Test prep

HESI A2 vocabulary words for test prep

Nursing program applicants preparing for the HESI A2 exam need a strong grasp of both general academic words and basic health-related terms. Use this list to review meanings, then practice using each word in a sentence related to health or the body to reinforce context.

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HESI A2 vocabulary words for test prep

Word	Meaning	In a sentence
analogousadjective	Similar in certain respects, allowing a useful comparison even though the two things are otherwise different.	The heart's function is analogous to a pump, moving blood continuously through the body's vessels.
benignadjective	Gentle, kindly, and not harmful, or, in medicine, not cancerous and unlikely to cause serious harm.	Despite his gruff appearance, he had a benign and generous nature.
chronicadjective	Persisting for a long time or constantly recurring, especially describing an illness or problem.	He has suffered from chronic back pain ever since the accident.
coagulateverb	To change from a liquid into a thickened or solid mass, especially referring to blood or other fluids.	The blood began to coagulate within minutes, sealing the small wound.
contagiousadjective	Able to spread from one person to another through contact, especially referring to disease.	Chickenpox is highly contagious, spreading quickly among children at school.
deficientadjective	Lacking a necessary quality or element, especially in an amount that is insufficient.	A diet deficient in vitamin C can eventually cause serious health problems.
dilateverb	To become or make wider, larger, or more open.	Her pupils dilated as she stepped from the bright sunlight into the dark theater.
distendverb	To swell or cause to swell outward from internal pressure.	The starving child's stomach began to distend from severe malnutrition.
edemanoun	A medical condition involving abnormal swelling caused by excess fluid trapped in body tissue.	Edema in her ankles made it painful for her to stand for long periods.
hemorrhagenoun	Heavy or uncontrolled bleeding, especially from a ruptured blood vessel inside the body.	A brain hemorrhage left the patient unconscious before doctors could operate.
incisionnoun	A cut made into tissue or a surface, especially one made by a surgeon during an operation.	The surgeon made a small incision below the ribs to remove the inflamed appendix.
inflammationnoun	A localized reaction of the body, marked by redness, heat, swelling, and pain, in response to injury or infection.	Icing the sprained ankle helped reduce the swelling and inflammation.
insidiousadjective	Proceeding in a gradual, subtle way that causes harm before it is noticed or understood.	The disease is especially dangerous because its insidious early symptoms are easy to dismiss.
integumentnoun	A natural outer covering, such as skin, a shell, or a husk, that protects an organism.	The seed's tough integument protects the embryo inside until conditions favor germination.
lethargicadjective	Lacking energy or enthusiasm; sluggish and unwilling to move or act.	The heat left everyone feeling lethargic by the middle of the afternoon.
malignantadjective	Extremely harmful or evil, or, in medicine, describing a tumor that is cancerous and can spread.	Doctors confirmed the tumor was malignant and recommended immediate treatment.
membranenoun	A thin, flexible layer of tissue that covers, lines, or separates parts of an organism.	The cell membrane controls which substances can enter or leave the cell.
mobilitynoun	The ability to move or be moved freely and easily.	Physical therapy helped restore mobility in her injured knee.
palpateverb	To examine part of the body by touching or pressing it, especially to check for abnormalities.	The doctor gently palpated the patient's abdomen to check for tenderness or swelling.
pathogennoun	A microorganism, such as a bacterium or virus, that causes disease in a living host.	Doctors identified the pathogen responsible for the outbreak within a few days.
prognosisnoun	A medical or professional forecast of how a condition, illness, or situation is likely to develop.	The doctor gave a positive prognosis after reviewing the test results.
remissionnoun	A period during which a serious illness, especially cancer, becomes less severe or its symptoms disappear.	After chemotherapy, her doctors confirmed that the cancer was in remission.
resilientadjective	Able to recover or adjust after difficulty, pressure, or change.	The resilient team regrouped after its first attempt failed.
sedentaryadjective	Involving a great deal of sitting and little physical movement or exercise.	Her sedentary desk job left little room for exercise during the week.
subtleadjective	So delicate or precise as to be difficult to detect or describe; not obvious.	There was a subtle change in her tone that suggested she wasn't telling the whole story.
susceptibleadjective	Likely to be influenced, harmed, or affected by something, especially due to weakness or lack of resistance.	Young children are especially susceptible to colds during the winter months.
symmetrynoun	The quality of having balanced, matching proportions on either side of a dividing line or point.	The butterfly's wings show near-perfect symmetry in their color and pattern.
syndromenoun	A group of symptoms that consistently occur together and characterize a particular medical condition.	The doctor explained that fatigue and joint pain together pointed to a specific syndrome.
therapeuticadjective	Having a healing effect, or relating to the treatment of disease or the promotion of well-being.	The doctor recommended a therapeutic massage to relieve tension in her shoulders.
vitaladjective	Absolutely necessary or essential, especially to life or success.	Clean water is vital for the survival of every community.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of vocabulary is on the HESI A2?

The vocabulary section mixes general academic words with basic health and anatomy terms, testing your ability to identify correct meanings.