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

amitriptyline
(am″ĭ-trip´tә-lēn) a tricyclic antidepressant with sedative effects; also used in treating enuresis, chronic pain, peptic ulcer, and bulimia nervosa.

AML
acute myelogenous leukemia.

amlexanox
(am-lek´sә-noks″) a topical antiulcerative agent used in treatment of recurrent aphthous stomatitis.

amlodipine
(am-lo´dĭ-pēn″) a calcium channel blocking agent administered orally in the form of the besylate salt in treatment of hypertension and chronic stable and vasospastic angina.

ammeter
(am´me-tәr) an instrument for measuring in amperes the strength of a current flowing in a circuit.

Ammon operation
blepharoplasty by a flap from the cheek. dacryocystotomy. for epicanthus: resection of a spindle-shaped piece of skin over the bridge of the nose, undermining the flaps of the epicanthal fold, and closing with sutures.

ammonia
(ә-mōn´yә) a colorless alkaline gas, NH3, with a pungent odor and acrid taste, and soluble in water. ammonia N 13 ammonia in which a portion of the molecules are labeled with 13N; used in positron emission tomography of the cardiovascular system, brain, and liver.

ammonia dermatitis
diaper dermatitis.

ammoniate
(ә-mo´ne-āt) to combine with ammonia.

ammonium
(ә-mo´ne-әm) a hypothetical radical, NH4, forming salts analogous to those of the alkaline metals. ammonium carbonate a mixture of ammonium compounds used as a liquefying expectorant in the treatment of chronic bronchitis and similar lung disorders. It is sometimes us...

ammoniuria
(ә-mo″ne-u´re-ә) hyperammonuria.

amnesia
(am-ne´zhә) pathologic impairment of memory, usually the result of physical damage to areas of the brain from injury, disease, or alcoholism. Psychologic factors may also cause this; a shocking or unacceptable situation may be too painful to remember, with the situation being retained only in the subconsciou...

amnestic
(am-nes´tik) characterized by or pertaining to amnesia.

amnestic aphasia
anomic aphasia.

amnestic apraxia
loss of ability to carry out a movement on command due to inability to remember the command.

amnestic disorders
mental disorders characterized by acquired impairment in the ability to learn and recall new information, sometimes accompanied by inability to recall previously learned information, and not coupled to dementia or delirium. The disorders are subclassified on the basis of etiology as amnestic disorder due to a general medi...

amnestic syndrome
a mental disorder characterized by impairment in short- and long-term memory, with anterograde and sometimes retrograde amnesia, occurring in a normal state of consciousness. Disorientation, confabulation, and a lack of insight into the memory deficit may be present. The most common cause is thiamine deficiency associated with ...

amniocentesis
(am″ne-o-sen-te´sis) transabdominal perforation of the amniotic sac in order to obtain a sample of amniotic fluid, which contains cells shed from the skin of the fetus as well as biochemical substances. Analyses of changes in chemical and cellular composition of the fluid are helpful in assessing the maturation an...

amniochorial
(am″ne-o-kor´e-әl) pertaining to amnion and chorion.

amniogenesis
(am″ne-o-jen´ә-sis) the development of the amnion.

amniography
(am″ne-og´rә-fe) radiography of the pregnant uterus after injection of an opaque contrast medium into the amniotic fluid.

amnioinfusion
(am″ne-o-in-fu´zhәn) injection of solutions into the amniotic fluid, usually to induce abortion. infusion of normal saline to increase intra-amniotic fluid in cases of oligohydramnios or rupture of the membranes; this may reduce the number and severity of variable decelerations due to cord compressio...

amnion
(am´ne-on) the innermost fetal membrane, which forms a sac filled with amniotic fluid that surrounds the embryo and later the fetus; as it enlarges it gradually obliterates the chorionic cavity and enfolds the umbilical cord. Called also bag of waters. Amnion, chorion, and other em...

amnionitis
(am″ne-o-ni´tis) inflammation of the amnion, a manifestation of an intrauterine infection, often associated with prolonged membrane rupture and long labor.

amniorrhea
(am″ne-o-re´ә) escape of the amniotic fluid.

amniorrhexis
(am″ne-o-rek´sis) rupture of the amnion.

amnioscope
(am´ne-o-skōp″) an endoscope that, by introduction into the cervical canal, permits direct visualization of the fetus and amniotic fluid.

amniotic
(am″ne-ot´ik) pertaining to the amnion.

amniotic band syndrome
a condition characterized by isolated or multiple constriction defects of the fingers, toes, limbs, and less frequently the skull, face, or viscera. It results from a tear of unknown etiology in the amnion, which allows amniotic fluid and fetal parts to escape from the amnion into the chorion. When the amnion and chorion ...

amniotic cavity
the closed sac between the embryo and the amnion, containing the amniotic fluid.

amniotic fluid
the albuminous fluid contained in the amniotic sac. The fetus floats in this fluid, which serves as a cushion against injury from sudden blows or movements and helps maintain a constant body temperature for the fetus. Normally the fluid is clear and slightly alkaline; discoloration or excessive cloudiness may indicate fetal ...

amniotic fold
the folded edge of the amnion where it rises over and finally encloses the embryo.

amniotic sac
the sac formed by the amnion, enclosing the fetus suspended in amniotic fluid; popularly known as the bag of waters.

amniotome
(am´ne-ә-tōm″) an instrument for puncturing the fetal membranes.

amniotomy
(am″ne-ot´ә-me) surgical rupture of the fetal membranes; this results in drainage of the amniotic fluid and thus hastens labor by allowing the fetus's head to fit more snugly into the dilating cervix.

amobarbital
(am″o-bahr´bĭ-tәl) a barbiturate used as a short-acting sedative and hypnotic. Effects develop rapidly and the drug is eliminated more quickly than other barbiturates.

amodiaquine
(am″o-di´ә-kwin) an antimalarial, administered orally as the hydrochloride salt in the treatment of malaria, especially falciparum malaria.

Amoeba
(ә-me´bә) a genus of ameboid protozoa, most of which are free-living. Those parasitic in humans and once included in this genus have been assigned to other genera.

amoric
(ә-mo´rik) without particles.

amorph
(a´morf) silent allele.

amorphia
(ә-mor´fe-ә) the state of being amorphous.

amorphism
(ә-mor´fiz-әm) amorphia.

Amoss sign
in painful flexure of the spine, patients, when rising to a sitting posture from lying in bed, do so by supporting themselves with the hands placed far back in the bed.

amoxapine
(ә-mok´sә-pēn) a tricyclic antidepressant of the dibenzoxazepine class; administered orally.

amoxicillin
(ә-mok″sĭ-sil´in) an antibiotic that is a penicillin analogue similar in action to ampicillin but more efficiently absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and therefore requiring less frequent dosage and not as likely to cause diarrhea.

Amoxil
(ә-mok´sil) trademark for preparations of amoxicillin, an antimicrobial.

AMP
adenosine monophosphate. 3bprime,5bprime-AMP cyclic adenosine monophosphate.

ampere
(A) (am´pēr) the base SI unit of electric current strength, defined in terms of the force of attraction between two parallel conductors carrying current.

ampere-hour
(am´pēr our´) a unit of electric charge, being the amount of charge that passes a given point as a current of one ampere in one hour.

amphetamine
(am-fet´ә-mēn″) a white crystalline powder used as a central nervous system stimulant. It is odorless and has a slightly bitter taste. any of a group of drugs closely related to this substance and having similar actions, such as methamphetamine and dextroamphetamine. See also drug abuse and drug...

amphiarthrosis
(am″fe-ahr-thro´sis) a joint in which the surfaces are connected by disks of fibrocartilage, as between vertebrae.

Amphibia
(am-fib´e-ә) a class of animals that breathe by means of gills in the larval state but after metamorphosis breathe by means of lungs.

amphibolic pathway
a group of metabolic reactions with a dual function, providing small metabolites for further catabolism to end products or for use as precursors in synthetic, anabolic reactions. The tricarboxylic acid cycle is an example. See also anabolism and catabolism.

amphicentric
(am″fĭ-sen´trik) beginning and ending in the same vessel.

amphidiarthrosis
(am″fĭ-di″ahr-thro´sis) a joint having the nature of both ginglymus and arthrodia, as that of the lower jaw. Amphidiarthrosis, exemplified by the temporomandibular joint. Arrows show the gliding component (arthrodia or articulatio plana) and hinge component (gin...

amphitrichous
(am-fit´rĭ-kәs) having flagella at each end.

amphophil
(am´fo-fil) a cell or element that is amphophilic.

amphophil granules
granules that stain with both acid and basic

amphophilic
(am-fo-fil´ik) staining with either acid or basic dyes.

amphophilic cell
one that stains readily with either acid or basic dyes.

amphoric
(am-for´ik) pertaining to a bottle; resembling the sound made by blowing across the neck of a bottle.

amphoric resonance
a sound resembling that produced by blowing over the mouth of an empty bottle.

amphoteric
(am-fә-ter´ik) capable of acting as both an acid and a base; capable of neutralizing either bases or acids.

amphotericin B
(am″fә-ter´ĭ-sin) an antifungal agent and antibiotic used to treat deep-seated fungal infections, especially histoplasmosis, and also to treat cutaneous and mucocutaneous candidiasis. It may be applied topically or administered intravenously or by intracavitary instillation. Anorexia, chills, fever, and ...

amphotony
(am-fot´ә-ne) hypertonia of the entire autonomic nervous system.

ampicillin
(am″pĭ-sil´in) a broad-spectrum antibiotic, a penicillin of synthetic origin, adminsistered orally as the base or intramuscularly or intravenously as the sodium salt. It is effective against a broad spectrum of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Amplatz coronary catheter
a J-shaped angiographic catheter used as an alternative to a Judkins coronary catheter in coronary arteriography.

amplification
(am″plĭ-fĭ-ka´shәn) the act or result of increasing in number, size, power, or other variable, such as the increase of an auditory or visual stimulus as a means of improving its perception. DNA amplification an in vitro nucleic acid amplification technique in w...

amplifier T lymphocytes
a T lymphocyte of the CD8 cell type that modifies a developing immune response by releasing nonspecific signals to which other T lymphocytes (either effector or suppressor cells) respond.

amplitude
(am´plә-tldbomacd) largeness, fullness; wideness or breadth of range or extent. in conventional tomography, the motion of the x-ray tube (with the cassette moving in the opposite direction) during the x-ray exposure.

amplitude of accommodation
range of accommodation.

amprenavir
(am-pren´ә-vir) an HIV protease inhibitor used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; administered orally.

ampule
(am´pūl) a small, hermetically sealed flask or container made of glass or polyethylene, such as one containing medication for parenteral administration.

ampulla
(am-pul´ә) pl. ampul´lae a flasklike dilatation of a tubular structure, especially of the expanded ends of the semicircular canals of the ear.

ampulla ductus deferentis
(am-pul´ә duk´tәs def´ә-ren´tis) the enlarged and tortuous distal end of the ductus deferens.

ampulla of Thoma
one of the small terminal expansions of an interlobar artery in the pulp of the spleen.

ampulla of uterine tube
the thin-walled, almost muscle-free, midregion of the uterine tube; its mucosa is greatly plicated.

ampulla of Vater
hepatopancreatic ampulla.

ampullae membranaceae
(am-pul´e mem″brә-na´se-e) membranous ampullae: the dilatations at one end of each of the three semicircular ducts.

ampullae osseae
(am-pul´e os´e-e) the dilatations at one of the ends of the semicircular canals.

ampullar crest
the most prominent part of a localized thickening of the membrane that lines the ampullae of the semicircular ducts, covered with neuroepithelium containing endings of the vestibular nerve.

ampullar pregnancy
ectopic pregnancy in the ampulla of the uterine tube.

ampullary carcinoma
a subset of periampullary carcinoma that comprises tumors arising in the immediate vicinity of the sphincter of Oddi.

ampullary crest
ampullar crest.

amputating ulcer
ulceration that encircles a part and destroys the tissues to the bone.

amputation
(am″pu-ta´shәn) the removal of a limb, other appendage, or other body part.

amputation in contiguity
amputation at a joint.

amputation in continuity
amputation of a limb elsewhere than at a joint.

amputation neuroma
traumatic neuroma occurring after amputation of a limb or other part.

amrinone
(am´rĭ-nōn) inamrinone.

amsacrine
(am´sә-krēn) an antineoplastic agent that inhibits DNA synthesis; used to treat some forms of leukemia.

Amsler charts
a set of charts used for the detection and measurement of visual field defects; they contain geometric patterns, such as grids or parallel lines, printed in white on a black background, with a dot in the center. The patient looks at the dot with one eye closed; defects in the visual field will cause the patient to see irr...

Amsler grid
the grid on an Amsler chart.

amusia
(ә-mu´ze-ә) loss of ability to produce (motor amusia) or to recognize (sensory amusia) musical sounds.

amyelia
(a″mi-e´le-ә) congenital absence of the spinal cord.

amyelinic
(a-mi″ә-lin´ik) without myelin.

amyelonic
(a-mi″ә-lon´ik) characterized by amyelia; having no spinal cord. having no marrow.

amyelus
(a-mi´ә-lәs) a fetus with no spinal cord.

amygdala
(ә-mig´dә-lә) an almond-shaped structure. corpus amygdaloideum.

amygdalin
(ә-mig´dә-lin) a glycoside from kernels and pits of bitter almonds, apricots, cherries, peaches, and apples, as well as certain other plant parts. Crushed and moistened residues release an enzyme that catalyzes a chemical reaction leading to release of hydrogen cyanide, so that excessive ingestion can be tox...