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

Legendre nodes
Bouchard nodes.

Legg disease
(leg) Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease.

Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
(leg´ kahl-va´ per´tәz) Legg-Calvé-Perthes syndrome (leg´ kahl-va´ per´tәz) osteochondrosis of the epiphysis of the head of the femur.

Legionella
(le″jә-nel´ә) a genus of gram-negative, aerobic rod-shaped bacteria, the cause of legionellosis. Species include L. micda´dei, the etiologic agent of Pittsburgh pneumonia, and L. pneumo´phila, the etiologic agent of legionnaires disease and Pontiac fever.

Legionella
pneumonia pneumonia caused by a species of Legionella; see legionnaires disease.

legionellosis
(le″jә-nel-o´sis) disease caused by infection with Legionella species, such as L. pneumophila.

legionnaire's bacillus
Legionella pneumophila.

legionnaires disease
(le-jәn-ārz´) a pulmonary form of legionellosis, resulting from infection with Legionella pneumophila. Most cases occur in epidemic form, but a minority are sporadic infections. The disease is seen most often in middle-aged to elderly men who are cigarette smokers or are immunocompromised. The pulmonary sympt...

legume
(leg´ūm) (lә-gūm´) any plant of the large family Leguminosae. the pod or fruit of one of these plants, such as a pea or bean; this is an important source of protein in a vegetarian diet.

Leichtenstern phenomenon
Leichtenstern sign in cerebrospinal meningitis, tapping lightly any bone of the extremities causes the patient to wince suddenly.

Leigh disease
(le) subacute necrotizing encephalomyelopathy.

Leiner disease
(li´nәr) a disorder of infancy characterized principally by generalized seborrhealike dermatitis and erythroderma, intractable, severe diarrhea, recurrent infections, and failure to thrive. The cause is unclear, but familial cases associated with a dysfunction of the C5 component of complement, which results...

leiomyofibroma
(li″o-mi″o-fi-bro´mә) leiomyoma.

leiomyoma
(li″o-mi-o´mә) a benign tumor derived from smooth muscle. bizarre leiomyoma epithelioid leiomyoma. leiomyoma cutis one arising from cutaneous or subcutaneous smooth muscle fibers, found singly or multiply, usually as lesions arising from ...

leiomyosarcoma
(li″o-mi″o-sahr-ko´mә) a sarcoma containing cells of smooth muscle.

Leishman stain
a mixture of alkaline methylene blue and eosin in methanol for staining blood cells and certain parasites; also used for staining of chromosomes.

Leishman-Donovan bodies
round or oval bodies found in the reticuloendothelial cells, especially those of the spleen and liver, in kala-azar; they are nonflagellate intracellular forms of Leishmania donovani. Also used to designate similar forms of Leishmania tropica found in macrophages in lesions of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Leishmania
(lēsh-ma´ne-ә) a genus of protozoa comprising parasites of worldwide distribution, several species of which are pathogenic for humans. All species are morphologically indistinguishable, and therefore the organisms have usually been assigned to species and subspecies according to their geographic origin,...

Leishmania braziliensis
(lēsh-ma´ne-ә brә-zil″e-en´sis) Leishmania viannia.

Leishmania donovani donovani
(lēsh-ma´ne-ә don″ә-va´ni don″ә-va´ni) a subspecies of the L. donovani complex causing the classic form of visceral leishmaniasis in India. It is transmitted by the sandfly Phlebotomus argentipes, with humans being the only major reservoir hosts. Called also L. donovani .

Leishmania major
(lēsh-ma´ne-ә ma´jәr) a species of the L. tropica complex, transmitted by Phlebotomus papatasi, causing the rural form of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis. Called also L. tropica major.

Leishmania mexicana
(lēsh-ma´ne-ә meks″ĭ-ka´nә) a complex comprising the species and subspecies causing the New World form of cutaneous leishmaniasis in humans: L. m. mexicana, L. m. amazonensis, and L. pifanoi.

Leishmania tropica
(lēsh-ma´ne-ә trop´ĭ-kә) a complex comprising the species causing the Old World form of cutaneous leishmaniasis: L. tropica, L. major, and L. aethiopica. a species of the L. tropica complex causing the urban form of Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis. It is found in Iran, Iraq, and India, tr...

Leishmania viannia
(lēsh-ma´ne-ә vi-an´e-ә) a taxonomic complex comprising the subspecies that cause mucocutaneous leishmaniasis in its various forms; all of the subspecies develop in the midgut, foregut, and hindgut of their sandfly vectors. Formerly called L. braziliensis.

leishmaniasis
(lēsh″mә-ni´ә-sis) a protozoal infection with Leishmania.

leishmaniasis recidivans
(lēsh″mә-ni´ә-sis rә-sid´ĭ-vanz) a relapsing form of cutaneous leishmaniasis, resembling tuberculosis of the skin; it may last for many years.

leishmanin
(lēsh´mә-nin) a suspension of killed leishmania promastigotes; used in a skin test for cutaneous leishmaniasis.

leishmanin test
(for leishmaniasis)leishmanin is injected intradermally; a positive reaction consists of a palpable nodule developing in 48 to 72 hours and indicates delayed hypersensitivity, but not necessarily immunity, to Leishmania organisms. Called also Montenegro test.

Lembert suture
an inverting suture used in gastrointestinal surgery.

Lemierre syndrome
(lә-myār´) thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein with secondary spread of infection, resulting from an acute oropharyngeal infection.

Lemieux-Neemeh syndrome
(lә-mydbobr´ na´ma) an autosomal dominant syndrome consisting of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease with progressive deafness.

lemmoblastic
(lem″o-blas´tik) forming or developing into a neurolemma cell.

lemmocyte
(lem´o-sīt) a cell that develops into a neurolemma cell.

lemniscal system
an oligosynaptic pathway in the ventral spinothalamic tract, projecting to the ventral posterolateral and ventral mediolateral nuclei of the thalamus.

lemniscus
(lem-nis´kәs) pl. lemnis´ci Latin word meaning ribbon or band. In anatomy, it is used for a band of sensory nerve fibers in the central nervous system. Called also fillet.

lemon oil
the volatile oil obtained by expression without heat from the fresh peel of the fruit of the lemon tree, Citrus limon; used as a flavoring agent.

lemon sign
scalloping of the frontal bones giving the skull a lemon-shaped configuration in axial section in sonography of the fetal skull during the second trimester of pregnancy; a sign of the Arnold-Chiari deformity.

Lempert fenestration operation
an operation for otosclerosis, consisting of drilling a small window into the lateral semicircular canal and then placing a flap of skin over the fistula.

Lenègre disease
(lә-neg´rә) acquired complete heart block due to primary degeneration of the conduction system.

length
(length) an expression of the longest dimension of an object, or of the measurement between its two ends. crown-heel length(CHL) the distance from the crown of the head to the heel in embryos, fetuses, and infants; the equivalent of standing height in older pers...

lengthening contraction
contraction in the presence of a resistive force that results in elongation of a muscle, used to perform negative work or to decelerate a body part. It is less metabolically demanding than a shortening contraction but may cause disruption of associated connective tissue with delayed soreness or frank injury if it occurs in an u...

lengthening reaction
(leng´then-ing) reflex elongation of extensor muscles that permits flexion of a limb.

Lennert lymphoma
a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with a high content of epithelioid histiocytes; bone marrow involvement is common and response to chemotherapy is often poor.

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome
(len´әks gah-sto´) an atypical form of absence epilepsy characterized by diffuse slow spike waves, often with atonic, tonic, or clonic seizures and mental retardation; there may also be other neurological abnormalities or multiple seizure types. Unlike typical absence epilepsy, it may persist into adulthood.

lens
(lenz) a piece of glass or other transparent material so shaped as to converge or scatter light rays. See also glasses Lenses: (A–F), Spherical lenses: (A), biconvex; (B), biconcave; (C), planoconvex; (D), planoconcave; (E), concavoconvex, periscopic convex, converging meniscus; (F...

lens capsule
the elastic sac enclosing the lens of the eye.

lens pit
a pitlike depression in the fetal head where the lens develops.

lens vesicle
a vesicle formed from the lens pit of the embryo, developing into the crystalline lens.

Lente insulin
insulin zinc suspension.

lenticonus
(len″ti-ko´nәs) a congenital conical bulging, anteriorly or posteriorly, of the lens of the eye.

lenticular
(len-tik´u-lәr) pertaining to or shaped like a lens. pertaining to the lens of the eye. pertaining to the lenticular nucleus.

lenticular astigmatism
astigmatism due to defect of the crystalline lens.

lenticular bone of hand
pisiform bone.

lenticular nucleus
lentiform nucleus the part of the corpus striatum somewhat resembling a biconvex lens, divided into a larger external or lateral part called the putamen and a smaller light-colored internal or medial part called the globus pallidus.

lenticulostriate
(len-tik″u-lo-stri´āt) pertaining to the lenticular nucleus and corpus striatum.

lenticulostriate arteries
anterolateral central arteries.

lenticulothalamic
(len-tik″u-lo-thә-lam´ik) relating to the lenticular nucleus and the thalamus.

lentiform
(len´tĭ-form) lens-shaped.

lentiform bone
pisiform bone.

lentiginosis profusa syndrome
LEOPARD syndrome.

lentiglobus
(len″tĭ-glo´bәs) exaggerated curvature of the lens of the eye, producing an anterior spherical bulging.

lentigo
(len-ti´go) a flat, pigmented spot on the skin due to increased deposition of melanin and an increased number of melanocytes. In contrast to a freckle, a lentigo does not get darker when exposed to sunlight. lentigo maligna a type of lentigo that expands slowly and develops into lentigo m...

lentigo maligna melanoma
(len-ti´go mә-lig´nә mel″ә-no´mә) a type of malignant melanoma found most often on sun-exposed areas of the skin, especially the face. It begins as a circumscribed macular patch of mottled pigmentation, with shades of tan, brown, or black (lentigo maligna), and enlarges by lateral growth be...

Lentivirus
(len´tĭ-vi″rәs) a genus of viruses of the family Retroviridae that have long incubation periods and cause chronic, progressive, usually fatal diseases in humans and other animals; it includes the types of human immunodeficiency virus.

lentivirus
(len´tĭ-vi″rәs) any virus of the genus Lentivirus.

Lenz syndrome
(lents) a hereditary syndrome, transmitted as an X-linked trait, consisting of microphthalmia or anophthalmos, unilateral or bilateral, and digital anomalies; narrow shoulders, double thumbs, and other skeletal abnormalities; dental, urogenital, and cardiovascular defects may also occur.

Leon virus
the prototype strain of poliovirus type 3.

leonine facies
a deeply furrowed, lionlike appearance of the face, seen in certain cases of advanced lepromatous leprosy and in other diseases associated with facial edema. Called also leontiasis.

leontiasis
(le″on-ti´ә-sis) leonine facies.

LEOPARD syndrome
an autosomal dominant syndrome consisting of multiple lentigines, asymptomatic electrocardiographic abnormalities, and often ocular hypertelorism, pulmonary stenosis, abnormal genitalia, growth retardation, and sensorineural deafness. Patients have characteristic coarse facies. Called also lentiginosis profusa, lentiginos...

Leopold maneuvers
(le´ә-pōld) gentle palpation of the lateral, upper, and lower borders of the uterus to determine the position of the fetus.

leper
(lep´әr) a person with leprosy; a term now in disfavor.

lepirudin
(lep″ĭ-roo´din) a recombinant form of hirudin used as an anticoagulant in patients with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and associated thromboembolic disease; administered intravenously.

lepra
(lep´rә) leprosy. lepra reaction an acute or subacute hypersensitivity reaction occurring either during the course of antileprosy treatment or in untreated cases of leprosy.

lepra cell
a distinctive type of macrophage found in a leprous nodule, having been converted by the action of lepra bacilli into a sac containing degenerated protoplasm and bacilli. Called also Virchow cell.

leprechaunism
(lep´rә-kon″iz-әm) a lethal, hereditary condition in which an infant is small, has elfin facies, and has endocrine disorders such as enlargement of the clitoris in a female or of the penis in a male.

leproma
(lәp-ro´mә) a superficial granulomatous nodule, rich in bacilli, the characteristic lesion of lepromatous leprosy. adj., lepro´matous., adj.

lepromin
(lep´ro-min) a repeatedly boiled, autoclaved, gauze-filtered suspension of finely ground lepromatous tissue and leprosy bacilli, used in the skin test for tissue resistance to leprosy.

lepromin test
(for certain types of leprosy) after intradermal injection of lepromin, a positive reaction consists of either a tuberculin-type reaction at 48 to 72 hours or a nodular, occasionally ulcerated, lesion after 3 to 4 weeks. The test is not diagnostic for leprosy because a large part of the normal population exhibits a positi...

leprosarium
(lep″ro-sar´e-әm) a hospital or colony for treatment and isolation of patients with leprosy.

leprostatic
(lep″ro-stat´ik) inhibiting the growth of the bacillus that causes leprosy. an agent that has this effect.

leprosy
(lep´rә-se) a communicable, but not readily contagious, inflammatory disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae, with the bacillus entering the body through the skin or mucous membranes; it has occurred in every country in the world, but is now primarily a tropical disease. It is not inherited and is not highly contag...

leptocephalus
(lep″to-sef´ә-lәs) a person with an abnormally tall, narrow skull.

leptocyte
(lep´to-sīt) target cell.

leptocytosis
(lep″to-si-to´sis) the presence of target cells in the blood.

leptodactyly
(lep″to-dak´tә-le) abnormal slenderness of fingers or toes. adj., leptodac´tylous., adj.

leptomeningeal carcinoma
meningeal carcinoma.

leptomeninges
(lep″to-mә-nin´jēz) (plural of leptomeninx) the two more delicate components of the meninges: the pia mater and arachnoid considered together; the pia-arachnoid. adj., leptomenin´geal., adj.

leptomeningitis
(lep″to-men″in-ji´tis) inflammation of the leptomeninges.

leptomeningopathy
(lep″to-men″in-gop´ә-the) any disease of the leptomeninges.

leptomonad
(lep″to-mo´nad) of or pertaining to Leptomonas, a genus of protozoa parasitic in the digestive tract of insects. denoting the leptomonad form (see promastigote). a protozoon exhibiting the leptomonad (promastigote) form.

leptopellic
(lep″to-pel´ik) having a narrow pelvis.

leptophonia
(lep″to-fo´ne-ә) hypophonia.

Leptospira
(lep″to-spi´rә) a genus of aerobic, finely coiled spirochete bacteria with hooked ends. L. inter´rogans is the causative agent of leptospirosis.

leptospiral jaundice
Weil syndrome.

leptospirosis
(lep″to-spi-ro´sis) any of a group of infectious diseases due to certain serovars of Leptospira interrogans. The best known condition is Weil syndrome; others are mud fever and swineherd's disease. The infecting bacteria are normally found in the kidneys of cattle, pigs, dogs, cats, rats, and other animals, and are spre...

leptotene
(lep´to-tēn) the first stage of prophase in meiosis I, in which the chromosomes are threadlike.

Leptotrichia
(lep″to-trik´e-ә) a genus of gram-negative, anaerobic, straight or slightly curved, rod-shaped bacteria; L. bucca´lis is sometimes associated with oral or urogenital infections.

Leredde syndrome
(lә-red´) severe dyspnea on exertion, combined with advanced emphysema and recurrent attacks of acute febrile bronchitis; seen in children with congenital syphilis.

Léri sign
passive flexion of the hand and wrist of the affected side in hemiplegia shows no normal flexion at the elbow.