Mosby's Essentials for Nursing Assistants
Glossary (graded A+)
Abduction - ANSWER Moving a body part away from the mid-line of the body
Abuse - ANSWER The willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation,
or punishment that results in physical harm, pain, or mental anguish; depriving the
person (or the person's caregiver) of the goods or services needed to attain or maintain
well-being
Acute illness - ANSWER A sudden illness from which a person is expected to recover
Adduction - ANSWER Moving a body part toward the mid-line of the body
Anaphylaxis - ANSWER A life-threatening sensitivity to an antigen
Anorexia - ANSWER The loss of appetite
Anxiety - ANSWER A vague, uneasy feeling in response to stress
Aphasia - ANSWER The total or partial loss (a) of the ability to use or understand
language (phasia); a language disorder resulting from damage to parts of the brain
responsible for language
Artery - ANSWER A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart
, Arthritis - ANSWER Inflammation of the joints
Arthroplasty - ANSWER The surgical replacement (plasty) of a joint (arthro)
Asepsis - ANSWER Being free of disease-producing microbes
Assault - ANSWER Intentionally attempting or threatening to touch a person's body
without the person's consent
Assisted living residence - ANSWER Provides housing, personal care, support services,
health care, and social activities in a home-like setting to persons needing help with daily
activities
Atrophy - ANSWER Shrink; the decrease in size or the wasting away of tissue
Base of support - ANSWER The area on which an object rests
Battery - ANSWER Touching a person's body without his or her consent
Bed rail - ANSWER A device that serves as a guard or barrier along the side of the bed;
side rail
Body alignment - ANSWER The way the head, trunk, arms, and legs are aligned with one
another; posture
Body language - ANSWER Messages sent through facial expressions, gestures, posture,
hand and body movements, gait, eye contact, and appearance
Glossary (graded A+)
Abduction - ANSWER Moving a body part away from the mid-line of the body
Abuse - ANSWER The willful infliction of injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation,
or punishment that results in physical harm, pain, or mental anguish; depriving the
person (or the person's caregiver) of the goods or services needed to attain or maintain
well-being
Acute illness - ANSWER A sudden illness from which a person is expected to recover
Adduction - ANSWER Moving a body part toward the mid-line of the body
Anaphylaxis - ANSWER A life-threatening sensitivity to an antigen
Anorexia - ANSWER The loss of appetite
Anxiety - ANSWER A vague, uneasy feeling in response to stress
Aphasia - ANSWER The total or partial loss (a) of the ability to use or understand
language (phasia); a language disorder resulting from damage to parts of the brain
responsible for language
Artery - ANSWER A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart
, Arthritis - ANSWER Inflammation of the joints
Arthroplasty - ANSWER The surgical replacement (plasty) of a joint (arthro)
Asepsis - ANSWER Being free of disease-producing microbes
Assault - ANSWER Intentionally attempting or threatening to touch a person's body
without the person's consent
Assisted living residence - ANSWER Provides housing, personal care, support services,
health care, and social activities in a home-like setting to persons needing help with daily
activities
Atrophy - ANSWER Shrink; the decrease in size or the wasting away of tissue
Base of support - ANSWER The area on which an object rests
Battery - ANSWER Touching a person's body without his or her consent
Bed rail - ANSWER A device that serves as a guard or barrier along the side of the bed;
side rail
Body alignment - ANSWER The way the head, trunk, arms, and legs are aligned with one
another; posture
Body language - ANSWER Messages sent through facial expressions, gestures, posture,
hand and body movements, gait, eye contact, and appearance
