Author: Glossary
-
Comparative physiology
The study and comparison of the physiology of different species.
-
Aviation physiology
The branch of physiology that deals with conditions encountered by humans in flying, mountain climbing, or space flight. The conditions studied are hypoxia, extreme temperature and radiation, effects of acceleration and deceleration, weightlessness, motion sickness, enforced inactivity, mental stress, acclimatization, and disturbance of biological rhythm.
-
Physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling
A means of assessing the behavior of various chemical compounds in living organisms based upon their apparent absorption, distribution, and elimination from the body, and such in vitro characteristics as their plasma protein binding and cell membrane permeability. PBPK mathematical modeling is used in pharmacology to select promising new agents for therapeutic use, and in…
-
Physiognosis
Diagnosis determined from one’s facial expression and appearance.
-
Physics
The study of the laws of matter and their interactions with energy. Included are the fields of acoustics, optics, mechanics, electricity, thermodynamics, and ionizing radiation. It is a precise scientific discipline that encompasses the study of matter, energy, and the intricate interplay between them.
-
Physicochemical
Concerning the application of the laws of physics to chemical reactions.
-
Physician orders for life-sustaining therapy
A part of a patient’s health record that specifies his or her preferences regarding end-of-life care, specifically directives regarding life support, the use of antibiotics, artificial feeding, and medically administered hydration.
-
Resident physician
A physician who works full or part time in a hospital to continue training after internship; commonly called a resident.
-
Physical therapy diagnosis
A clinical classification of a patient’s impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities by a physical therapist.
-
Physical therapist assistant
A graduate of an accredited physical therapist assistant education program. The physical therapist assistant is a paraprofessional who assists the physical therapist, providing selected interventions under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist.