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

galactophoritis
(gә-lak″to-for-i´tis) inflammation of the lactiferous ducts.

galactophorous
(gal″ak-tof´o-rәs) lactiferous (def. 1).

galactophorous tubules
small channels for the passage of milk from the secreting cells in the mammary gland.

galactopoiesis
(gә-lak″to-poi-e´sis) production of milk by the mammary glands; called also lactogenesis.

galactopoietic
(gә-lak″to-poi-et´ik) pertaining to, marked by, or promoting milk production; called also lactogenic.

galactorrhea
(gә-lak″to-re´ә) excessive or spontaneous milk flow; persistent secretion of milk irrespective of nursing. Called also lactorrhea. See also hyperlactation.

galactorrhea-amenorrhea syndrome
galactorrhea occurring with amenorrhea, sometimes associated with increased levels of prolactin; several different types are known.

galactosamine
(gal″ak-to´sә-mēn) an amino derivative of galactose.

galactose
(gә-lak´tōs) a simple sugar of the aldose group, derived from lactose. D-galactose is found in lactose, in cerebrosides of the brain, in the sugar beet, and in many gums and seaweeds; L-galactose is found in flaxseed mucilage.

galactose breath test
a breath test of liver function: the fasting subject is administered a dose of galactose labeled with carbon 13 and levels of labeled carbon dioxide in the breath are measured at specific time intervals. Low levels of carbon dioxide indicate that the galactose is not being metabolized properly, indicating either an enzyme defic...

galactose tolerance test
a laboratory test done to determine the liver's ability to convert galactose into glycogen. There is an oral method that takes about 5 hours to complete and an intravenous method that takes about 2 hours and is more accurate.

galactosemia
(gә-lak″to-se´me-ә) a genetically determined biochemical disorder in which there is a lack of an enzyme necessary for proper metabolism of galactose. Normally the lactose in milk is initially broken down into its glucose and galactose components. The galactose is then changed by enzymatic action into glucose...

galactosemic cataract
a cataract commonly observed in infants with galactosemia. The opacities look like oil droplets, are bilateral, and are zonular or nuclear.

galactosialidosis
(gә-lak″to-si-al″ĭ-do´sis) an autosomal recessive disorder clinically almost identical to sialidosis type II but due to a deficiency of both sialidase and β-galactosidase.

galactosidase
(gә-lak″to-si´dās) an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of galactoside to galactose; it occurs in two forms: α-galactosidase (melibiase) and β-galactosidase (lactase).

galactoside
(gә-lak´to-sīd) a glycoside containing galactose.

galactosis
(gal″ak-to´sis) the formation of milk by the lacteal glands.

galactostasis
(gal″ak-tos´tә-sis) cessation of lactation. abnormal collection of milk in the mammary glands.

galactosuria
(gә-lak″to-su´re-ә) presence of galactose in the urine owing to deficiency of enzymes that normally would convert it to glucose.

galantamine
(gә-lan´tә-mēn) a reversible competitive inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase used as the hydrobromide salt in the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer disease, administered orally.

Galassi pupillary phenomenon
orbicularis pupillary reflex.

galea
(ga´le-ә) Latin word meaning helmet. In anatomy, it is used for a helmet-shaped structure. galea aponeurotica the tendinous connection (aponeurosis) joining the frontal and occipital bellies of the occipitofrontal muscle.

Galeazzi fracture
fracture of the radius above the wrist combined with dislocation of the distal end of the ulna; called also Dupuytren fracture.

Galeazzi sign
in development dysplasia of the hip, apparent shortening of the femur, as shown by the difference of knee levels with the knees and hips flexed at right angles with the patient lying on a flat table.

galeophobia
(ga″le-o-fo´be-ә) ailurophobia.

gall
(gawl) bile.

gallamine triethiodide
(gal´ә-mēn tri″ә-thi´o-dīd) a quaternary ammonium compound used as the triethiodide salt as a skeletal muscle relaxant during surgery and other procedures, such as endoscopy or intubation, administered intravenously.

gallbladder
(gawl´blad″әr) gall bladder a pear-shaped organ located below the liver that serves as a storage place for bile. See also cholecystectomy, cholecystitis, and gallstone.

gallium
(Ga) (gal´e-әm) a chemical element, atomic number 31, atomic weight 69.72. gallium 67 a radioisotope of gallium, atomic mass 67, having a half-life of 3.26 days; used in the imaging of tumors, especially of soft tissue, and sites of inflammation and a...

gallon
(gal´on) a measure of liquid volume, 4 quarts. A standard gallon (United States) is 3.785 liters or 3785 mL; an imperial gallon (Great Britain) is 4.546 liters or 4546 mL.

gallop
(gal´op) a disordered rhythm of the heart; see also gallop rhythm.

gallop rhythm
an auscultatory finding of three or four heart sounds, created by gushes of blood entering resistant or stiffened ventricles. This can happen at two different times during ventricular diastole: either at initial filling or at the time of ventricular contraction. Therefore, gallops occur during early and late ventricular d...

gallstone
(gawl´stōn) a stonelike mass (calculus) in the gallbladder; the presence of gallstones is called cholelithiasis. The cause is unknown, although there is evidence of a connection with obesity; an excess of cholesterol in the bile appears to be important. Gallstones may be present for years without causing trouble; when pr...

gallstone pancreatitis
acute pancreatitis accompanied by gallstones, one of the most common types.

galvanic cell
voltaic cell.

galvanic current
a steady direct current, especially one produced chemically.

galvanic skin reflex
galvanic skin response the alteration in the electrical resistance of the skin associated with sympathetic nerve discharge.

galvanism
(gal´vә-niz-әm) galvanic current. the therapeutic use of such a current. dental galvanism the production of galvanic current in the oral cavity due to the presence of two or more dissimilar metals in dental restorations that are bathed in saliva, or a si...

galvanocontractility
(gal″vә-no-kon″trak-til´ĭ-te) contractility in response to stimulation by galvanic current.

galvanometer
(gal″vә-nom´ә-tәr) an instrument for measuring current by electromagnetic action.

galvanopalpation
(gal″vә-no-pal-pa´shәn) testing of nerves of the skin by means of galvanic current.

gambling
(gam´bling) betting money or other valuables on the outcome of a game or other event. pathological gambling an impulse control disorder consisting of persistent failure to resist the urge to gamble, to such an extent that personal, family, and vocational life are seriously disrup...

gamete
(gam´ēt) one of two haploid reproductive cells, male (spermatozoon) and female (oocyte), whose union is necessary in sexual reproduction to initiate the development of a new individual. the malarial parasite in its sexual form in the stomach of a mosquito; it may be either male (microgamete) or female (macr...

gamete intrafallopian transfer
(GIFT) a type of assisted reproductive technology consisting of retrieval of oocytes from the ovary, followed by placement of oocytes and sperm in the fallopian tubes by laparoscopy.

gametocide
(gә-me´to-sīd) an agent that destroys gametes or gametocytes. adj., gametoci´dal, adj. .

gametocyte
(gә-me´to-sīt) an oocyte or spermatocyte; a cell that produces gametes. the sexual stage of the malarial parasite in the blood which may produce gametes when taken into the mosquito host; it may be male (microgametocyte) or female (macrogametocyte).

gametogenesis
(gә-me″to-jen´ә-sis) the development of the male and female sex cells (gametes). adj., gametogen´ic, adj. .

gametogony
(gam″ә-tog´ә-ne) the development of merozoites into male and female gametes, which later fuse to form a zygote. reproduction by means of gametes.

gametoid cells
carcinoma cells resembling reproductive cells (gametes).

gamma benzene hexachloride
(gam´ә ben´zēn hek″sә-klor´īd) lindane.

gamma chain disease
a type of heavy chain disease that resembles a malignant lymphoma, with symptoms of lymphadenopathy, enlargement of the liver and spleen, and recurrent infections.

gamma fibers
fibers that conduct touch and pressure impulses and innervate the intrafusal fibers of the muscle spindle; they conduct at velocities of 15 to 40 meters per second and range from 3 to 7 μm in diameter.

gamma globulin
a class of plasma proteins composed almost entirely of immunoglobulins, the proteins that function as antibodies. Production of gamma globulin may be increased in the body when there is invasion by harmful microorganisms. immune globulin.

gamma rays
γ-rays electromagnetic emissions from radioactive substances; they are similar to and have the same general properties as x-rays but are produced through the disintegration of certain radioactive elements. They consist of high energy photons, have short wavelengths, and have no mass and no electric charge. Gamma rays are sometime...

gamma rhythm
a rhythm on the electroencephalogram consisting of waves with a frequency of 50 per second.

gamma-aminobutyric acid
(gam´ә-ә-me″no-bu-tir´ik) γ-aminobutyric acid.

gammacism
(gam´ә-siz-әm) a speech disorder consisting of imperfect utterance of velar consonants, especially g and k sounds. Called also paragammacism.

gammaglobulinopathy
(gam″ә-glob″u-lin-op´ә-the) gammopathy.

Gammaherpesvirinae
(gam″ә-hur″pēz-vir-I´ne) the lymphocyte-associated viruses, a subfamily of Herpesviridae whose members are specific for either B or T lymphocytes. A genus that causes human disease is Lymphocryptovirus, although many of these viruses have not yet been assigned to a genus.

gammopathy
(gam-op´ә-the) abnormal proliferation of the lymphoid cells producing immunoglobulins; the gammopathies include multiple myeloma, macroglobulinemia, and Hodgkin disease. Called also gammaglobulinopathy. monoclonal gammopathies plasma cell dyscrasias.

Gamna disease
(gahm´nә) enlargement of the spleen with thickening of its capsule and the presence of small brownish areas called Gamna nodules, along with deposition of iron-containing pigment into the pulp of the spleen.

Gamna nodules
brown or yellow pigmented nodules seen in the spleen in certain cases of enlargement, such as Gamna disease or siderotic splenomegaly.

gamogenesis
(gam″o-jen´ә-sis) sexual reproduction.

Gamstorp disease
(gahm´storp) hyperkalemic periodic paralysis; see familial periodic paralysis.

ganciclovir
(gan-si´klo-vir) a derivative of acyclovir used in the form of the base or the sodium salt in treatment of cytomegalovirus infections of the retina; administered orally, intravenously, or by intravitreous injection or implantation.

Gandy-Nanta disease
(gan´de nan´tә) siderotic splenomegaly.

ganglial
(gang´gle-әl) pertaining to a ganglion.

gangliated
(gang´gle-āt″әd) ganglionated.

gangliated nerve
any nerve of the sympathetic nervous system.

gangliectomy
(gang″gle-ek´tә-me) ganglionectomy.

gangliform
(gang´glĭ-form) having the form of a ganglion.

gangliitis
(gang″gle-i´tis) ganglionitis.

ganglioblast
(gang´gle-o-blast″) an embryonic cell of the cerebrospinal ganglia.

gangliocyte
(gang´gle-o-sīt″) a ganglion cell.

gangliocytoma
(gang″gle-o-si-to´mә) ganglioneuroma.

ganglioform
(gang´gle-o-form″) gangliform.

ganglioglioma
(gang″gle-o-gli-o´mә) a glioma rich in mature neurons or ganglion cells.

ganglioglioneuroma
(gang″gle-o-gli″o-ndbobr-ro´mә) ganglioneuroma.

ganglioma
(gang″gle-o´mә) ganglioneuroma.

ganglion
(gang´gle-on) pl. gan´glia, ganglions a group of nerve cell bodies located outside the central nervous system. The term is occasionally applied to certain nuclear groups within the brain or spinal cord, such as the basal ganglia. a type of cystic tumor occurring on an aponeurosis or tendon, such as in the w...

ganglion cell
a form of large nerve cell characteristic of ganglia. any of those retinal cells that are the third and last neurons in the vertical linkage of the retina and are analogous to the relays in the spinal cord and brain stem.

ganglion impar
(gang´gle-on im´pahr) a ganglion commonly found on the front of the coccyx, where the sympathetic trunks of the two sides unite.

ganglionated
(gang´gle-ә-nāt″әd) provided with ganglia; called also gangliated.

ganglionectomy
(gang″gle-ә-nek´tә-me) excision of a ganglion; called also gangliectomy.

ganglioneuroma
(gang″gle-o-ndbobr-ro´mә) a benign neoplasm composed of nerve fibers and mature ganglion cells; called also gangliocytoma, ganglioglioneuroma, and ganglioma.

ganglionic
(gang″gle-on´ik) pertaining to a ganglion.

ganglionic blockade
inhibition by drugs of nerve impulse transmission at autonomic ganglionic synapses; see also ganglionic blocking agent.

ganglionic blocking agent
one that blocks nerve impulses at autonomic ganglionic synapses; used for initial control of blood pressure in patients with acute dissecting aortic aneurysm, production of controlled hypotension during surgery, and treatment of autonomic dysreflexia.

ganglionic layer of cerebellum
the thin middle gray layer of the cortex of the cerebellum, consisting of a single layer of Purkinje cells.

ganglionitis
(gang″gle-ә-ni´tis) inflammation of a ganglion; called also gangliitis.

ganglionostomy
(gang″gle-ә-nos´tә-me) surgical creation of an opening into a cystic tumor on a tendon sheath or aponeurosis.

ganglioplegic
(gang″gle-o-ple´jik) blocking transmission of impulses through the sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia. an agent that so acts.

ganglioside
(gang´gle-o-sīd″) a class of galactose-containing cerebrosides found in central nervous system tissues; they are glycolipids of the basic composition ceramide-glucose-galactose-N-acetyl neuraminic acid. The form GM1 accumulates in tissues in generalized gangliosidosis, the form GM2 in Tay-Sachs disease.

gangliosidosis
(gang″gle-o-si-do´sis) pl. gangliosido´ses a lipid storage disorder marked by accumulation of gangliosides in tissues due to an enzyme defect. Generalized gangliosidosis is a hereditary defect in β-galactosidase that causes accumulation of ganglioside GM1, which results in mental retardation, enlargement of the live...

gangrene
(gang´grēn) the death of body tissue, generally in considerable mass, usually associated with loss of vascular (nutritive) supply, and followed by bacterial invasion and putrefaction. Although it usually affects the limbs, gangrene sometimes may involve the internal organs. The most common types are moist gangrene,...

gangrenous
(gang´rә-nәs) pertaining to, marked by, or of the nature of gangrene.

gangrenous cellulitis
necrotizing fasciitis.

gangrenous pharyngitis
a type in which there are gangrenous patches in the throat.

gangrenous pneumonia
gangrene of the lung.

gangrenous stomatitis
see noma.