Copy of `MediChecks - Medical glossary`

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

Salpingostomy
surgical opening of a fallopian tube for drainage or removal of an obstruction

Salpingography
X-ray examination of the fallopian tubes

Salpingo-oophorectomy
the surgical removal of one or both of the fallopian tubes and one or both of the ovaries

Salpingitis
inflammation of a fallopian tube

Salmonellosis
infection by salmonella bacteria

Salpingectomy
surgical removal of one or both fallopian tubes

Salmonella
a group of bacteria; includes a species that causes food poisoning and another responsible for typhoid fever

Salivary glands
a group of glands that secrete saliva into the mouth

Safe sex
measures taken to reduce the risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease, such as the use of a condom

Saline
a salt solution or any substance that contains salt

SADS
see Seasonal affective disorder syndrome

Sacrum
the triangular bone located at the bottom of the spine that is connected to the tailbone, the hipbones near the sacroilial joints, and the rest of the spine

Sacroiliitis
inflammation of the sacroiliac joints, which causes pain in the lower body

Saccharides
a group of carbohydrates, including sugars and starches

Rubeola
another term for measles

Rupture
a tear or break in an organ or tissue

Rotator cuff
a structure made up of four muscle tendons that reinforces the shoulder joint

Roundworm
a group of worms that includes many of the major human parasites

Rubella
a mild viral infection (also known as German measles) that produces a rash and fever; dangerous when it infects a woman during the early stages of pregnancy, when it can spread causing birth defects in the foetus

Roseola infantum
a common disease in young children characterised by a sudden fever and rash

Rosacea
a skin disorder that is characterised by patches of red skin on the nose and cheeks and acne-like bumps; most commonly occurs in middle-aged women

Rocky mountain spotted fever
a rare disease transmitted to humans through the bites of ticks; characterised by small pink spots on the wrists and ankles that spread to other parts of the body, become larger, and bleed

RNA
ribonucleic acid, which helps to decode and process the information contained in DNA

Rinne's test
a test that uses a tuning fork to diagnose hearing loss resulting from poor conduction of sound from the outer to the inner ear

Ringworm
a skin infection caused by a fungus that spreads out in an even circle, characterised by ring-like, scaly patches of red skin

Rickets
a childhood disease in which bones lack calcium and are deformed as a result of vitamin D deficiency (vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium)

Rigor mortis
the stiffness that occurs in the body after death

Riboflavin
a vitamin belonging to the vitamin B complex that is important in many processes in the body and helps to maintain healthy skin

Rhinoplasty
surgery that changes the structure of the nose, either to improve appearance or to correct a deformity or injury

Rhythm method
a method of preventing pregnancy in which a couple does not have sexual intercourse during the days of the menstrual cycle during which fertilisation can occur

Rhinophyma
a bulb-shaped deformity and redness of the nose as a result of severe rosacea

Rheumatoid factors
antibodies that are present in about 80% of people with rheumatoid arthritis; their detection through blood testing can help to diagnose the disorder

Rhinitis
inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the nose, which can cause sneezing, runny nose, congestion, and pain; when caused by substances in the air, it is called allergic rhinitis or hay fever

Rheumatoid arthritis
a condition in which joints in the body become inflamed, stiff, painful, and sometimes deformed because of the body's own immune system attacking the tissues

Rheumatic fever
a disorder that follows a throat infection by the streptococcus bacteria and causes inflammation in body tissues

Rh sensitised
a condition in which a woman who has a negative Rh factor develops permanent antibodies against Rh-positive blood as a result of exposure to the blood of her foetus; can cause foetal haemolysis in subsequent pregnancies

Rh incompatibility
a condition in which a pregnant woman's Rh factor does not match that of the foetus; can lead to the production of antibodies by the mother that destroy the foetus' red blood cells

Rh blood group
a blood group classifying whether the substances called Rhesus (Rh) factors are present on the surface of red blood cells; the 'positive' or 'negative' designation in blood classification (for example, 'O negative')

Rh immunoglobulin
a substance used to prevent a woman who is Rh incompatible with her foetus from becoming Rh sensitised

Reye's syndrome
a rare disorder mainly affecting those under the age of 15 that is characterised by brain and liver damage following a viral infection such as chickenpox or the flu; may be linked to taking aspirin to treat a viral infection

Retroviruses
a group of viruses that are made up of RNA instead of DNA, including HIV and the virus that causes T-cell leukaemia

Retinoscopy
a method of determining focusing errors of the eye in which light is shined through the pupil and the reflected beam is measured

Retinopathy
any disease or disorder of the retina; usually refers to damage to the retina caused by high blood pressure or diabetes mellitus

Retinoid
a substance resembling vitamin A that is used to treat skin conditions such as acne and has been reported to reduce skin wrinkling

Retinitis pigmentosa
gradual loss of the field of vision, owing to a degeneration of the light-sensitive nerve cells of the retina

Retinoblastoma
a hereditary, cancerous tumour of the retina affecting infants and children

Retinal artery occlusion
obstruction of an artery that supplies blood to the retina, resulting in some degree of temporary or permanent blindness

Reticulocyte
an immature red blood cell

Retina
a membrane lining the inside of the back of the eye that contains light-sensitive nerve cells that convert focused light into nerve impulses, making vision possible

Respiratory system
the organs that carry out the process of respiration

Resting pulse
the pulse rate when a person is not experiencing any physical activity or mental stress

Respiratory failure
the failure of the body to exchange gases properly, which leads to a build-up of carbon dioxide and a lack of oxygen in the blood

Respirator
another term for a ventilator

Respiratory arrest
a condition in which a person suddenly stops breathing

Respiratory distress syndrome
a condition experienced after an illness or injury damages the lungs, causing severe breathing difficulty and resulting in a life-threatening lack of oxygen in the blood

Respiration
the process by which oxygen is taken in and used by tissues in the body and carbon dioxide is released

Resection
partial or complete surgical removal of a diseased organ or structure

Reproductive system
the organs and structures that allow men and women to have sexual intercourse and produce children

Repetitive strain injury
an injury that occurs when the same movement is repeated continuously

Renal tubular acidosis
inability of the kidneys to remove sufficient amounts of acid from the body, making the blood more acidic than normal

Renin
an enzyme that plays a role in increasing a low blood pressure

Renal colic
severe pain on one side of the lower back, usually as a result of a kidney stone

Renal cell carcinoma
the most common type of kidney cancer

REM sleep
rapid eye movement sleep; the stage of sleep in which dreaming occurs

Remission
the temporary disappearance of a disease or its symptoms, either partially or completely; also refers to the time period in which this occurs

Relapse
the return of a disease or symptom after it had disappeared

Reiter's syndrome
a disorder characterised by inflammation of the joints, urethra, and sometimes the conjunctiva

Rehabilitation
treatment for an injury or illness aimed at restoring physical abilities

Rehydration
treatment for dehydration (an abnormally low level of water in the body) in which levels are restored by taking fluids containing water, salt, and glucose by mouth or, if severe, through a vein

Regurgitation
the backflow of fluid; can refer to food and drink flowing back up from the stomach into the mouth or blood flowing back into the heart through a defective heart valve

Reflux oesophagitis
the backflow of gastric acid from the stomach to the lower oesophagus, owing to a defect in the valve that separates them

Referred pain
pain felt in a part of the body remote from the site where pain originates

Reflex
an automatic, involuntary response of the nervous system to a stimulus

Reduction of fracture
the realignment of the broken ends of a bone

Rectum
a short tube located at the end of the large intestine, which connects the intestine to the anus

Red blood cell
a doughnut-shaped blood cell that carries oxygen from the lungs to body tissues

Reconstructive surgery
surgery to rebuild part of the body that has been damaged or defective from birth

Rectal prolapse
bulging of the lining of the rectum through the anus, usually due to straining during a bowel movement

Recessive gene
a gene that does not produce its effect when it occurs with a dominant gene, but produces its effect only when there are two copies of it

Receptor
a nerve cell that responds to a stimulus and produces a nerve impulse; also refers to the area on the surface of a cell that a chemical must bind to in order to have its effect

Raynaud's disease
a condition in which the fingers and toes become pale when exposed to cold or emotional stress, owing to sudden narrowing of the arteries that supply them with blood

Rales
abnormal crackling or bubbling sounds heard in the lungs during breathing

Rash
an area of inflammation or a group of spots on the skin

Radius
one of the two long bones of the forearm, located on the thumb side of the arm

Radon
a colourless, odourless, tasteless radioactive gas that is produced by materials in soil, rocks, and building materials; suspected of causing cancer

Radionuclide scanning
an imaging technique in which a radioactive substance is introduced into the body and its emitted radiation is detected; specific organs can be studied according to the amount of the radioactive substance that they absorb

Radiography
the formation of images of the inside of the body using radiation projected through the body and onto film; a radiograph is also called an X-ray

Radioallergosorbent test
a blood test performed to help determine the cause of an allergy by detecting the presence of antibodies to various allergens

Radical surgery
treatment of disease by surgically removing all tissue that is or may be affected

Radiculopathy
any disease of the nerve roots; can be caused by disk prolapse, arthritis, and other problems

Radiation therapy
treatment of a disease, such as cancer, using forms of radioactivity that damage or destroy abnormal cells

Radiation
a variety of types of energy, such as X-rays and ultraviolet

Radial keratotomy
a surgical procedure for correcting near-sightedness in which tiny cuts are made in the cornea to change its shape and focusing properties

Rabies
an infectious viral disease primarily affecting animals; can be transmitted to humans through an infected animal's bite; if untreated, can result in paralysis and death

Quadriceps muscle
the muscle (consisting of 4 distinct parts) located at the front of the thigh that straightens the leg

Pyuria
the presence of white blood cells in the urine; usually an indication of kidney or urinary tract infection

Pyrogen
any substance that causes a fever

Pyrexia
a body temperature of above 98.6°F in the mouth or 99.8°F in the rectum

Pyloroplasty
surgical widening of the outlet between the stomach and small intestine

Pyloric stenosis
narrowing of the outlet located at the junction of the stomach and small intestine