School Improvement in Maryland

Health State Curriculum Glossary

A.I.D.S.:

the acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, which is the final stage of HIV infection during which there is a significant decrease in the disease fighting cells inside the body.

Abstinence:

choosing not to participate in a specific activity; e.g. sexual activity, alcohol, tobacco, other drug use.

Anorexia:

an eating disorder characterized by refusing to maintain a minimally normal weight for age and height.

Appetite:

a pleasant desire for food.

Bacterial:

dealing with bacterial, a microorganism that has no chlorophyll and multiplies by simple division, which cause disease.

Barrier:

any device that blocks the sperm from fertilizing the egg.

Binge:

eating disorder

Birth:

the act of being born.

Body Composition:

amount of fat tissue and lean tissue in your body.

Body image:

feeling you have about how your body looks.

Bulimia:

an eating disorder characterized by a quick consumption of a large amount of food in a short period of time.

Caloric intake:

the amount of energy that you take in to your body in the form of foods and beverages.

Calorie:

a unit of heat that measures the energy available in foods.

Cancer:

a disease with symptoms that include a tumor; it is invasive and spreads to other sites in the body.

Carbohydrate:

nutrient that is the most useful supply of energy for the body.

Chlamydia:

an STD/STI caused by the bacterium, Chlymydia trachomatis, and results in inflammation of the urethra and epididymis in males and inflammation of the vagina and cervix in females.

Chronic disease:

a sickness or illness that lasts a long time and changes little over a period of time.

Communicable Disease:

a disease that can be spread from person to person; contagious.

Condom:

a thin, rubber or polyurethane sheath for the penis used to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STI;s) or conception.

Conflict Resolution:

the process of resolving a conflict among two or more individuals or groups.

Contraception:

interference with fertilization of an ovum by chemical, physical, or surgical methods.

Contraction:

the shortening of a muscle in the uterus during labor.

Decision-making Process:

the process one goes through to decide or settle a dispute or question.

Depo-provera:

an injectable contraceptive that prevents ovulation and fertilization.

Depression:

a state of extreme sadness for an extended period of time.

Diabetes:

a disease that results from inadequate production or utilization of insulin.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans:

suggested goals for eating that help people stay healthy and live longer.

Eating disorder:

abnormal behaviors and ideas related to food and eating along with unrealistic body image.

Ectomorph:

a body type that is thin, has long bones, thin muscles, and with little body fat.

Endomorph:

a body type that is round and soft with a lot of body fat.

Energy Balance:

your calorie intake equals the calories you use or burn in a day.

Exposure:

to come in contact with a contagious disease or pathogen.

Fat:

nutrient that helps to regulate body processes and fight disease. It also helps to promote the growth of new cells.

Fertilization:

the union of a sperm and an ovum.

Fetal:

having to do with a fetus.

Fetus:

the unborn young of a human from about the 8th week after conception until birth.

Food borne illness:

a sickness caused by eating foods or drinking beverages that contain harmful germs.

Food Guide Pyramid:

a guide that shows how many servings are needed from each food group each day.

Food safety standards:

guidelines from government or community organizations for handling food safely to prevent food borne illnesses.

Genital:

the reproductive organs especially the external sex organs.

Genital Warts:

are dry wart-like growths that are caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV). The warts are painless and have a cauliflower shape.

Gestation:

the period of time of carrying young in the uterus; pregnancy.

Gonorrhea:

an STD/STI caused by the bacterium, neisseria, which infects the epithelial surfaces of the genitourinary tract in males and females

H.I.V.:

initials which stand for Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the pathogen that causes A.I.D.S.

Healthy weight:

the best weight for you that will keep you in good health.

Hepatitis B:

the most common type of viral hepatitis, which is found in blood, blood products, saliva, semen and vaginal secretions. It is spread through sexual contact and the sharing of needles.

Herpes Simplex I:

a form of the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) which generally causes cold sores or fever blisters in the mouth or the lips.

Herpes Simplex II:

is a highly contagious STD/STI that is caused by two forms of the herpes simplex virus. It generally is associated with sores or lesions in the genital area.

Hormone:

a substance formed by endocrine glands which brings about changes in other organs.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV):

an STD/STI, which causes genital warts, which is transmitted through vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse.

Hunger:

a dull pain because of lack of food.

Immune System:

a body system that protects the individual from infection and pathogens that cause disease.

Implantation:

attachment

Macronutrient:

substances in foods that the human body requires in large amounts.

Menarche:

the first menstrual period.

Menstrual Cycle:

a rhythmic cycle of approximately one month in which hormone levels fluctuate to prepare a woman’s body for the possibility of pregnancy.

Mesomorph:

a body type that is characterized by visible muscles and little body fat.

Micronutrient:

substances in foods that the human body requires in small amounts.

Minerals:

nutrients that help regulate body processes and build new cells.

Mode:

a manner or way of doing or being.

Nocturnal emissions:

spontaneous ejaculation that occurs during sleep.

Noncommunicable Diseases:

a disease that cannot be spread from person to person.

Nutrient:

substance in food that the body uses for energy and growth and repair of cells.

Oral Contraception:

a form of birth control taken orally, such as in pill form.

Osteoporosis:

a disease that results in softening of the bones.

Overweight/Obesity:

body weight is above the standard of 25 for Body Mass Index (BMI)/ body weight is above the standard of 30 for Body Mass Index (BMI).

Parasitic:

referring to a plant or animal that lives on or in another organism.

Patch:

a small adhesive bandage worn on the skin of a woman that releases small amounts of hormones to prevent ovulation.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease:

infection in the uterus, fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries.

Physical Activity:

body movement produced by muscles.

Physical activity pyramid:

a guide that shows how much and what type of physical activity we need every day.

Physical fitness:

having the energy and strength to handle the every day demands of your life.

Pregnancy:

the time period when there is an offspring developing in the uterus.

Prenatal:

before birth.

Protein:

nutrients the body uses for growth and repair of cells and supplies energy.

Puberty:

the stage of physical development when sexual reproduction first becomes possible.

Pubic Lice:

the parasitic insects of pediculosis pubis that are yellowish-gray in color and about the size of a pinhead. The lice attach to the pubic hairs and burrow into the skin where they feed on blood.

Quackery:

promotion of a remedy (device, treatment, plan, service, or special food) that does not work.

Reproductive System:

a body system of organs, which help to produce offspring.

Sexual Intercourse:

the joining of the sexual organs of a male and female human.

STD/STI:

Sexually Transmitted Diseases or Sexually Transmitted Infections.

Strategy:

a planning or managing skill

Stress:

the body’s reaction to mental or physical tension, anxiety, or pressure.

Suicide:

to kill one’s self; self-destruction.

Syphilis:

a STD/STI caused by the bacterium, Treponema Pallidum that penetrates mucous membranes and abrasions in the skin and causes lesions.

Tattoo:

to make a permanent design by puncturing the skin and inserting indelible color.

Transmission:

to pass on through a common medium.

Trichomoniasis:

is an STD/STI caused by a parasitic protozoan, Trichomonas vaginalis, which may infect the vagina, urethra, or prostate.

Viral:

involved or caused by a virus.-

Vitamins:

nutrients that help regulate body processes, fight disease, and promote the growth of new cells.

Water:

nutrient that helps with digestion, makes up most of your blood, and helps remove waste products.

Weight management:

being able to control your weight through healthy eating habits and exercise.