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

genal
(je´nәl) pertaining to the cheek; buccal.

genal glands
buccal glands.

gender
(jen´dәr) sex (def. 1).

gender dysphoria
unhappiness with one's biological sex or its usual gender role, with the desire for the body and role of the opposite sex.

gender dysphoria syndrome
a group of psychological problems associated with discrepancy between the physical sex assignment and the psychological gender identity.

gender identity disorder
a disturbance of gender identification in which the affected person has an overwhelming desire to change their anatomic sex or insists that they are of the opposite sex, with persistent discomfort about their assigned sex or about filling its usual gender role; the disorder may become apparent in childhood or not appear u...

gene
(jēn) the biologic unit of heredity; self-reproducing, transmitted from parent to progeny, and located at a specific position in the genome. Genes make up segments of the complex DNA molecules that control cell reproduction and function. There are thousands of genes in the chromosomes of each cell nucleus; they play an i...

gene map
a diagram showing the linear arrangement of genetic loci on a DNA molecule and indicating the distance between them, either in relative or physical units. Gene map of human mitochondrial DNA, showing the genes transcribed from the heavy (H) and light (L) strands, transcription proceedin...

gene therapy
manipulation of the genome of an individual to prevent, mask, or lessen the effects of a genetic disorder. The defective function may be replaced by introduction of genetic material into targeted cells, or the defective gene itself may be corrected by using recombination to replace all or part of the defective gene with a...

genera
(jen´әr-ә) plural of genus.

general adaptation syndrome
all nonspecific systemic reactions of the body to prolonged systemic stress, including the alarm reaction, resistance, and exhaustion.

general anesthesia
a state of unconsciousness produced by anesthestic agents, with absence of pain sensation over the entire body and a greater or lesser degree of muscular relaxation; the drugs producing this state can be administered by inhalation, intravenously, intramuscularly, or rectally, or via the gastrointestinal tract.

general duty nurse
a registered nurse who sees to the general nursing care of patients in a hospital or other health agency; usually this does not require formal education beyond the basic nursing program.

general fertility rate
the most widely used measure of fertility; the number of live births in a geographic area in a year per 1000 women of childbearing age, which is usually defined as age 15 to 44 years.

general paralysis
general paresis chronic meningoencephalitis from a syphilitic infection that is causing gradual loss of cortical function, resulting in progressive dementia and generalized paralysis; this may occur 10 to 20 years after an initial infection of syphilis in untreated individuals. Called also Bayle disease and dementia paralytica.

general peritonitis
diffuse peritonitis.

general stimulant
a stimulant that acts upon the whole body.

generalized amnesia
loss of memory encompassing the individual's entire life.

generalized anxiety disorder
(GAD) an anxiety disorder characterized by the presence of excessive, uncontrollable anxiety and worry about two or more life circumstances for six months or longer, accompanied by some combination of restlessness, fatigue, muscle tension, irritability, disturbed concentration or sleep, and somatic symptoms.

generalized dystonia
dystonia occurring in multiple muscles of the trunk and limbs, so that the body continually distorts and twists and the person has difficulty walking.

generalized edema
edema that is caused by poor venous return and is not localized by the effects of gravity, in contrast to dependent edema.

generalized epilepsy
epilepsy in which the seizures are generalized; they may have a focal onset or be generalized from the beginning.

generalized morphea
extensive morphea over large sections of a body part, sometimes becoming so extensive as to involve all layers of the skin; it may lead to progressive disability, contractures of the limbs, and progressive atrophy.

generalized scleroderma
systemic scleroderma.

generalized tetanus
the most common type of tetanus (def. 2), characterized by tetanic muscular contractions and hyperreflexia, resulting in lockjaw, glottal spasms, generalized muscle spasms, opisthotonos, respiratory spasm, seizures, and paralysis that can be fatal.

generalized tonic-clonic seizure
grand mal seizure the seizure seen in grand mal epilepsy, marked by loss of consciousness and generalized tonic convulsions followed by clonic convulsions. See epilepsy.

generation
(jen″әr-a´shәn) reproduction (def. 2). a class composed of all individuals removed by the same number of successive ancestors from a common predecessor, or occupying positions on the same level in a pedigree chart.

generative
(jen´әr-ә-tiv″) pertaining to reproduction.

generator
(jen´әr-a″tәr) something that produces or causes to exist. a machine that converts mechanical to electrical energy. pulse generator the power source for an artificial pacemaker, usually powered by a long-lasting lithium battery and a microprocessor chip wit...

generic
(jә-ner´ik) pertaining to a genus. nonproprietary; denoting a drug name not protected by a trademark, usually descriptive of the drug's chemical structure.

generic name
in chemistry, a name applied to a class of compounds, e.g., alkane or halide. nonproprietary n. in biology, the name applied to a genus.

genesiology
(jә-ne″ze-ol´ә-je) the scientific study of reproduction.

genesis
(jәn´ә-sis) creation; origination; used as a word termination joined to an element indicating the thing created, such as carcinogenesis.

genetic
(jә-net´ik) pertaining to or determined by genes. pertaining to reproduction or to birth or origin, such as a genetic code or genetic marker.

genetic code
the arrangement of consecutive nucleotide triplets (codons) in a nucleic acid that specifies the sequence of amino acids for synthesis of a protein. Genetic information is encoded in DNA by means of four bases: two purines (adenine and guanine) and two pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine). Each adjacent sequence of three bases (a codon...

genetic disease
a general term for any disorder caused by a genetic mechanism, comprising chromosome aberrations or anomalies, mendelian or monogenic or single-gene disorders, and multifactorial disorders.

genetic map
a gene map giving the relative locations of genetic markers, based on recombination frequencies, rather than as specific physical points; the unit of measurement is the centimorgan. Cf. physical map.

genetic sex
chromosomal sex.

geneticist
(jә-net´ĭ-sist) a specialist in genetics.

genetics
(jә-net´iks) the branch of biology dealing with the phenomena of heredity and the laws governing it.

Gengou phenomenon
complement fixation.

genic
(jen´ik) pertaining to or caused by genes.

genicular
(jә-nik´u-lәr) pertaining to the knee.

genicular veins
veins accompanying the genicular arteries and draining into the popliteal vein.

geniculate
(jә-nik´u-lāt) bent, like a knee.

geniculate bodies
see lateral geniculate body and medial geniculate body.

geniculate ganglion
the sensory ganglion of the facial nerve, on the geniculum of the facial nerve.

geniculate neuralgia
Ramsay Hunt syndrome.

geniculum
(jә-nik´u-lәm) pl. geni´cula Latin word meaning little knee.. In anatomy, it is used for a sharp kneelike bend in a small structure or organ.

genioglossus muscle
origin, superior mental spine; insertion, hyoid bone and inferior surface of tongue; innervation, hypoglossal nerve; action, sticks out and pushes down tongue.

geniohyoid muscle
origin, inferior mental spine; insertion, body of hyoid bone; innervation, a branch of the first cervical nerve through the hypoglossal nerve; action, raises and draws hyoid bone forward, or pushes down mandible when hyoid bone is fixed in place by its depressor muscles.

genital
(jen´ĭ-tәl) pertaining to reproduction or to the reproductive organs. (in the pl.)reproductive organs.

genital canal
any canal for the passage of ova or for copulatory use.

genital duct
genital canal.

genital furrow
a groove that appears on the genital tubercle of the fetus at the end of the second month.

genital herpes
herpes simplex of the genitals, a common sexually transmitted disease, usually caused by human herpesvirus 2 but occasionally by human herpesvirus 1. If it is present at term in the pregnant female, it may lead to infection of the baby, with severe complications (see maternal herpes). A genital rash and mild itching usually are the e...

genital organs
reproductive organs.

genital ridge
the more medial part of the urogenital ridge, giving rise to the gonad.

genital stage
in psychoanalytic theory, the last stage in psychosexual development, occurring during puberty, during which the person can achieve sexual gratification from genital-to-genital contact and is capable of a mature relationship with a person of the opposite sex. It follows the latency stage.

genital tuberculosis
tuberculosis of the genital tract; it occurs in both females and males and may be an extension of renal tuberculosis.

genital ulcer syndrome
any of the diseases or conditions causing ulcerations of the reproductive organs, most commonly syphilis or herpes simplex, but also including chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum, granuloma inguinale, or trauma.

genital wart
condyloma acuminatum.

genitalia
(jen″ĭ-ta´le-ә) reproductive organs. ambiguous genitalia reproductive organs with characteristics typical of both male and female, as seen in hermaphroditism and some types of pseudohermaphroditism.

genitocrural
(jen″ĭ-to-kroo´rәl) genitofemoral (jen″ĭ-to-fem´or-әl) pertaining to the reproductive organs and the thigh.

genitofemoral nerve
origin, lumbar plexus (L1–L2); branches, genital and femoral branches; distribution, cremaster muscle, skin of scrotum or labia majora and of adjacent area of thigh and femoral triangle; modality, general sensory and motor.

genitography
(jen″ĭ-tog´rә-fe) radiography of the urogenital sinus and internal duct structures after injection of a contrast medium through the sinus opening.

genitoplasty
(jen´ĭ-to-plas″te) plastic surgery on the reproductive organs.

genitourinary
(jen″ĭ-to-u´rĭ-nar-e) pertaining to the urinary system and reproductive organs; called also urinogenital and urogenital.

genitourinary system
the organs concerned with production and excretion of urine, together with the reproductive organs. Called also urogenital system.

genitourinary tuberculosis
tuberculosis involving the genitourinary tract, often the result of spread through the bloodstream of pulmonary tuberculosis. It usually begins as renal tuberculosis and spreads downward to cause endometritis, epididymitis, or other less common conditions.

genocopy
(je´no-kop″e) a phenotype that appears identical to another phenotype but that is caused by a different genetic mechanism. See also phenocopy.

genodermatosis
(je″no-dur″mә-to´sis) a genetic disorder of the skin, usually generalized; if circumscribed, it is usually called a nevus.

genome
(je´nōm) the entire set of genetic information of an organism, cell, organelle, or virus. It is DNA in eukaryotes (organisms whose cells have a true nucleus) and prokaryotes (organisms whose cells do not have a true nucleus), and either DNA or RNA in viruses. The human genome has an estimated 60,000–80,000 ge...

genomics
(je-no´miks) the study of the structure and function of the genome, including information about sequence, mapping, and expression, and how genes and their products work in organisms.

genotoxic
(je´no-tok″sik) damaging to DNA; said of agents such as radiation or chemical substances that do this and thereby cause mutations, sometimes resulting in cancer.

genotype
(je´no-tīp) the entire genetic constitution of an individual. the alleles present at one or more specific loci. adj., genotyp´ic, adj. .

Gensini coronary catheter
a catheter used for coronary arteriography, having an end-hole to accommodate a guidewire or monitor pressure as well as side holes for rapid injection of large volumes of contrast material.

gentamicin
(jen″tә-mi´sin) an aminoglycosideantibiotic complex elaborated by bacteria of the genus Micromonospora, effective against many gram-negative bacteria, especially Pseudomonas species, as well as certain gram-positive bacteria, especially Staphylococcus aureus; used as the sulfate salt.

gentian
(jen´shәn) the dried rhizome and roots of Gentiana lutea. gentian violet an antibacterial, antifungal, and anthelmintic dye, applied topically in the treatment of infections of the skin and mucous membranes associated with gram-positive bacteria and molds and also used to t...

gentianophilic
(jen´shәn-o-fil´ik) staining readily with gentian violet.

gentianophobic
(jen″shәn-o-fo´bik) staining poorly with gentian violet.

genu
(je´nu) pl. ge´nua Latin word meaning knee.

genu extrorsum
(je´nu ek-stror´sәm) genu varum.

genu introrsum
( in-tror´sәm) genu valgum.

genu recurvatum
(je´nu re-kәr-va´tәm) hyperextensibility of the knee joint.

genu valgum
(je´nu val´gәm) a childhood deformity, developing gradually, in which the knees rub together or “knock” in walking and the ankles are far apart; the most common causes are irregularity in growth of the long bones of the lower limb (sometimes from injury to the bone ends at the knee) and weak ligaments....

genu varum
(je´nu var´әm) an outward curvature of one or both lower limbs near the knee. Called also bowleg.

genucubital position
knee-elbow position.

genufacial position
a position in which the patient is supported on the knees and face.

genupectoral position
knee-chest position.

genus
(je´nәs) pl. gen´era a taxonomic category (taxon) subordinate to a tribe (or subtribe) and superior to a species (or subgenus).

geode
(je´ōd) a dilated lymph space.

geographic medicine
geomedicine. tropical m.

geographic retinal atrophy
a pattern of well-demarcated epithelial atrophy of retinal pigment, leading to vision loss, most often associated with age-related macular degeneration.

geographic tongue
a tongue with denuded patches, surrounded by thickened epithelium.

geomedicine
(je″o-med´ĭ-sin) the branch of medicine dealing with the influence of climatic and environmental conditions on health.

geophagia
(je-o-fa´jә) the habit of eating clay or earth, a form of pica.

geophagy
(je-of´ә-je) geophagia.

geotaxis
(je″o-tak´sis) taxis in response to gravity; movement influenced by gravity.

geotrichosis
(je″o-trĭ-ko´sis) a candidiasis-like infection due to Geotrichum candidum, which may attack the bronchi, lungs, mouth, or intestinal tract.