Buccal
pertaining to or directed toward the bucca (cheek), the fleshy portion of the side of the face that makes up the lateral wall of the oral cavity
Canthus
either of the angles formed by an eye’s upper eyelid meeting its lower eyelid, as in inner canthus and outer canthus
Capsule
a small gelatinous shell that contains a dose of medication
Cerumen
the waxlike substance found within the external meatus of the ear; earwax
Conjunctival Sac
the potential space between the eyelids and the eyeball, lined by the conjunctiva, the delicate membrane that lines the eyelids and covers the exposed surface of the sclera
DErmatitis
Inflammation of the skin
Dorsal Recumbent Position
lying on the back with the knees flexed
Eczema
a long-term, inflammatory skin condition that can appear as red, blistering, oozing, scaly, crusted, thickened, itchy skin rashes
Enteral
within or by way of the intestines
Ethmoid Sinuses
air cavities on each side of the nose within the ethmoid bone (a light, spongy cubical bone forming much of the walls of the nasal cavity and part of those of the orbits), with each maintaining a separate path to the nasal chamber
Eustachian Tubes
bony and cartilaginous passageways connecting the middle ears with the nasopharynx and equalizing air pressure on both sides of the tympanic membrane (eardrum)
Expectorate
expel secretions from the throat or lungs by coughing and spittings
Eye Drops
a solution, often containing medication, intended to be instilled into the eye
Frontal Sinuses
air cavities within the frontal bone (the bone that forms the forehead and extends over most of the orbits and the nasal cavity) that open into the middle meatus of the nasal cavity
Instillation
administration of a liquid drop by drop
Intraocular Medication Disk
a small medication-delivery device resembling a contact lens and inserted into the conjunctival sac so that it floats on the sclera between the iris and the lower eyelid
Liniment
a liquid or semiliquid preparation containing oil, alcohol, or water and applied to the skin, often as a counterirritant
Lotion
a liquid preparation for external application to the skin, usually to prevent or relieve dryness or irritation
Maxillary Sinuses
air cavities in the maxilla (the upper jaw) below the bony orbit and above the hard palate that drain into the middle meatus of the nasal cavity
Medication Administration Record (MAR)
a document that is completed as per agency policy to verify that a patient’s medications were administered as prescribed
Meniscus
the curved upper surface of a column of liquid
Metered-Dose Inhaler (MDI)
a medication-delivery device that disperses medication as an aerosol spray, mist, or powder into the airways via inhalation
Mydriatic
any drug that dilates the pupil
Narcotic
an umbrella term that has been used to refer to opioids, controlled substances, illicit drugs, central nervous system depressants, strong analgesics, and medications capable of causing physical dependence; opioid is the preferred term for a family of potent pharmacologic analgesics commonly referred to as narcotics
Naris
one of the external orifices of the nose (plural, nares)
Nasal
pertaining to the nose
Nebulizer
a device for creating and delivering an aerosol spray
NPO
nothing by mouth, derived from the Latin words nil per os
Ointment
a semisolid preparation, usually oily, for external application to the skin or mucous membranes and usually containing a medicinal substance
Ophthalmic
pertaining to the eye
Orifice
the entrance to or outlet of a body cavity
Otic
pertaining to the ear
Pinna
the external ear
PRN
as needed, derived from the Latin words pro re nata
Pruritus
itching
Rectal
pertaining to the rectum, the distal portion of the large intestine from the sigmoid colon to the anus
Route
the means of entrance of a medication into the body, such as oral or intramuscular
Sims’ Position
lying on one side with the lowermost arm behind the body and the uppermost leg flexed
Sphenoid Sinuses
air cavities in the sphenoid bone (at the base of the cranium) that drain into the sphenoethmoidal recess at the top of the nasal cavity
Sublingual
Under the tongue
Suppository
a solid, dissolvable cone-shaped medication preparation inserted into the rectum, vagina, or urethra
Suppurating
forming or discharging pus
Suspension
a liquid preparation consisting of solid particles dispersed throughout a liquid phase in which they are not soluble
Syrup
a concentrated solution of a sugar in water or other aqueous liquid, sometimes with a medicinal agent added
Systemic
pertaining to or affecting the body as a whole
Tablet
a solid dosage form of a medicinal substance of varying weight and size, molded or compressed into a specific shape
Topical
applied externally or locally
Transdermal
entering through the dermis (skin); usually refers to a drug applied to the skin via an adhesive patch
Tympanic Membrane
obliquely placed, thin partition between the external acoustic meatus and the tympanic cavity; eardrum
Vaginal
pertaining to the vagina, the female genital canal, extending from the vulva to the cervix of the uterus
