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

site
(sīt) a place, position, or locus.

sitophobia
(si″to-fo´be-ә) irrational fear of eating or of food.

sitosterol
(si-tos´tәr-ol) any of a group of closely related plant sterols, designated by Greek letters according to distinguishing characteristics. a preparation of β-sitosterol and certain saturated sterols, used to treat hypercholesterolemia.

sitosterolemia
(si-tos″tәr-ol-e´me-ә) the presence of excessive levels of sitosterols in the blood, especially β-sitosterol, absorbed from dietary vegetables due to an unknown intestinal defect. A rare form is associated with xanthomatosis, with tuberous and tendon xanthomas appearing in childhood.

sitotropism
(si-tot´ro-piz-әm) tropism in response to the presence or absence of food.

situational anxiety
that occurring specifically in relation to a situation or object.

situational depression
reactive depression.

situs
(si´tәs) Latin word meaning site or position. situs inversus total or partial transposition of the body organs to the side opposite the normal.

sixth disease
exanthema subitum.

sixth sense
the general feeling of consciousness of the entire body; cenesthesia.

sixth-year molar
the permanent first molar tooth, so called because it usually erupts at the age of 6 years just posterior to the last molar of the deciduous dentition.

Sjögren syndrome
(shur´gren) a symptom complex of unknown etiology, usually occurring in middle-aged or older women, marked by the triad of keratoconjunctivitis sicca with or without lacrimal gland enlargement, dryness of the mouth with or without salivary gland enlargement, and any of several connective tissue diseases, usually rheumat...

Sjögren-Larsson syndrome
(shur´gren lahr´sәn) congenital oligophrenia, ichthyosis, and spastic pyramidal symptoms.

SK
streptokinase.

skatole
(skat´ōl) a compound formed in the putrefaction of proteins which contributes to the characteristic odor of the feces.

skatoxyl
(skә-tok´sil) an oxidation product of skatole found in the urine in certain diseases of the large intestine.

skeletal muscle
any of the striated muscles that are attached to bones and typically cross at least one joint. They are under voluntary control and enable movements of the skeleton.

skeletal system
anatomic terminology for the bones of the body considered as a group; see skeleton.

skeletal tissue
all the tissue forming the skeleton and its attachments, including osseous tissue, fibrous tissue, cartilaginous tissue, and the ligaments.

skeletal traction
traction applied directly upon the long bones by means of pins, Kirschner wire, or some other mechanism.

skeletal tuberculosis
disseminated tuberculosis that has spread to bones and joints, leading to conditions such as spinal tuberculosis. Called also tuberculosis of bones and joints.

skeletization
(skel″ә-tĭ-za´shәn) extreme emaciation. removal of soft parts from the skeleton.

skeletogenous
(skel″ә-toj´ә-nәs) producing skeletal structures or tissues.

skeletogenous cell
osteoblast.

skeleton
(skel´ә-tәn) the hard framework of the animal body, especially the bony framework of the body of higher vertebrate animals; the bones of the body collectively. Anatomically, it is divided into the axial skeleton and the appendicular skeleton. The bones of the skeleton give support and shape to the body, protect de...

Skene ducts
(skēn) paraurethral ducts of female urethra.

Skene glands
paraurethral glands.

skenitis
(ske-ni´tis) inflammation of the paraurethral glands (Skene glands).

Skevas-Zerfus disease
(ske´vәs zer´fәs) sponge diver's disease.

skilled nursing care
the services provided by a registered nurse in a skilled nursing facility. It currently includes observation during periods of acute or unstable illness; administration of intravenous fluids, enteral feedings, and intravenous or intramuscular medications; short-term bowel and bladder retraining; and changing of sterile dressing...

skilled nursing facility
(SNF) a type of long-term care facility for individuals who have the potential to function independently after a limited period of care. A multidisciplinary team guides health care and rehabilitative services.

Skillern fracture
complete fracture of the lower third of the radius with greenstick fracture of the lower third of the ulna.

skin
(skin) the outer covering of the body. The skin is the largest organ of the body and performs a number of vital functions: it serves as a protective barrier against microorganisms; it helps shield the delicate, sensitive tissues beneath it from mechanical and other injuries; it acts as an insulator against heat an...

skin appendage carcinomas
adnexal carcinomas.

skin dose
(SD) the air dose of radiation at the skin surface, comprising the primary radiation plus backscatter. the absorbed dose in the skin.

skin flap
a full-thickness mass or flap of tissue containing epidermis, dermis, and subcutaneous tissue.

skin fold
skinfold. a skin furrow deeper than a groove.

skin furrows
fine depressions of the skin between the ridges of the skin.

skin graft
a piece of skin transplanted to replace a lost portion of skin; see also skin grafting.

skin grafting
implantation of patches of healthy skin on a denuded area to provide epithelial covering; the skin may come from another area with healthy skin from the patient's own body or from the body of a skin donor. The most important function of skin grafting is to promote healing of large surfaces that have been damaged by burns ...

skin pupillary reflex
ciliospinal reflex.

skin reflex
a reflex occurring on stimulation of the skin.

skin test
application of a substance to the skin, or intradermal injection of a substance, for observation of the body's reaction to it. Such a test detects a person's sensitivity to such allergens as dust and pollen, or to preparations of microorganisms believed to be the cause of a disorder. The patch test is the simplest type of...

skin traction
traction on a body part maintained by an apparatus affixed by dressings to the body surface.

skin-sparing mastectomy
subcutaneous mastectomy removal of breast tissue with preservation of overlying skin, nipple, and areola so that breast form may be reconstructed.

skinfold
(skin´fōld) the layer of skin and subcutaneous fat raised by pinching the skin and letting the underlying muscle fall back to the bone; measurements of skinfold thickness (most often taken over the biceps or triceps muscles, above the iliac crest, or below the scapula) are used to estimate the percentage of b...

Skinner box
(skin´әr) an experimental enclosure for testing animal conditioning, in which the subject animal performs (such as by pressing a bar or lever) to obtain a reward; see also operant conditioning.

skinny needle
fine needle.

skip lesion
a lesion that is discontinuous; the most common occurrence is in two different segments of intestine affected by inflammatory bowel disease.

Skoda sign
skodaic resonance.

skodaic resonance
increased percussion resonance at the upper part of the chest, with flatness below it; heard over a large pleural effusion or area of consolidation.

skull
(skul) the skeleton of the head, consisting of the cranium and the mandible. The cranium forms the domed top, back, and sides of the skull; several of its bones are large, smooth, gently curved, and connected to each other by dovetailed joints called sutures, which permit no movement and make the mature skull rigid. The...

slant culture
one made on the surface of solidified medium in a tube which has been tilted to provide a greater surface area for growth.

slapped cheek disease
erythema infectiosum.

slaty anemia
a term applied to a gray discoloration of the face in poisoning by silver.

SLE-like syndrome
see systemic lupus erythematosus.

sleep
(slēp) a period of rest for the body and mind, during which volition and consciousness are in partial or complete suspension and bodily functions are in partial suspension. It is sometimes described in behavioral terms as a state marked by a characteristic immobile posture and lessened but easily reversible sensitivity t...

sleep apnea
sleep apnea syndrome frequent, prolonged episodes in which breathing stops when a person is sleeping; diagnosis is confirmed by monitoring the subject during sleep for periods of apnea and lowered blood oxygen levels. There are two primary types: central sleep apnea and obstructive sleep apnea.

sleep disorders
chronic disorders involving sleep; primary sleep disorders are classified as either dyssomnias or parasomnias. Among the minor disorders are sleepwalking, sleeptalking, bedwetting (enuresis), tooth grinding (bruxism), and nightmares. More serious sleep disorders include persistent insomnia, narcolepsy, and chronic hypersomnia.

sleep paralysis
paralysis occurring at awakening or sleep onset; it represents extension of the atonia of REM sleep into the waking state and is often seen in those suffering from narcolepsy or sleep apnea.

sleep terror disorder
a sleep disorder of the parasomnia group, consisting of repeated episodes of pavor nocturnus (sleep terrors). It is seen most often in children; the child awakens with a scream, is in panic and cannot be consoled, and often is incoherent; the following morning, there is poor recall of the event.

sleeping sickness
African trypanosomiasis. any of various diseases characterized by increasing drowsiness and lethargy; some are caused by protozoal infections, such as African trypanosomiasis, and others are caused by viral infections, such as St. Louis encephalitis or eastern, Venezuelan, or western equine encephalomyelitis.

sleeptalking
(slēp´tawk-ing) somniloquism.

sleepwalking
(slēp´wawk-ing) rising from bed and walking or doing other complex motor behavior during an apparent state of sleep. Besides dreaming, the sleepwalker is also using the part of the brain that stimulates walking. This usually occurs during the first third of the night and lasts for a few minutes to a half hour...

sleepwalking disorder
a sleep disorder of the parasomnia group, consisting of repeated episodes of somnambulism.

slew rate
in cardiac pacing, the rate, expressed in units of mV/msec, at which an R wave reaches peak amplitude; it represents the maximum rate of change of amplifier output voltage.

slide
(slīd) a piece of glass or other transparent substance on which material is placed for examination under the microscope.

sliding board transfer
a method of transferring a patient: a smooth tapered board is placed under the patient and stabilized on the surface to which movement will take place so that the patient can glide across.

sliding flap
one carried to its new position by a sliding technique; called also advancement flap.

sliding hernia
hernia of the cecum (on the right) or the sigmoid colon (on the left) in which the intestinal wall forms part of the hernial sac and the remainder of the sac is formed by the parietal peritoneum.

sliding hiatal hernia
the most common type of hiatal hernia, in which the upper stomach and the esophagogastric junction protrude upward into the thoracic cavity and are partially covered by a peritoneal sac.

sling
(sling) a bandage or suspensory for supporting a part.

slip hernia
slipped hernia sliding hernia.

slipped disk
popular term for herniated disk.

slipping rib
one whose attaching cartilage is repeatedly dislocated.

slipping rib syndrome
weakness or rupture of the medial fibrous attachments of the eighth, ninth, or tenth ribs, so that their cartilage tip slips upward and impinges on the intercostal nerve, causing chest pain.

slit lamp
one with a diaphragm having a slitlike opening through which a narrow, flat beam of intense light may be projected into the eye. It gives intense illumination so that microscopic study may be made of the conjunctiva, cornea, iris, lens, and vitreous, the special feature being that it illuminates a section through the subs...

slit lamp microscope
a corneal microscope with a special attachment that permits examination of the endothelium on the posterior surface of the cornea.

SLO
scanning laser ophthalmoscope.

slough
(sluf) a mass of dead tissue in, or cast out from, living tissue; see also gangrene. to shed or cast off.

sloughing ulcer
phagedenic ulcer (def. 1).

slow channel
an ion channel such as the calcium channel that is slow to become activated; a slow voltage-gated channel has a much higher activation potential than does the fast type. See also fast channel.

slow filling wave
in the apexcardiogram, the shallow-sloped positive deflection following the rapid filling wave; it represents continued, but slowed, blood flow into the left ventricle.

slow pulse
one with less than the usual number of pulsations per minute; called also vagus pulse and pulsus tardus.

slow twitch muscle fibers
small dark muscle fibers rich in mitochondria, myoglobin, and sarcoplasm and with only faint cross-striping; designed for slow but repetitive contractions over long periods of time.

slow virus
any virus that remains latent for long periods in the infected host before the appearance of clinical symptoms.

slow wave sleep
NREM sleep.

Sluder neuralgia
Sluder syndrome (sloo´dәr) neuralgia of the territory supplied by the sphenopalatine ganglion, causing a burning and boring pain in the area of the superior maxilla and a radiation of the pain into the neck and shoulder.

sludge
(sluj) a suspension of solid or semisolid particles in a fluid.

sludging
(sluj´ing) settling out of solid particles from solution. sludging of blood intravascular agglutination of erythrocytes into irregular masses, interfering with circulation of blood.

slurry
(slur´e) a mixture of a liquid, usually water, and a fine insoluble particulate substance.

Sly syndrome
(sli) a mucopolysaccharidosis caused by deficiency of β-glucuronidase and characterized biochemically by excretion of dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate, and chondroitin sulfates A and C in the urine and by granular inclusions in granulocytes. Onset is between 1 and 2 years with mild to moderate Hurler-like fe...

Sm
samarium.

small airways disease
chronic obstructive bronchitis with irreversible narrowing of the bronchioles and small bronchi. See also obstructive small airways disease.

small alveolar cells
type I alveolar cells.

small B-cell lymphoma
the usual type of small lymphocytic lymphoma, having predominantly B lymphocytes.

small cardiac vein
a vein that collects blood from both parts of the right heart, follows the coronary sulcus to the left, and opens into the coronary sinus.

small cell carcinoma
a common, highly malignant type of lung cancer, a form of bronchogenic carcinoma seen in the wall of a major bronchus, usually in a middle-aged person with a history of tobacco smoking; it is radiosensitive and has small oval undifferentiated cells. Metastasis to the hilum and mediastinal lymph nodes is common.

small cleaved cell
small cleaved follicular center cell a follicular center cell considered to be the precursor of the other stages; it has a diameter of about 8 μm, a nucleus with a deep fold or cleft and clumped chromatin, and cytoplasm that is not pyroninophilic.

small cleaved cell lymphoma
a group of non-Hodgkin lymphomas characterized by formation of malignant, small, cleaved follicular center cells in either a follicular or diffuse pattern.