PATHOLOGY part 1

Abdominal Computed Tomography

A radiographic procedure that produces detailed cross-section of the tissue structure within the abdomen.

Abdominal Ultrasound

A noninvasive test used to visualize internal organs by using very high frequency sound waves.

Abdominocentesis

The surgical puncture of the abdominal cavity to remove fluid.

Ablation

The removal of a body part or the destruction of its function.

Abortion

The interruption or termination of pregnancy before the fetus is viable.

Abrasion

An injury in which superficial layers of skin are scraped or rubbed away.

Abruptio Placentae

A disorder in which the placenta separates from the uterine wall before the birth of the fetus.

Abscess

A closed pocket containing pus caused by a bacterial infection.

Absence Seizure

A brief disturbance in brain function in which there is a loss of awareness often described as a staring episode.

ACE Inhibitors

Medications administered to treat hypertension and congestive heart failure.

Acetaminophen

Analgesic that reduces pain and fever, but does not relieve inflammation.

Achilles Tendonitis

Inflammation of the Achilles tendon caused by excessive stress being placed on that tendon.

Acne Vulgaris

A chronic inflammatory disease that is characterized by pustular eruptions of the skin caused by an overproduction of sebum around the hair shaft.

Acoustic Neuroma

A brain tumor that develops adjacent to the cranial nerve running from the brain to the inner ear.

Acquired Immunity

Immunity obtained by having had a contagious disease.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

The advanced stage of an HIV infection.

Acromegaly

Enlargement of the extremities caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone after puberty.

Acrophobia

An excessive fear of heights.

Actinic Keratosis

A precancerous skin growth that occurs on sun-damaged skin.

Activities of Daily Living

Include bathing, grooming, brushing teeth, eating, and dressing.

Acupressure

A traditional Chinese touch therapy involving finger pressure applied to specific areas of the body.

Acupuncture

A traditional Chinese medical practice using very think acupuncture needles inserted into specific points of the body.

Acute Necrotizing Ulcerative Gingivitis

An abnormal growth of bacteria in the mouth.

Acute Renal Failure

Sudden onset of kidney failure that may be caused by the kidneys not receiving enough blood to filter.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

A life-threatening condition in which inflammation in the lungs and fluid in the alveoli lead to low levels of oxygen in the blood.

Addiction

Compulsive, uncontrollable dependence on a substance, habit, or practice.

Addison's Disease

A condition that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol or aldosterone.

Adenectomy

Surgical removal of a gland.

Adenitis

Inflammation of a gland.

Adenocarcinoma

Carcinoma derived from glandular tissue.

Adenoma

Benign tumor that arises from, or resembles, glandular tissue.

Adenomalacia

Abnormal softening of a gland.

Adenosclerosis

Abnormal hardening of a gland.

Adenosis

Any disease or condition of a gland.

Adhesion

A band of fibrous tissue that holds structures together abnormally.

Adjuvant Therapy

Cancer treatment used after the primary treatments have been completed to decrease the chance that a cancer will recur.

Adrenalitis

Inflammation of the adrenal glands.

Adverse Drug Reaction

An undesirable reaction that accompanies the principal response for which the drug was taken.

Aerophagia

Excessive swallowing of air while eating or drinking.

Age Spots

Discoloration caused by sun exposure.

Agoraphobia

An excessive fear of environments where the person fears a panic attack might occur.

Airborne Transmission

Occurs through contact with contaminated respiratory droplets spread by a cough or sneeze.

Airway Inflammation

The swelling and clogging of the bronchial tubes with mucus.

Airway Obstruction

Occurs when food or a foreign object partially or completely blocks the airway and prevents air from entering or leaving the lungs.

Albinism

A genetic condition characterized by a deficiency or absence of pigment in the skin, hair, and irises.

Albuminuria

The presence of the protein albumin in the urine.

Alcoholism

Chronic alcohol dependence with specific signs and symptoms upon withdrawal.

Aldosteronism

An abnormality of electrolyte balance caused by excessive secretion of aldosterone.

Allergen

A substance that produces an allergic response in an individual.

Allergic Reaction

Occurs when the body's immune system reacts to a harmless allergen as if it were a dangerous invader.

Allergic Rhinitis

An allergic reaction to airborne allergens.

Allergy

An overreaction by the body to a particular antigen.

Allogenic Bone Marrow Transplant

A transplant in which the recipient receives bone marrow from a compatible donor.

Allopathic Medicine

Conventional medical practices and systems of health care.

Alopecia

The partial or complete loss of hair, most commonly on the scalp.

Alopecia Areata

An autoimmune disorder that attacks the hair follicles, causing well-defined bald areas on the scalp or elsewhere on the body.

Alopecia Totalis

An uncommon condition characterized by the loss of all the hair on the scalp.

Alopecia Universalis

The total loss of hair on all parts of the body.

Alternative Medicine

A general term for practices and systems of health care used in place of allopathic medicine.

Alzheimer's Disease

A group of disorders involving the parts of the brain that control thought, memory, and language.

Amblyopia

Dimness of vision or the partial loss of sight, especially in one eye, without detectable disease of the eye.

Amenorrhea

The abnormal absence of menstrual periods for three months or more.

Ametropia

Any error of refraction in which images do not focus properly on the retina.

Amnesia

A memory disturbance marked by a total or partial inability to recall past experiences.

Amniocentesis

A surgical puncture to remove amniotic fluid to evaluate fetal health and to diagnose certain congenital disorders.

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

A rapidly progressive neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles.

Anal Fissure

A small crack-like sore in the skin of the anus that can cause severe pain during a bowel movement.

Analgesic

A medication that relieves pain without affecting consciousness.

Anaphylaxis

A severe, systemic response to an allergen.

Anaplasia

A change in the structure of cells and in their orientation to each other.

Anastomosis

A surgical connection between two hollow or tubular structures.

Andropause

Marked by decrease of the male hormone testosterone, gradually beginning in the late 40s and progressing very gradually over several decades.

Anemia

A disorder characterized by lower than normal levels of red blood cells in the blood.

Anesthesia

The absence of normal sensation, especially sensitivity to pain.

Anesthetic

Medication used to induce anesthesia.

Aneurysm

A localized weak spot or balloon-like enlargement of the wall of an artery.

Aneurysmectomy

The surgical removal of an aneurysm.

Aneurysmorrhaphy

Surgical suturing of an aneurysm.

Angina

Episodes of severe chest pain due to inadequate blood flow to the myocardium.

Angiogenesis

The process through which the tumor supports its growth by creating its own blood supply.

Angiogram

The film produced by angiography.

Angiography

A radiographic study of the blood vessels after the injection of a contrast medium.

Angioplasty

Mechanically widening a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel.

Angiostenosis

Abnormal narrowing of a blood vessel.

Anhidrosis

The abnormal condition of lacking sweat in response to heat.

Anisocoria

A condition in which the pupils are unequal in size.

Ankylosing Spondylitis

A form of rheumatoid arthritis that primarily causes inflammation of the joints between the vertebrae.

Ankylosis

The loss or absence of mobility in a joint due to disease, injury, or a surgical procedure.

Anomaly

A deviation from what is regarded as normal.

Anorexia

The loss of appetite for food, especially when caused by disease.

Anorexia Nervosa

An eating disorder characterized by a false perception of body appearance that leads to a refusal to maintain a normal body weight.

Anoscopy

The visual examination of the anal canal and lower rectum.

Anovulation

The absence of ovulation when it would normally be expected.

Anoxia

The absence of oxygen from the body's tissues or organs despite adequate flow of blood.

Antacids

Medications to relieve indigestion or help peptic ulcers heal by neutralizing stomach acids.

Anthracosis

The form of pneumoconiosis caused by coal dust in the lungs.

Anthrax

A contagious disease that can be transmitted through livestock.

Antiangiogenesis

Cancer treatment that disrupts the blood supply to the tumor.

Antiarrhythmic

Medication administered to control irregularities of the heartbeat.

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Develops when an antibiotic fails to kill all of the bacteria it targets. When this occurs, the surviving bacteria become resistant to that particular drug.