| ABDOMEN: |
The part of the body that contains the stomach, small intestine, colon, rectum, liver, spleen, pancreas, kidneys, appendix, gallbladder, and bladder. |
| ABDOMINAL MUSCLES: |
The large group of muscles that assists in the regular breathing movement and supports the muscles of the spine while lifting and keeps other abdominal organs and intestines in place. |
| ABDOMINOPLASTY: |
Plastic surgery repair of the muscles of the abdominal wall. |
| ABDUCTION: |
The act of turning outward; the movement of part from the axis (midline) of the body. |
| ABLATION: |
Elimination or removal. |
| ABRUPTIO PLACENTA: |
Premature detachment of a normally situated placenta. |
| ABSORPTION: |
Process by which nutrients are absorbed through the lining of the intestinal tract into capillaries and into the bloodstream. Nutrients must be absorbed to affect the body. |
| ACALCULOUS: |
Without the presence of stones, gallstones in this instance. |
| ACCESSORY PATHWAYS: |
Additional and abnormal electrical-impulse conducting tissues in the heart. |
| ACCESSORY SPLEEN: |
Normal spleen tissue in an abnormal anatomical location. |
| ACHILLES TENDON: |
One of the longest tendons in the body, it attaches the calf muscles to the heel bone. |
| ACIDOSIS: |
Too much acid in the body. For a person with diabetes, this can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis. |
| ACUTE: |
Intense and of short duration, usually said of a disease. Marked by sudden onset, sharp rise, and lasting a short time, demanding urgent attention. |
| ADDUCTION: |
A movement toward a median line or axis (midline) of the body. |
| ADHESION: |
A band of tissue, such as scar tissue, that sticks to other structures such as the abdominal wall. |
| ADIPOSE: |
Relating to fat. |
| ADNEXA: |
Ovaries, fallopian tubes and supporting structures. |
| ADRENAL GLANDS: |
A pair of small glands, one located on top of each kidney. The adrenal glands produce hormones (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and steroid hormones) that help control heart rate, blood pressure, the way the body uses food, and other vital functions. |
| ADVENTITIA: |
Outer layer of an organ. |
| AETIOLOGY: |
The science of the origin and development of disease. |
| AGENESIS: |
Imperfect development or lack of development. |
| AGONIST: |
The muscle directly engaged in contraction. |
| ALOPECIA: |
Hair loss. |
| ALPHA-FETO PROTEIN BLOOD TEST: |
Performed on pregnant women to identify the presence of a particular protein which suggests a neural tube deletion in the fetus. |
| ALVEOLAR RIDGES: |
The teeth-bearing surfaces of the gums. |
| ALVEOLI: |
Microscopic air sacs in the lungs where gases are exchanged. |
| ALVEOLUS: |
A tooth socket. |
| AMAUROSIS FUGAX: |
Temporary visual loss, in one eye, usually due to inadequate blood flow to the eye. |
| AMBULATORY: |
Being able to move from place to place with or without assistive devices. |
| AMENORRHEA: |
Absence of menstruation. |
| AMENTIA: |
General term for mental impairment which may be a result of congenital or developmental factors. |
| AMINO ACID: |
A class of organic chemical compounds that combine to build proteins; 20 basic amino acids in various combinations make up all the proteins in the human body. The body produces many amino acids; those it needs but cannot synthesize are known as essential amino acids and must be obtained through the diet. |
| AMNIOCENTESIS: |
The sampling of the fluid surrounding the fetus to provide a test for specific conditions such as Down's Syndrome or Spina Bifida. |
| AMNIOSCOPY: |
A prenatal diagnostic procedure in which the fetus is seen by use of a fibro-optic light. |
| AMNIOTIC FLUID: |
The fluid which, contained in the sac of membranes known as the amnion, surrounds the fetus and provides a shock absorber and a secondary vehicle for the exchange of body chemicals with the mother. |
| AMNIOTIC SAC: |
Membranes which contain the fetus and the amniotic fluid. The amniotic sac and the amniotic fluid are often refereed to as the "bag of waters." |
| AMNIOTOMY: |
The intentional rupturing of the amniotic sac to induce labor. |
| AMPULLA OF VATER: |
The location at which the common bile duct and pancreatic duct deliver their contents into the duodenum. |
| AMYLASE: |
A digestive enzyme made by the pancreas and salivary glands. |
| AMYLOIDOSIS: |
A rare condition in which certain blood cells produce an abnormal protein that deposits in the tissues. If the deposits are in the heart, heart failure can result. |
| AMYOPLASIA: |
A condition where there is a congenital rigidity of the joints. |
| ANALGESIA: |
The inability to feel pain. |
| ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK: |
Reaction by an individual suffering a severe reaction to a substance to which they are allergic. |
| ANASTOMOSIS: |
A natural, pathological (traumatic or disease-produced) or surgical join between two hollow or tubular organs, as in parts of the bowel. |
| ANEMIA: |
The condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-transporting units are, therefore, insufficient. Patients can feel tired, fatigue easily, appear pale, develop palpitations, and become short of breath. There are many causes of anemia, including bleeding, abnormal hemoglobin formation (such as in sickle cell anemia), iron, B12 (pernicious anemia), or folate deficiency, rupture of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia), and bone marrow diseases. |
| ANEURISM: |
A swelling in the wall of the artery. |
| ANGIOPLASTY: |
Method for dilating narrowed or blocked part of a blood vessel. |
| ANISOCORIA: |
Unequal pupil size. |
| ANOMALAD: |
A syndrome where the characteristics vary from the normal. |
| ANOPTHALMA: |
Congenital absence of one or both eyes. |
| ANOXIA: |
A lack of oxygen in body tissues. |
| ANTENATAL: |
Before birth; also called prenatal. |
| ANTERIOR: |
In front, or towards the front. |
| ANTERIOR FONTANELLE: |
The soft spot towards the front of the top of an infant's head, representing the incomplete joining of the component skull-bones and providing a clinical method of assessment of degree of dehydration or pressure of fluid within the brain (as in meningitis). |
| ANTERIOR HORN CELLS: |
Nerve cells in spine and connected to muscles. When damaged muscles become partially or wholly paralysed. |
| ANTEVERSION: |
An organ that is leaning forward is anteverted. |
| ANTEVERTED: |
Turned forwards, from their normal downwards direction in this case of the nostrils. |
| ANTIBODY: |
A protein produced by a plasma cell in the lymphatic system or bone marrow. An antibody binds to the specific antigen that has stimulated the immune system. Once bound, the antigen can be destroyed by other cells of the immune system. |
| ANUS: |
Outlet of the rectum, through which fecal waste passes. |
| AORTA: |
Largest artery in the body; it carries blood from the heart's left ventricle and distributes it throughout the body. |
| AORTIC ANEURYSM: |
Localised ballooning of the aorta, potentially causing pressure on adjacent structures and liability to rupture. |
| AORTIC ARCH: |
Click here to learn more (diagrams and images available). |
| AORTIC INSUFFICIENCY: |
Failure of the aortic valve to prevent backflow of oxygen-rich blood from aorta to left ventricle, resulting in dilatation, hypertrophy and ultimately failure of the pumping mechanism. |
| AORTIC VALVE: |
Valve located where the aorta meets the left ventricle of the heart. It allows the blood to flow from the heart into the aorta and prevents back flow. |
| APGAR SCORE: |
An evaluation of a newborn's physical condition after birth that enables professionals to quickly identify the infant at risk. It is the sum of ratings (0, 1, & 2) on five criteria; Appearance or coloring, Pulse (heart rate), Grimace (responsiveness to stimuli), Activity (muscle tone), and Respiration. (The first letter in each word combines to make the acronym APGAR.) Ratings are taken at one minute and again at five minutes after birth. |
| APHASIC: |
Defect or loss of power to produce or understand spoken or written speech. |
| APLASTIC: |
Lack of development of a tissue or an organ. |
| APLASTIC ANEMIA: |
Deficiency of all of the formed elements of the blood (red and white blood cells and platelets) due to a failure of bone marrow production. |
| APNEA: |
Cessation of breathing. |
| APNEIC SPELLS: |
Periods of cessation of spontaneous breathing, characteristic of prematurity and newborn brain-damage. |
| APPENDIX: |
Vestigial tubular pouch of cecum. |
| APRAXIA: |
Inability to perform purposeful voluntary movements, the nature and mechanism of which are understood in the absence of motor or sensory impairment. |
| AQUEOUS HUMOR: |
A fluid that lies between the lens and cornea of the eye. |
| ARACHNOIDITIS: |
Inflammation of the middle (arachnoid mater) of 3 linings of the spinal cord and the subarachnoid space containing the cerebrospinal fluid. |
| ARRHYTHMIA: |
Abnormal rate or rhythm of the heartbeat. |
| ARTERIOLE: |
A tiny branch of an artery. |
| ARTERY: |
A large blood vessel that carries blood high in oxygen content away from the heart to other parts of the body. Arteries are thicker and have walls that are stronger and more elastic than the walls of veins. |
| ASCENDING AORTA: |
The first part of the major trunk carrying oxygen-risk blood from the heart to the rest of the body. |
| ASPIRATION: |
Removal of fluids by suction from cavities such as the nose, throat or lungs; also, the inhalation into the lungs of fluids, such as water in drowning or stomach contents in vomiting. |
| ASTIGMATISM: |
A refractive problem that occurs when the surface of the cornea is uneven or structurally defective, preventing the light rays from converging at a point. |
| ASYMMETRICAL: |
Lack of symmetry, i.e., lack of similarity between corresponding parts or organs on opposite sides of the body that are normally alike. This imbalance may cause poor body functioning. |
| ASYMPTOMATIC: |
Not showing any signs of the condition. |
| ATAXIA: |
A condition wherein the individual experiences extreme difficulties in controlling fine and gross motor movements and balance. Resulting from damage to the cerebellum. |
| ATHETOSIS: |
1. A condition characterized by constant, contorted twisting motions in the wrists and fingers.
2. Slow, smooth movements; mostly involving muscles of the arms and legs. |
| ATONIA: |
A condition evidenced by lack of muscle tone. |
| ATRESIA: |
Congenital absence of an opening in a hollow structure. |
| ATRIAL: |
Referring to the two thin walled cavities of the heart. |
| ATRIOVENTRICULAR: |
Between the atria and ventricles. |
| ATRIOVENTRICULAR BLOCK: |
Block of the electrical signal between the atria and ventricles; can vary in severity from first, second or third degree (complete heart block). |
| ATRIOVENTRICULAR NODE: |
Also called AV node: cluster of cells between the atria and ventricles that slows the electrical current of the heart as it passes through to the ventricles. |
| ATRIUM: |
One of two small upper receiving chambers of the heart; plural form is "atria." |
| ATROPHY: |
Wasting away. |
| ATYPICAL HYPERPLASIA: |
Cells that are both abnormal (atypical) and increased in number. Benign microscopic breast changes known as atypical hyperplasia moderately increase a woman's risk of developing breast cancer. |
| AURA: |
Sensation felt before the onset of a convulsion or migraine headache. |
| AURAL: |
Of the ear or hearing. |
| AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE: |
1. Disorder of the body's immune system in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys body tissue that it believes to be foreign. Insulin-dependent diabetes is an autoimmune disease because the immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells.
2. Illnesses which occur when the body tissues are attacked by its own immune system. The immune system is a complex organization within the body that is designed normally to "seek and destroy" invaders of the body, particularly infections. Patients with these diseases have unusual antibodies in their blood that target their own body tissues. |
| AUTOSOMAL: |
Everyone gets 1 chromozome from their mother and one from their father. The mother's chromozome is always an "X", and the father gives either an "X" (which causes a female child) or a "Y" (which causes a male child). If a disorder is autosomal it is found on both the x and y chromozomes. |
| AUTOPSY: |
Examination of tissues and organs of the body after death. |
| AXILLA: |
Armpit. |
