Copy of `MediChecks - Medical glossary`

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

Thrombosis
a condition in which a blood clot (thrombus) has formed inside a blood vessel

Thrombophlebitis
inflammation of a vein, along with clot formation in the affected area

Thromboembolism
blockage of a blood vessel by a blood clot fragment that has broken off and travelled from another area of the body

Thrombectomy
removal of a blood clot

Thrombocytopenic purpura
a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood, causing abnormal bleeding of blood vessels into the skin

Thorax
the chest

Thrill
a vibration felt when the hand is placed flat on the chest; caused by abnormal blood flow through the heart as a result of disease

Thoracotomy
a procedure in which the chest is surgically opened to operate on an organ in the chest cavity

Therapeutic range
the range of doses of a drug that will produce beneficial results without side effects

Thoracoscopy
examination of the membranes covering the lungs using an endoscope

Thallium scanning
a type of radionuclide scanning used to assess the heart

Thalassemia
a group of genetic blood disorders characterised by a defect in the ability to produce haemoglobin, leading to the rupturing of red blood cells (called haemolytic anaemia)

Thalamus
a structure in the brain that relays and processes incoming sensory information from the eyes and ears and from pressure and pain receptors

Tetracyclines
a group of antibiotic drugs used to treat a wide variety of infections, including bronchitis and some types of pneumonia

Tetralogy of Fallot
a genetic heart disease involving four structural defects in the heart, which result in insufficient levels of oxygen in the blood

Tetanus
a sometimes fatal disease affecting the brain and spinal cord; caused by infection with bacterium present in soil and manure

Testosterone
the sex hormone that stimulates development of male sex characteristics and bone and muscle growth; produced by the testicles and in small amounts by the ovaries

Testicular torsion
severe pain and swelling of a testicle, due to twisting of the spermatic cord

Testicular feminisation factor
a genetic disorder in which an individual who is genetically male has the external appearance of a female because the body is unresponsive to testosterone

Testicles
the two male sex organs that produce sperm and the sex hormone testosterone

Termination of pregnancy
see Abortion

Teratoma
a tumour composed of cells not normally found in the part of the body when the tumour occurred

Teratogen
anything that causes abnormalities in a developing embryo or foetus, such as a drug or virus

TENS
see Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

Tension headache
a headache caused by emotional strain or tension in the muscles of the head and neck

Tenovaginitis
inflammation of the fibrous wall of the sheath that covers a tendon

Tenosynovitis
inflammation of the inner lining of the sheath that covers a tendon

Tennis elbow
a form of tendinitis that causes pain and tenderness in the elbow and forearm

Tendon transfer
surgical cutting and repositioning of a tendon so that the muscle attached to it has a new function

Tendon
strong connective tissue cords that attach muscle to bone or muscle to muscle

Tendinitis
inflammation of a tendon, usually caused by injury, characterised by pain, tenderness, and sometimes limited movement in the attached muscle

Temporomandibular joint syndrome
headache, facial pain, and jaw tenderness caused by irregularities in the way the joints, muscles, and ligaments in the jaw work together

Temporal arteritis
inflammation and narrowing of arteries in the head and neck, including those in the scalp near the temple, which can cause blindness if untreated

Temperature method
a natural method of family planning in which a woman determines her time of ovulation by changes in her daily temperature

Telangiectasia
redness of an area of skin, caused by enlargement and proliferation of the underlying small blood vessels

Tear duct
a tiny passageway that drains lubricating tears from the surface of the eye to the back of the nose

TB
see Tuberculosis

Tay-Sachs disease
a severe genetic disorder that causes nervous system disturbances and death, usually before the age of 3

Tartar
the hard deposit formed on teeth when mineral salts in saliva combine with plaque; can cause dental problems such as gum disease if not controlled

Tarsorrhaphy
a procedure in which the eyelids are sewn shut; performed to protect the corneas

Tar
the sticky, brown substance in cigarettes that coats the lungs; causes lung and other cancers

Tachycardia
a rapid heart rate (over 100 beats per minute)

Tapeworm
a parasitic worm that lives in the intestines; causes diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort

Systolic pressure
the blood pressure measured while the heart is contracting

Systemic
affecting the whole body

Systemic lupus erythematosus
a disease of the immune system that causes inflammation of connective tissue in many areas of the body, including the skin, lungs, heart, joints, and kidneys

Syphilis
a sexually transmitted disease; initially causes only painless sores on the genitals but can be life-threatening if untreated

Synovitus
inflammation of the membrane lining a joint capsule as a result of injury or infection or due to a chronic illness such as rheumatoid arthritis; characterised by redness, swelling, stiffness, and pain

Synovial membrane
the thin membrane that lines the inside of a joint capsule

Synovial fluid
a lubricating fluid secreted by the synovial membrane

Synovectomy
surgical removal of the synovial membrane

Syndrome
a group of symptoms that indicate a certain disorder when they occur together

Syndactyly
a condition in which fingers or toes are fused together

Sympathetic nervous system
the part of the autonomic nervous system that raises blood pressure and heart rate in response to stress

Swimmer's ear
see Otitis externa

Sycosis barbae
a bacterial infection of the hair follicles in the beard area

Sweat test
a measure of the saltiness of sweat to help diagnose cystic fibrosis

Sweat glands
tiny structures in the skin that secrete sweat

Suture
a surgical stitch that helps close an incision or wound so that it can heal properly

Surrogate
a woman who agrees to become pregnant and give her baby to someone else when the child is born

Surfactant
a mixture of substances secreted by the air sacs of the lungs that prevents the air sacs from collapsing during exhalation

Suppuration
the production of pus

Sudden infant death syndrome
the unexpected, sudden death of an apparently healthy baby, the cause of which cannot be found; also called crib death

Suppository
a solid cone or bullet-shaped object made up of a chemically inactive substance and a drug that is inserted into the rectum or vagina; used to administer a drug

Suction lipectomy
see Liposuction

Subcutaneous
a medical term meaning 'beneath the skin'

Submucosa
the layer of connective tissue under a mucous membrane

Stye
a pus-filled abscess in the follicle of an eyelash; caused by a bacterial infection

Stroke
damage to part of the brain because of a lack of blood supply (due to a blockage in an artery) or the rupturing of a blood vessel; leads to complete or partial loss of function in the area of the body that is controlled by the damaged part of the brain

Stretch marks
lines on the skin that occur when the inner skin layer is stretched thin and loses its elasticity

Stress fracture
a bone break resulting from repeated pressure on the bone

Streptococci
bacteria that cause a variety of diseases, including pneumonia and strep throat

Strep throat
a throat infection caused by streptococcus bacteria; characterised by a sore throat, fever, and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck

Straight-leg raising
a simple test performed in a doctor's office to check for disk prolapse

Strain
muscle damage resulting from excessive stretching or forceful contraction

Strangulated hernia
a hernia in which the protruding organ or tissue loses its blood supply, requiring emergency surgery

Strawberry nevus
a bright red, raised birthmark that usually disappears without treatment

Strabismus
a condition in which the eyes are not aligned correctly, such as cross-eye (one eye points inward) and walleye (one eye points outward)

Stomach stapling
a procedure in which the stomach is made smaller by partitioning it off using metal staples; used as an extreme treatment of severe obesity

Stool
another term for faeces

Stomach bypass
a surgical procedure to treat an obstructed stomach or severe obesity in which the passage of food is diverted around the stomach and directly into the small intestine

Stoma
a surgically formed opening on a body surface

Stillbirth
a baby that is born dead after the 28th week of pregnancy; also called late foetal death

Steroids
a group of drugs that includes corticosteroids, which resemble hormones produced by the adrenal glands, and anabolic steroids, which are similar to the hormones produced by the male sex organs

Sternum
the long, flat bone located at the centre of the chest

Sterilisation
a surgery performed to make a person incapable of reproducing; also refers to the process of killing micro-organisms on objects such as surgical instruments

Stereotaxic surgery
brain surgery done through a small opening in the skull and guided by X-rays or computer-aided imaging techniques

Stent
a device used to hold tissues in place, such as to support a skin graft

Stem cells
cells that give rise to the different types of blood cells

Stenosis
narrowing of a body passageway

STD
see Sexually transmitted disease

Stein-Leventhal syndrome
see Polycystic ovary syndrome

Status epilepticus
a life-threatening succession of epileptic seizures

Staphylococci
common bacteria that cause skin infections and a number of other disorders

Status asthmaticus
a life-threatening asthma attack requiring immediate treatment

Stapedectomy
surgical removal of a stapes (a sound-conducting bone in the middle ear) that cannot move to transmit sound; performed to treat hearing loss caused by otosclerosis

Squamous cell carcinoma
a type of skin cancer arising from flat cells of the epithelium; can also affect the lungs, cervix, and oesophagus

Sputum
mucus and other material produced by the lining of the respiratory tract; also called phlegm

Sprue
a digestive disorder in which nutrients cannot be properly absorbed from food, causing weakness and loss of weight

Sprain
the tearing or stretching of the ligaments in a joint, characterised by pain, swelling, and an inability to move the joint