Copy of `MediChecks - Medical glossary`

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MediChecks - Medical glossary Category: Health and Medicine Date & country: 06/01/2008, UK Words: 1901

Conjunctivitis
inflammation of the conjunctiva; commonly called pinkeye

Connective tissue
strong tissue that connects and supports body structures

Conjunctiva
the clear membrane covering the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelid that produces a fluid that lubricates the cornea and eyelid

Congestive heart failure
inability of the heart to efficiently pump blood through the body, causing build-up of blood in the veins and of other body fluids in tissue

Congenital
present or existing at the time of birth

Concussion
disturbance of electrical activity in the brain due to a blow to the head or neck, causing temporary loss of consciousness

Computed tomography scanning
a technique for producing cross-sectional images of the body in which X-rays are passed through the body at different angles and analysed by a computer; also called CT scanning or CAT scanning

Compression fracture
a break in a short bone in which its soft tissue is crushed

Communicable disease
a disease that can be passed from one individual to another

Compound fracture
a bone break that breaks the skin

Common cold
an infection caused by a virus, which results in an inflamed lining of the nose and throat; characterised by a stuffy and runny nose and, sometimes, a sore throat

Comminuted fracture
a crushed or shattered bone

Coma
a condition in which the area of the brain involved in maintaining consciousness is somehow affected, resulting in a state of unconsciousness in which the patient does not respond to stimulation

Colour blindness
any vision disorder in which the person sees colours abnormally, has trouble distinguishing between them, or cannot see them at all

Colostomy
a surgical procedure in which some part of the colon is cut and moved to the surface of the abdomen so that faeces can be passed into a bag worn outside of the body

Colon
the main part of the large intestine, between the cecum and the rectum

Colonoscopy
investigation of the inside of the colon using a long, flexible fibre-optic tube

Collapsed lung
a condition in which all or part of a lung cannot expand and fill with air

Colitis
inflammation of the large intestine (the colon), which usually leads to abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhoea with blood and mucus

Colic
waves of pain in the abdomen that increase in strength, disappear, and return; usually caused by a stone blocking a bile or urine passageway or an intestinal infection

Colectomy
the complete or partial surgical removal of the large intestine (the colon), usually as treatment of a cancerous tumour or a narrowing and blockage of the intestine

Coitus
sexual intercourse

Cold sore
a small blister anywhere around the mouth that is caused by the herpes simplex virus

Cochlea
a coiled organ in the inner ear that plays a large role in hearing by picking up sound vibrations and transmitting them as electrical signals

Coccyx
four fused bones that form a triangular shape at the base of the spine (also known as the tailbone)

Cocarcinogen
a substance that does not cause cancer by itself, but increases the effect of a substance that does cause cancer

Coagulation
a process that plays a large role in the hardening and thickening of blood to form a clot

Cluster headache
severe pain that occurs suddenly and affects one side of the head, including the face and neck

CNS
see Central nervous system

Clubfoot
a genetic disorder in which the foot is twisted and misshapen

Closed fracture
a bone break that does not break the skin

Clotting factor
a substance in the blood that is needed for blood to harden and stop a wound from bleeding

Clone
an exact copy of a gene, cell, or organism

Clitoris
a small female organ located near the opening of the vagina that swells when sexually aroused

Clinical trial
carefully monitored and planned testing of a new drug or treatment

Cleft palate
a birth defect in which the roof of the mouth is split, extending from behind the teeth to the nasal cavity; often occurs with other birth defects such as cleft lip and partial deafness

Cleft lip
a birth defect in which the upper lip is split vertically, extending into one or both nostrils

Clavicle
the medical term for the collarbone

Claustrophobia
fear of being confined in an enclosed or crowded space

Claudication
a cramping pain in one or both legs while walking, which can cause limping

Cirrhosis of the liver
gradual loss of liver function due to cell damage and internal scarring

Cilia
tiny, hair-like structures on the outside of some cells, providing mobility

Circumcision
the surgical removal of the foreskin of the penis

Chronic obstructive lung disease
a combination of the lung diseases emphysema and bronchitis, characterised by blockage of airflow in and out of the lungs

Chronic
describes a disorder that continues for a long period of time

Chromosome analysis
examination of a person's chromosomes either to determine if that person has an abnormality or to investigate one

Choroiditis
inflammation of the blood vessels behind the retina that line the back of the eye

Chorionic villus sampling
a method of diagnosing foetal defects in which a small amount of tissue is taken from the placenta and analysed for abnormalities

Chondrosarcoma
a cancerous cartilage tumour that develops inside of bone or on its surface

Chondromalacia patellae
painful damage to the cartilage behind the kneecap

Chondritis
inflammation of cartilage

Chondroma
a noncancerous tumour that occurs in cartilage

Cholesterol
a substance in body cells that plays a role in the production of hormones and bile salts and in the transport of fats in the bloodstream

Cholera
a bacterial infection of the small intestine that causes severe watery diarrhoea, dehydration, and possibly death

Cholecystectomy
the surgical removal of the gallbladder

Chlamydia
micro-organisms that cause several human infections and can be transmitted sexually

Chickenpox
a contagious disease that causes a rash and a fever; most commonly occurs during childhood

Chemotherapy
the treatment of infections or cancer with drugs that act on disease-producing organisms or cancerous tissue; may also affect normal cells

Chancre
a painless sore that has a thick, rubbery base and a defined edge; usually occurs on the genitals after the contraction of the sexually transmitted disease syphilis

Cervix
a small, round organ making up the neck of the uterus and separating it from the vagina

Cervicitis
inflammation of the cervix

Cervical smear
a procedure in which cells are scraped off of the cervix and examined to detect changes that might precede the stages of cancer; also called a Pap smear

Cervical incompetence
a weakness of the neck of the uterus, which can lead to spontaneous abortion due to an inability to support the weight of the foetus

Cervical dysplasia
changes that occur in the cells on the surface of the cervix that usually precede the stages of cancer

Cerebrum
the largest part of the brain and the site of most of its activity, including sensory and motor functions

Cervical cap
a small rubber cup that is placed tightly over the cervix to prevent pregnancy

Cerebrovascular disease
a disease affecting any artery supplying blood to the brain; may cause blockage or rupture of a blood vessel, leading to a stroke

Cerebrospinal fluid
a clear, watery fluid circulating in and around the brain and spinal column, which contains glucose, proteins, and salts for nutrition

Cerebral palsy
a group of disorders of movement and posture resulting from damage to the brain early in a child's development; causes muscle weakness, difficulty co-ordinating voluntary movements, and sometimes complete loss of motion

Central nervous system
the brain and spinal cord

Cerebellum
a region of the brain located at the back; responsible for co-ordination of movement and maintaining balance

Cellulitis
a skin infection caused by bacteria (usually streptococci); can lead to tissue damage and blood poisoning if untreated; characterised by fever, chills, heat, tenderness, and redness

Cell
the tiny structures that make up all the tissues of the body and carry out all of its functions

Cecum
the beginning of the large intestine, which is connected to the appendix at its lower end

Cauterisation
the use of heat, an electric current, or a chemical to destroy tissue or stop bleeding

Cauliflower ear
a deformed ear caused by repeated injury

Catheterization
a technique in which a hollow, flexible tube is used to drain body fluids (such as urine), to introduce fluids into the body, or to examine or widen a narrowed vein or artery

Catheter
a hollow, flexible tube inserted into the body to put in or take out fluid, or to open up or close blood vessels

Cataract
a disorder in which the lens of the eye becomes less transparent and in some cases a milky white, making vision less clear

Cat-scratch fever
an illness transmitted to humans through a cat's bite or scratch, which is thought to be caused by an unidentified bacteria; characterised by a swollen lymph node or blister near the bite or scratch, fever, rash, and headache; most commonly occurring in children

CAT scanning
see Computed tomography scanning

Cast
a hard plaster or fibreglass shell that moulds to a body part such as an arm and holds it in place for proper healing

Cartilage
a connective tissue (softer than bone) that is part of the skeletal system, including the joints

Carotid arteries
four main arteries that carry blood to the head and neck

Carpal bones
eight bones that together make the wrist

Carpal tunnel syndrome
a condition in which pressure on the median nerve in the wrist causes soreness, tingling, and numbness in the thumb and index and middle fingers

Carotene
an orange pigment present in coloured plants such as carrots that is converted by the body to the essential nutrient vitamin A

Carditis
inflammation of the heart

Cardiovascular system
the heart and blood vessels that are responsible for circulating blood throughout the body

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
the administration of heart compression and artificial respiration to restore circulation and breathing

Cardiomyopathy
a disease of the heart muscle that results in decreased output and reduced blood flow

Cardiogenic shock
a severely dangerous condition involving decreased blood output from the heart, usually as a result of a heart attack

Cardiomegaly
a condition marked by enlargement of the heart, either because of a thickened heart muscle or an enlarged heart chamber; usually a result of the heart having to work harder than normal, as occurs with high blood pressure

Cardiac arrest
the sudden cessation of the heart's pumping action, possibly due to a heart attack, respiratory arrest, electrical shock, extreme cold, blood loss, drug overdose, or a severe allergic reaction

Carcinoma
a cancer that occurs on the surface or lining of an organ

Carbon dioxide
a colourless, odourless gas present in small amounts in the atmosphere and formed during respiration

Carcinogen
anything that can cause cancer

Carbohydrate
a substance, mainly sugar and starch, that is a main source of energy for the body and is found in sources such as cereals, breads, pastas, grains, and vegetables

Capillary
a tiny blood vessel that connects the smallest arteries to the smallest veins and allows exchange of oxygen and other materials between blood cells and body tissue cells

Canker sore
small, painful sore that usually occurs on the inside of the lip or cheek, or sometimes under the tongue; caused by bacteria, irritation of the area, stress, or allergies