IVF

DEFINITION OF TERMS:
1. Angiocatheter – a hollow, flexible tube inserted into a blood vessel to withdraw or instill
fluids.

2. Antecubital spaces (fossa) – the triangular region in the forearm on the anterior (flexor)
surface of the elbow. Bounded laterally by the brachioradialis muscle and medially by
the pronator teres muscle, the fossa contains the tendon of the bicep brachialis muscle
and the brachial artery. Two large superficial veins, the cephalic and its branch, the
median cubital, are common sites for blood drawing.

3. Blood transfusion – the administration of whole blood or a component such as packed

red cells to replace blood clot through trauma, surgery or disease.

4. Colloid solution – a homogeneous mixture of one or more substances (solutes)

dispersed molecularly in a sufficient quantity of dissolving medium (solvent).

5. Donor – a human or organism that gives living tissue to be used in another body, for
example, blood for transfusion or a kidney for transplantation.
6. Edema – is a condition of abnormally large fluid volume in the circulatory system or in
tissues between the body’s cells (interstitial spaces).

7. Embolus – a clot or other plug, usually part or all of a thrombus, brought by the blood
from another vessel and forced into a smaller one, thus obstructing circulation.

8. Hemolysis – alteration, or destruction of red blood cells in such a manner that

hemoglobin is liberated into the medium in which the cells are suspended, for example,
by specific complement-fixing antibodies, toxins, various chemical agents, tonicity,
alteration of temperature.

9. Hypertonic solution – when a solution has more solutes per liter than another solution.
10. Hypotonic solution – a solution that has a lower solute concentration compared to
another solution. It cannot be hypertonic, hypotonic or isotonic without a solution for
comparison.

11. Isotonic solution – is one that has the same osmolarity, or solute concentration, as
another solution. This solution can carry nutrients and water, but only in proportions
equal to that inside the cell.

12. Ischemia – local anemia in a given body part sometimes resulting from vasoconstriction
or thrombosis or embolism. Ischemia often causes chest pain or discomfort known
as angina pectoris.

13. Intravenous infusion – administration of fluids into a vein by means of a steel needle or
plastic catheter.

14. Infiltration – the process whereby a fluid passes into the tissues, such as when a local
anesthetic is ministered or an IV infusion infiltrates.
-diffusion or accumulation of injected fluid into the subcutaneous space.
15. Patency – the degree of openness of a tube, such as a blood vessel or catheter.
16. Phlebitis – inflammation of the vein at a cannula access site in which the endothelial
cells of the venous wall become irritated and cells roughen, allowing platelets to adhere
and predisposed the vein to inflammation-induced phlebitis.

17. Intra catheter – a plastic tube, usually attached to the puncturing needle, inserted into a
blood vessel for infusion, injection or pressure monitoring.

18. Recipient – one who receives, as a blood transfusion, or a tissue or organ graft.

19. Venipuncture – is the process of obtaining intravenous access for the purpose of
intravenous therapy or for blood sampling of venous blood.