Copy of `Dorland's Medical Dictionary`

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Dorland's Medical Dictionary Category: Health and Medicine > Medical Dictionary Date & country: 31/12/2010, USA Words: 39128

Albert operation
excision of the knee to secure ankylosis for the cure of flail joint.

Albert position
a semirecumbent position of the patient for radiography as a means of determining the diameters of the superior strait of the pelvis.

Albert suture
a form of Czerny suture in which the first row of stitches is passed through the entire thickness of the intestine.

albicans
(al´bĭ-kanz) Latin word meaning white.

albiduria
(al″bĭ-du´re-ә) the discharge of white or pale urine.

Albini nodules
gray nodules of the size of small grains, sometimes seen on the free edges of the atrioventricular valves of infants; they are remains of fetal structures.

albinism
(al´bĭ-niz-әm) any of numerous hereditary disorders in which there is defective pigmentation in the eyes and skin, causing hypomelanosis and eye disorders. adj., albinot´ic., adj. ocular albinism a type usually transmitted as an X-linked trait, manifested only in males...

albinism-deafness syndrome
an X-linked syndrome consisting of deafness of varying degrees with piebaldism or albinism; some authorities consider it an allelic variant of Waardenburg syndrome type 2.

albino
(al-bi´no) a person affected with albinism.

albinuria
(al″bĭ-nu´re-ә) albiduria.

Albl ring
a ring-shaped shadow in radiographs of the skull, caused by aneurysm of a cerebral artery.

Albright syndrome
(awl´brit) Albright-McCune-Sternberg syndrome a group of symptoms of unknown cause, including distortion of bone with fibrous changes in the bone marrow spaces, brownish pigmentation of the skin, and precocious puberty in females. The bones may become bowed or shortened, resulting in susceptibility to fractures and...

albuginea
(al″bu-jin´e-ә) tunica albuginea, particularly of the testis.

albumin
(al-bu´min) any protein that is soluble in water and moderately concentrated salt solutions and is coagulable by heat. serum albumin; the most abundant plasma protein, formed primarily in the liver and making up around two thirds of the protein in blood plasma. Albumin is responsible for much of the colloidal os...

albumin human
a preparation of human serum albumin, used as an artificial plasma extender and to increase bilirubin binding in hyperbilirubinemia.

albumin-globulin ratio
the ratio of albumin to globulin in blood serum, plasma, cerebrospinal fluid, or urine.

albuminoid
(al-bu´mĭ-noid″) resembling albumin. an albumin-like substance; the term is sometimes applied to insoluble substances known as scleroproteins.

albuminoptysis
(al-bu″mĭ-nop´tĭ-sis) albumin in the sputum.

albuminous cell
serous cell.

albuminuria
(al″bu-mĭ-nu´re-ә) the most common kind of proteinuria, characterized by presence of albumin in the urine. adj. albuminu´ric., adj. sometimes used as a synonym for proteinuria in general.

albuterol
(al-bu´tәr-ol) a relatively selective beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist used as the base or sulfate salt as a bronchodilator.

Alcaligenes
(al″kә-lij´ә-nēz) a genus of gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria, found in the intestines of vertebrates, as part of the normal skin flora, and in dairy products. Occasionally it causes opportunistic infections, A. faeca´lis being a cause of nosocomial septicemia in immunocompromised patie...

alclometasone
(al-klo-met´ә-sōn″) a synthetic corticosteroid used topically in the dipropionate form for the relief of inflammation and pruritus.

Alcock canal
(al´kok) a tunnel formed by a splitting of the obturator fascia, which encloses the pudendal vessels and nerve.

alcohol
(al´kә-hol) any organic compound containing the hydroxy (sbondOH) functional group except those in which the OH group is attached to an aromatic ring, which are called phenols. Alcohols are classified as primary, secondary, or tertiary according to whether the carbon atom to which the OH group is attached is bonde...

alcohol abuse
see alcoholism.

alcoholic
(al″kә-hol´ik) containing or pertaining to alcohol. a person suffering from alcoholism.

alcoholic cardiomyopathy
congestive cardiomyopathy resulting in cardiac enlargement and low cardiac output occurring in chronic alcoholics; the heart disease in beriberi (thiamine deficiency) is also associated with alcoholism.

alcoholic cirrhosis
Laënnec cirrhosis.

alcoholic coma
coma accompanying severe alcoholic intoxication.

alcoholic hepatitis
hepatitis caused by alcoholism, often a precursor of cirrhosis.

alcoholic neuropathy
neuropathy due to thiamine deficiency in chronic alcoholism.

alcoholic pneumonia
pneumonia associated with alcoholism.

alcoholic psychoses
psychoses associated with alcohol use and involving organic brain damage; the category includes alcohol withdrawal delirium, Korsakoff syndrome, and hallucinosis or paranoia accompanying alcoholism.

Alcoholics Anonymous
a self-help group of recovering alcoholics who provide support to each other in understanding and overcoming alcohol abuse. From their own experiences, group members learn how to motivate and encourage others in their desire to stop drinking. Meetings and discussions give the alcoholic an opportunity to air his or her pro...

alcoholism
(al´kә-hol-iz-әm) any of various conditions involving abuse of or dependence on alcohol. Alcoholism may be associated with other diagnoses, such as mood disorders, manic and depressive episodes of bipolar disorders, and antisocial personality disorder. See also drug abuse, drug dependence, and substance-related di...

alcuronium
(al-ku-ro´ne-әm) a nondepolarizing skeletal muscle relaxant used in general anesthesia for surgical procedures; used in the form of the chloride salt.

Aldactazide
(al-dak´tә-zīd) trademark for a preparation of spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic.

Aldactone
(al-dak´tōn) trademark for a preparation of spironolactone, an aldosterone antagonist used as a diuretic.

aldehyde
(al´dә-hīd) an organic compound containing the aldehyde functional group (sbondCHO); that is, one with a carbonyl group (CdbondO) located at one end of the carbon chain. acetaldehyde.

aldesleukin
(al″dәs-loo´kin) a recombinant interleukin-2 product used as an antineoplastic agent and biological response modifier in treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma.

Aldomet
(al´do-met) trademark for preparations of methyldopa, an antihypertensive agent.

aldopentose
(al″do-pen´tōs) any one of a class of sugars that contain five carbon atoms and an aldehyde group (sbondCHO).

Aldoril
(al´do-ril″) trademark for a preparation of methyldopa and hydrochlorothiazide, an antihypertensive agent.

aldose
(al´dōs) one of the two main types of monosaccharide sugars; those that contain an aldehyde group (sbondCHO), such as glucose, galactose, or mannose.

aldosterone
(al-dos´tәr-ōn) the main mineralocorticoid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex, the principal biological activity of which is the regulation of electrolyte and water balance by promoting the retention of sodium (and, therefore, of water) and the excretion of potassium; the retention of water induces ...

aldosterone-producing adenoma
aldosterone-secreting adenoma a benign aldosteronoma, usually small and unilateral.

aldosterone-producing carcinoma
aldosterone-secreting carcinoma a rare malignant form of aldosteronoma; it is larger than an aldosterone-producing adenoma.

aldosterone-producing tumor
aldosterone-secreting tumor aldosteronoma.

aldosteronism
(al-dos´tә-ro-niz″әm) an abnormality of electrolyte metabolism caused by excessive secretion of aldosterone, it may be primary or may be seen secondary to a disease outside the adrenal glands. There may be hypertension, hypokalemia, alkalosis, muscular weakness, polyuria, and polydipsia. Called also hy...

aldosteronoma
(al″do-ster″o-no´mә) a tumor of the adrenal cortex that secretes aldosterone, causing primary aldosteronism; the majority are adenomas, but few are carcinomas. Called also aldosterone-secreting tumor.

Aldrich syndrome
(awl´drich) Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome.

alecithal
(a-les´ĭ-thәl) having no distinct yolk.

alemtuzumab
(al″әm-tuz´u-mab″) a recombinant, DNA-derived, humanized monoclonal antibody directed against the CD antigen CD52; administered intravenously as an antineoplastic in the treatment of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

alendronate
(ә-len´dro-nāt) a calcium-regulating agent used in the form of the sodium salt to inhibit resorption of bone in the treatment of osteitis deformans, osteoporosis, and hypercalcemia related to malignancy; administered orally.

aleukemia
(a″loo-ke´me-ә) leukopenia. aleukemic leukemia.

aleukemic leukemia
leukemia in which the leukocyte count is normal or below normal; it may be lymphocytic, monocytic, or myelocytic.

aleukia
(a-loo´ke-ә) leukopenia.

aleukocytosis
(a-loo″ko-si-to´sis) leukopenia.

Alexander disease
(al″eg-zan´dәr) an infantile form of leukodystrophy, characterized histologically by the presence of eosinophilic material at the surface of the brain and around its blood vessels, resulting in brain enlargement.

Alexander operation
Alexander-Adams operation shortening of the round ligaments to repair displacement of the uterus.

alexia
(ә-lek´se-ә) a form of receptive aphasia in which there is inability to understand written language. adj., alex´ic.

alexithymia
(ә-lek″sĭ-thi´me-ә) inability to recognize or describe one's emotions.

aleydigism
(a-li´dig-iz″әm) absence of secretion of the interstitial cells of the testis (Leydig cells).

Alezzandrini syndrome
(ahl″ĕ-tsahn-dre´ne) a rare disorder of unknown pathogenesis, characterized by unilateral tapetoretinal degeneration followed by facial vitiligo and poliosis on the same side, sometimes associated with deafness.

alfacalcidol
(al″fә-kal´sĭ-dol) a synthetic analogue of calcitriol, to which it is converted in the liver; used in the treatment of hypocalcemia, hypophosphatemia, rickets, and osteodystrophy that are associated with medical conditions such as chronic renal failure and hypoparathyroidism, administered orally or intravenou...

alfentanil
(al-fen´tә-nil) an opioid analgesic of rapid onset and short duration derived from fentanyl; the hydrochloride salt is used as a primary agent for induction of general anesthesia, as an adjunct in maintenance of general anesthesia, and as an adjunct to regional or local anesthesia.

ALG
antilymphocyte globulin.

algae
(al´je) a group of plants living in the water, including all seaweeds, and ranging in size from microscopic cells to fronds hundreds of feet long. blue-green algae former name for members of the group now called Cyanobacteria.

algefacient
(al″jә-fa´shәnt) cooling or refrigerant.

algesia
(al-je´ze-ә) nociception. excessive sensitivity to pain, a type of hyperesthesia. adj., alge´sic, alget´ic., adj.

algesimeter
(al″jә-sim´ә-tәr) a device for measuring sensitivity to painful stimuli; called also algometer.

algesimetry
(al″jә-sim´ә-tre) measurement of sensitivity of pain; called also algometry.

algesthesia
(al″jes-the´zhә) nociception.

algicide
(al´jĭ-sīd) destructive to algae. an agent that destroys algae.

alginate
(al´jĭ-nāt) a salt of alginic acid, a colloidal substance from brown seaweed; used, in the form of calcium, sodium, or ammonium alginate, for dental impression materials.

alginic acid
(al-jin´ik) a hydrophilic colloidal carbohydrate obtained from seaweed, used as a tablet binder and emulsifying agent.

alglucerase
(al-gloo´sәr-ās″) a modified form of the enzyme lacking in Gaucher disease, used in treatment of the adult form of the disease.

algodystrophy
(al″go-dis´trә-fe) complex regional pain syndrome type 1.

algogenic
(al-go-jen´ik) dolorific.

algometer
(al-gom´ә-tәr) algesimeter.

algometry
(al-gom´ә-tre) algesimetry.

algophobia
(al″go-fo´be-ә) irrational dread of pain.

Alidase
(al´ĭ-dās) trademark for a preparation of hyaluronidase for injection, used as a spreading agent to promote diffusion and hasten absorption.

alienation
(āl″e-әn-a´shәn) estrangement from society; feelings of being an outsider, foreigner, or outcast. estrangement from one's self; feelings of unreality or depersonalization. alienation of affect; isolation of ideas from feelings, avoidance of emotional situations, and other eff...

alienia
(a-li-e´ne-ә) absence of the spleen.

aliform
(al´ĭ-form) shaped like a wing.

aliment
(al´ә-ment) food; nutritive material.

alimentary
(al″ә-men´tәr-e) pertaining to or caused by food or nutritive material.

alimentary canal
alimentary tract the portion of the digestive system consisting of the organs making up the route taken by food as it passes through the body from mouth to anus; this includes the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. Called also digestive tract.

alimentary system
digestive system.

alimentation
(al″ә-men-ta´shәn) giving or receiving of nourishment. parenteral alimentation administration of nutrients intravenously.

alinasal
(al″ĭ-na´sәl) pertaining to either of the cartilaginous flaps of the nose.

aliphatic
(al″ĭ-fat´ik) pertaining to any member of the group of organic compounds having a branched or straight chain structure.

aliquot
(al´ĭ-kwot) a sample that is representative of th

alitretinoin
(al″ĭ-tret´ĭ-noin″) a topical antineoplastic used in the treatment of AIDS-related cutaneous Kaposi sarcoma.

alkalemia
(al″kә-le´me-ә) abnormal alkalinity, or increased pH, of the blood.

alkali
(al´kә-li) any of a class of compounds such as sodium hydroxide that form salts with acids and soaps with fats; a base, or substance capable of neutralizing acids. Other properties include a pH value greater than 7.0, a bitter taste, and the ability to turn litmus paper from red to blue. Alkalis play a vital role ...

alkali denaturation test
a spectrophotometric method for measuring the concentration of fetal hemoglobin (Hb F).

alkali metal
one of a group of monovalent elements including lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, and cesium.