Essentials of Human Diseases and Conditions glossary

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abduct

move an arm or leg away from the body

abruptio placentae

detachment of the placenta from the uterus before birth; often results in severe bleeding

ablation

excision or removal

abscess

a localized collection of pus surrounded by swollen tissue

acetabulum

the cup-shaped cavity in which the ball-shaped head of the femur articulates; hip socket

achalasia

failure of the esophagogastric sphincter to relax with swallowing

acholic

pale or clay-colored; this type of stool usually results from problems in the biliary system

acidemia

a decreased pH of the blood; increased hydrogen ion concentration

acidosis

a pathologic condition resulting from an abnormal increase in the level of hydrogen ions in the body (decrease in pH), resulting from the accumulation of acid or loss of the alkaline reserve

acute abdomen

an abdominal condition of sudden onset, accompanied by pain resulting from intraabdominal inflammation or infection

acyanotic

absence of a bluish appearance of the skin and mucous membranes

adenocarcinoma

a cancerous tumor arising from glandular tissue

adenoma

a benign neoplasm in which cells are derived from glandular epithelium

adenosarcoma

a cancerous gland-like tumor, such as Wilms' tumor

adenovirus

a virus pathogenic to humans that causes conjunctivitis, upper respiratory infection, cystitis, or GI infection; may persist in lymphoid tissue in latent period of the infection

adnexal

pertaining to accessory organs or tissues; an appendage(s)

agglutination

the clumping of antigens with antibodies or of the red blood cells from one type of blood with the red blood cells of another type

aggregation

the coming together of entities such as platelets, blood cells, or diseases

agranulocytosis

a condition of the blood marked by a sudden decrease in the number of granulocytes (a type of white blood cell); occurs in lesions of the throat or other mucous membranes or as a side effect of the administration of certain drugs or radiation

alkalosis

excessive alkalinity of body fluids

allergen

an antigenic substance capable of producing an allergic response in the body

allograft

a graft of tissue between genetically different individuals of the same species

amblyopia

reduced vision in an eye without a detectable organic lesion

amnesia

a loss of memory; inability to recall past experiences

amniography

radiography (after injection of radiopaque contrast medium into the amniotic fluid) of the pregnant uterus to detect placement of the placenta, the amniotic cavity, and the fetus

amniotic fluid

a transparent albuminous liquid made by the amnion and the fetus; surrounds and protects the fetus during pregnancy

amylase

an enzyme produced in the salivary glands and pancreas that helps in digestion of starches

amyloid

a waxy, starchlike protein that tends to build up in tissues and organs in certain pathologic conditions

analgesia

relief of pain

analogue

a drug that resembles another but has different effects

anaphylaxis

a severe systemic allergic response characterized by redness, itching, swelling, and water buildup (angioedema); in severe cases, life-threatening respiratory distress occurs and the blood pressure drops rapidly (anaphylactic shock)

anaplastic

a change in the orientation and structure of cells; a loss of differentiation that is characteristic of malignancy

anastomosis

the surgical or pathologic connection between two vessels or tubular structures

anesthesia

partial of complete loss of sensation caused by injury, diseases, or the administration of an anesthetic agent

angina pectoris (Ischemic chest pain)

paroxysmal chest pain, which often radiates to the arms and may be accompanied by a feeling of suffocation and impending death; the most common cause is a shortage of oxygen to the cardiac muscle linked with coronary artery disease (Symptom of Coronary Artery Disease/ CAD)

angioplasty

repair of a narrowed blood vessel through surgery or other angiographic procedures

angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)

an enzyme found on the surface of blood vessels in the lungs and other tissues with vasopressive action

angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors

agents that inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (a potent vasoconstrictor) and promote relaxation of blood vessels

ankylosis

immobility of a joint

anorexia

loss of appetite for food

anosmia

impairment or loss of smell

antibody

an immunoglobulin that may combine with a specific antigen to destroy or control it

anticholinergic

a drug used to block the transmission of parasympathetic nerve impulses

anticholinesterase

any enzyme that counteracts the action of the choline esters

anticoagulant

any substance that delays or prevents blood clotting

antiemetic

a medication that prevents or relieves nausea and vomiting

antigen

any substance that stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies

antimicrobial

a substance that kills microorganisms or suppresses their growth

antipyretic

a drug or treatment that reduces or relieves fever

antiseptic

a substance that inhibits the growth of microorganisms

antitrypsin

a substance that inhibits trypsin, an enzyme that hastens the hydrolysis of protein

anxiolytic

a substance that diminishes anxiety

aphasia

a nerve defect that results in loss of speech

aphonia

inability to produce normal speech sounds or loss of voice

aphthous ulcers

recurrent painful canker sores in the mouth

apicectomy

surgical removal of the apex of an infected or damaged tooth root

apnea

the temporary cessation of breathing

apoptosis

a pattern of cell death affecting single cells; refers to programmed cell death

arrhythmia

variation or loss of normal rhythm of the heartbeat

arthrodesis

the immobilization of a joint accomplished surgically

arthroplasty

surgical reconstruction or replacement of a diseased joint

ascites

abnormal intraperitoneal accumulation of serous fluid

aspiration

drawing in or out by suction

asymptomatic

without symptoms

asystole

the absence of contractions of the heart; cardiac standstill

ataxia

an uncoordinated gait associated with pathology of the central nervous system

atrophy

a wasting away; a degeneration of a cell, tissue, organ, or muscle because of disease or other influences

audiogram

the record of a hearing test

aura

a sensation of phenomenon that signals the onset of an epileptic seizure or a migraine

auscultation

a diagnostic technique of listening for sounds within the body, particularly the lungs, heart, or abdominal viscera

autoantibody

an antibody that attacks and destroys the body's own cells

autoimmunity

an immune response resulting in the presence of self-antigens or autoantigens on the surface of certain body cells' may result in allergy or autoimmune disease

autoinoculation

refers to spreading a microorganism by contact with a lesion on one's own body

autonomic

refers to the autonomic nervous system that has two divisions: sympathetic and parasympathetic

autosome

any of the 22 ordinary paired chromosomes in humans, distinguished from the sex (X and Y) chromosomes

avulsion

separation of a body part by tearing

azoospermia

an absence of spermatozoa in the semen

azotemia

an excess of urea or other nitrogenous bodies in the blood

barium

a pale, soft, alkaline metallic element; a radiopaque barium (barium sulfate) compound commonly used in radiographic studies of the gastrointestinal tract

battle's sign

bogginess of the temporal region of the head that may indicate fracture at the base of the skull

bicornate uterus

a uterus having two horns or horn-shaped branches

bifurcate

split into two branches

bilirubinemia

the presence of bilirubin in the blood

bilirubinuria

the presence of bilirubin in the urine

biopsy

the excision of tissue from the living body, followed by microscopic examination, for the purpose of exact diagnosis

blood gases

the gases present in the blood that are a result of use of oxygen and production of carbon dioxide during metabolism; the blood is analyzed for evidence of deviations (acidosis or alkalosis) from normal levels

blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

a measurement of urea nitrogen (a substance formed during protein breakdown) in the serum or plasma; an elevated level of this may indicate impaired renal function

breech

buttocks

bronchoscopy

examination of the bronchial tree with a bronchoscope to obtain a biopsy, remove an obstruction, or diagnose a disease

bruit

an abnormal sound heard in auscultation

cachexia

a profound and marked wasting disorder, usually associated with malnutrition and such diseases as cancer and tuberculosis

calculus

a stone usually composed of mineral salts (e.g. kidney stones and gallstones) or calcified deposits on the teeth

carcinogen

a substance that produces cancer or that causes transformation of a normal cell to a cancerous one

cardiac sphincter

the circular muscle at the opening of the esophagus into the stomach

cardiomegaly

enlargement of the heart

cardiomyopathy

a defect of the heart muscle

cast

a negative mold or copy formed in a hollow organ or part; a urinary cast is a small structure formed within the urinary system from mineral or protein matter and extruded from the body in urine

cataract

a progressive disease in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, impairing vision or causing blindness

catatonic posturing

a state of not being able to move, with the assumption of a rigid, often bizarre posture

cautery

an instrument or chemical that destroys tissue as a therapeutic measure