Copy of `MediChecks - Medical glossary`

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

Candidiasis
a yeast infection caused by the fungus Candida albicans; occurs most often in the vagina, but also in the mouth, on moist skin, or on the penis

Cancer staging
a method to determine how much a cancer has developed

Cancer
a group of diseases in which cells grow unrestrained in an organ or tissue in the body; can spread to tissues around it and destroy them or be transported through blood or lymph pathways to other parts of the body

Canal
a tunnel-like passage

Calorie
a unit that is used to measure the energy content in food

Callus
a thickened area of skin due to consistent pressure or friction, or the area around a bone break where new bone is formed

Calcium channel blocker
a drug used to treat chest pain, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat by preventing the movement of calcium into the muscle

Calcium
a plentiful mineral in the body and the basic component of teeth and bones; essential for cell function, muscle contraction, transmission of nerve impulses, and blood clotting

Calcitonin
a hormone made in the thyroid gland that controls calcium levels in the blood by slowing the loss of calcium from bones; used to treat hypercalcaemia (excess calcium in the blood)

Calcification
the depositing of calcium salts in the body, which occurs normally in teeth and bones but abnormally in injured muscles and narrowed arteries

Caesarean section
an operation performed to remove a foetus by cutting into the uterus, usually through the abdominal wall

Bypass
a surgical technique in which the flow of blood or another body fluid is redirected around a blockage

Bursitis
inflammation of a bursa due to excessive pressure or friction, or from injury

Butterfly bandage
a butterfly-shaped bandage that can help close a minor cut for proper healing

Bursa
a fluid-filled sac that cushions and reduces friction in certain parts of the body

Burkitt's lymphoma
a cancer of lymph tissue that most frequently occurs in the abdomen, the ovaries, and the bones of the face; it is associated with malaria

Bunion
a hard, fluid-filled pad along the inside joint of the big toe; may be caused by wearing high-heeled shoes or a genetically weak joint

Bulimia
a disorder in which a person eats large amounts of food then forces vomiting or uses laxatives to prevent weight gain (called binging and purging)

Bubonic plague
a form of plague in which lymph nodes in the groin and armpit swell

Bruxism
an unaware clenching or grinding of the teeth, usually during sleep

Bruise
see Contusion

Bronchodilator
a drug that widens the airways in the lungs to improve breathing; works by relieving muscle contraction or build-up of mucus

Bronchospasm
the temporary narrowing of the airways in the lungs, either as a result of muscle contraction or inflammation; may be caused by asthma, infection, lung disease, or an allergic reaction

Bronchoconstrictor
a substance that causes the lung airways to tighten up and become more narrow

Bronchitis
inflammation of the bronchial tubes, which connect the trachea to the lungs

Bronchiolitis
an infection caused by a virus in the bronchioles (the smallest airways in the lungs), mainly affecting young children

Brain death
the condition in which the brain stops functioning while the heart continues to beat

Breech birth
childbirth in which the baby is turned around in the uterus and emerges head-last instead of head-first

Brain damage
permanent death or damage of brain cells resulting in decreased mental ability

Bradycardia
a slow heart rate, usually below 60 beats per minute in adults

Bowel
see Intestine

Booster
an additional dose of a vaccine taken after the first dose to maintain or renew the first one

Botulism
poisoning from poorly preserved food contaminated with a dangerous bacterial toxin that results in paralysis

Bone spur
an abnormal growth of bone out of another bone, often located on the heel and usually painful

Bone marrow transplant
a surgical procedure in which defective or cancerous bone marrow is replaced with healthy marrow, either from the patient or a donor

Boil
an inflamed, raised area of skin that is pus-filled; usually an infected hair follicle

Bone marrow
the fatty yellow or red tissue inside bones that is responsible for producing blood cells

Blood-brain barrier
a layer of tightly bound cells that prevents certain substances carried in the bloodstream from entering the brain

Blood transfusion
the transfer of blood or any of its parts to a person who has lost blood due to an injury, disease, or operation

Blood type
a category used to describe a person's blood according to the kinds of proteins present on the surface of the red blood cells

Blood poisoning
see Septicaemia

Blood pressure
the tension in the main arteries that is created by the beating of the heart and the resistance to flow and elasticity of the blood vessels

Blood clot
a semisolid mass of blood that forms to help seal and prevent bleeding from a damaged vessel

Blind spot
a spot in the field of vision that is not sensitive to light; it is a product of the entrance of the optic nerve into the eyeball, where no light receptors are present on the retina

Bisexuality
sexual interest in members of both sexes

Blepharitis
inflammation of the eyelids

Birthmark
any area of discoloured skin that is present when a baby is born

Birth defect
an abnormality that is present when a baby is born

Birth control
the regulation of the number of children born, referring either to the prevention of pregnancy (by birth control pill, sterilisation, etc) or the prevention of birth (by abortion, etc)

Birth canal
the passage that includes the uterus and vagina through which the baby passes at birth

Bipolar disorder
an illness in which the patient goes back and forth between opposite extremes; the most notable bipolar disorder is manic-depressive disorder, which is characterised by extreme highs and lows in mood

Biofeedback
a technique used to gain control over a function that is normally automatic (such as blood pressure or pulse rate); the function is monitored and relaxation techniques are used to change it to a desired level

Bioequivalent
a drug that has the same effect on the body as another drug

Biochemistry
the science that studies the chemistry of living organisms, including humans

Binging and purging
behaviour characteristic of the disorder bulimia in which a person overeats then rids themselves of the food before it can be absorbed by the body, either by forced vomiting or through the use of laxatives

Bilirubin
the orange-yellow pigment in bile, causing jaundice if it builds up in the blood and skin; the levels of bilirubin in the blood are used to diagnose liver disease

Biliary tract
the system of organs and ducts through which bile is made and transported from the liver to the small intestine

Biliary colic
a severe pain in the upper right section of the abdomen, usually caused by a gallstone passing out of the bladder or through the bile ducts

Biliary atresia
a birth defect in which the bile ducts are not completely developed; often a liver transplant is necessary

Bile duct
a tube that carries bile from the liver to the gallbladder and then to the small intestine

Bilateral
a term describing a condition that affects both sides of the body or two paired organs, such as bilateral deafness (deafness in both ears)

Bifocal
a lens that corrects both near and distant vision by having two parts with different focusing strengths

Beta carotene
a pigment found in orange vegetables and fruits, which the body converts to vitamin A; possibly protects against cancer

Beta blocker
a type of drug used to treat high blood pressure and heart disorders by reducing the strength and rate of the pumping by the heart

Bends
see Decompression sickness

Benign tumour
a tumour that is not cancerous, which means it does not spread through the body, but may grow and become dangerous

Bell's palsy
another name for facial palsy, the usually one-sided, temporary numbing of the facial muscles, caused by an inflamed nerve

Becker's muscular dystrophy
a hereditary disease in which the muscles weaken and waste away; similar to Duchenne muscular dystrophy but starts later in life and advances more slowly

BCG vaccine
a vaccine used to protect against tuberculosis

Basal metabolic rate
the lowest rate at which a person can possibly use energy and remain alive; at this rate, only absolutely necessary functions such as breathing are maintained

Basal cell carcinoma
a type of skin cancer that is caused by exposure to large amounts of sunlight; commonly found on the neck, face, and arms

Bartholin's glands
two pea-sized glands that, when sexually aroused, release a fluid that lubricates the vagina

Barrier method of contraception
a birth-control technique using a condom, diaphragm, or another similar device to block the path of sperm to an egg

Barium enema
a technique in which barium is placed into the large intestine and rectum and then X-rays are taken to check for possible disorders of these organs

Barbiturates
a group of sedatives that reduce activity in the brain; are habit-forming and are possibly fatal when taken with alcohol

Balloon catheter
a hollow tube with a small, inflatable balloon at the tip; used to open a narrowed artery or organ that has become blocked

Balloon angioplasty
a technique that uses a balloon catheter to open arteries clogged with fatty deposits

Ball-and-socket joint
a joint consisting of a ball-shaped bone that fits into a cup-shaped bone, making the joint free to rotate; examples include the hip and shoulder

Bacteriuria
bacteria in the urine; large amounts can indicate bladder, urethra, or kidney infection

Bacterium
a tiny, single-celled micro-organism, commonly known as a germ; some bacteria, called pathogens, cause disease

Bacteriostatic
term used to describe a substance that stops the growth of bacteria (such as an antibiotic)

Bacteraemia
a condition in which bacteria are present in the bloodstream; may occur after minor surgery or infection and may be dangerous for people with a weakened immune system or abnormal heart valves

Bacillus
any bacteria that is rod-shaped; responsible for diphtheria, dysentery, tetanus, and tuberculosis, as well as other diseases

Axilla
medical term for the armpit

Autosomal recessive
a term used to describe a gene on any chromosome other than the sex chromosomes that produces its effect only when two copies of it are present; can also describe the effect of the gene itself

Autosomal dominant
a term describing a gene on any chromosome other than the sex chromosomes that produces its effect whenever it is present; can also describe the effect of the gene itself

Autopsy
the examination of a body following death, possibly to determine the cause of death or for research

Autonomic nervous system
the part of the nervous system that controls automatic body functions, such as heart rate, sweating, pupil dilation, and digestion; divided into the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system

Autoimmune disease
a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks itself

Autism
a mental disorder characterised by an inability to relate to other people and extreme withdrawal

Auscultation
the act of listening to sounds within the body, such as the heartbeat, with a stethoscope

Aura
a 'warning' signal that comes before a migraine headache or an epileptic seizure, which might include emotions or sensations of movement or discomfort

Audiogram
a graph showing a person's hearing ability, determined from a set of tests examining hearing acuity of different sound frequencies

Attention-deficit disorder
a disorder mainly present in children and adolescents, characterised by learning and behaviour problems, inability to pay attention, and sometimes hyperactivity

Atrophy
the shrinkage or near disappearance of a tissue or organ

Atrial flutter
an irregular heartbeat in which the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat rapidly but consistently

Atrial fibrillation
an irregular heartbeat in which the upper chambers of the heart (the atria) beat inconsistently and rapidly

Atria
the two upper chambers of the heart; the singular form is atrium

Atresia
a birth defect in which a normal body opening or canal is absent; usually requires surgical repair soon after birth

Athlete's foot
an infection between the toes caused by a fungus, which leads to sore, cracked, and peeling skin