Copy of `MediChecks - Medical glossary`

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

Sporotrichosis
an infection with a fungus acquired through a skin wound; causes an ulcer at the site of infection and small, rounded masses of tissue near it

Spondylolysis
a disorder in which the lower part of the spine is weakened by an abnormally soft vertebra

Spondylolisthesis
the slipping of a vertebra in the spine over the one below it

Spondylitis
inflammation of the joints between the bones of the spine

Splint
a device that is used to immobilise a part of the body

Splinter haemorrhage
a splinter-shaped area of bleeding under a fingernail or toenail

Splenectomy
surgical removal of the spleen

Spiral fracture
a coiled break in a bone, resembling a corkscrew

Spirometry
a test of lung condition; a person breathes into a machine called a spirometer that measures the volume of air exhaled

Spine
the column of bones and cartilage running along the midline of the back that surrounds and protects the spinal cord and supports the head

Spinal tap
another term for a lumbar puncture

Spinal fusion
the surgical joining of two or more adjacent vertebrae using bone fragments; used to help severe back pain or prevent damage to the spinal cord

Spinal cord
a long tube of nerve tissue inside the spinal column, running from the brain down the length of the back inside of the spine

Spina bifida occulta
the least dangerous form of spina bifida, in which bones in the spine fail to close but there is no protrusion of the spinal cord or its fluid cushion out of the body

Spina bifida
a birth defect in which a section of the baby's spine fails to develop completely, leaving the spinal cord exposed in that section

Spider nevus
a collection of dilated (widened) capillaries on the skin that creates a patch resembling a spider

Sphygmomanometer
an instrument used to measure blood pressure

Sphincter
a ring of muscle fibres located around a naturally occurring passage or opening in the body that opens and closes to regulate passage of substances

Spermatocele
a harmless cyst containing fluid and sperm that occurs in the tube through which sperm travel from the testicles

Spermicide
a contraceptive substance that kills sperm

Sperm count
the amount of normally functioning sperm per some unit of semen; used to determine a man's fertility

Speech therapy
treatment to help someone overcome a problem communicating verbally

Sperm antibody
an antibody against sperm that can be produced by a woman's immune system

Speculum
an instrument that holds an opening of the body open so that an examination can be performed or a sample can be taken

Pyelonephritis
inflammation of the kidney, usually due to a bacterial infection

Pyloric sphincter
a circular muscle located at the junction of the stomach and small intestine that controls the passage of food into the small intestine

PUVA
a form of phototherapy that combines the use of psoralens and ultraviolet light to treat skin disorders

Pyelolithotomy
surgical removal of a kidney stone

Pustule
a small blister containing pus

Purpuric rash
areas of purple or reddish-brown spots on the skin, which are caused by bleeding from underlying tissues

Pus
a thick, yellowish or greenish fluid that contains dead white blood cells, tissues, and bacteria; occurs at the site of a bacterial infection

Pupil
the opening at the centre of the iris in the eye that constricts (contracts) and dilates (widens) in response to light

Pulp
the soft tissue inside of a tooth that contains blood vessels and nerves

Pulse
the expansion and contraction of a blood vessel due to the blood pumped through it; determined as the number of expansions per minute

Pulmonary stenosis
obstruction of the flow of blood from the heart to the lungs

Pulmonary oedema
the build-up of fluid in lung tissue, which is usually caused by heart failure

Pulmonary insufficiency
a rare defect in the pulmonary heart valve in which it fails to close properly after each muscle contraction, allowing blood to leak back into the heart; weakens the heart's pumping ability

Pulmonary hypertension
increased blood pressure in the arteries supplying blood to the lungs; caused by increased resistance to blood flow in the lungs, usually a result of a lung disease

Pulmonary heart valve
the heart valve that stops blood pumped to the lungs from leaking back into the heart

Pulmonary artery
the artery that supplies the lungs with blood from the heart

Pulmonary embolism
blockage of the pulmonary artery by a floating mass in the blood

Pulmonary fibrosis
a condition in which the tissue of the lungs has become thick and scarred, usually because of inflammation caused by lung conditions such as pneumonia or tuberculosis

Puerperal sepsis
infection of the female genital tract following childbirth, abortion, or miscarriage

Puerperium
the time period after childbirth (about 6 weeks) during which a woman's body returns to its normal physical state

Pudendum
the external genitals, usually referring to the female

Pubic louse
a small insect that lives in pubic hair, feeds on blood, and is usually spread by sexual contact; pubic lice are popularly called 'crabs'

Pudendal block
a local anaesthesia procedure used during childbirth, causing the lower part of the vagina to be insensitive to pain

Puberty
the period of time (usually between the ages of 10 and 15) during which sexual development occurs, allowing reproduction to become possible

Psychotic
relating to psychosis

Psychotropic drug
a drug that has a psychological effect

Ptosis
the drooping of the upper eyelid

Psychotherapy
the treatment of mental and emotional disorders using psychological methods, such as counselling, instead of physical means

Psychosis
a mental disorder in which a serious inability to think, perceive, and judge clearly causes loss of touch with reality

Psychosomatic
describes a physical condition that is influenced by psychological or emotional factors

Psychological
relating to the mind and the processes of the mind

Psychogenic
resulting from psychological or emotional disorders

Psoriatic arthritis
a form of arthritis that develops as a complication of the skin disorder psoriasis

Psoriasis
a skin disorder characterised by patches of thick, red skin often covered by silvery scales

Psoralens
drugs that contain chemicals derived from plants; used to treat the skin disorders psoriasis and vitiligo

Psittacosis
a chlamydial infection resembling influenza that is spread to humans by the droppings of infected birds

Pseudogout
a form of arthritis with symptoms similar to gout that results from the depositing of calcium salts in a joint

Pseudomembranous enterocolitis
severe inflammation of the colon as a result of antibiotic use by an immunocompromised individual

Pruritus
the medical term for itching

Proton pump inhibitor
a drug used to treat peptic ulcers that reduces the amount of gastric acid produced

Protozoan
a simple, single-celled organism

Proximal
located nearer to a central point of reference on the body, such as the trunk

Prothrombin time
the time it takes for a sample of blood to clot after substances that speed clotting time have been added; used to measure the effect of anticoagulants

Proto-oncogene
a gene that is normally inactive but can become a cancer-causing oncogene if made active

Prosthesis
an artificial replacement for a missing part of the body

Proteins
large molecules made up of amino acids that play many major roles in the body, including forming the basis of body structures such as skin and hair, and important chemicals such as enzymes and hormones

Prostatism
symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate gland, including difficulty with urination

Prostatitis
inflammation of the prostate gland, usually due to a bacterial infection spread from the urethra

Prostate gland
an organ located under the bladder that produces a large part of the semen

Prostatectomy
the partial or complete surgical removal of the prostate gland

Prolapsed disk
see Disk prolapse

Prophylactic
anything used to prevent disease

Proprioception
the body's system for determining its position relative to the outside world

Prolactin
a hormone released by the pituitary gland that is responsible for the development of breasts and milk production in females

Prolapse
the displacement of an organ from its normal position to a new one

Progressive muscular atrophy
gradual degeneration and weakening of muscles due to a degenerative spinal cord

Prognosis
a doctor's probable forecast of the effects and outcome of a disease

Productive cough
a cough that brings up phlegm, which is the body's natural way of clearing blocked airways

Progeria
an extremely rare condition in which the body ages prematurely

Progesterone
a female sex hormone that plays many important roles in reproduction, including the thickening of the lining of the uterus during the menstrual cycle; and during pregnancy, the functioning of the placenta, and the initiation of labour

Proctoscopy
examination of the rectum using a viewing instrument

Procidentia
severe prolapse of an organ

Proctalgia
pain in the rectum

Proctitis
inflammation of the rectum, which causes soreness and sometimes mucus and/or pus in the stool

Primary
a disease that began in the affected location

Prion
an agent that is believed to cause several degenerative brain diseases

Priapism
a painful, persistent erection without sexual arousal, requiring emergency treatment

Prickly heat
a rash involving small, red, itchy spots and a prickly sensation that usually appears where sweat builds up

Pressure sore
an ulcer (erosion) on the skin that is a result of being bedridden; commonly called a bedsore

Pressure point
specific points on the body where external pressure can be applied to prevent excessive arterial bleeding

Presbyacusis
the loss of hearing that occurs naturally with age

Presbyopia
the loss of the ability to focus the eyes on near objects that occurs naturally with age, as a result of loss of elasticity of the lens of the eyes

Prepuce
the foreskin

Prenatal testing
tests performed on a pregnant woman or her foetus to prevent or diagnose abnormalities

Prepared childbirth
a technique in which a pregnant woman tries to minimise use of pain-relief medications during childbirth by learning relaxation techniques

Premenopausal
a term that describes the period of a few years in a woman's life just before menopause