Chapter: 4.6 Common Terms

Hemoptysis - coughing up of blood from the respiratory tract. Blood streaked sputum oftem is present in minor upper respiratory tract. Blood streaked sputum often is present in minor upper respiratory infections or bronchitis. More profuse bleeding amy indicate Aspergillums infection, lung abscess, turberculosis or bronchogenic carcinoma.

Hemorrhage - a loss of a large amount of blood in a short period, either externally or internally. Hemorrhage may be arterial, venous, or capillary. Symptoms of massive hemorrhage are related to hypovolemic shock: rapid thready pulse; thirst;; cold; clammy skin; sighing respiration; dizziness; syncope; pallor; apprehension; restlessness; and hypotension. If bleeding is contained within a cavity or joint, pain will develop as the capsule or cavity is stretched by the rapidly expanding volume of blood.

Hemotoma - a collection of extravagated blood trapped in the tissues of the skin or in an organ, resulting from trauma or incomplete hemostasis after surgery. Initially there is frank bleeding into the space; if the space is limited, pressure slows and eventually stops the flow of blood. The blood clots, serum collects, the clot hardens, and the mass become palpable to the examiner and is often painful to the patient.

Hepatitis - an inflammatory condition of the liver, characterized by jaundice, hepatomegaly, anorexia, abdominal and gastric discomfort, abnormal liver function, clay colord stools, and tea colored urine. The condition may be caused by bacterial or viral infection, parasitic infestation, alcohol, drugs, toxins or transfusion of incompatible blood. The liver usually is able to regenerate its tissue, but severe hepatitis may lead to cirrhosis and chronic liver dysfunction.

Hereditary - transmitted from parent to offspring; inborn; inherited

Hernia - protrusion or projection of an organ through an abnormal opening in the muscle wall of the cavity that surrounds it.

Hypersensitivity reaction an inappropriate and excessive response of the immune system to a sensitizing antigen, called an allergen. Hypersensitivity reactions are classified into four types according to the components of the immune system involved in their mediation. A type I or immediate hypersensitivity reaction occurs rapidly within several minutes, on reexposure to an antigen, and is the result of interaction of immunoglobulin E and the antigen; anaphylaxix is a particularly severe type I hypersensitivity reaction . a type II or cytotoxic hypersensitivity reaction is one of tissue or cell damage resulting from antibody antigen interactions on cell surfaces. A type III or immunocomplex mediated hypersensitivity reaction is a local or general inflammatory response caused by formation of circulating antigen antibody complexes and their disposition in tissues. A type IV hypersensitivity reaction [also called cell mediated or T- cell mediated hypersensitivity reaction] is one initiated by antigen specific T lymphocytes; this type takes 1 or more days to develop and the hypersensitivity can be transferred by lymphocytes but not by serum.