Medical Knowledge Study Guide 2026

'Hepato-' comes from the Greek 'hepar' meaning liver, as in hepatitis (liver inflammation) or hepatology.

TSH, secreted by the pituitary gland, is the most sensitive initial test for thyroid dysfunction because it rises in hypothyroidism and falls in hyperthyroidism before T3/T4 levels become abnormal.

EMTALA requires hospitals with emergency departments to provide medical screening and stabilizing treatment to any person who presents, regardless of ability to pay.

A normal adult resting heart rate is 60–100 beats per minute; values below this range indicate bradycardia and values above indicate tachycardia.

The lymphatic system maintains fluid homeostasis and supports immunity by transporting lymph and producing lymphocytes.

An ECG measures the electrical impulses generated by the heart, producing the characteristic P-QRS-T waveform used to assess rhythm and detect cardiac abnormalities.