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

FDA
Food and Drug Administration.

Fe
iron (L. fer´rum).

febrile
(feb´ril) pertaining to or characterized by fever. Called also pyretic.

febrile seizure
a seizure most often occurring in children age 3 months to 5 years in association with a fever at or above 39.5° C (103.2° F), often associated with a family history of febrile seizures. Treatment of children with febrile seizures with no evidence of neurologic dysfunction is usually limited to diagnosis and treatment of ...

fecal fistula
an abnormal passage between the colon and the external surface of the body, discharging feces.

fecal impaction
accumulation of puttylike or hardened feces in the rectum or the sigmoid colon, seen most often in patients with longstanding intestinal problems and constipation, or when barium that was introduced into the intestinal tract was not completely removed.

fecal incontinence
nability to control defecation. Physiologic causes include neurologic problems such as those occurring in stroke and spinal cord injury; conditions that damage the sphincters, such as tumors, lacerations, fistulas, and loss of sensory nerves in the region; altered levels of consciousness; and severe diarrhea. Psychological fact...

fecal tumor
fecaloma.

fecal vomiting
vomiting of fecal matter, such as when there is intestinal obstruction. Called also copremesis and stercoraceous vomiting.

fecalith
(fe´kә-lith) an intestinal concretion formed around a center of fecal material. Called also coprolith.

fecaloid
(fe´kәl-oid) resembling feces.

fecaloma
(fe´kә-lo´mә) a tumorlike accumulation of feces in the rectum; called also stercoroma.

fecaluria
(fe″kәl-u´re-ә) the presence of fecal matter in the urine.

feces
(fe´sēz) body waste discharged from the intestine, normally through the anus. Feces are formed in the colon and passed down into the rectum by the process known as peristalsis. When the rectum is full, nerve endings in its wall signal a need for emptying (see defecation). Called also stool, excrement, and excreta. adj., ...

fecundation
(fe″kәn-da´shәn) fertilization.

fecundity
(fә-kun´dĭ-te) the ability to produce offspring frequently and in large numbers. In demography, the physiological ability to reproduce, as opposed to fertility.

feedback
(fēd´bak) the return of some of the output of a system as input so as to exert some control in the process. Feedback controls are a type of self-regulating mechanism by which certain activities are sustained within prescribed ranges.For example, the serum concentration of oxygen is affected in part by the rate and ...

feedforward
(fēd-for´wәrd) the anticipatory effect that one intermediate in a metabolic or endocrine control system exerts on another intermediate further along in the pathway; such effect may be positive or negative.

feeding
(fēd´ing) the taking of food. the giving of food. breast feeding breastfeeding. intravenous feeding administration of nutrient fluids through a vein; see also intravenous infusion and parenteral nutrition. supplemental feed...

feeding center
a group of cells in the lateral hypothalamus that when stimulated cause a sensation of hunger; called also hunger center.

feeding tube
one for introducing high-caloric fluids into the stomach; see also tube feeding.

Feer disease
(fār) erythredema polyneuropathy.

FEF
forced expiratory flow.

Fehling solution
(fa´ling) an alkaline cupric sulfate solution used to test for glucose.

Feingold diet
a controversial diet for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, which excludes artificial colorings and flavorings, preservatives, and salicylates. The National Institutes of Health consensus statement, Diagnosis and Treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, notes that exclusion diets like this are an ar...

felbamate
(fel´bә-māt″) an anticonvulsant used in treatment of epilepsy; administered orally.

Feldene
(fel´dēn) trademark for preparations of piroxicam, a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug used in treatment of arthritis.

fellatio
(fә-la´she-o) oral stimulation or manipulation of the penis.

felodipine
(fә-lo´dĭ-pēn) a calcium channel blocking agent used as a vasodilator in treatment of hypertension.

felon
(fel´әn) whitlow.

Felton paralysis
Felton phenomenon immunologic unresponsiveness or tolerance to pneumococcal polysaccharide induced in mice by administration of large doses of the antigen.

feltwork
(felt´wәrk) a complex of closely interwoven fibers, as of nerve fibers.

Felty syndrome
(fel´te) a syndrome of enlargement of the spleen with chronic rheumatoid arthritis and leukopenia; there are usually pigmented spots on the skin of the lower limbs, and sometimes there is other evidence of overactivity of the spleen, such as anemia or thrombocytopenia.

female
(fe´māl) an individual of the sex that bears young or produces ova or eggs. feminine.

female athlete triad
disordered eating, amenorrhea, and osteoporosis in females engaged in sports or fitness training.

female catheter
a short urethral catheter for passage through the female urethra.

female orgasmic disorder
persistently delayed or absent orgasm in a female after a normal sexual excitement phase of adequate focus, intensity, and duration. See also male orgasmic disorder.

female pattern alopecia
female pattern baldness see androgenetic alopecia.

female reproductive organs
the OVARIES, FALLOPIAN TUBES, UTERUS, VAGINA, and VULVA (external genitalia) of a female.

female sexual arousal disorder
a sexual dysfunction involving failure by a female either to attain or maintain the lubrication and swelling response of sexual excitement during sexual activity, after adequate stimulation, causing significant distress or interpersonal difficulty. Both physiological (such as endocrine) and psychological factors may be in...

feminine
(fem´ĭ-nin) pertaining to the female sex, or having qualities normally characteristic of the female.

feminization
(fem″ĭ-nĭ-za´shәn) the normal induction or development of female secondary sex characters. the induction or development of female secondary sex characters in the male. testicular feminization complete androgen resistance.

feminizing testes syndrome
complete androgen resistance.

feminizing tumor
a functional tumor that produces feminization in boys and men or precocious puberty in girls, such as a germinoma.

femoral
(fem´or-әl) pertaining to the femur or to the thigh.

femoral artery
origin, continuation of external iliac; branches, superficial epigastric, superficial circumflex iliac, external pudendal, deep femoral, descending genicular; distribution, lower abdominal wall, external genitalia, lower extremity. NOTE: The portion of the femoral artery proximal to the branching of the deep femoral is sometimes refe...

femoral block
regional anesthesia of the posterior thigh and the lower leg by injection of a local anesthetic around the femoral nerve just below the inguinal ligament at the lateral border of the fossa ovalis.

femoral bone
femur (def. 1).

femoral canal
the cone-shaped medial part of the femoral sheath lateral to the base of the Gimbernat ligament.

femoral catheter
a central venous catheter inserted through the femoral vein.

femoral cutaneous nerves
the cutaneous nerves of the thigh; see intermediate, lateral, medial, and posterior cutaneous nerves of thigh.

femoral hernia
protrusion of a loop of intestine into the femoral canal, a tubular passageway in the thigh; this type occurs more often in women than in men. Called also crural hernia and femorocele.

femoral neck
the heavy column of bone connecting the head of the femur and the shaft.

femoral nerve
origin, lumbar plexus (L2–L4); descending behind the inguinal ligament to the femoral triangle; branches, saphenous nerve, muscular and anterior cutaneous branches; distribution, skin of thigh and leg, muscles of front of thigh, and hip and knee joints; modality, general sensory and motor.

femoral nerve stretch test
(for lesions of third or fourth lumbar disk) the patient lies prone and the knee is passively flexed; the location of pain in the back or thighs indicates which disk is herniated.

femoral pulse
one located where the femoral artery passes through the groin in the femoral triangle.

femoral reflex
Remak reflex.

femoral sheath
the fascial sheath of the femoral vessels.

femoral triangle
the area formed superiorly by the inguinal ligament, laterally by the sartorius muscle, and medially by the adductor longus muscle; called also Scarpa triangle.

femoral vein
a vein that lies in the proximal two-thirds of the thigh; it is a direct continuation of the popliteal vein, follows the course of the femoral artery, and at the inguinal ligament becomes the external iliac vein. NOTE: The portion of the femoral vein proximal to the branching of the deep femoral vein is sometimes referred to as...

femorocele
(fem´o-ro-sēl″) femoral hernia.

femorofemoral bypass
insertion of a vascular prosthesis between the femoral arteries to bypass an occluded or injured iliac artery.

femoropopliteal bypass
insertion of a vascular prosthesis from the femoral to the popliteal artery to bypass occluded segments.

femorotibial
(fem″o-ro-tib´e-әl) tibiofemoral.

femur
(fe´mәr) pl. fem´ora, femurs the thigh bone, extending from the pelvis to the knee. It is the longest and strongest bone in the body. Its upper end fits into the acetabulum, a cup-like cavity in the pelvic girdle. The two prominances on the upper end are called the greater and lesser trochanters. ...

FENa
test excreted fraction of filtered sodium test, a measure of renal tubular reabsorption of sodium, calculated as (urine Na × plasma Cr) ÷ (urine Cr × plasma Na) × 100.

fenestra
(fә-nes´trә) pl. fenes´trae Latin word for window. fenestra cochleae round window. fenestra vestibuli oval window.

fenestrate
(fen´әs-trāt) to pierce with one or more openings.

fenestrated membrane
one of the perforated elastic sheets of the tunica intima and tunica media of arteries.

fenestration
(fen″әs-tra´shәn) the presence of openings in a body part. the creation of openings to allow for viewing of parts. the surgical creation of a new opening in the labyrinth of the ear for the restoration of hearing in otosclerosis. loss or lack of supporting bone aroun...

fenofibrate
(fen″o-fi´brāt) an agent chemically related to clofibrate, used to treat hyperlipidemia; administered orally.

fenoldopam
(fe-nol´do-pam) a vasodilator used for short-term, inpatient management of severe hypertension, administered intravenously as the mesylate salt.

fenoprofen
(fen″o-pro´fәn) a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and other rheumatic and nonrheumatic inflammatory disorders, pain, dysmenorrhea, and vascular headaches; administered orally as the calcium salt.

fenoterol
(fen″o-ter´ol) a beta2-adrenergic receptor agonist used as a bronchodilator for the treatment and prophylaxis of reversible bronchospasm; administered by inhalation as the hydrobromide salt.

fentanyl
(fen´tә-nәl) an opioid analgesic used as the citrate salt in the induction and maintenance of anesthesia, as an adjunct to anesthesia, in combination with droperidol (or similar agent) to induce neuroleptanalgesia, and in the management of chronic severe pain.

Fenwick-Hunner ulcer
Hunner ulcer.

Fergusson incision
Fergusson operation removal of the maxilla through an incision running along the junction of the nose with the cheek, around the ala of the nose to the median line, and then down to bisect the upper lip. Called also Fergusson incision.

ferment
(fәr-ment´) to undergo fermentation. any substance that causes fermentation.

fermentation
(fur″mәn-ta´shәn) the anaerobic enzymatic conversion of organic compounds, especially carbohydrates, to simpler compounds, especially to lactic acid or ethyl alcohol, producing energy in the form of ATP.

fermentation test
(for glucose and other sugars in urine) boil a specimen to destroy bacteria, then add baker's yeast and incubate; perform the Benedict test for reducing sugars on this specimen and an unfermented specimen. Glucose, fructose, and maltose are fermented and give a reaction in the unfermented specimen but not in the fermented speci...

fermentation tube
a U-shaped tube with one end closed, for determining gas production by bacteria.

fermium
(Fm) (fur´me-әm) a chemical element, atomic number 100, atomic weight 253.

fern test
see ferning.

ferning
(furn´ing) the appearance of a fernlike pattern in a dried specimen of cervical mucus, an indication of the presence of estrogen, usually seen at the midpoint of the menstrual cycle; it can be helpful in the determination of ovulation. The same phenomenon occurs with premature rupture of the fetal membranes.

ferredoxin
(fer″ә-dok´sin) a nonheme iron-containing protein having a very low oxidation-reduction potential; the ferredoxins participate in electron transport in photosynthesis, nitrogen fixation, and various other biological processes.

ferric
(fer´ik) containing iron in its plus-three oxidation state, Fe(III) (sometimes designated Fe3+).

ferric chloride
FeCl3, used as a reagent and as a diagnostic aid in phenylketonuria.

ferric chloride test
ferric chloride in acidic solution is added to a urine specimen; many substances are oxidized giving colored products. Positive reactions are given by melanin, acetoacetic acid, bilirubin, phenothiazines, salicylates, and the keto acids present in phenylketonuria, alkaptonuria, maple syrup urine disease, and oasthouse uri...

ferritin
(fer´ĭ-tin) the complex of iron and apoferritin, a major form in which iron is stored in the body.

ferrokinetics
(fer″o-kĭ-net´iks) the turnover or rate of movement of iron in the body from plasma transferrin to erythrocyte precursors in the bone marrow to circulating erythrocytes to macrophages in the reticuloendothelial system and back to plasma transferrin.

ferroprotein
(fer″o-pro´tēn) a protein combined with an iron-containing radical; ferroproteins are respiratory carriers.

ferrotherapy
(fer″o-ther´ә-pe) therapeutic use of iron and iron compounds.

ferrous
(fer´әs) containing iron in its plus-two oxidation state, Fe(II) (sometimes designated Fe2+).

ferrous fumarate
an oral iron preparation used in the treatment of iron deficiency.

ferrous gluconate
a hematinic that is less irritating to the gastrointestinal tract than other hematinics, and generally used as a substitute when ferrous sulfate cannot be tolerated.

ferrous sulfate
the most widely used hematinic for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia; it is considered to be less irritating and more effective than equivalent amounts of ferric salts.

ferruginous
(fә-roo´jĭ-nәs) containing iron or iron rust.

ferruginous bodies
small masses of mineral matter of various shapes found in the lungs as a result of deposition of calcium salts, iron salts, and protein around a central core of foreign matter. See also asbestos bodies.

fertile eunuch syndrome
a syndrome of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, with variable development of secondary sex characters, associated with normal spermatogenesis, normal levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, and variably low levels of luteinizing hormone.

fertility
(fәr-til´ĭ-te) the capacity to conceive or to induce conception. adj., fer´tile., adj. infertility is the inability to conceive after one year of sexual relations without contraception, or the inability to carry pregnancy to a live birth. It affects about one in six couples of childbearing age. Steril...