterized by multiple cysts on the ovaries, obesity, excessive hairiness, infertility, and irregular menstruation. (Source: AMA)

Polymyalgia rheumatica- a rare disease of the elderly, characterized by muscle stiffness and pain in the hips, thighs, shoulders, and neck. (Source: AMA)

Polyp- a growth that occurs on mucous membranes such as those in the nose and intestine; bleeds easily and can become cancerous. (Source: AMA)

Porphyria- a group of genetic disorders in which substances called porphyrins build up in the blood, often causing rashes brought on by exposure to sunlight and reactions to certain drugs. (Source: AMA)

Portal hypertension- increased blood pressure in the portal vein. (Source: AMA)

Portal vein- the vein connecting the stomach, intestines, and spleen to the liver. (Source: AMA)

Positron emission tomography scanning- an imaging method in which substances emitting positrons (positively charged particles) are introduced into the body, and detectors connected to a computer are used to form images of the tissues. (Source: AMA)

Posterior- describes something that is located in or relates to the back of the body. (Source: AMA)

Postmenopausal bleeding- bleeding from the vagina that occurs after menopause. (Source: AMA)

Postmyocardial infarction syndrome- a condition that occurs following a heart attack or heart surgery; characterized by fever, chest pain, pericarditis, and pleurisy. (Source: AMA)

Post-traumatic stress disorder- feelings of anxiety experienced after a particularly frightening or stressful event, which include recurring dreams, difficulty sleeping, and a feeling of isolation. (Source: AMA)

Postural drainage- drainage of mucus from specific areas of the lungs by placing the body in a specific position. (Source: AMA)

Postural hypotension- unusually low blood pressure that occurs after suddenly standing or sitting up. (Source: AMA)

Presbycusis- the loss of hearing that occurs naturally with age. (Source: AMA)

Presbyopia- the loss of the ability to focus the eyes on near objects that occurs naturally with age, as a result of loss of elasticity of the lens of the eyes. (Source: AMA)

Pressure point- specific points on the body where external pressure can be applied to prevent excessive arterial bleeding. (Source: AMA)

Pressure sore- an ulcer (erosion) on the skin that is a result of being bedridden; commonly called a bedsore. (Source: AMA)

Proctoscopy- examination of the rectum using a viewing instrument. (Source: AMA)

Productive cough- a cough that brings up phlegm, which is the body's natural way of clearing blocked airways. (Source: AMA)

Progesterone- a female sex hormone that plays many important roles in reproduction, including the thickening of the lining of the uterus during the menstrual cycle; and during pregnancy, the functioning of the placenta, and the initiation of labor. (Source: AMA)

Prognosis- a doctor's probable forecast of the effects and outcome of a disease. (Source: AMA)

Progressive muscular atrophy- gradual degeneration and weakening of muscles due to a degenerative spinal cord. (Source: AMA)

Prolapse- the displacement of an organ from its normal position to a new one. (Source: AMA)

Prophylactic- anything used to prevent disease. (Source: AMA)

Prostatectomy- the partial or complete surgical removal of the prostate gland. (Source: AMA)

Prostate gland- an organ located under the bladder that produces a large part of the semen. (Source: AMA)

Prostatism- symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate gland, including difficulty with urination. (Source: AMA)

Prostatitis- inflammation of the prostate gland, usually due to a bacterial infection spread from the urethra. (Source: AMA)

Prosthesis- an artificial replacement for a missing part of the body. (Source: AMA)

Prothrombin time- the time it takes for a sample of blood to clot after substances that speed clotting time have been added; used to measure the effect of anticoagulants. (Source: AMA)

Pseudogout- a form of arthritis with symptoms similar to gout that results from the depositing of calcium salts in a joint. (Source: AMA)

Psoriatic arthritis- a form of arthritis that develops as a complication of the skin disorder psoriasis. (Source: AMA)

Psychogenic- resulting from psychological or emotional disorders. (Source: AMA)

Psychological- relating to the mind and the processes of the mind. (Source: AMA)

Psychosis- a mental disorder in which a serious inability to think, perceive, and judge clearly causes loss of touch with reality. (Source: AMA)

Psychosomatic- describes a physical condition that is influenced by psychological or emotional factors. (Source: AMA)

Psychotherapy- the treatment of mental and emotional disorders using psychological methods, such as counseling, instead of physical means. (Source: AMA)

Psychotropic drug- a drug that has a psychological effect. (Source: AMA)

Ptosis- the drooping of the upper eyelid. (Source: AMA)

Pulmonary artery- the artery that supplies the lungs with blood from the heart. (Source: AMA)

Pulmonary edema- the buildup of fluid in lung tissue, which is usually caused by heart failure. (Source: AMA)

Pulmonary embolism- blockage of the pulmonary artery by a floating mass in the blood. (Source: AMA)

Pulmonary fibrosis- a condition in which the tissue of the lungs has become thick and scarred, usually because of inflammation caused by lung conditions such as pneumonia or tuberculosis. (Source: AMA)

Pulmonary heart valve- the heart valve that stops blood pumped to the lungs from leaking back into the heart. (Source: AMA)

Pulmonary hypertension- increased blood pressure in the arteries supplying blood to the lungs; caused by increased resistance to blood flow in the lungs, usually a result of a lung disease. (Source: AMA)

Pulmonary insufficiency- a rare defect in the pulmonary heart valve in which it fails to close properly after each muscle contraction, allowing blood to leak back into the heart; weakens the heart's pumping ability. (Source: AMA)

Pulmonary stenosis- obstruction of the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs. (Source: AMA)

Pulse- the expansion and contraction of a blood vessel due to the blood pumped through it; determined as the number of expansions per minute. (Source: AMA)

Pyloric sphincter- a circular muscle located at the junction of the stomach and small intestine that controls the passage of food into the small intestine. (Source: AMA)

Pyloric stenosis- narrowing of the outlet located at the junction of the stomach and small intestine. (Source: AMA)

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