Copy of `Dorland's Medical Dictionary`

The wordlist doesn't exist anymore, or, the website doesn't exist anymore. On this page you can find a copy of the original information. The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.

Dorland's Medical Dictionary Category: Health and Medicine > Medical Dictionary Date & country: 31/12/2010, USA Words: 39128

Armanni-Ebstein lesion
vacuolization of epithelial cells in the proximal straight tubules of the kidneys due to glycogen deposition, seen in untreated diabetes mellitus.

ARMD
age-related macular degeneration.

armed tapeworm
Taenia solium.

armpit
(ahrm´pit) the externally visible part of the axilla.

Armstrong disease
(ahrm´strong) lymphocytic choriomeningitis.

Arnold canal
(ahr´nәld) a channel in the petrous portion of the temporal bone for passage of the vagus nerve.

Arnold nerve reflex cough syndrome
(ahr´nәld) a reflex cough due to irritation of the area supplied by Arnold nerve (the auricular branch of the vagus nerve); this area is the posterior and inferior portion of the external auditory canal and the posterior half of the tympanic membrane.

Arnold-Chiari deformity
(ahr´nәld ke-ah´re) Arnold-Chiari malformation (ahr´nәld ke-ah´re) Arnold-Chiari syndrome a condition in which the cerebellum and medulla oblongata protrude down into the spinal canal through the foramen magnum. It is present at birth and is almost always accompanied by meningomyelocele and hydrocep...

aromatase
(ә-ro´mә-tās) an enzyme activity occurring in the endoplasmic reticulum and catalyzing the conversion of testosterone to the aromatic compound estradiol.

aromatase inhibitors
a class of drugs that inhibit aromatase activity and thus block production of estrogens; used to treat breast cancer and endometriosis.

aromatherapy
(ә-ro´mә-ther″ә-pe) the therapeutic use of essential oils extracted from plants by steam distillation or expression; they may be used by inhalation, introduced internally (orally, rectally, or intravaginally), or applied topically by means of compresses, baths, or massage.

aromatic
(ar″o-mat´ik) having a spicy fragrance. denoting a compound containing a ring system stabilized by a closed circle of conjugated double bonds or nonbonding electron pairs, such as benzene or naphthalene.

aromatic castor oil
a mixture of castor oil and suitable flavoring agents, containing at least 95 per cent castor oil; used as a cathartic.

ARPKD
autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease.

arrector
(ә-rek´tәr) pl. arrecto´res raising, or that which raises; an erector muscle.

arrector pili muscle
a type of tiny smooth muscle of the skin whose contraction causes the hair to stand erect with cutis anserina (goose flesh). origin, dermis; insertion, a hair follicle; innervation, sympathetic; action, elevate hair of skin.

arrest
(ә-rest´) sudden cessation or stoppage. epiphyseal arrest premature arrest of the longitudinal growth of bone due to fusion of the epiphysis and diaphysis. maturation arrest interruption of the process of development, as of blood cells, before the fin...

arrhenoblastoma
(ә-re″no-blas-to´mә) a rare ovarian tumor that secretes male hormones and causes virilization.

arrhinia
(ә-rin´e-ә) arhinia.

arrhythmia
(ә-rith´me-ә) variation from the normal rhythm, especially of the heartbeat; see also dysrhythmia. adj., arrhyth´mic., adj. sinus arrhythmia the physiologic cyclic variation in heart rate, originating in the sinoatrial node and related to vagal impulses to the node; ...

arrhythmogenic
(ә-rith″mo-jen´ik) producing or promoting arrhythmia.

Arroyo sign
asthenocoria.

ARRT
American Registry of Radiologic Technologists.

arsenic
(As) (ahr-sen´ik) a chemical element, atomic number 33, atomic weight 74.92. It is toxic by inhalation or ingestion, and carcinogenic (see arsenic poisoning). In nature it occurs usually as one of its salts; in human environments it is often a pollutant in mining regions, and is used in dyes, hous...

arsenic poisoning
poisoning due to systemic exposure to inorganic pentavalent arsenic. Arsenic is cumulative, storing permanently in hair, nails, and bone, and children are particularly susceptible. It is odorless and flavorless and has been found in elevated levels in the drinking water that flows through arsenic-rich rocks, leading to se...

arsenical
(ahr-sen´ĭ-kәl) pertaining to arsenic. a compound containing arsenic; arsenicals were once widely used in medicine, but have now mostly been replaced by antibiotics. However, some are still used to treat infectious diseases, especially those caused by protozoa, as well as skin disorders and bloo...

arsenicosis
(ahr-sen″ĭ-ko´sis) chronic arsenic poisoning.

arsenism
(ahr´sә-niz″әm) chronic arsenic poisoning.

arsine
(ahr´sēn) any of several colorless, volatile arsenical bases that are highly toxic and carcinogenic; the most common one is AsH3, arsenous hydride. Some of their compounds have been used in warfare, and a major industrial use is in the production of microelectronic components. Inhalation leads to massive red blood ...

art therapy
the use of art media and images, the creative process, and patient response to the products created for the treatment of psychiatric and psychologic conditions, often as an adjunct to psychotherapy, and for rehabilitation.

Artane
(ahr´tān) trademark for preparations of trihexylphenidyl hydrochloride, an antidyskinetic.

artefact
(ahr´tә-fakt) artifact.

arteria
(ahr-tēr´e-ә) pl. arte´riae Latin word meaning artery. arteria luso´ria an artery (usually the subclavian artery) that is in an abnormal position behind the esophagus. It may cause symptoms by compressing the esophagus, the trachea, or a nerve.

arterial
(ahr-tēr´e-әl) pertaining to an artery or to the arteries.

arterial aneurysm
aneurysm in the wall of an artery; the chief signs are formation of a pulsating tumor, with a bruit (aneurysmal bruit) heard over the swelling, and sometimes symptoms from pressure on adjacent parts.

arterial blood pressure
the blood pressure in an artery; often when the term “blood pressure” is used (as in the term high blood pressure), reference is only to the arterial blood pressure.

arterial catheter
one inserted into an artery as part of a catheter-transducer-monitor system to continuously observe the blood pressure of a critically ill patient; this type of catheter may also be inserted for x-ray studies of the arterial system or delivery of chemotherapeutic agents directly into the arterial supply of a malignant tumor.

arterial line
a monitoring system that uses an artery for access and consists of a catheter in the artery, pressure tubing, a transducer, and an electronic monitoring device. The most common uses of arterial lines are for monitoring of systemic blood pressure and obtaining arterial blood for analysis.

arterial murmur
one in an artery, sometimes aneurysmal and sometimes constricted.

arterial pressure
arterial blood pressure.

arterial rete
arterial network.

arterial sulci
grooves on the internal surfaces of the cranial bones for the meningeal arteries.

arterial switch procedure
a method for correction of transposition of the great arteries, in which both coronary arteries are transposed to the posterior artery, and the aorta and pulmonary arteries are cut, their positions reversed, and reattached in their new positions.

arterial tension
arterial blood pressure.

arteriectasis
(ahr-tēr″e-ek´tә-sis) dilatation of an artery.

arteriectomy
(ahr-tēr″e-ek´tә-me) excision of an artery.

arteries of kidney
intrarenal arteries.

arteriogram
(ahr-tēr´e-o-gram) a radiograph of an artery.

arteriography
(ahr″tēr-e-og´rә-fe) angiography of an artery or arterial system. catheter arteriography radiography of vessels after introduction of contrast material through a catheter inserted into an artery. coronary arteriography angiography of the co...

arteriohepatic dysplasia
Alagille syndrome.

arteriola
(ahr-tēr″e-o´lә) pl. arterio´lae Latin word meaning arteriole. arteriolae rectae renis vasa recta.

arteriolar sclerosis
arteriolosclerosis.

arteriole
(ahr-tēr´e-ōl) a minute arterial branch. adj., arterio´lar., adj.

arteriolith
(ahr-tēr´e-o-lith″) hard, chalky mass (concretion) in an artery.

arteriolitis
(ahr-tēr″e-o-li´tis) inflammation of arterioles.

arteriology
(ahr-tēr″e-ol´ә-je) the anatomy or study of arteries and the arterial system.

arteriolonecrosis
(ahr-tēr″e-o″lo-nә-kro´sis) necrosis or destruction of arterioles.

arteriolosclerosis
(ahr-tēr″e-o″lo-sklә-ro´sis) hardening and thickening of the walls of arterioles. adj., arteriolosclerot´ic., adj. hyaline arteriolosclerosis a variety with homogeneous pink hyaline thickening of vessel walls, associated with benign nephrosclerosis. ...

arteriomotor
(ahr-tēr″e-o-mo´tәr) involving or causing dilation or constriction of arteries.

arteriopathy
(ahr-tēr″e-op´ә-the) any disease of an artery. hypertensive arteriopathy widespread involvement of the smaller arteries and arterioles, associated with hypertension and characterized primarily by hypertrophy of the tunica media.

arterioplasty
(ahr-tēr´e-o-plas″te) surgical repair or reconstruction of an artery.

arteriopressor
(ahr-tēr″e-o-pres´әr) increasing arterial blood pressure.

arteriorrhaphy
(ahr-tēr″e-or´ә-fe) suture of an artery.

arteriorrhexis
(ahr-tēr″e-o-rek´sis) rupture of an artery.

arteriosclerosis
(ahr-tēr″e-o-sklә-ro´sis) any of a group of diseases characterized by thickening and loss of elasticity of the arterial walls; symptoms depend on the organ system involved. There are three main types: atherosclerosis (the most common type), Mönckeberg arteriosclerosis, and arteriolosclerosis. Sometimes ...

arteriosclerotic aneurysm
an aneurysm in a large artery, usually the abdominal aorta, as a result of weakening of the wall in severe atherosclerosis; called also atherosclerotic aneurysm.

arteriospasm
(ahr-tēr´e-o-spaz″әm) spasm of an artery, resulting in a decrease of its caliber.

arteriostenosis
(ahr-tēr″e-o-stә-no´sis) constriction of an artery.

arteriotomy
(ahr-tēr″e-ot´ә-me) incision of an artery.

arteriovenous
(ahr-tēr″e-o-ve´nәs) both arterial and venous; pertaining to both artery and vein.

arteriovenous anastomosis
a connection or communication between an artery and a vein. Arteriovenous anastomosis. arteriovenous shunt.

arteriovenous aneurysm
an abnormal communication between an artery and a vein in which the blood flows directly into the vein or can cross through a connecting sac.

arteriovenous fistula
an abnormal passage between an artery and a vein, either pathologic (such as a varicose aneurysm) or surgically created to ensure an access site for hemodialysis (see arteriovenous access). A surgically created fistula may be created by anastomosis of a natural artery and vein, or by using a bovine graft or synthetic polytef graft.

arteriovenous oxygen difference
the difference in the blood oxygen content between the arterial and venous systems.

arteriovenous shunt
a U-shaped plastic tube inserted between an artery and a vein (usually between the radial artery and cephalic vein), bypassing the capillary network, a formerly common means of arteriovenous access.

arteritis
(ahr″tә-ri´tis) pl. arteri´tides inflammation of an artery.

arteritis obliterans
(ahr″tә-ri´tis ә-blit´ә-ranz) endarteritis obliterans.

artery
(ahr´tә-re) a vessel through which the blood passes away from the heart to various parts of the body. The wall of an artery consists typically of an outer coat (tunica adventitia), a middle coat (tunica media), and an inner coat (tunica intima). Representation of arterial coa...

artery of Adamkiewicz
(ah-dahm-kyĕ´vich) an unusually large anterior segmental medullary artery arising from an intersegmental branch of the aorta, varying from the lower thoracic to the upper lumbar level, and traveling posteriorly to supply the spinal cord by joining with the anterior spinal artery.

artery of angular gyrus
origin, terminal part of middle cerebral artery; branches, none; distribution, temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes of the cerebrum.

artery of bulb of penis
bulbourethral artery.

artery of bulb of vestibule
origin,internal pudendal artery; branches, none; distribution, bulb of vestibule of vagina, greater vestibular glands.

artery of caudate lobe
either of two branches, one from the right and one from the left branch of the hepatic artery proper, supplying twigs to the caudate lobe of the liver.

artery of central sulcus
origin, superior terminal branch of middle cerebral artery; branches, none; distribution, cortex on either side of central sulcus.

artery of ductus deferens
origin, umbilical artery; branches, ureteral artery; distribution, ureter, ductus deferens, seminal vesicles, testes.

artery of postcentral sulcus
origin,middle cerebral artery; branches, none; distribution, cortex on either side of postcentral sulcus.

artery of precentral sulcus
origin,middle cerebral artery; branches, none; distribution, cortex on either side of precentral sulcus.

artery of pterygoid canal
origin,maxillary artery; branches, pterygoid; distribution, roof of pharynx, auditory tube. origin,internal carotid artery; branches, none; distribution, pterygoid canal, joining with the artery of the pterygoid canal that branches from the maxillary artery.

artery of round ligament of uterus
origin, inferior epigastric artery; branches, none; distribution, round ligament of uterus.

artery of tuber cinereum
origin, posterior communicating artery; branches, medial and lateral branches; distribution, tuber cinereum.

artery to sciatic nerve
sciatic artery.

artery to tail of pancreas
caudal pancreatic artery.

arthralgia
(ahr-thral´jә) pain in a joint; called also arthrodynia.

arthrectomy
(ahr-threk´tә-me) excision of a joint.

arthritic atrophy
wasting of the muscles and bone that surround a joint, due to injury or to constitutional disease.

arthritis
(ahr-thri´tis) pl. arthri´tides inflammation of a joint; there are over 100 different arthritic conditions that cause pain and limitation of movement. The most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. adj., arthrit´ic., adj.

arthritis defor´mans
severe destruction of joints, seen in disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.

arthritis mu´tilans
a severe deforming polyarthritis with gross bone and cartilage destruction, usually an atypical variant of rheumatoid arthritis.

arthro-ophthalmopathy
(ahr″thro-of-thәl-mop´ә-the) an association of degenerative joint disease and eye disease.

arthrocentesis
(ahr″thro-sen-te´sis) surgical puncture of a joint cavity for aspiration of fluid.