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

splanchnicectomy
(splank″nĭ-sek´tә-me) excision of part of the greater splanchnic nerve.

splanchnicotomy
(splank″nĭ-kot´ә-me) transection of a splanchnic nerve.

splanchnocoele
(splank´no-sēl) the portion of the embryonic body cavity from which the abdominal, pericardial, and pleural cavities are formed.

splanchnology
(splank-nol´ә-je) scientific study or description of the organs of the body, as of the digestive, respiratory, and genitourinary systems.

splanchnopleure
(splank´no-ploor) the embryonic layer formed by union of the splanchnic mesoderm with endoderm; from it are developed the muscles and the connective tissue of the digestive tube.

splayfoot
(spla´foot) flatfoot.

spleen
(splēn) a large, glandlike, but ductless organ in the upper part of the abdominal cavity, surrounded by a dense capsule and located on the left side, beyond to the cardiac end of the stomach. It is the largest collection of reticuloendothelial cells in the body and is composed of spongelike tissue of two types: red...

splenalgia
(sple-nal´jә) pain in the spleen; called also splenodynia.

Splendore-Hoeppli phenomenon
the deposition of amorphous, eosinophilic, hyaline material around pathogenic organisms, seen in some fungal and parasitic diseases as the result of a local antigen-antibody reaction.

splenectomy
(sple-nek´tә-me) surgical removal of the spleen, done in cases of severe trauma or rupture to it; enlargement that has greatly increased the destructive properties of the organ; and such blood disorders as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and hereditary spherocytosis.

splenectopia
(sple″nek-to´pe-ә) displacement of the spleen.

splenic
(splen´ik) pertaining to the spleen.

splenic anemia
congestive splenomegaly.

splenic artery
origin, celiac trunk; branches, pancreatic and splenic branches, prepancreatic, left gastro-omental, and short gastric arteries; distribution, spleen, pancreas, stomach, greater omentum.

splenic flexure
left colic flexure.

splenic flexure syndrome
constipation with left upper quadrant pain attributed to kinking of an adhesion between the transverse and descending colon with obstruction; probably a manifestation of the irritable colon syndrome rather than an organic lesion. Called also Payr disease.

splenic pulp
red pulp.

splenic vein
a vein formed by union of several branches at the hilum of the spleen, passing from left to right to the neck of the pancreas, where it joins the superior mesenteric vein to form the portal vein.

splenitis
(sple-ni´tis) inflammation of the spleen, a condition that is attended by enlargement of the organ and severe local pain.

splenium
(sple´ne-um) a compress or bandage. a bandlike structure. splenium corporis callosi the posterior, rounded end of the corpus callosum.

splenius capitis muscle
origin, lower half of nuchal ligament, spinous processes of seventh cervical and three or four upper thoracic vertebrae; insertion, mastoid part of temporal bone, occipital bone; innervation, middle and lower cervical nerves; action, extends, rotates head.

splenius cervicis muscle
origin, spinous processes of third to sixth thoracic vertebrae; insertion, transverse processes of two or three upper cervical vertebrae; innervation, posterior rami of lower cervical nerves; action, extends, rotates head and neck.

splenocele
(sple´no-sēl) hernia of the spleen.

splenocolic
(sple″no-kol´ik) pertaining to the spleen and colon.

splenocyte
(sple´no-sīt) the monocyte characteristic of splenic tissue.

splenodynia
(sple″no-din´e-ә) splenalgia.

splenography
(sple-nog´rә-fe) radiography of the spleen. a description of the spleen.

splenohepatomegaly
(sple″no-hep″ә-to-meg´ә-le) hepatosplenomegaly.

splenoid
(sple´noid) resembling the spleen.

splenolysis
(sple-nol´ĭ-sis) destruction of splenic tissue by a lysin.

splenoma
(sple-no´mә) a splenic tumor.

splenomalacia
(sple″no-mә-la´shә) abnormal softness of the spleen.

splenomedullary
(sple″no-med´u-lar″e) of or pertaining to the spleen and bone marrow.

splenomegaly
(sple″no-meg´ә-le) enlargement of the spleen. tropical splenomegaly tropical splenomegaly syndrome.

splenometry
(sple-nom´ә-tre) determination of the size of the spleen.

splenomyelogenous
(sple″no-mi″ә-loj´ә-nәs) formed in the spleen and bone marrow.

splenopancreatic
(sple″no-pan″kre-at´ik) pertaining to the spleen and pancreas.

splenopathy
(sple-nop´ә-the) any disease of the spleen.

splenopexy
(sple´no-pek″se) surgical fixation of the spleen.

splenoptosis
(sple″nop-to´sis) (sple″no-to´sis) downward displacement of the spleen.

splenorenal
(sple″no-re´nәl) pertaining to the spleen and kidney, or to splenic and renal veins.

splenorenal ligament
a peritoneal fold that passes from the diaphragm to the concave surface of the spleen.

splenorenal shunt
an anastomosis of the splenic vein and the left renal vein, created to lower portal hypertension following splenectomy.

splenorrhagia
(sple″no-ra´jә) hemorrhage from the spleen.

splenorrhaphy
(sple-nor´ә-fe) suture of the spleen.

splenotomy
(sple-not´ә-me) incision of the spleen.

splenotoxin
(sple´no-tok″sin) a toxin produced by or acting on the spleen.

splicing
(spli´sing) the joining together of two nucleic acid segments so as to form a new genetic combination; see DNA splicing and RNA splicing. alternative splicing the splicing of RNA at variable positions on the primary transcript as a function of the type of tissue or of the developmental ...

splint
(splint) a rigid or flexible appliance for fixation of displaced or movable parts; see also orthosis. Splints: (A), Denis Browne splint; (B), Thomas knee splint. to supply support for the purpose of immobilizing an injured or displaced body part.

splinter hemorrhage
a linear type of subungual hemorrhage; most are benign, such as following trauma, but when located near the base of the nail they may signify subacute bacterial endocarditis.

splintered fracture
a type of comminuted fracture in which the bone is splintered into thin, sharp fragments.

splinting
(splin´ting) treatment by use of a splint. in dentistry, the application of a fixed restoration to join two or more teeth into a single rigid unit for stabilization.

split brain syndrome
an association of symptoms produced by disruption of or interference with the connection between the hemispheres of the brain.

split pelvis
one with a congenital separation at the symphysis pubis.

split personality
an obsolete term formerly used colloquially to refer to either schizophrenia or dissociative identity disorder.

split-skin graft
split-thickness graft a skin graft consisting of the epidermis and a portion of dermis.

split-virus vaccine
subunit vaccine.

splitting
(split´ing) in psychoanalytic theory, a primitive defense mechanism in which the self and internal and external objects are divided into parts that are either “all good” or “all bad.” Characteristic of very young children, it is also seen in those with borderline personality disorder and sometime...

spodogenous
(spo-doj´ĕ-nus) caused by accumulation of waste material in an organ.

Spondweni virus
a mosquito-borne virus of the genus Flavivirus that causes a febrile illness with hepatitis in South Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique, and Cameroon.

spondylalgia
(spon″dә-lal´jә) spondylodynia.

spondylarthritis
(spon″dәl-ahr-thri´tis) arthritis of the vertebral column.

spondylitic
(spon″dә-lit´ik) pertaining to or marked by spondylitis.

spondylitis
(spon″dә-li´tis) inflammation of the vertebrae, usually a serious and chronic disorder. It may be associated with tuberculosis of the bones, in which case it is called Pott disease. The vertebrae become eroded and collapse, causing kyphosis. Spondylitis may also be associated with other infectious diseases, ...

spondylizema
(spon″dә-li-ze´mә) downward displacement of a vertebra because of destruction or softening of the one below it.

spondyloarthropathy
(spon″dә-lo-ahr-throp´ә-the) disease of the joints of the vertebral column.

spondylocace
(spon″dә-lok´ә-se) tuberculosis of the vertebrae.

spondylodymus
(spon″dĭ-lod´ĭ-mus) rachipagus.

spondylodynia
(spon″dә-lo-din´e-ә) pain in a vertebra.

spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia
a hereditary dysplasia of the vertebrae and extremities resulting in dwarfism of the short-trunk type, often with shortened limbs due to epiphyseal abnormalities. In the delayed onset form, the principal feature is precocious osteoarthritis. There are several forms, including autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X...

spondylolisthesis
(spon″dә-lo-lis-the´sis) forward displacement of a vertebra over a lower segment due to a congenital defect or fracture in the pars interarticularis, usually of the fifth lumbar over the sacrum, or of the fourth lumbar over the fifth. adj., spondylolisthet´ic., adj.

spondylolisthetic pelvis
one in which the last, or rarely the fourth or third, lumbar vertebra is dislocated in front of the sacrum, more or less occluding the pelvic brim.

spondylolysis
(spon″dә-lol´ĭ-sis) the breaking down of a vertebra. adj., spondylolyt´ic., adj.

spondylopathy
(spon″dә-lop´ә-the) any disease of the vertebrae.

spondylopyosis
(spon″dә-lo-pi-o´sis) suppuration of a vertebra.

spondyloschisis
(spon″dĭ-los´kĭ-sis) spina bifida.

spondylosis
(spon″dә-lo´sis) ankylosis of a vertebral joint. degenerative spinal changes due to osteoarthritis.

spondylosyndesis
(spon″dә-lo-sin-de´sis) spinal fusion.

spondylothoracic dysplasia
Jarcho-Levin syndrome.

spondylotic cervical myelopathy
myelopathy secondary to encroachment of cervical spondylosis upon a congenitally small cervical spinal canal.

sponge
(spunj) a porous, absorbent mass, as a pad of gauze or cotton surrounded by gauze, or the elastic fibrous skeleton of certain species of marine animals. absorbable gelatin sponge a sterile, absorbable, water-insoluble, gelatin-base material used in the control of bleeding.

sponge diver's disease
a condition seen in divers in the Mediterranean who are stung by tentacles of sea anemones attached to the base of sponges; it is marked by burning, itching, erythema, necrosis, and ulceration. Called also Skevas-Zerfus disease.

sponge kidney
medullary sponge kidney.

spongiform
(spun´jĭ-form) resembling a sponge.

spongioblast
(spun´je-o-blast) any of the embryonic epithelial cells developed about the neural tube; they later become transformed, some into neuroglial and some into ependymal cells. amacrine (def. 2).

spongioblastoma
(spun″je-o-blas-to´mә) a tumor containing spongioblasts; types include glioblastoma and gliosarcoma.

spongiocyte
(spun´je-o-sīt″) a neuroglia cell. one of the cells with spongy vacuolated protoplasm in the adrenal cortex.

spongioid
(spun´je-oid) resembling a sponge.

spongiosa
(spun″je-o´sә) spongy; sometimes used alone to mean the spongy substance of bone (substantia spongiosa ossium).

spongiosaplasty
(spun″je-o´sә-plas″te) autoplasty of the spongy substance of bone (substantia spongiosa ossium) to potentiate formation of new bone or to cover bone defects.

spongiosis
(spun″je-o´sis) intercellular edema within the epidermis.

spongiositis
(spun″je-o-si´tis) periurethritis.

spongy
(spun´je) of spongelike appearance or texture.

spongy bone
cancellous bone.

spongy layer of endometrium
stratum spongiosum.

spontaneous abortion
spontaneous ending of a pregnancy before the fetus is sufficiently developed to survive; chromosomal abnormalities cause at least half of these. In the United States this definition refers to pregnancies that end before 20 weeks' gestation. Popularly called miscarriage.

spontaneous allergy
atopy.

spontaneous amputation
loss of a part without surgical intervention, as in leprosy, ainhum, and certain other conditions.

spontaneous fracture
pathologic fracture.

spontaneous generation
the discredited concept of continuous generation of living organisms from nonliving matter.