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

Geotrichum
(je-ot´rĭ-kәm) a genus of yeastlike fungi. G. can´didum is found in dairy products and feces and causes geotrichosis.

geotropism
(je-ot´ro-piz-әm) tropism in response to gravity, being either toward or away from the earth; growth influenced by gravity.

GERD
gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Gerhardt disease
(ger´hahrt) erythromelalgia.

Gerhardt test
(for acetoacetic acid in the urine) filter, in order to remove the phosphates, and add a few drops of a solution of ferric chloride, which produces a deep red color, which disappears when sulfuric acid is added. (for bile pigments in the urine) shake urine with an equal measure of chloroform and then add iodine ti...

geriatric
(jer″e-at´rik) pertaining to elderly persons or to the aging process. pertaining to geriatrics.

geriatric psychiatry
geropsychiatry.

geriatrician
(jer″e-ә-trish´әn) a physician specializing in geriatrics.

geriatrics
(jer″e-at´riks) the branch of health care dealing with the problems of aging and diseases of the aged; it grows increasingly important as modern medicine and a rising standard of living lengthen life expectancy and increase the proportion of aged persons in society. See also gerontology.

Gerlier disease
(zher-le-a´) an acute disease seen in farm workers and stable workers, characterized by vertigo, ptosis, and motor disorders; it is probably a form of vestibular neuronitis.

germ
(jurm) a pathogenic microorganism. living substance capable of developing into an organ, part, or organism as a whole; a primordium. hair germ an ectodermal concentration in the basal layer of the embryonic epidermis, the precursor of a hair follicle and related structures. ...

germ cell tumor
any of a group of tumors arising from primitive germ cells, usually of the testis or ovary; they range from benign to highly malignant. Types include germinoma, yolk sac tumor, teratoma, embryonal carcinoma, and some types of choriocarcinoma; many tumors are mixtures of types.

germ cells
the cells of an organism whose function it is to reproduce its kind, i.e., oocytes and spermatozoa and their immature stages. See also gamete. Called also sex cells.

germ layer
germ cell layer any of the three primary layers of cells formed in the early development of the embryo (ectoderm, endoderm, and mesoderm), from which the organs and tissues develop.

germ theory
all organisms are developed from a cell. infectious diseases are of microbial origin.

germanium
(Ge) (jәr-ma´ne-әm) a chemical element, atomic number 32, atomic weight 72.59.

germicide
(jur´mĭ-sīd) microbicide. adj., germici´dal., adj.

germinal
(jur´mĭ-nәl) pertaining to or of the nature of a germ cell or the primordial stage of development.

germinal area
embryonic disc.

germinal cell
a cell capable of dividing and differentiating.

germinal center
the area in the center of a lymph node containing aggregations of actively proliferating lymphocytes.

germinal spot
the nucleolus of an oocyte.

germinal vesicle
the fluid-filled nucleus of an oocyte toward the end of prophase of its first meiotic division.

germination
(jur″mĭ-na´shәn) the sprouting of a seed, spore, or plant embryo.

germinative
(jur´mĭ-na″tiv) pertaining to germination or to a germ cell.

germinative layer
stratum germinativum. stratum basale.

germinoma
(jur″mĭ-no´mә) a type of germ cell tumor consisting of large round cells with vesicular nuclei, usually found in the ovary, undescended testis, anterior mediastinum, or pineal gland; in males these are called seminomas and in females dysgerminomas.

Germisten virus
an arbovirus of the genus Bunyavirus that causes a mild febrile disease in South Africa.

germline
(jәrm´līn) germ line the sequence of cells in the line of direct descent from zygote to gamete, as opposed to somatic cells (all other body cells). Mutations in germline cells are transmitted to progeny; those in somatic cells are not.

germline mutation
one in a germ cell that alters the gametes and so can be transmitted to offspring. See also somatic mutation.

geroderma
(jer″o-dur´mә) dystrophy of the skin and genitals, giving the appearance of old age. geroderma osteodysplastica a condition believed to be transmitted as an autosomal recessive trait, in which geroderma is associated with skeletal abnormalities such as osteoporosis, l...

gerodontics
(jer″o-don´tiks) dentistry dealing with the dental problems of the aged. adj., gerodon´tic, adj. .

gerodontist
(jer″o-don´tist) a dentist specializing in gerodontics.

gerodontology
(jer″o-don-tol´ә-je) study of the teeth and dental problems in the aged.

geromorphism
(jer″o-mor´fiz-әm) premature aging of a body part.

gerontologist
(jer″on-tol´ә-jist) a health care provider specializing in gerontology.

gerontology
(jer″on-tol´ә-je) the scientific study of aging.

gerontotoxon
(jer-on″to-tok´son) arcus corneae.

geropsychiatry
(jer″o-si-ki´ә-tre) a subspecialty of psychiatry dealing with mental health and illness in the elderly.

Gerstmann syndrome
(gerst´mahn) a combination of finger agnosia, right-left disorientation, agraphia, acalculia, and often constructional apraxia; it was formerly attributed to a lesion in the angular gyrus of the dominant hemisphere, but now that etiology is in doubt.

gestagen
(jes´tә-jen) progestational agent.

gestalt
(gә-stawlt´) (gә-shtawlt´) form, shape; a whole perceptual configuration. See gestaltism.

gestalt psychology
gestaltism.

gestaltism
(gә-stawl´tiz-әm) (gә-shtawl´tiz-әm) the theory in psychology that the objects of mind, as immediately presented to direct experience, come as complete unanalyzable wholes or forms (Gestalten) that cannot be split up into parts.

gestation
(jes-ta´shәn) pregnancy. adj., gesta´tional., adj.

gestation period
(jes-ta´shәn) the duration of pregnancy; in human females this is about 266 days from the time of fertilization of the oocyte until birth. The gestation period is considered to begin on the first day of the woman's last normal menstrual period before fertilization, which is about two weeks before fertilization occ...

gestational age
the estimated age or stage of maturity of a conceptus. Gestational age of the newborn infant can be estimated by noting various physical characteristics that normally appear at each stage of fetal development. A preterm infant emerging from the birth canal will be covered with a rather heavy coating of vernix caseosa, whereas the ter...

gestational diabetes
diabetes mellitus with onset or first recognition during pregnancy, usually during the second or third trimester. In some cases mild, undetected glucose intolerance was present before pregnancy. It often disappears after the end of the pregnancy, but many women with this condition develop permanent diabetes mellitus in la...

gestational trophoblastic disease
gestational trophoblastic neoplasia(GTN) a group of neoplastic disorders that originate in the placenta, including hydatidiform mole, chorioadenoma destruens, and choriocarcinoma.

gestosis
(jes-to´sis) pl. gesto´ses any disorder of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia-eclampsia syndrome.

gesture
(jes´chәr) an act made or something said to signify intention or attitude. suicidal gesture a more serious warning than a suicide threat; it may be followed by a planned suicidal act that attracts attention without seriously injuring the subject.

GeV
gigaelectron volt.

GFR
glomerular filtration rate.

GH-RH
growth hormone–releasing hormone.

Ghon complex
primary complex (def. 1).

Ghon primary lesion
Ghon focus.

Ghon tubercle
Ghon focus.

ghost cell
a keratinized cell that no longer has a nucleus but instead an unstained, shadowy center where the nucleus used to be.

GI
gastrointestinal; globin (zinc) insulin.

Gianelli sign
Tournay sign.

Giannuzzi cells
Giannuzzi crescents.

Gianotti-Crosti syndrome
(jah-not´e kros´te) a viral disease of young children, generally benign and self-limited, characterized by skin colored or reddish, flat-topped, firm papules forming a symmetrical eruption in an acral distribution, usually on the face, buttocks, or limbs, including the palms and soles. Symptoms are mild; the child...

giant a waves
abnormally tall a waves in tracings of the jugular venous pulse; they occur when either inflow resistance to or outflow resistance from the right ventricle is increased or when atrial contractions occur out of phase, during the period the tricuspid valve is closed (cannon a waves).

giant cell
a large, multinucleate cell. The most common type is the megakaryocytes found normally in bone marrow. Abnormal types are formed by coalescence and fusion of macrophages in tuberculosis; cells occurring in other infectious granulomas; large cells that surround foreign bodies; and certain cancer cells.

giant cell arteritis
a chronic vascular disease of unknown origin, occurring in the elderly, characterized by severe headache, fever, and accumulation of giant cells in the walls of medium-sized arteries, especially the temporal arteries. Ocular involvement may cause visual impairment or even blindness. Called also cranial, granulomatous, or ...

giant cell carcinoma
a poorly differentiated, highly malignant, epithelial neoplasm containing many giant cells (large multinucleated tumor cells), such as occurs in the lungs or thyroid gland.

giant cell granuloma
giant cell reparative granuloma a lesion of the jaws characterized by a proliferation of vascular connective tissue and multinucleate giant cells, sometimes linked to earlier trauma; two types are distinguished: the central giant cell granuloma and the peripheral giant cell granuloma or giant cell epulis.

giant cell interstitial pneumonia
a type of pneumonia similar to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis but with interstitial exudate containing large numbers of irregularly shaped multinucleate giant cells; it is thought to represent the pathologic appearance of hard metal disease.

giant cell myocarditis
a subtype of acute isolated myocarditis characterized by the presence of multinucleate giant cells and other inflammatory cells, and by ventricular dilatation, mural thrombi, and wide areas of necrosis.

giant cell pneumonia
a rare, often fatal form of interstitial pneumonia caused by the measles virus, affecting children with disease of the reticuloendothelial system (such as leukemia), as well as immunocompromised or otherwise weakened adults; characteristics include multinucleate giant cell inclusion bodies, high fever, tachypnea, hypoxemia, and a har...

giant cell sarcoma
a malignant form of giant cell tumor of bone.

giant cell tumor
a benign or malignant tumor containing giant cells; see giant cell carcinoma, giant cell granuloma, and giant cell sarcoma. a type of bone tumor that may be either benign or malignant and has stroma composed of spindle cells and multinucleated giant cells that resemble osteoclasts. a type of small, yellow,...

giant cell tumor of bone
a bone tumor composed of cellular spindle cell stroma containing scattered multinucleated giant cells resembling osteoclasts; symptoms may include local pain and tenderness, functional disability, and, occasionally, pathologic fractures. The tumors remain benign or progress to frankly malignant lesions. See also giant cel...

giant cell tumor of tendon sheath
a benign tumor-like lesion of tendon sheath origin forming a small, yellow, discrete nodule, most commonly of the wrist and fingers, or ankle and toes; the tissue is laden with lipophages and contains multinucleated giant cells. It is sometimes considered a variant or subtype of benign fibrous histiocytoma. Called also be...

giant follicular lymphoma
follicular lymphoma.

giant hairy nevus
giant pigmented nevus any of a group of large, darkly pigmented, hairy nevi, usually bilaterally symmetrical and present at birth; the most common locations are the chest, upper back, shoulders, arms, legs, and or hip and groin area. They are associated with other cutaneous and subcutaneous lesions, as well as neurofibroma...

giant peptic ulcer
a rare type of peptic ulcer that is particularly large.

giant platelet syndrome
Bernard-Soulier syndrome.

giant pyramidal cells
Betz cells.

giantism
(ji´әnt-iz-әm) gigantism. excessive size, as of cells or nuclei.

Giardia
(je-ahr´de-ә) a genus of flagellate protozoa parasitic in the intestines of humans and other animals, which may cause protracted, intermittent diarrhea with symptoms suggesting malabsorption. G. lamb´lia (called also G. intestina´lis) causes giardiasis.

giardiasis
(je″ahr-di´ә-sis) a common infection of the lumen of the small intestine with Giardia lamblia, and spread via contaminated food and water and by direct person-to-person contact. Most of those infected are asymptomatic, but a small percentage of cases present a wide range of symptoms, including nonspecific ga...

Gibbon and Landis test
(for peripheral circulation) a pair of extremities (the hands, if the feet are to be tested; the feet, if the hands are to be tested) are immersed in a bath of 43°–45°C. If the temperature in the unimmersed extremities rises, the circulation is normal.

gibbosity
(gĭ-bos´ĭ-te) kyphosis.

gibbous
(gib´әs) humped; protuberant.

gibbus
(gib´әs) hump.

Gibney disease
(gib´ne) Gibney perispondylitis a painful condition of the spinal muscles.

Gibson murmur
a long rumbling sound occupying most of systole and diastole, usually localized in the second left interspace near the sternum, and usually indicative of patent ductus arteriosus. Called also machinery murmur.

Giemsa stain
a solution containing azure II-eosin, azure II-glycerin, and methanol; used for staining protozoan parasites such as Plasmodium and Trypanosoma, for Chlamydia, for differential staining of blood smears, and for viral inclusion bodies. Stained elements appear pink to purple to blue.

Gierke cells
small, deeply staining Golgi type II neurons that constitute the chief cells of Rolando gelatinous substance; cf. Rolando cells.

Gies biuret test
(for proteins) a form of biuret test employing the following reagent: mix 25 mL of a 3 per cent solution of cupric sulfate and 975 mL of a 10 per cent solution of potassium hydroxide.

Gifford reflex
Gifford-Galassi reflex orbicularis pupillary reflex.

GIFT
gamete intrafallopian transfer.

gigantism
(ji-gan´tiz-әm) (ji´gan-tiz-әm) abnormal overgrowth of the body or a part; excessive size and stature; the most common type is pituitary gigantism. cerebral gigantism gigantism without increased levels of growth hormone, attributed to a cerebral defect; infant...

gigantomastia
(ji-gan″to-mas´te-ә) extreme macromastia.

Gilbert syndrome
(zhēl-bār´) a relatively common, hereditary, benign or subclinical form of hyperbilirubinemia caused by reduced rates of hepatic uptake and conjugation of bilirubin. Patients may have mild, intermittent jaundice, fatigue, and weakness. Although the disease is present from birth, it usually presents clinically in the...

Gilchrist disease
(gil´krist) blastomycosis (def. 1).

Gilles de la Tourette syndrome
(zhēl-dә-lah-too-ret´) a syndrome comprising both multiple motor and one or more vocal tics that occur for at least one year, either intermittently or sometimes numerous times in one day. Obsessions, compulsions, hyperactivity, distractibility, and impulsivity are often associated. Onset is in childhood...

Gillespie syndrome
(gĭ-les´pe) a rare autosomal recessive syndrome consisting of aniridia, cerebellar ataxia, and mental retardation.

Gilliam operation
an operation for retroversion of the uterus by drawing a loop of each round ligament through the abdominal wall and fixing the loops to the abdominal fascia.