Category: F

Any of several poorly understood conditions in the group that includes multiple chemical sensitivity syndrome, sick building syndrome, repetition stress injury, chronic whiplash, chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia syndrome.  

The amount of air remaining in the lungs after a normal resting expiration. The quantity of air remaining in the respiratory organs after a passive exhalation, known as residual volume, can be evaluated using body plethysmography.  

The furthest distance in front of the body that a person, standing in a fixed position with arms fully extended, can touch without falling. The functional reach test, as originally devised by Duncan et al, is a measure of frailty in addition to an assessment of balance, flexibility, and fall risk. Norms for this test…

The emotional response to physical illness. It may take the form of a conversion reaction, affective overreaction, prolonged symptoms of physical illness after signs of the illness have subsided, or combinations of these. Functional overlay may appear to be the primary disease; skill may be required to determine the actual cause of illness.  

A clinical tool used to assess the ability of persons needing rehabilitative services to cope independently and perform activities of daily living. These activities include self-care, sphincter control, mobility, locomotion, communication, and social cognition. Data derived from FIM correlate with some outcome measures in rehabilitation, such as the length of time a patient may need…

Collective features of an individual’s health history used to assess, plan, diagnose, intervene, and evaluate appropriate nursing care. The term is associated with Margery Gordon.  

The action performed by any structure. In a living organism this may pertain to a cell or a part of a cell, tissue, organ, or system of organs.  

An agent used in disinfecting a room. The substance produces fumes that are lethal to insects and rodents. Chemicals used include hydrogen cyanide gas, acrylonitrile, carbon tetrachloride, ethylene oxide, and methyl bromide. A chemical toxicant (insecticide, fungicide, nematicide etc.) used in volatile form.  

An enclosed, ventilated space used in a laboratory to contain and exhaust aerosols, chemicals, dusts, microbes, powders, vapors, and other inhalational hazards.  

A molecule produced by fungi that prevents new blood vessel formation (“angiogenesis”), and may be useful in treating cancers.