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A
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| abduct
motion of a body part away from the midline of the body |
| abscess
localized pocket or collection of pus in a cavity |
| absorbent products
pads and garments, disposable or reusable, worn in cases of incontinence to absorb leaked urine |
| accommodation
adjustment of the eye’s lens to focus on objects at various distances |
| Achilles tendon
tendon formed by the union of two muscles,the gastrocnemius and the soleus, which join in the mid-calf area and are known as the gastroc-soleal complex; prominent at the back of the ankle |
| Achilles tendonitis
painful and often debilitating inflammation of the Achilles tendon |
| actinic keratosis
common precancerous skin growth |
| adduct
motion of a body part toward the midline of the body |
| adjuvant
assisting the primary means of therapy, e.g., coupling radiation treatment with surgical excision of tumors |
| AIDS
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome |
| allergen
substance inducing an allergic state or reaction |
allergic contact
dermatitis
dermatitis caused by sensitivity to an allergen |
| allergy
inappropriate or exaggerated reaction of the immune system to substances that cause no symptoms in most people, e.g., reactions to chemical exposure, respiratory reactions to dust, pollen or other substances, reactions to food |
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| alopecia
hair loss; disease in which the hair falls out |
| alternative therapy
therapy that is not standard, including herbal medicines, accupuncture, and accupressure, as well as medicinal therapies, such as shark cartilage, maitake mushroom, etc. |
| Alzheimer's disease
most common form of dementia in older persons that affects many areas of cognitive function, including memory |
amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS)
degenerative disorder affecting the motor neuron cells and the motor tracts in the brain and spinal cord; Lou Gehrig's disease |
| anaphylaxis
severe, life-threatening allergic reaction, such as that caused by an insect sting or exposure to a drug, like penicillin or antitetanus (horse) serum, or that caused by certain foods, like peanuts or shellfish; anaphylactic shock |
| anemia
deficiency in red blood cell count, in hemoglobin, or in total blood volume |
| angina
discomfort and pain felt when a blockage in a coronary artery prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching part of the heart |
| angiogram
invasive diagnostic test whereby a dye is injected into the arteries through a catheter in order to observe the blood vessels |
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| angioplasty
procedure for treating blockages and blood clots in which a small balloon is inflated to open clogged arteries |
| ankle joint
joint made by the two leg bones (the tibia and the fibula) and the most superior bone in the foot (the talus) |
| annular
ringlike |
| anterior chamber
space between the iris and the cornea that contains aqueous humor |
antiarrhythmic
agents
drugs that slow or eliminate rapid contraction of the ventricle |
| antibody
protein produced in a controlled manner by certain white blood cells (lymphocytes) to neutralize an antigen or foreign protein and fight disease, but whose uncontrolled production can cause illness; immunoglobulin |
| anticholinergics
quick-relief asthma medications that work by inhibiting nerve receptors in the airways and by blocking reflex bronchoconstriction of the nervous system |
| antigen
substance that can trigger an immune response, resulting in production of an antibody as part of the body's defense against infection and disease; allergen |
| antihistamines
drugs that block the effects of histamine, a chemical released in body fluids during an allergic reaction, and which reduce itching, sneezing, and runny nose |
anti-inflammatory
agents
drugs that reduce inflammation and its effects |
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| anxiety
generalized feeling of apprehension, fear, or worry that interferes with normal life functions |
| aortic valve
one-way valve that allows blood to flow only out of the left ventricle and into the aorta |
| aphasia
acquired abnormality in the production or comprehension of language |
| apnea
condition of sleep in which the upper airway tends to collapse repeatedly |
| appendicolith
small hard stone often seen in the appendix that is generally composed of enough calcium to be seen on x-rays and particularly on CT scans |
| applecore (lesion)
appearance of the typical annular-shaped cancer of the colon whose concentric growth around the tubular large bowel resembles an eaten apple |
| aqueous humor
watery fluid that fills the anterior and posterior chambers of the eye |
| arrhythmia
irregular heartbeat that features either very rapid ventricular contractions (tachycardia), an excessively slow heartbeat (bradychardia) or, most commonly, extra or "premature" beats |
| arteries
blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the organs |
| articulate
process by which two adjacent bones form a joint and slide upon each other |
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| artifact
various types of image distortion and interference found in x-ray film |
artificial urinary
sphincter (AUS)
surgically implanted device (consisting of three parts: pump, balloon reservoir, and cuff) that is used to control the involuntary release of urine associated with prostate and urinary tract surgery |
assisted reproductive
technologies (ART)
fertility treatments that incorporate methods of sperm retrieval and preparation: artificial insemination (AI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and sperm microinjection techniques |
| asthma
chronic, inflammatory lung disease triggered by allergens, infection, exercise, cold air, and other factors that cause narrowing of the airways, breathing difficulty, coughing, and wheezing |
ataxia telangiectasia
(AT)
progressive, degenerative genetic disease, which causes degeneration of the nervous system, cancer, and immunodeficiency |
| atherosclerosis
condition in which lipids (fats) collect under the inner lining of damaged artery walls, eventually narrowing or blocking the artery and obstructing blood flow |
| athlete's foot
common, irritating, often persistent infection of the foot caused by a dermatophyte (microscopic moldlike fungus) that lives on dead tissues of hair, toenails, and outer skin layers |
| atony
lack of muscle tone, usually leading to temporary weakness |
| atopy
hereditary presence of antibodies associated with allergic reactions |
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| atria (sing., atrium)
right and left upper chambers of the heart |
| atrial fibrillation
abnormal rhythm of the heart that can result in an increased risk of stroke due to the formation of emboli (blood clots) in the heart |
| atrophy
wasting of tissue, cell, or organ |
| aura
warning symptoms like disturbances in vision, strange smells, or hallucinations that occur prior to a particular neurological event, such as seizure or migraine |
| autism
lifelong developmental disability that occurs by itself or in association with other disorders that affect the function of the brain, such as viral infections, metabolic disturbances, mental retardation, epilepsy, and fragile X syndrome; characterized by severely impaired social interaction and communication skills and restrictive or repetitive movements, interests, and behaviors |
| autoimmune
abnormal response of the immune system that causes antibodies and immune-mediated cells to attack one's own tissues |
| autologous
derived from or originating in an individual |
AV node
(atrioventricular node)
patch of electrical-wire-like specialized heart tissue located between the atria and the ventricles that conducts contractile impulses from the atria to the ventricles |
| axon
inner core of peripheral nerves |
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B
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| BAEP
See brainstem auditory evoked potential. |
| basal cell carcinoma
most common skin cancer, derived from the basal cell |
| basal cells
cells that form the bottom layer of the epidermis |
| basal ganglia
series of structures located deep in the brain that are responsible for motor movements |
behavioral modification
techniques
See biofeedback, bladder training, habit training, pelvic muscle exercises. |
| Bell's palsy
paralysis of the facial nerve producing distortion on one side of the face |
benign prostatic
hyperplasia
enlargement of the prostate associated with aging |
| benign
not cancerous |
| beta2 agonists
quick-relief medications that cause muscle relaxation and bronchoexpansion to relieve acute asthma symptoms |
| beta-blockers
drugs that relieve stress on the heart by "blocking" the stimulating effect of adrenaline |
| bifurcation
division of a single structure (usually vascular) into two paired structures, e.g., carotid bifurcation in the neck, where the common carotid arteries divide into the internal and external carotid arteries |
| bilateral
affecting both sides of the body or two paired organs, e.g., the kidneys |
| biofeedback
therapeutic training in which participants learn to control their involuntary nervous system through response to electric stimuli |
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| biologic therapy
systemic therapy utilizing interferon or interleukin |
| biopsy
(v.) to remove a sample of tissue for diagnostic evaluation; (n.) tissue specimen |
| bladder training
behavioral modification technique used to resist or inhibit the urge to urinate unpredictably |
| bladder
hollow, muscular, balloon-shaped organ that stores urine until it is excreted |
| blanch
to make white or pale; to take color out |
| blepharospasm
involuntary closure of the eyes and lids |
| blood clot
insoluble mass of blood |
| blood culture
laboratory examination of a blood sample to detect the presence of disease-causing microorganisms |
blood pressure
measurement
measure of the force of blood flow against artery walls taken with an inflatable cuff, inflating bulb, and a pressure gauge |
| blood thinners
drugs that inhibit blood clotting |
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| bone
hard type of connective tissue, primarily made up of osteoblasts, osteocytes, and collagen, that supports and protects the body |
| bone scan
nuclear medicine study used for detecting the presence of boney metastasis |
| bone survey
radiologic study used to detect fractures and/or areas of boney destruction |
| brachymetatarsia
condition in which one of the metatarsals (the five long bones of the foot) is abnormally short, making the toe short as well |
| brachytherapy
radioactive pellets applied to the body area being treated; used to treat some cancers |
| bradykinesia
slowing of motor movements due to dysfunction of the basal ganglia and related structures |
| brain attack
See stroke. |
| brain injury
(1) closed head injury (CHI), which is caused by rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head during which the brain bounces off the inside of the skull; (2) open head injury (OHI), caused by car accident, gunshot wound, or other external factor |
brainstem auditory
evoked potential
test that measures how much auditory stimulus is required to cause a response from the brainstem |
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| breast
modified sweat gland that produces milk during pregnancy |
| bronchial provocation
test used to diagnose asthma; also bronchoprovocation, bronchial challenge |
| bronchitis
inflammation of the bronchi (lung airways) that causes a persistent cough and sputum (phlegm) production; especially common in smokers and in areas with atmospheric pollution |
| bronchoconstriction
constriction of the bronchial airways in the lungs, causing shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, coughing, and wheezing |
| bronchodilator drugs
group of drugs that widen the airways in the lungs |
bronchus
(pl., bronchi)
any of the larger air passages connecting the trachea (windpipe) to the lungs |
| bulla (pl., bullae)
sharply circumscribed, elevated, fluid-filled lesions in the skin that is over 0.5 centimeters in diameter; blister |
| bunion
bulge or bump that develops on the inner side of the foot, near the base of the first toe, caused by poor alignment of the metatarsal-phalangeal joint of the big toe, or hallux |
| bursa
sac of fluid typically found in areas where muscles or tendons tend to rub against bone, such as the hip, knee, and ankle |
| bursitis
condition in which a bursal sac becomes inflamed due to irritation |
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|
C
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| calcaneus
heel bone, the largest bone in the foot |
| calcifications
hard, dense, stonelike material that forms in numerous areas throughout the body, including arteries (plaque), veins (phleboliths), kidneys (stones), and gallbladder (gallstones) |
calcium-channel
blockers
drugs that limit calcium entry into the cells and stimulate contraction |
| callus
area of skin that grows thick in response to repeated pressure and friction |
| canal of Schlemm
part of the vascular structure that returns aqueous humor to circulation |
| candidiasis
infection of the skin, mucous membranes, and sometimes internal organs with the yeast Candida |
| carbuncle
deep-seated infection involving a cluster of hair follicles, often accompanied by a large area of redness and swelling |
| carcinoma
type of cancer that has the ability to spread, or metastatsize, to other areas of the body |
| cardiac catheterization
diagnostic procedure using a flexible tube, or catheter, that is passed into the heart through a vein or an artery in order to withdraw samples of blood, measure pressures within the heart chambers or vessels, and inject x-ray contrast materials to view the heart |
| cardiac transplantation
replacement of a damaged or diseased heart with a healthy heart from a donor who has died of other causes |
| carotid arteries
paired (right and left) arteries that arise from the aorta or branch of the thoracic aorta; external carotid arteries in the neck supply blood to structures in the face, internal carotid arteries supply blood to much of the front of the brain |
| cartilage
type of connective tissue found on the ends of bones, which protects and cushions them, and absorbs the forces transmitted throughout the body; living tissue without a direct blood supply |
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CAT scan
(computerized axial tomography)
specialized x-ray examination that is often used to visualize the brain and spinal structures, chest, abdomen, and pelvis |
| cataplexy
sudden loss of postural tone, often resulting in complete collapse; common in narcolepsy or intense emotional response |
| catheter
tube passed through the body for draining fluids, injecting fluids into body cavities, and performing certain tests |
| catheterization
insertion of a catheter |
| cecum
beginning of the large bowel where the end of the small bowel (ileum) empties into the cecum at the ileocecal valve |
central nervous
system
the brain and the spinal cord |
| cerebral aneurysm
weakness in the wall of a blood vessel in the brain |
| cerebrospinal fluid
fluid that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord |
cerebrovascular
disease
disorders of the blood vessels that supply the brain |
| chancre
hard, syphilitic, primary ulcer, usually occurring singularly; first sign of syphilis |
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| charcot foot
severe collapse and fracturing of the foot, seen most often in diabetic patients with neurological problems |
Charcot-Marie-
Tooth disease
progressive debilitating neuromuscular disorder; also hereditary motor sensory neuropathy and peroneal muscular atrophy |
| chemolysis
destruction through the use of chemicals; chemical injection treatment to dissolve kidney stones |
| chemotherapy
treamtent involving the use of drugs |
| chest pain
See angina. |
| cholesterol
soft, waxy type of fatty particle (lipid) that circulates in the blood; building block for all cell membranes and many sex hormones |
| choroid
layer of the eye between the sclera and the retina that supplies blood to the retina |
| ciliary body
structure located behind iris, composed primarily of the ciliary muscles |
| ciliary muscles
muscles that control the zonules that hold the lens in place and enable accommodation |
| ciliary processes
extensions, or projections, from the ciliary body that secrete aqueous humor and attach the zonules to the lens |
| circle of Willis
circle of arteries at the base of the brain that is fed by the two paired internal carotid arteries and the two paired vertebral arteries |
| clonus
increase in involuntary muscle tone and subsequent movement that results in spasm |
| cluster headache
one-sided severe pain around the eye that usually occurs at night; associated with nasal stuffiness and tearing of the eye |
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| cm
centimeter |
| colon
tubular structure from the stomach to the anus that consists of the small intestine and the large intestine |
| colonoscopy
test in which a length of fiberoptic tubing is inserted into the rectum and passed into the beginning of the large bowel (cecum), allowing the physician to directly visualize the bowel walls |
| coma
state of unconsciousness, with the eyes closed |
comedo
(pl., comedones)
thickened secretion of dead skin cells and oily material plugging a follicle or pore; closed (whiteheads), open (blackheads) |
computerized axial
tomography
See CAT scan. |
| cones
photoreceptor cells that are responsible for color vision and seeing fine detail |
congestive heart
failure (CHF)
potentially lethal condition in which congestion develops in the lungs that is produced by a heart attack, poorly controlled or uncontrolled hypertension, or disease processes that weaken the heart |
| conjunctiva
thin membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the sclera |
| conscious sedation
medication that allows a patient to sustain what could be an unpleasant experience by producing "grogginess" and often complete amnesia of the event |
| contact dermatitis
reaction that occurs when the skin comes into contact with a substance to which the body is allergic |
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| cor pulmonale
enlargement and eventual failure of the right ventricle of the heart, caused by lung disease |
| core needle biopsy
used by a pathologist to detect abnormality in tissue |
| cornea
clear, dome-shaped structure that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber |
| corns
thickened areas of skin that form in response to excessive pressure and friction, usually hard and round, with a polished or translucent center, like a kernel of corn |
| coronary angiography
x-ray imaging of the coronary arteries through a catheter |
| corpora cavernosa
two spongy tissue chambers of the penis that run the length of the organ; tissue that fills with blood during an erection |
| corticospinal tract
nervous system structures that begin in the brain and travel to the motor neuron cell to innervate the motor nerves |
| corticosteroids
group of anti-inflammatory drugs similar to natural hormones produced by the cortex of the adrenal glands |
| creatinine
waste product filtered from the blood by the kidneys and expelled in urine |
| Crohn's disease
inflammatory disease most prominent in the small bowel, which may involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs, and which is associated clinically with diarrhea and irritable bowel; regional ileitis |
| crust
scablike coating of dried blood, pus, or drainage that covers wounds or damaged skin |
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| cryosurgery
destruction of a skin lesion by applying liquid nitrogen |
| cryotherapy
therapeutic use of cold |
| CT KUB
computerized tomography of the abdomen and pelvis in which no oral or intravenous dyes are used, which is often used to detect conditions such as acute appendicitis, renal or ureteral stones, and diverticulitis |
| CT scan
See CAT scan. |
curettage and
desiccation
surgical technique in which a curette is used to scrape tissue, followed by drying and burning of that tissue with electrocautery |
| curette
surgical instrument with a round, hollow, sharp tip that is used to scrape tissues |
cutaneous T-cell
lymphoma (CTCL)
cancer of the T cells, often confined to the skin but has the ability to spread |
| cutaneous
related to the skin |
| cyst
sac that contains semisolid or liquid contents |
| cystectomy
surgical removal of the bladder |
| cystocele
herniation of the bladder into the vagina |
| cystoscopy
procedure using a flexible scope inserted into the urethra and then into the bladder to determine abnormalities in the bladder and lower urinary tract |
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|
D
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| dander
minute scales from hair, feathers, or skin that may be allergenic |
| de novo
in a new manner or form |
| deep tendon reflexes
deep muscle stretch reflexes that are triggered by tapping on the tendons; the "knee jerk" |
| deltoid ligament
complex of four ligaments (anterior tibiotalar, tibionavicular, tibiocalcalcaneal, and posterior tibiotalar) that helps support the medial side of the ankle joint |
| dementia
acquired loss of cognitive function that may affect language, attention, memory, personality, and abstract reasoning |
| demyelination
destruction of myelin sheath that envelopes nervous system structures |
| density
densities on plain x-rays vary from black to white, depending on the composition of the material the x-rays pass through; black indicates the lowest x-ray density (air) and white, the highest (bone) |
| depigmentation
loss of pigment, especially melanin |
| dermatitis
inflammation and irritation of the skin |
| dermis
second layer of skin made up of a network of collagen and elastic fibers, blood vessels, and nerves |
| DESD
See detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia. |
| desiccate
to dry up |
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detrusor-external
sphincter dyssynergia
(DESD)
lack of coordination between the bladder and the external sphincter muscle, resulting in the inability to empty the bladder completely, which may cause severe urinary tract damage and life-threatening consequences |
| diabetes mellitus
common form of diabetes in which the body cannot properly store or use glucose (sugar), the body's main source of energy |
| diastolic pressure
arterial pressure measured while the heart rests between beats |
| digoxin or digitalis
drug used to treat congestive heart failure by increasing the force of contraction; used to treat atrial fibrillation by slowing transmission of atrial electrical impulses (i.e., slowing the heart rate) and restoring normal heart rate |
| disease-free survival
percentage of disease survivors still alive after a specified period of time |
| diuretic
drug used to treat high blood pressure and fluid retention by increasing the elimination of salt and water by the kidneys |
| diverticulum
small outpouching of the lining of various tubular structures in the body |
| DNA
deoxyribonucleic acid, the genetic blueprint in all of our cells |
| dorsiflex
upward motion of a body part |
| duodenum
first segment of the small bowel |
| dust mites
microscopic organisms that feed on dead skin, whose feces are a common environmental allergen that can trigger asthma |
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