Copy of `MediChecks - Medical glossary`

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

Prenatal care
medical care of a pregnant woman and the foetus

Prenatal diagnosis
techniques used to diagnose abnormalities in a foetus

Premedication
drugs, usually painkillers, taken 1 to 2 hours before surgery

Premature rupture of membranes
the rupture of the sac that holds the fluid surrounding the foetus before the full term of pregnancy (about 37 weeks)

Precordial movement
movement of the heart that is seen and felt through the chest wall

Premature labour
labour that begins before the full term of pregnancy (about 37 weeks)

Precancerous
describes a condition from which cancer is likely to develop

Pre-menstrual syndrome
physical and emotional changes that occur in a woman 1 or 2 weeks before menstruation, at or after ovulation; characterised by irritability, tension, depression, and fatigue

Pre-eclampsia
a serious disorder that occurs in the second half of pregnancy, in which a woman experiences high blood pressure, fluid retention, nausea, and headaches; if not treated it can lead to eclampsia

Potassium
a mineral that plays an important role in the body, helping to maintain water balance, normal heart rhythm, conduction of nerve impulses, and muscle contraction

Postural hypotension
unusually low blood pressure that occurs after suddenly standing or sitting up

Postural drainage
drainage of mucus from specific areas of the lungs by placing the body in a specific position

Postpartum
a term that describes something that occurs after childbirth, usually to the mother

Postnatal
describes something that occurs after birth, usually to the baby

Postcoital contraception
the prevention of pregnancy after sexual intercourse has occurred

Postmenopausal bleeding
bleeding from the vagina that occurs after menopause

Postmyocardial infarction syndrome
a condition that occurs following a heart attack or heart surgery; characterised by fever, chest pain, pericarditis, and pleurisy

Post-traumatic stress disorder
feelings of anxiety experienced after a particularly frightening or stressful event, which include recurring dreams, difficulty sleeping, and a feeling of isolation

Post-mortem examination
examination of a body after death to determine the cause of death; commonly called an autopsy

Portal vein
the vein connecting the stomach, intestines, and spleen to the liver

Porphyria
a group of genetic disorders in which substances called porphyrins build up in the blood, often causing rashes brought on by exposure to sunlight and reactions to certain drugs

Portal hypertension
increased blood pressure in the portal vein

Polyuria
the excessive production of urine; can be a symptom of various diseases, most notably diabetes mellitus

Polyunsaturated fat
a fat or oil that contains well below the maximum number of hydrogen atoms possible; thought to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease

Polyp
a growth that occurs on mucous membranes such as those in the nose and intestine; bleeds easily and can become cancerous

Polysaccharide
a complex carbohydrate composed of three or more simple carbohydrate molecules joined together

Polymyositis
an autoimmune disease of connective tissue in which muscles weaken and become inflamed

Polydipsia
excessive thirst

Polymyalgia rheumatica
a rare disease of the elderly, characterised by muscle stiffness and pain in the hips, thighs, shoulders, and neck

Polycythaemia
an increased amount of red blood cells in the blood

Polydactyly
the presence of an excessive number of fingers or toes

Polycystic ovary syndrome
a hereditary disease characterised by multiple cysts on the ovaries, obesity, excessive hairiness, infertility, and irregular menstruation

Polycystic kidney disease
a condition in which there are multiple, slow-growing cysts on both kidneys

Polyarthritis
arthritis occurring in more than one joint

Poliomyelitis
an infectious disease caused by a virus; usually causes only mild symptoms but in rare cases can attack the brain and spinal cord and cause paralysis or death

Pneumothorax
a condition in which air enters the space between the chest wall and the lungs, causing chest pain and shortness of breath; may occur spontaneously or be the result of a disease or an accident

Pneumonectomy
surgical removal of a lung

Pneumonia
inflammation of the lungs due to a bacterial or viral infection, which causes fever, shortness of breath, and the coughing up of phlegm

Pneumocystis pneumonia
an opportunistic infection of the lungs caused by a single-celled parasite

PMS
see Pre-menstrual syndrome

Pneumoconiosis
a respiratory disease caused by dust inhalation

Pleurodynia
pain in the chest caused by a virus

Plummer-Vinson syndrome
difficulty swallowing due to an abnormal web of tissue across the upper part of the oesophagus

Pleural space
the space between the two layers of the pleura

Pleurisy
inflammation of the lining of the lungs and chest cavity, usually caused by a lung infection; characterised by sharp chest pain

Pleural membranes
the pleura

Pleural rub
a rubbing sound produced by inflamed pleural membranes that can be heard when breathing

Pleural effusion
a build-up of fluid between the membranes that line the lungs and chest cavity (the pleura); causes compression of the lungs, which leads to breathing difficulty

Platelet
the smallest particle found in the blood, which plays a major role in forming blood clots

Pleura
the double-layered membrane that lines the lungs and chest cavity and allows for lung movement during breathing

Plasmapheresis
a procedure for removing unwanted substances from the blood in which blood is drawn, its plasma is separated and replaced, and the cleansed blood is returned to the body

Plasma cell
a white blood cell that makes antibodies

Plasma
the liquid part of the blood, containing substances such as nutrients, salts, and proteins

Plaque
an area of build-up of fat deposits in an artery, causing narrowing of the artery and possibly heart disease; dental plaque refers to a coating on the teeth, consisting of saliva, bacteria, and food debris, which causes tooth decay

Plantar wart
a rough-surfaced, hard spot on the sole of the foot that is caused by a virus

Plantar reflex
the normal curling of the toes downward when the sole of the foot is stroked

Placental insufficiency
a disorder occurring during pregnancy in which the placenta does not function properly, causing the foetus to be deprived of nutrients

Plague
a serious infectious disease transmitted to humans through bites of rodent fleas

Placental abruption
the separation of the placenta from the wall of the uterus before childbirth, which causes severe bleeding that threatens the life of the mother and the foetus

Placenta praevia
a disorder in which the placenta develops at the lower section of the uterus (close to or covering the cervix); varies in severity, from no effect on a pregnancy to vaginal bleeding and danger to the mother and the foetus

Placenta
an organ formed in the uterus during pregnancy that links the blood of the mother to the blood of the foetus; provides the foetus with nutrients and removes waste

Placebo effect
the positive or negative response to a drug that is caused by a person's expectations of a drug rather than the drug itself

PKU
see Phenylketonuria

Placebo
a chemically inactive substance given in place of a drug to test how much of a drug's effectiveness can be attributed to a patient's expectations that the drug will have a positive effect

Pivot joint
a joint designed for rotational movement

Pityriasis rosea
a mild skin condition in which flat, scaly spots occur on the trunk and upper arms

Pityriasis alba
a common childhood or adolescent disorder in which there are pale, scaly patches on the skin of the face

Pituitary gland
a small, round gland located at the base of the brain that releases hormones that control other glands and body processes

Pituitary adenoma
a noncancerous tumour of the pituitary gland

Pinworm
a small parasite worm that can live in the intestines; commonly affects children

PID
see Pelvic inflammatory disease

Pigmentation
the coloration of the skin, hair, and eyes by the pigment melanin

Pinkeye
inflammation of the membrane that covers the white of the eyes and lines the eyelids, causing redness, discomfort, and a discharge; can be caused by infection or allergies

Pickwickian syndrome
extreme obesity along with shallow breathing, sleep apnoea, excessive sleepiness, and heart failure

Phytochemicals
chemicals in plants that might help protect against disorders such as cancer

Pica
a desire to eat materials that are not food

Physiology
the study of the body's functions

Phototherapy
treatment with some form of light

Physical therapy
the treatment of injuries or disorders using physical methods, such as exercise, massage, or the application of heat

Photophobia
an abnormal sensitivity of the eyes to light

Photosensitivity
an abnormal reaction to sunlight, which usually occurs as a rash

Photocoagulation
tissue destruction using a focused beam of light

Phosphorus
a mineral that is an important part of structures such as bones, teeth, and membranes in the body; also involved in numerous other chemical reactions

Phospholipids
fatty substances that make up the membranes surrounding cells

Phobia
a persisting fear of and desire to avoid something

Phosphates
salts containing phosphorus; essential to some body functions such as the bones and teeth

Phlegm
mucus and other material produced by the lining of the respiratory tract; also called sputum

Phlebitis
inflammation of a vein

Phlebothrombosis
formation of a blood clot in a vein

Phimosis
tightness of the foreskin, which prevents it from being moved back over the head of the penis

Pheochromocytoma
a noncancerous tumour of cells that produce epinephrine and norepinephrine, causing higher levels of these hormones in the blood and an increase in blood pressure

Phenylketonuria
a hereditary disorder in which the enzyme that converts the amino acid phenylalanine into another amino acid is defective, meaning phenylalanine must be kept out of the diet

Phenothiazines
a group of drugs used as antipsychotics, antihistamines, and antiemetics

Pharynx
the throat; the tube connecting the back of the mouth and nose to the oesophagus and windpipe

Pharyngitis
inflammation of the throat (the pharynx), causing sore throat, fever, earache, and swollen glands

Pharmacology
the study of medications, including drug development

Phantom limb
the sensation of a limb after it has been amputated

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
a genetic disorder in which there are polyps in the small intestine and brown melanin spots on the lips, mouth, fingers, and toes

pH
a measure of the acidic or basic character of a substance

Phagocyte
an immune system cell that can surround and digest foreign bodies, unwanted cellular material, and micro-organisms