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 The information may have been taken offline because it is outdated.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

speculum
(spek´u-lәm) an instrument for opening or distending a body orifice or cavity to permit visual inspection. bivalve speculum one with two blades that are adjustable. rectal speculum one that enlarges the diameter of the rectum for an examination. ...

Spee curve
curve of Spee the anatomic curvature of the occlusal alignment of teeth, beginning at the tip of the lower canine, following the buccal cusps of the premolars and molars, and continuing to the anterior border of the ramus.

speech
(spēch) the utterance of vocal sounds conveying ideas; the faculty of conveying thoughts and ideas by vocal sounds. The process is controlled through motor speech areas in the frontal lobe of the brain. The voice originates in the larynx, which is in the upper end of the air passage to the lungs, behind the oral ca...

speech disorder
defective ability to speak; it may have either psychogenic or physiologic causes. Congenital causes seen in childhood include cleft lip, cleft palate, and ankyloglossia. Some neurologic problems, deformities of the larynx or nasal passages, and congenital deafness also cause speech disorders. The most common speech disorders of...

speech pathology
speech-language pathology a field of the health sciences dealing with the evaluation of speech disorders and problems of language and voice, as well as the rehabilitation of patients who have such conditions and are not amenable to medical or surgical treatment. See also speech-language pathologist.

speech therapist
speech-language pathologist.

speech therapy
the use of special techniques for correction of speech disorders. See also speech-language pathologist.

speech-language pathologist
a professional trained to identify, assess, and rehabilitate persons with speech disorders, delayed language development, voice problems, and related conditions. Popularly called speech therapist.

spelter's fever
metal fume fever caused by fumes in zinc smelters; called also zinc fume fever.

Spens syndrome
(spenz) Adams-Stokes syndrome.

sperm
(spurm) the semen or testicular secretion. spermatozoon.

sperm agglutination test
(for male factor infertility) any of various tests for the presence of abnormal antisperm antibodies (such as immunoglobulins of the IgM and IgA classes) as a cause of the infertility. Serum or seminal plasma is mixed with a known concentration of sperm; if these immunoglobulins are in the mixture, they begin agglutinating the ...

sperm cell
spermatozoon.

sperm immobilization test
(for male factor infertility) a test for antisperm antibodies as a cause of infertility, based on the fact that spermatozoa with such surface antibodies lose their ability to move if complement is present (as it normally is in the female reproductive tract). Serum from the patient is incubated with motile sperm and complement i...

spermatic
(spәr-mat´ik) pertaining to the spermatozoa or to semen.

spermatic canal
the inguinal canal in the male.

spermatic duct
ductus deferens.

spermatid
(spur´mә-tid) a cell produced by meiotic division of a secondary spermatocyte; it develops into the spermatozoon.

spermatitis
(spur″mә-ti´tis) inflammation of a vas deferens; deferentitis.

spermatoblast
(spur´mә-to-blast″) spermatid.

spermatocele
(spur´mә-to-sēl″) a cystic distention of the epididymis or rete testis, containing spermatozoa.

spermatocelectomy
(spәr-mat″o-sә-lek´tә-me) excision of a spermatocele.

spermatocyst
(spur´mә-to-sist″) spermatocele.

spermatocyte
(spәr-mat´o-sīt) the mother cell of a spermatid. primary spermatocyte the original large diploid cell into which a spermatogonium develops; it can later undergo the first meiotic division into the secondary spermatocyte. secondary spermatocyte a ...

spermatocytogenesis
(spur″mә-to-si″to-jen´ә-sis) the first stage of formation of spermatozoa, in which the spermatogonia develop into spermatocytes and then into spermatids.

spermatogenesis
(spur″mә-to-jen´ә-sis) the development of mature spermatozoa from spermatogonia; it includes spermatocytogenesis and spermiogenesis.

spermatogenic
(spur″mә-to-jen´ik) giving rise to sperm.

spermatogonial cell
spermatogonium.

spermatogonium
(spur″mә-to-go´ne-әm) an undifferentiated male germ cell, originating in a seminal tubule and dividing into two spermatocytes.

spermatoid
(spur´mә-toid) resembling spermatozoa.

spermatolysis
(spur´mә-tol´ĭ-sis) dissolution of spermatozoa. adj., spermatolyt´ic., adj.

spermatozoon
(spur″mә-to-zo´on) pl. spermatozo´a a mature male germ cell, the specific output of the testes; sperm fertilizes the mature oocyte in sexual reproduction. It is microscopic in size, resembles a translucent tadpole, and has a flat, oval-shaped head and a long tail by which it propels itself with a vigorous las...

spermaturia
(spur″mә-tu´re-ә) seminuria.

spermicide
(spur´mĭ-sīd) an agent destructive to spermatozoa. adj., spermici´dal., adj.

spermidine
(spur´mĭ-dēn) a polyamine first found in human semen but now known to occur in almost all tissues, in association with nucleic acids.

spermiduct
(spur´mĭ-dukt″) the ejaculatory duct and vas deferens together.

spermine
(spur´mēn) a polyamine first found in human semen but now known to occur in almost all tissues, in association with nucleic acids.

spermiogenesis
(spur″me-o-jen´ә-sis) the second stage in the formation of spermatozoa, in which the spermatids transform into spermatozoa.

spermotoxin
(spur´mo-tok″sin) a toxin destructive to spermatozoa; see also spermicide. especially, a cytotoxic antibody produced by injecting an animal with spermatozoa.

SPF
sun protection factor.

sphenion
(sfe´ne-on) the point at the sphenoid angle of the parietal bone.

sphenoid
(sfe´noid) wedge-shaped. pertaining to the sphenoid bone.

sphenoid bone
a single irregular, wedge-shaped bone at the base of the skull, forming a part of the floor of the anterior, middle, and posterior cranial fossae.

sphenoid cell
sphenoid sinus.

sphenoid sinus
one of the paired paranasal sinuses in the body of the sphenoid bone, opening into the uppermost nasal meatus on the same side.

sphenoidal
(sfe-noi´dәl) sphenoid.

sphenoidal concha
a thin curved plate of bone at the anterior and lower part of the body of the sphenoid bone, on either side, forming part of the roof of the nasal cavity.

sphenoidal crest
a median ridge on the anterior surface of the body of the sphenoid bone, articulating with the ethmoid bone.

sphenoidal fontanelle
either of two small fontanelles, one above each ear at the junction of the frontal and temporal bones. Called also anterolateral fontanelle.

sphenoidal sinus
sphenoid sinus.

sphenoiditis
(sfe″noi-di´tis) sphenoid sinusitis.

sphenoidotomy
(sfe″noi-dot´ә-me) incision of a sphenoid sinus.

sphenomaxillary
(sfe″no-mak´sĭ-lar″e) pertaining to the sphenoid bone and the maxilla.

sphenopalatine
(sfe″no-pal´ә-tīn) pertaining to the sphenoid and palatine bones.

sphenopalatine artery
origin, maxillary artery; branches, posterior lateral nasal artery and posterior septal branches; distribution, structures adjoining nasal cavity, the nasopharynx.

sphenopalatine foramen
a space between the orbital and sphenoidal processes of the palatine bone, opening into the nasal cavity and transmitting the sphenopalatine artery and the nasal nerves.

sphenopalatine ganglion
pterygopalatine ganglion.

sphenopalatine test
the sphenopalatine ganglion is anesthetized with Novocain in order to determine whether the efferent current motivating a symptom is routed through either sphenopalatine ganglion, and if so, whether the left one or the right one.

sphenoparietal sinus
one of the venous sinuses of the dura mater, emptying into the cavernous sinus.

sphenoturbinal bone
sphenoidal concha.

sphere
(sfēr) a three dimensional round body; called also globus. adj., spher´ical., adj. segmentation sphere morula. blastomere.

spherocyte
(sfēr´o-sīt) a small, globular, completely hemoglobinated erythrocyte without the usual central pallor, found in hereditary spherocytosis and acquired hemolytic anemia. adj., spherocyt´ic., adj.

spherocytic anemia
hereditary spherocytosis.

spherocytosis
(sfēr″o-si-to´sis) the presence of spherocytes in the blood. hereditary spherocytosis a congenital hereditary form of hemolytic anemia characterized by abnormally fragile spherocytes in the blood, with jaundice, and enlargement of the spleen.

spheroid
(sfēr´oid) a spherelike body.

spheroidal
(sfēr-oi´dәl) resembling a sphere.

spheroidal joint
ball-and-socket joint.

spherophakia
(sfēr″o-fa´ke-ә) a developmental defect in which a smaller, more spherical optic lens than normal is formed, with partial or complete aplasia of the zonule.

spherophakia-brachymorphia syndrome
Weill-Marchesani syndrome.

spheroplast
(sfēr´o-plast) a membrane-bound, spherical cell that results after partial or complete removal of the cell wall from a bacterial, yeast, or fungal cell; it is dependent for its integrity on an isotonic or hypertonic medium.

sphincter
(sfingk´tәr) a circular muscle that constricts a passage or closes a natural orifice. When relaxed, a sphincter allows materials to pass through the opening. When contracted, it closes the opening. Four main sphincter muscles along the alimentary canal aid in digestion: the cardiac sphincter, the pyloric sph...

sphincter ani
(sfingk´tәr a´ni) anal sphincter.

sphincter muscle
sphincter.

sphincter of Oddi
a sheath of muscle fibers investing the associated bile and pancreatic passages as they traverse the wall of the duodenum.

sphincterectomy
(sfingk″tәr-ek´tә-me) excision of a sphincter.

sphincterismus
(sfingk″tәr-iz´mәs) spasm of a sphincter.

sphincteritis
(sfingk″tәr-i´tis) inflammation of a sphincter, particularly the sphincter of Oddi.

sphincterolysis
(sfingk″tәr-ol´ĭ-sis) surgical separation of the iris from the cornea in anterior synechia.

sphincteroplasty
(sfingk´tәr-o-plas″te) plastic reconstruction of a sphincter.

sphincterotomy
(sfingk″tәr-ot´ә-me) incision of a sphincter.

sphingolipid
(sfing″go-lip´id) a phospholipid containing sphingosine; these include the ceramides, sphingomyelins, gangliosides, and cerebrosides. Sphingolipids occur in high concentrations in the brain and other nerve tissue.

sphingolipidosis
(sfing″go-lip″ĭ-do´sis) a general designation applied to diseases characterized by abnormal storage of sphingolipids, such as Gaucher disease, Niemann-Pick disease, Hurler syndrome, and Tay-Sachs disease; all are associated with mental retardation and premature death.

sphingomyelin
(sfing″go-mi´ә-lin) a group of phospholipids that on hydrolysis yield phosphoric acid, choline, sphingosine, and a fatty acid.

sphingosine
(sfing´go-sēn) a basic amino alcohol present in sphingomyelin.

sphygmic
(sfig´mik) pertaining to the pulse.

sphygmic period
ejection period.

sphygmochronograph
(sfig″mo-kro´no-graf) a self-registering sphygmograph.

sphygmodynamometer
(sfig″mo-di″nә-mom´ә-tәr) an instrument for measuring the force of the pulse.

sphygmogram
(sfig´mo-gram) the record or tracing made by a sphygmograph. Called also pulse curve.

sphygmograph
(sfig´mo-graf) an apparatus for registering the movements, form, and force of the arterial pulse. adj., sphygmograph´ic., adj.

sphygmoid
(sfig´moid) resembling the pulse.

sphygmomanometer
(sfig″mo-mә-nom´ә-tәr) an instrument for measuring arterial blood pressure.

sphygmometer
(sfig-mom´ә-tәr) an instrument for measuring the force and frequency of the pulse.

sphygmoscope
(sfig´mo-skōp) a device for rendering the pulse beat visible.

sphygmotonometer
(sfig″mo-to-nom´ә-tәr) an instrument for measuring the elasticity of arterial walls.

spica
(spi´kә) a figure-of-8 bandage, with turns crossing each other.

spiculated
(spik´u-lāt″әd) having spicules.

spicule
(spik´ūl) a sharp, needlelike body or spike.

spider
(spi´dәr) an arthropod of the class Arachnida. In the United States, the two spiders whose bites are most likely to cause a serious reaction are the black widow spider and the brown recluse spider spider angioma. arterial spider spider angioma. bla...

spider angioma
spider nevus a telangiectasis due to dilatation and branching of superficial cutaneous arteries, having a bright red central portion with branching radiations to resemble the silhouette of a spider. The lesions may occur singly or in large numbers, and may be nevoid or acquired, being commonly associated with pregnancy and...