Glossary

Category: A

  • American heart association

    An organization founded in 1948 as an outgrowth of a scientific and professional organization of physicians interested in heart disease. Its purpose is to prevent and control heart disease through research, education, and community service.  

  • American federation of teachers (AFT)

    A national teachers’ organization, historically, second in size only to the National Education Association (NEA), and now affiliated with the NEA, concerned with improving educational conditions and teachers’ rights.  

  • American dental association (ADA)

    An organization founded in 1860 to advance the dental profession.  

  • American college testing program (ACT)

    College entrance examination used by many universities for the purpose of screening college entrance candidates.  

  • American cancer society

    An organization founded in 1913 for the purpose of disseminating information relative to cancers, to conduct research, and to compile significant data about cancers.  

  • American association for health education (AAHE)

    A division of AAHPERD, whose purpose it is to advance the cause of and to enhance the professionalism of health education.  

  • American academy of health behavior (AAHB)

    A professional association of health educators, the primary purpose of which is to foster the advancement of health education through research.  

  • Amendment

    In legislative politics, any alteration made or proposed to be made in a bill, motion, or clause thereof, by adding, changing, substituting, or omitting. In legislative politics, resolution passes by both houses that affects the Constitution. Such requires approval by voters at a general election, referendum.  

  • Ameboid movement

    Movement that is characteristic of amebae. Cellular movement like that of an ameba. A protoplasmic pseudopod extends, and then the remaining cell contents flow into the pseudopod, which swells gradually. This type of movement allows cells such as leukocytes to move through very small openings.  

  • Amebic dysentery

    An intestinal disease caused by a protozoan, the ameba. Inflammation of the intestine caused by Entamoeba histolytica, usually acquired through feces-contaminated food or water, and characterized by frequent, loose, usually blood-tinged stools and sometimes liver involvement. Inflammation of the colon caused by infection with an ameba (a single-celled parasite), causing bloody diarrhea, excess mucus secretion,…