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

perimeningitis
(per″e-men″in-ji´tis) pachymeningitis.

perimenopause
(per″e-men´o-pawz) the time just before and just after menopause. adj., perimenopau´sal., adj.

perimeter
(pә-rim´ә-tәr) the boundary of a two-dimensional figure. an apparatus for determining the extent of the peripheral visual field.

perimetrium
(per″ĭ-me´tre-әm) the tunica serosa surrounding the uterus.

perimetry
(pә-rim´ә-tre) determination of the extent of the peripheral visual field. adj., perimet´ric., adj.

perimyositis
(per″e-mi″o-si´tis) inflammation of connective tissue around a muscle.

perimysium
(per″ĭ-mis´e-әm) connective tissue demarcating a fascicle of skeletal muscle fibers. adj., perimys´ial., adj.

perinatal
(per″e-na´tәl) relating to the period shortly before and after birth; from the twentieth to twenty-ninth week of gestation to 1 to 4 weeks after birth.

perinatal death rate
perinatal mortality rate the ratio of the number of the sum of fetal deaths after 28 or more weeks of gestation (stillbirths) and deaths of infants less than 7 days of age in one time period and population to the sum of the number of live births and fetal deaths after 28 or more weeks of gestation (stillbirths) in that sam...

perinatologist
(per″e-na-tol´ә-jist) a specialist in perinatology.

perinatology
(per″e-na-tol´ә-je) the branch of medicine (obstetrics and pediatrics) dealing with the fetus and infant during the perinatal period.

perineal
(per″ĭ-ne´әl) pertaining to the perineum.

perineal artery
origin, internal pudendal artery; branches, none; distribution, perineum, skin of external genitalia.

perineal hernia
herniation of intestine into the perineum through a fissure in the levator muscle and its fascia; called also perineocele.

perineal nerves
origin, pudendal nerve in the pudendal canal; branches, muscular branches and posterior scrotal or labial nerves; distribution, muscular branches supply the bulbospongiosus, ischiocavernosus, superficial transverse perineal muscles and bulb of the penis and, in part, the external anal sphincter and levator ani muscles; the scro...

perineal prostatectomy
removal of the prostate through an incision in the perineum.

perineal region
the region underlying the pelvic outlet, subdivided into the anal and urogenital regions.

perineal section
external urethrotomy.

perineal spaces
spaces on either side of the inferior fascia of the urogenital diaphragm, the deep between it and the superior fascia, the superficial between it and the superficial perineal fascia.

perineocele
(per″ĭ-ne´o-sēl) perineal hernia.

perineometer
(per″ĭ-ne-om´ә-tәr) a device inserted into the vagina to measure the strength of muscular contractions when Kegel exercises are performed. It is also frequently used to monitor the patient's progress in bladder reeducation programs.

perineoplasty
(per″ĭ-ne´o-plas″te) plastic repair of the perineum.

perineorrhaphy
(per″ĭ-ne-or´ә-fe) suture of the perineum for repair of a laceration, such as after an episiotomy.

perineotomy
(per″ĭ-ne-ot´ә-me) incision of the perineum.

perineovaginal
(per″ĭ-ne″o-vaj´ĭ-nәl) pertaining to or communicating with the perineum and vagina.

perinephric
(per″e-nef´rik) around the kidney; called also perirenal.

perinephritis
(per″e-nә-fri´tis) inflammation of the perinephrium.

perinephrium
(per″ĭ-nef´re-әm) the peritoneal envelope and other tissues around the kidney. adj., perineph´rial., adj.

perineum
(per″ĭ-ne´әm) the pelvic floor and associated structures occupying the pelvic outlet, bounded anteriorly by the pubic symphysis, laterally by the ischial tuberosities, and posteriorly by the coccyx. During childbirth the perineum may be torn, resulting in possible damage to the urinary meatus and ...

perineural anesthesia
perineural block.

perineural block
regional anesthesia produced by injection of the anesthetic agent close to the nerve. Called also paraneural anesthesia or block and perineural anesthesia.

perineuritis
(per″e-ndbobr-ri´tis) inflammation of the perineurium.

perineurium
(per″e-noor´e-әm) the connective tissue sheath surrounding each bundle of nerve fibers (fascicle) in a peripheral nerve. adj., perineu´rial., adj.

periocular
(per″e-ok´u-lәr) around the eye.

periocular dermatitis
a variant of perioral dermatitis that has spread upward to the area around the eyes.

period
(pēr´e-әd) an interval or division of time; the time for the regular recurrence of a phenomenon.

periodic
(pēr´e-od´ik) repeated or recurring at intervals.

periodic disease
a condition characterized by regularly recurring and intermittent episodes of fever, edema, arthralgia, or gastric pain and vomiting, continuing for years without further development in otherwise healthy individuals.

periodic fever
a hereditary condition characterized by repetitive febrile episodes and autonomic disturbances, occurring in precise or irregular cycles of days, weeks, or months. Transmitted as an autosomal dominant trait, it may begin at any time of life and may last for decades with temporary remissions, or may cease. See also familia...

periodic neutropenia
cyclic neutropenia.

periodic paralysis
any of various diseases characterized by episodic flaccid paralysis or muscular weakness. familial periodic paralysis.

periodic parasite
one that parasitizes a host for short periods.

periodicity
(pēr″e-o-dis´ĭ-te) recurrence at regular intervals of time.

periodontal
(per″e-o-don´tәl) pertaining to the periodontal ligament or periodontium. near or around a tooth.

periodontal abscess
a localized collection of pus in the periodontal tissue.

periodontal atrophy
reduction of the size of the alveolar process, associated with recession of the gingiva with subsequent exposure of the root surface.

periodontal cyst
one in the periodontal ligament and adjacent structures, usually at the apex of the tooth (periapical cyst).

periodontal disease
any disease of the periodontium, such as periodontitis or gingivitis. Sometimes it is a manifestation of a systemic disease.

periodontal ligament
the connective tissue structure that surrounds the roots of the teeth and holds them in place in the dental alveoli.

periodontics
(per″e-o-don´tiks) the branch of dentistry dealing with the study and treatment of diseases of the periodontium.

periodontist
(per″e-o-don´tist) a dentist who specializes in periodontics.

periodontitis
(per″e-o-don-ti´tis) inflammation of the periodontium, usually caused by bacteria growing in the spaces between the gum and the lower part of the tooth crown, when the mouth of the host responds to inflammation. Species of Actinomyces are the bacteria most often implicated. If it continues unchecked, the infection...

periodontium
(per″e-o-don´she-әm) pl. periodon´tia the tissues investing and supporting the teeth, including the cementum, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, and gingiva. In official nomenclature, restricted to the periodontal ligament. Periodontium, showing the periodontal ligamen...

periomphalic
(per″e-om-fal´ik) periumbilical.

perionychium
(per″e-o-nik´e-әm) cuticle.

perioophoritis
(per″e-o-of″o-ri´tis) inflammation of the tissues around the ovary.

perioophorosalpingitis
(per″e-o-of″o-ro-sal″pin-ji´tis) inflammation of the tissues around the ovary and fallopian tube.

perioperative
(per″e-op´әr-ә-tiv) pertaining or relating to the period of time surrounding a surgical procedure, including the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative periods.

perioperative nurse
a registered nurse specializing in nursing practice during the period before and after surgery.

periophthalmic
(per″e-of-thal´mik) around the eye.

perioptometry
(per″e-op-tom´ә-tre) measurement of acuity of peripheral vision or of the limits of the visual field.

perioral
(per″e-or´әl) around the mouth.

perioral dermatitis
a papular eruption on the face, of unknown etiology and seen most often in young women; papules and pustules develop slowly and progress to erythema and scaling. It is usually confined to the area about the mouth, but may also spread to involve the eyelids and forehead (periocular dermatitis). See also periorificial derma...

periorbita
(per″e-or´bĭ-tә) the periosteum of the bones forming the orbit, or eye socket. adj., perior´bital., adj.

periorbititis
(per″e-or″bĭ-ti´tis) inflammation of the periorbita.

periorchitis
(per″e-or-ki´tis) inflammation of the tunica vaginalis testis.

periorificial dermatitis
term used by some authorities to embrace both perioral dermatitis and periocular dermatitis.

periosteal graft
a piece of periosteum to cover a denuded bone.

periosteal reflex
contraction of a muscle after tapping of a nearby bone that lies just below the surface of the skin; see radial reflex, tibioadductor reflex, and ulnar reflex.

periosteitis
(per″e-os″te-i´tis) periostitis.

periosteoma
(per″e-os-te-o´mә) a morbid bony growth surrounding a bone.

periosteomyelitis
(per″e-os″te-o-mi″ә-li´tis) inflammation of the entire bone, including periosteum and marrow.

periosteophyte
(per″e-os´te-o-fīt″) a bony growth on the periosteum.

periosteotomy
(per″e-os″te-ot´ә-me) incision of the periosteum.

periosteum
(per″e-os´te-әm) a specialized connective tissue covering all bones of the body, and possessing bone-forming potentialities. Periosteum also serves as a point of attachment for certain muscles. The connective tissues of the muscle fuse with the fibrous layers of periosteum. adj., perios´teal., adj.

periostitis
(per″e-os-ti´tis) inflammation of the periosteum. diffuse periostitis widespread periostitis of the long bones.

periostosis
(per″e-os-to´sis) abnormal deposition of periosteal bone, manifested by the growth of periosteomas.

periotic
(per″e-o´tik) situated about the ear, especially the internal ear. the petrous and mastoid portions of the temporal bone, at one stage a distinct bone.

periovular
(per″e-ov´u-lәr) surrounding an ovum. around the time of ovulation.

peripancreatitis
(per″e-pan″kre-ә-ti´tis) inflammation of tissues around the pancreas.

peripapillary
(per″e-pap´ĭ-lar″e) around the optic papilla.

peripartum
(per″e-pahr´tәm) occurring during the last month of gestation or the first few months after delivery, with reference to the mother.

peripherad
(pә-rif´әr-әd) toward the periphery.

peripheral
(pә-rif´әr-әl) pertaining to or situated at or near the periphery.

peripheral anesthesia
lack of sensation due to changes in the peripheral nerves.

peripheral blood
that obtained from acral areas, or from the circulation remote from the heart; the blood in the systemic circulation.

peripheral blood progenitor cells
(PBPC) peripheral blood stem cells stem cells found in the peripheral blood rather than the bone marrow; their numbers can be artificially increased by exposure to hematopoietic growth factors so that they can be extracted before myeloablative chemotherapy and later infused as an autologous bone marrow transplantation.

peripheral edema
edema in the limbs, as seen in heart disease, Crohn disease, and amyloidosis.

peripheral giant cell granuloma
peripheral giant cell reparative granuloma giant cell epulis.

peripheral membrane protein
see membrane protein.

peripheral nerve
any nerve outside the central nervous system; see also peripheral nervous system.

peripheral nervous system
the parts of the nervous system consisting of nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord; it has two divisions, the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system.

peripheral neuroectodermal tumor
(PNET) a group of neoplasms closely related to the primitive neuroectodermal tumors, originating in supporting structures or neurons, primarily of the limbs, pelvis, or chest wall; seen most often in adolescents and young adults and often having widespread metastases.

peripheral neuropathy
polyneuropathy.

peripheral odontogenic fibroma
an extraosseous counterpart to a central odontogenic fibroma; it is a gingival mass of vascularized fibrous connective tissue with strands of odontogenic epithelium.

peripheral ossifying fibroma
a fibroma, usually of the gingiva, showing areas of calcification or ossification; called also epulis.

peripheral paralysis
loss of power in muscles because of damage to a nerve somewhere outside the central nervous system; the affected muscle is flaccid, and there may be loss of sensation in the part. Causes include diseases such as poliomyelitis, neuritis, or neuropathy, and physical stresses such as from cold or chemical damage.

peripheral scotoma
an area of depressed vision toward the periphery of the visual field.

peripheral sensory neuron
in a reflex arc, a sensory neuron whose fibers end at synapses with interneurons; see also peripheral motoneuron.

peripheral vascular disease
(PVD) any disorder affecting blood flow through the veins and arteries outside of the heart; diminished blood flow through the arteries can cause ischemia and gangrene; diminished blood flow through the veins can cause varicose veins and thrombophlebitis. Venous insufficiency can be caused by venous stasis, hyperc...