Copy of `MediChecks - Medical glossary`

The wordlist doesn't exist anymore, or, the website doesn't exist anymore. On this page you can find a copy of the original information. The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.

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

Petit mal
a seizure characterised by loss of awareness for brief periods

PET scanning
see Positron emission tomography scanning

Pertussis
a bacterial infection of the respiratory tract characterised by short, convulsive coughs that end in a whoop sound when breath is inhaled (commonly called whooping cough); mainly affects children

Perthes' disease
inflammation of the growing head of a femur; a type of osteochondritis juvenilis

Peritonitis
inflammation of the peritoneum

Pernicious anaemia
an anaemia caused by a failure to absorb vitamin B12; which is essential in the production of normal red blood cells

Peritoneum
the membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers the abdominal organs

Peristalsis
wavelike movement of smooth muscle-containing tubes, such as the digestive tract

Peripheral vascular disease
the narrowing of blood vessels in the legs or arms, causing pain and possibly tissue death (gangrene) as a result of a reduced flow of blood to areas supplied by the narrowed vessels

Periostitis
inflammation of the periosteum

Peripheral nervous system
the nerves that branch out from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body

Periosteum
the tissue covering bones, except the surfaces in joints

Perinatal
occurring just before or just after birth

Pericardium
the membranous sac that covers the heart and the base of the blood vessels that are attached to the heart

Pericardial effusion
fluid build-up inside of the pericardium, affecting the performance of the heart

Pericarditis
inflammation of the membranous sac that covers the heart, causing chest pain and fever

Periarteritis nodosa
inflammation and weakening of small and medium arteries

Perforation
a hole in an organ or body structure caused by disease or injury

Percutaneous
a procedure that is performed through the skin, such as an injection

Penis
the external male reproductive organ, which passes urine and semen out of the body

Pepsin
the enzyme found in gastric juice that helps digest protein

Peptic ulcer
an erosion in the lining of the oesophagus, stomach, or small intestine, usually caused in part by the corrosive action of gastric acid

Penile function tests
tests used to determine the cause of impotence, including blood tests and nerve function tests

Penile implant
an inflatable device surgically inserted into the penis that allows a man with impotence to have sexual intercourse

Pelvis
the group of bones in the lower part of the trunk that support the upper body and protect the abdominal organs

Pelvic inflammatory disease
inflammation of a woman's internal reproductive organs, usually as a result of a bacterial infection; one of the most common causes of pelvic pain and infertility in women

Pelvic examination
an examination of a woman's reproductive organs

Pellagra
a deficiency of the vitamin niacin; causes dermatitis, diarrhoea, and mental disorders

Peak flow measurement
the maximum speed that air is exhaled from the lungs; used to diagnose asthma or to determine the effectiveness of asthma medications

Pectoral muscles
the muscles of the upper part of the chest that move the arm across the body, raise some of the ribs, and move the shoulders

Pathology
the study of disease

Patient-controlled analgesia
a system for administering pain-killing drugs in which the amount of drug delivered is controlled by the patient

Pathogen
any substance capable of causing a disease; usually refers to a disease-causing micro-organism

Pathogenesis
the production and development of a disease or disorder

Paternity testing
use of blood tests to match up DNA or specific blood proteins to determine whether a man is the father of a child

Patent ductus arteriosus
a genetic disorder of the heart in which a channel connecting the pulmonary artery and the aorta fails to close and the heart must work harder to supply the body with blood

Patella
the medical term for the kneecap

Patent
not obstructed; open

Passive smoking
a non-smoker inhaling the cigar, cigarette, or pipe smoke of others (called second-hand smoke) in the same area, which increases the non-smoker's risk of cancer and respiratory disorders

Partial seizure
an abnormal electrical discharge in a certain area of the brain, affecting only certain functions

Passive exercise
exercise of an injured part of the body involving no effort from that injured part

Paronychia
a bacterial or yeast infection of the skin around the nail

Paroxysm
a sudden attack or worsening of a disease's symptoms

Partial mastectomy
a treatment for breast cancer in which a tumour is removed, along with the skin covering it and some of the surrounding tissues and muscles

Parkinson's disease
a brain disorder in which there is a lack of the chemical messenger dopamine, which helps control muscle movement; leads to muscle stiffness, weakness, and trembling

Parenteral
the introduction of a substance into the body by any route other than the digestive tract, such as through a vein or muscle

Paresis
partial paralysis

Paresthesia
numbness or tingling in the skin; commonly referred to as 'pins and needles'

Parathyroidectomy
the surgical removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands

Parathyroid hormone
a hormone released by the parathyroid glands that plays a role in controlling calcium levels in the blood

Parasympathetic nervous system
the part of the autonomic nervous system that is stimulated during times of relaxation

Paraplegia
complete or partial loss of sensation and movement of the legs

Parasite
an organisms that lives on or in other organisms, from which it obtains nutrients

Paraphimosis
strangulation of the head of the penis by a tight or inflamed foreskin that has been pulled back

Paralysis
the inability to use a muscle because of injury to or disease of the nerves leading to the muscle

Paramedic
a person trained to give first aid and other emergency medical care

Paranoia
a disorder in which a person becomes overly suspicious and emotionally sensitive

Paracentesis
the insertion of a needle into a body cavity to relieve pressure, inject a drug, or remove a sample for analysis

Papilloma
a tumour occurring on the skin or mucous membranes; usually not cancerous

Pap smear
a test in which cells are scraped off the cervix and examined for abnormalities; used to detect changes that might precede cervical cancer and to diagnose viral infections such as herpes simplex

Pandemic
a widespread epidemic

Panic disorder
an emotional disorder characterised by attacks of anxiety that have no normal causes; usually made worse by stress

Pancreatitis
inflammation of the pancreas, which is often caused by alcohol abuse

Palsy
loss of sensation or ability to move

Pancreas
a long gland located behind the stomach that produces enzymes that help to break down food and hormones (insulin and glucagon) that help to regulate glucose levels in the blood

Pallor
abnormally pale skin; usually refers to the skin of the face

Palpation
the use of the hands to feel parts of the body to check for any abnormalities

Palpitation
an abnormally rapid and strong heartbeat

Palate
the roof of the mouth

Palliative treatment
treatment that relieves the symptoms of a disorder without curing it

Paget's disease
a disorder occurring in the middle-aged and elderly in which bone does not form properly, causing bone weakening, thickening, and deformity

Ozone
a poisonous form of oxygen that is present in the earth's upper atmosphere, where it helps to screen the earth from damaging ultraviolet rays

Pacemaker
a small electronic device that is surgically implanted to stimulate the heart muscle to provide a normal heartbeat

Oxygen
a gas that is colourless, odourless, and tasteless; essential to almost all forms of life

Oxygen free radicals
active forms of oxygen found in pollution, cigarette smoke, and radiation that can damage cells and are believed to play a role in the ageing process and cancer

Oxidation
a chemical reaction involving active sources of oxygen (called oxygen free radicals) that damages cells

Oximetry
determination of the amount of oxygen in the blood by measuring the amount of light transmitted through an area of skin

Ovum
another term for an egg cell

Over-the-counter remedy
a medication that can be purchased without a physician's prescription

Overdose
an excessively large dose of a drug, which can lead to coma and death

Ovulation
the development and release of the egg from the ovary, which usually occurs halfway through a woman's menstrual cycle

Ovaries
two almond-shaped glands located at the opening of the fallopian tubes on both sides of the uterus; produce eggs and the sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone

Ototoxicity
harmful effect that some drugs have on the organs or nerves in the ears, which can lead to hearing and balance problems

Outpatient treatment
medical attention that does not include an overnight stay at a hospital

Otorrhoea
a discharge from an inflamed ear

Otosclerosis
progressive deafness caused by bone formation around structures in the middle ear

Otitis media
inflammation of the middle ear (between the eardrum and inner ear) because of the spread of an infection from the nose, sinuses, and throat

OTC remedy
see Over-the-counter remedy

Otitis externa
inflammation of the outer ear due to an infection; commonly called swimmer's ear

Osteosclerosis
an abnormal increase in density and hardness of bone

Otalgia
the medical term for an earache

Osteosarcoma
a cancerous bone tumour

Osteophyte
an outgrowth of bone near a joint

Osteoporosis
a condition in which bones become less dense, more brittle, and fracture easily

Osteomyelitis
the inflammation of bones and bone marrow because of an infection, usually caused by bacteria

Osteopetrosis
a rare hereditary disorder in which bones become harder and more dense, causing them to break more easily

Osteolysis
the softening and destruction of bone

Osteoma
a noncancerous bone tumour

Osteomalacia
the loss of minerals and softening of bones because of a lack of vitamin D; called rickets in children

Osteodystrophy
defective bone formation