A-H 2

Atelectasis

Decreased or absent air in a partial or entire lung, with resulting loss of lung volume.

Atherosclerosis

Accumulation of lipids, inflammatory cells, and cellular debris in the subendothelial space of the arterial wall.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Disease in which plaque builds up in vessels.

Atresia

Congenital absence of a normal opening or normally patent lumen.

Atrophic urethritis

Thinning and inflammation of the vaginal walls secondary to decline in estrogen, experienced by almost 50% of postmenopausal women.

Attenuation

Loss of intensity or virulence.

Aura

Visual, but sometimes sensory, motor or verbal disturbance usually occurring before a migraine or seizure.

Auspitz sign

Pinpoint bleeding that occurs when a psoriatic scale or lesion is peeled off of the skin.

Autologous

A transplant using one’s own stem cells.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT)

A procedure in which hematopoietic stem cells are removed, stored, and then infused into the same patient

Autoreceptor

Transmitter receptors on or near presynaptic terminals which are sensitive to the transmitter(s) released by the terminal itself.

Avolition

Inability to initiate and persist in goal-directed activities.

Azoospermic

Having no living spermatozoa in the semen, or failure of spermatogenesis.

Bacteremia

Bacteria in the bloodstream.

Barium enema

A diagnostic test using an x-ray to view the lower gastrointestinal tract (colon and rectum) after rectal administration of barium sulfate, a chalky liquid contrast medium.

Barrett esopohagus

A change of the normal squamous epithelium of the distal esophagus to a metaplastic columnar lined epithelium usually caused by prolonged exposure of the esophageal mucosa to gastric acid. it is associated with increased risk of developing esophageal cancer

Basal ganglia

Cluster of nerve cells deep in the brain that coordinate normal movement.

β-hydroxybutyric acid

A ketone body that is elevated in ketosis, is synthesized in the liver from acetyl-CoA, and can be used as an energy source by the brain when blood glucose is low.

β2 microglobulin

A low molecular weight protein that may be elevated in multiple myeloma.

Bence-Jones proteins

Light chained immunoglobulins found in the urine.

Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

Surgical excision (removal) of both ovaries and fallopian tubes

Bile acids

The organic acids in bile. Bile is the yellowish-brown or green fluid secreted by the liver and discharged into the duodenum where it aids in the emulsification of fats, increases peristalsis, and retards putrefaction.

Biliary sludge

A deposit of tiny stones or crystals made up of cholesterol, calcium bilirubinate, and other calcium salts. The cholesterol and calcium bilirubinate crystals in this can lead to gallstone formation.

Biopsy

The removal of cells or tissue for examination.

Bladder hypotonicity

Low elastic tension of the bladder.

Blast

An immature cell.

Blastospores

An asexual reproductive sphore formed by budding, often seen with yeast.

BUN Blood Urea Nitrogen

A waste product in the blood produced from the breakdown of dietary proteins. The kidneys filter blood to remove urea and maintain homeostasis; a decline in kidney function results in an increase in this.

BMI Body mass index

A calculation utilized to correct weight changes for height and is a direct calculation regardless of gender. It is the result of the weight in kilograms divided by the height in meters squared. If nonmetric measurements are used, it is the result of the weight in pounds multiplied by 703 and then that quantity divided by the product of height in inches squared.

Bouchard nodes

Hard, bony enlargement of the proximal interphalangeal (middle) joint of a finger or toe.

Brachial plexus

Collection of nerves that arises from the spine at the base of the neck from nerves that supply parts of the shoulder, arm, forearm, and hand.

Brachytherapy

A form of radiotherapy where a sealed radiation source is placed inside or next to the area requiring treatment.

Bradycardia

Slower than normal heart rate.

Bronchiectasis

Chronic dilation of bronchi or bronchioles as a result of inflammatory disease or obstruction associated with heavy sputum.

Bullectomy

Surgical removal of one or more bullae (air spaces in the lung measuring more than one centimeter in diameter in the distended state).

Capillary leak

Loss of intravascular volume into the interstitial space within the body.

Carcinogenesis

Production or origin of cancer.

Carcinoma

A malignant growth that arises from epithelium, found in skin or the lining of body organs. They tend to infiltrate into adjacent tissue and spread to distant organs.

Carcinomatosis

Condition of having widespread dissemination of carcinoma (cancer) in the body.

Cardiac cachexia

Physical wasting with loss of weight and muscle mass caused by cardiac disease; a wasting syndrome that causes weakness and a loss of weight, fat, and muscle.

Cardiac index

Cardiac output normalized for body surface area (cardiac index = cardiac output/body surface area).

Cardiac output

The volume of blood ejected from the left side of the heart per unit of time [cardiac output (L/min) = stroke volume × heart rate].

Cardiac remodeling

Genome expression resulting in molecular, cellular, and interstitial changes and manifested clinically as changes in size, shape, and function of the heart resulting from cardiac load or injury.

Carotid bruit

Abnormal sound heard when auscultating a carotid artery caused by turbulent blood flow, usually due to the presence of atherosclerotic plaques.

Carotids

The two main arteries in the neck.

Cataplexy

A sudden loss of muscle control with retention of clear consciousness that follows a strong emotional stimulus (e.g., elation, surprise, or anger) and is a characteristic symptom of narcolepsy.

Causalgia

Persistent burning pain, allodynia, and hyperpathia following a traumatic nerve lesion

Cavitary lesions

Gas or fluid filled areas of the lung in the center of a nodule observed through radiographic investigation

CD4 and CD8

Proteins predominately found on the surface of T cells.

Central pain

Pain that results from a lesion or dysfunction in the central nervous system

Cervicitis

Inflammation of the cervix.

Chemoprevention

Clinical application of pharmacologic agents to reduce the risk of developing certain malignancies. Use of drugs, vitamins, or other agents to reduce the risk of or delay the development or recurrence of cancer

CTZ Chemoreceptor trigger zone

Located in the area postrema of the fourth ventricle of the brain. It is exposed to cerebrospinal fluid and blood and is easily stimulated by circulating toxins to induce nausea and vomiting.

Chemosis

Edema of the bulbar conjunctiva.

Cheyne-stokes respiration

Pattern of breathing with gradual increase in depth (and sometimes in rate) to a maximum, followed by a decrease resulting in apnea; the cycles ordinarily are 30 seconds to 2 minutes in duration, with 5 to 30 seconds of apnea.

Chimeric

An individual, organ, or substance composed of substances with different genetic origins.

Chloasma

Melasma characterized by irregularly shaped brown patches on the face and other areas of the skin, often seen during pregnancy or associated with the use of oral contraceptives.

Chlorpromazine equivalents

Approximate dose equivalent of a first-generation antipsychotic to 100 mg of chlorpromazine (relative potency).

Cholecystitis

Inflammation of the gallbladder.

Cholelithiasis

Formation of stones in the gallbladder (gallstones).

Cholestasis

Reduced or lack of flow of bile, or obstruction of bile flow.

Cholesteatoma

A mass of keratinized epithelial cells and cholesterol resembling a tumor that forms in the middle ear or mastoid region.

Chorea

A type of dyskinesia with rhythmic dance-like movement. The increase in motor activity may be associated with fidgetiness, twitching, or flinging movements.

Chronotropic

An effect that influences the rate of rhythmic movements (e.g. heart rate)

Chvostek sign

Elicited by tapping on the proximal distribution of the facial nerve (adjacent to the ear). This will produce a brief spasm of the upper lip, eye, nose, or face in hypocalcemic patients.

Chylothorax

The presence of lymphatic fluid (chyle) in the pleural cavity

Circadian rhythm

24-hour cycles of behavior and physiology that are generated by endogenous biologic clocks (pacemakers).

Cirrhosis

Hepatic fibrosis and regenerative nodules that have destroyed the architecture of the liver, scarring the liver tissues. Progressive scarring of the liver resulting in non- functional hepatocytes.

Clonal expansion

An immunologic response in which lymphocytes stimulated by antigen proliferate and amplify the population of relevant cells.

Closed comedo

A plugged hair follicle of sebum, keratinocytes, and bacteria that remains beneath the surface of the skin. Also referred to as a “whitehead.”

Clotting cascade

A series of enzymatic reactions by clotting factors leading to the formation of a blood clot. It is initiated by several thrombogenic substances. Each reaction in the cascade is triggered by the preceding one and the effect is amplified by positive feedback loops.

Clotting factor

Plasma proteins found in the blood that are essential to the formation of blood clots. They circulate in inactive forms but are activated by their predecessor in the clotting cascade or a thrombogenic substance. Each is designated by a Roman numeral (e.g., factor VII) and by the letter “a” when activated (e.g., factor VIIa).

Clubbing

Proliferation of soft tissues, especially in the nail bed, which results in thickening and widening of finger and toe extremities.

Coalescence

Fusion of smaller lipid emulsion particles forming larger particles, resulting in destabilization of the emulsion.

Collateral damage

Bacterial resistance to an antimicrobial that occurs when the antimicrobial is being used to treat a separate bacterial infection

Autoreceptor

Transmitter receptors on or near presynaptic terminals which are sensitive to the transmitter released by the terminal tiself

Burst suppression

Electroencephalography pattern characterized by electrical brain activity with period of no activity

Cognitive deficit

An impairment in the mental procesd that affects the way a person interacts with their movements

Colonocyte

Cell lining the colonic surface.

Colonoscopy

Visual examination of the colon using a lighted, lens-equipped, flexible tube (colonoscope) inserted into the rectum.

Colony Forming Units

The number of microorganisms that form colonies when cultured and is indicative of the number of viable microorganisms in a sample.