J

J receptors vagal sensory sites that are located in the alveolar units; so named because they are found primarily in 'juxtaposition' to the pulmonary capillaries

James fibers the other name for atrio-His fibers, the abnormal accessory conduction pathway connecting the atria with the lower part of the AV node at its junction with the bundle of His.

jaundice yellowish skin color arising from an elevated serum bilirubin level.

JCAHO abbreviation for Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations, a private, voluntary association that establishes standards for accrediting institutions and agencies responsible for healthcare delivery

jet a device employing a Venturi type gas entrainment/acceleration mechanism to mix gases or added aerosols to a mainstream gas flow.

jet humidifier a humidifier that uses the jet principle to add water vapor to the main gas flow.

jet nebulizer device that uses a jet of compressed gas which passes through a restricted orifice, creating a low pressure area near the tip of a narrow tube, drawing fluid from a reservoir, which is then sheared or shattered into droplets by the airstream.

jet Venturi a jet that is used to produce a pressure drop for the purpose of gas or fluid entrainment.

Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) a private nongovernmental agency that establishes guidelines for the operation of hospitals and other healthcare facilities, conducts accreditation programs and surveys, and encourages the attainment of high standards of institutional medical care in the United States

Joules unit of electrical energy delivered for 1 second by an electrical source, such as a defibrillator. Used interchangeably with the term Watt-seconds.  

Joule-Kelvin-Thompson method the method used for fractional distillation of gases.

junction (AV) see Atrioventricular (AV) junction.

junctional arrhythmia an arrhythmia arising in an ectopic or escape pacemaker in the AV junction, such as premature junctional contractions, junctional escape rhythm, non­paroxysmal junctional tachycardia (accelerated junctional rhythm, junctional tachycardia), and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT).      

junctional escape beats (complexes) and rhythms beats (or complexes) and rhythms originating in an escape pacemaker in the AV junction that occur when the rate of the underlying supraventricular rhythm drops to less than 40 to 60 beats per minute.

junctional escape rhythm an arrhythmia originating in an escape pacemaker in the AV junction with a rate of 40 to 60 beats per minute.

junctional tachycardia an arrhythmia originating in an ectopic pacemaker in the AV junction with a rate greater than 100 beats per minute. When abnormal QRS complexes occur with the tachycardia because of aberrant ventricular conduction, the tachycardia is called junctional tachycardia with aberrant ventricular conduction (aberrancy).

junction (or ''J'') point the point where the QRS .complex becomes the ST segment or the ST-T wave.

juxtamedullary situated near the medulla

K

K+ symbol for potassium.

Karvonen's formula a simple formula used to set a target heart rate for patient exercise

karyotype a picture of chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell

keratin a hard protein substance found in hair, nails, and skin

keratoconjunctivitis sicca dryness of the conjunctiva due to a decrease in lacrimal function

keratolytic a substance that causes shedding of the skin

kernicterus a form of icterus (bile pigmentation of tissues and membranes) occurring in infants

ketoacidosis acidosis accompanied by an accumulation of ketones in the body, resulting from extensive breakdown of fats because of faulty carbohydrate metabolism. It occurs primarily as a complication of diabetes mellitus and is characterized by a fruity odor of acetone on the breath, mental confusion, dyspnea, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, weight loss, and, if untreated, coma.

kg abbreviation for kilogram.

kilogram a unit of metric weight measurement. One kilogram (kg) is equal to 1000 grams, or 2.2 pounds.

kinesics factor affecting communication on either a conscious or unconscious level through the use of body motion and gestures.

kinetic activity molecular motion utilizes energy and produces heat as a by-product.

kinetic flowmeter a flow regulation device that incorporates a spindle or plunger in place of a floating ball as a flow indicator.

kinetic therapy treatment that uses a special bed which rotates the patient continuously from one lateral position to another, reaching a 124-degree angle, every 4 minutes.

Korotkoff sounds the term used for the sounds hearing during auscultation for measurement of blood pressure by use of the cuff method.

Kussmaul hyperventilation as a compensatory mechanism for metabolic acidosis.

KVO abbreviation for "keep the vein open."

kwashiorkor protein-energy malnutrition due to the stress of disease and the resulting increase in catabolic rate

kyphoscoliosis an abnormal condition characterized by an anteroposterior and lateral curvature of the spine

kyphosis forward curvature of the spine.