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

balloon cell
a type of swollen, degenerated cell with pale, almost clear, abundant cytoplasm; one variety is seen in the vesicles of herpes zoster and varicella and another is seen in a balloon cell nevus.

balloon cell nevus
a type of intradermal nevus, usually brown with a yellow halo, consisting of balloon cells with pale cytoplasm that contains large vacuoles formed of altered melanosomes; it is sometimes confused with a melanoma.

balloon-tip catheter
balloon catheter.

ballooning mitral valve syndrome
ballooning posterior leaflet syndrome mitral valve prolapse syndrome.

balm
(bahm) balsam. a soothing or healing medicine.

balneotherapy
(bal″ne-o-ther´ә-pe) use of baths in the treatment of disease.

Baló disease
(bah-lo´) an atypical form of Schilder disease in which the demyelination is arranged in concentric rings around a central circle. Called also encephalitis periaxialis concentrica and concentric sclerosis.

balsalazide
(bal-sal´ә-zīd) a prodrug of the antiinflammatory mesalamine, to which it is converted in the colon; administered orally as the disodium salt in treatment of ulcerative colitis.

balsam
(bawl´sәm) a semifluid, fragrant, resinous, vegetable juice. balsam of Peru a thick, dark brown liquid obtained from a tropical American tree, used as a local skin protectant and rubefacient; applied topically. tolu balsam a balsam obtained f...

Bamberger disease
(bahm´bәr-gәr) saltatory spasm. Concato disease.

Bamberger sign
presence of signs of consolidation at the angle of the scapula, which disappear when the patient leans forward; a sign of pericardial effusion.

Bamberger-Marie disease
(bahm´bәr-gәr mah-re´) hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy.

banana sign
a flattened and curved, bananalike shape of the cerebellar hemispheres seen in axial section in sonography of the fetal skull; a sign of the Arnold-Chiari deformity.

band
(band) a strip that holds together or binds separate objects or parts; for anatomical structures, see frenulum, taenia, trabecula, and vinculum. an object or appliance that confines or restricts while allowing a limited degree of movement. an elongated area with parallel or roughly parallel borders...

band cell
a neutrophil in which the nucleus is not yet multilobar like that of a polymorphonuclear leukocyte but is in the form of a continuous band or coil. Called also band neutrophil and stab cell or neutrophil.

bandage
(ban´dәj) a strip or roll of gauze or other material for wrapping or binding any part of the body. to cover by wrapping with such material. Bandages may be used to stop the flow of blood, absorb drainage, cushion the injured area, provide a safeguard against contamination, hold a medicated dressing in plac...

banding
(band´ing) the act of encircling and binding with a thin strip of material. in genetics, any of several techniques of staining chromosomes so that a characteristic pattern of transverse dark and light bands becomes visible, permitting identification of individual chromosome pairs. There are four popular te...

Bandl ring
pathologic retraction ring; see retraction ring.

bank
(bangk) a stored supply of human material or tissues for future use by other individuals, or an agency where such material is stored, such as a blood bank, bone bank, eye bank, human-milk bank, skin bank, or sperm bank. blood bank a place of storage for blood. an or...

Bannayan-Zonana syndrome
(ban´ә-yәn zo-nă´nә) a rare autosomal dominant syndrome characterized by hemangiomas of the trunk, cutaneous lipomas, macrocephaly, and swelling of the abdomen with angiomas.

Bannister disease
(ban´is-tәr) angioedema.

Bannwarth syndrome
(bahn´vahrt) the European term for the meningopolyneuritis that may occur in Lyme disease.

Banti disease
(bahn´te) congestive splenomegaly.

bar
(bahr) a structure having greater length than width, and often some degree of rigidity. a heavy wire or a wrought or cast metal segment, longer than its width, used to connect parts of a removable partial denture. a long narrow rigid structure that a patient can grasp to assist in stabilization.&nb...

bar reflex
a pathological reflex in which movement of one lower limb is followed by similar movements of the other when the patient is recumbent; indicative of a lesion, often a tumor, in the prefrontal area.

bar-reading test
a test for binocular and stereoscopic vision, which consists of holding a ruler halfway between the eyes and the printed page. It is also used as an exercise to develop stereoscopic vision. Called also Welland test.

baragnosis
(bar″ag-no´sis) impairment of the ability to perceive differences in weight or pressure.

Bárány pointing test
the patient points at a fixed object alternately with the eyes open and closed; a constant error with the eyes closed indicates a brain lesion.

Bárány sign
Bárány test caloric test.

barber's itch
sycosis barbae. tinea barbae.

barbiturate
(bahr-bich´әr-әt) any of a class of sedative-hypnotic agents derived from barbituric acid or thiobarbituric acid and classified into long-, intermediate-, short-, and ultrashort-acting classes. The ultrashort-acting barbiturates, such as thiopental, are used as intravenous anesthetics. The long-acting barbit...

barbiturate poisoning
poisoning by a barbiturate, which can be fatal. Barbiturate overdose was common in the industrialized world until barbiturates were replaced by benzodiazepines.

barbituric acid
(bahr-bĭ-tūr´ik) the parent substance of the barbiturates, not itself a central nervous system depressant.

barbotage
(bahr″bo-tahzh´) repeated alternate injection and withdrawal of fluid with a syringe, as in gastric lavage or administration of an anesthetic agent into the subarachnoid space by alternate injection of part of the anesthetic and withdrawal of cerebrospinal fluid into the syringe.

Bard sign
in organic nystagmus the oscillations of the eye increase as the patient's attention follows the finger moved alternately from one side to the other; but in congenital nystagmus the oscillations disappear in like condition.

Bardet-Biedl syndrome
(bahr-da´ be´dәl) a hereditary autosomal recessive syndrome characterized by obesity, hypogenitalism, retinitis pigmentosa, mental retardation, skull defects, and sometimes webbed fingers or toes. Called also Laurence-Moon syndrome.

baresthesia
(bar″es-the´zhә) sensibility for weight or pressure.

baresthesiometer
(bar″әs-the″ze-om´ә-tәr) an instrument for estimating the acuteness of the sense of weight or pressure.

bariatric surgery
surgery on part of the gastrointestinal tract as a treatment for morbid obesity.

bariatrics
(bar″e-at´riks) the study of obesity, its causes, prevention, and treatment.

barium
(Ba) (bar´e-әm) a chemical element, atomic number 56, atomic weight 137.34. Ingestion of excessive amounts can be toxic, occasionally resulting in paralysis or fatal hypokalemia. barium sulfate a water-insoluble salt used as an opaque contrast medium for...

barium poisoning
poisoning from excessive ingestion of barium or one of its salts, characterized by gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, followed by severe, sometimes fatal hypokalemia with paralysis.

barium test
x-ray examination using a barium mixture to help locate disorders in the esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines. Such conditions as peptic ulcer, benign or malignant tumors, colitis, or enlargement of organs that might be causing pressure on the stomach may be readily identified with the use of barium tests. Common tests ...

Barkan operation
goniotomy.

Barker operation
an excision of the hip joint by an anterior cut. a special method of excising the astragalus by an incision extending from just above the external malleolus forward and inward to the dorsum of the foot.

Barker point
a point about 3.5 cm above and 3.5 cm behind the middle external auditory meatus, the proper spot to apply the trephine in abscess of the temporosphenoid lobe.

Barkman reflex
contraction of the rectus abdominis muscle on the same side after stimulation of the skin just below one of the nipples.

Barlow disease
(bahr´lo) infantile scurvy.

Barlow syndrome
(bahr´lo) mitral valve prolapse.

baro-otitis
(bar″o-o-ti´tis) barotitis.

baroceptor
(bar″o-sep´tәr) baroreceptor.

barognosis
(bar″og-no´sis) conscious perception of weight; the faculty by which weight is recognized.

barometer-maker's disease
chronic mercurial poisoning in makers of barometers, due to the inhalation of the fumes of mercury.

barometric pressure
atmospheric pressure.

barophilic
(bar″o-fil´ik) growing best under high atmospheric pressure; said of bacteria.

baroreceptor
(bar″o-re-sep´tәr) a sensory nerve terminal that is stimulated by changes in pressure, such as a type found in blood vessel walls. Called also baroceptor and pressoreceptor.

baroreceptor reflex
the reflex responses to stimulation of baroreceptors of the carotid sinus and aortic arch, regulating blood pressure by controlling heart rate, strength of heart contractions, and diameter of blood vessels.

barosinusitis
(bar″o-si″nәs-i´tis) a symptom complex due to differences in environmental atmospheric pressure and the air pressure in the paranasal sinuses.

barotaxis
(bar″o-tak´sis) stimulation of living matter by change of atmospheric pressure.

barotitis
(bar″o-ti´tis) an inflammatory condition of the ear due to exposure to differing atmospheric pressures, such as those experienced when in an airplane. barotitis media a symptom complex consisting of ear pain, dizziness, and muffled hearing, caused by difference between the atm...

barotrauma
(bar″o-traw´mә) injury caused by pressure differences between the external environment and the inside of a bodily structure. Seen with structures of the ear, in high altitude flyers and others (see barotitis media and barosinusitis). In the lung it is caused by excessive airway pressures, resulting in extra-...

Barr body
a chromatin mass in the nucleus of somatic cells of females of most mammalian species, including humans. It represents a single, inactive, condensed X chromosome. Called also sex chromatin. See also Lyon hypothesis.

barracuda
(bar″ә-koo´dә) any of various carnivorous marine fish of the genus Sphaerena, found in tropical waters; they are often eaten by humans but sometimes contain ciguatoxin and can cause ciguatera.

Barraquer disease
(bah-rah-kār´) partial lipodystrophy.

Barraquer operation
phacoerysis.

Barraquer-Simons syndrome
(bah-rah-kār´ se´monz) partial lipodystrophy.

Barré pyramidal sign
the patient lies face down and the lower limbs are flexed at the knee; if there is disease of the pyramidal tracts, the patient will be unable to maintain this position.

Barré sign
contraction of the iris is slower in mental deterioration.

Barré-Guillain syndrome
(bah-ra´ ge-yă´) acute idiopathic polyneuritis.

Barrett syndrome
(bar´әt) peptic ulcer of the lower esophagus, often with stricture, due to the presence of columnar-lined epithelium in the esophagus, sometimes containing functional mucous cells, parietal cells, or chief cells, instead of the normal squamous cell epithelium. It is sometimes premalignant and followed by eso...

Barrett ulcer
chronic peptic ulcer of the esophagus, usually with heterotopic gastric mucosa; see Barrett syndrome.

barrier
(bar´e-әr) an obstruction. a partition between two fluid compartments in the body. a covering used to prevent contact with body fluids.

barrier contraceptive
a contraceptive device, such as a condom or diaphragm, that physically prevents spermatozoa from entering the endometrial cavity and fallopian tubes. In this group are the regular (male) condom, the female condom, the cervical cap, and the cervical diaphragm. Sometimes the intrauterine device is also put in this group.

barrier methods
contraceptive methods such as condoms and diaphragms in which a plastic or rubber barrier blocks passage of spermatozoa through the vagina or cervix. See discussion under contraception.

Barsky operation
an operation for repair of a cleft hand with a missing central ray and a deep central V-shaped cleft, consisting of closing the cleft, bringing the ring and index fingers closer together, and correcting the associated syndactyly, if present.

Bart syndrome
(bahrt) a form of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa inherited as an autosomal dominant trait, characterized by congenital localized absence of the skin, blister formation resulting from mechanical trauma, and nail dystrophy.

Barth hernia
hernia of intestine between the serosa of the abdominal wall and that of a persistent vitelline duct.

Barthel Index
an objective, standardized tool for measuring a patient's level of functioning; scores range from 0 (complete dependence) to 100 (complete independence).

Bartholin abscess
acute infection of a Bartholin gland with symptoms including pain, swelling, cellulitis of the vulva, and dyspareunia.

Bartholin adenitis
inflammation of the greater vestibular glands (Bartholin glands) resulting from acute infection of the gland.

Bartholin cyst
a mucus-filled cyst of a Bartholin gland, usually developing after obstruction of the duct by trauma, infection, epithelial hyperplasia, or congenital atresia or narrowing.

Bartholin duct
(bahr´to-lin) the larger and longer of the sublingual ducts.

Bartholin gland
either of a pair of small mucous glands in females, found on the lower poles of the labia majora pudendi, connected to the surface by a duct lined with transitional cells that opens just external to the hymenal ring. The exact function of the glands is not clear, but they are believed to secrete mucus to moisten the vestibule d...

bartholinitis
(bahr″to-lin-i´tis) inflammation of the Bartholin glands.

Barton fracture
fracture of the distal end of the radius into the wrist joint.

Barton operation
an operation for ankylosis consisting of sawing through the bone and removing a V-shaped piece.

Bartonella
(bahr″tә-nel´ә) a genus of bacteria of the family Bartonellaceae, made up of gram-negative cells in chains. B. bacillifor´mis is the etiologic agent of bartonellosis (Carrión disease); B. hen´selae is the etiologic agent of cat-scratch disease; and B. quinta´na is the etiologic agent of trench fever.

Bartonella
anemia Oroya fever.

Bartonellaceae
(bahr″tә-nel-a´se-e) a family of bacteria transmitted by arthropods and occurring as pathogenic parasites in the erythrocytes of humans and other animals.

bartonellosis
(bahr-tә-nel-o´sis) any infection with a species of Bartonella, such as cat-scratch disease and Carrión disease. the term was formerly limited to a syndrome seen in mountain valleys in South America, caused by infection with Bartonella bacilliformis, transmitted by sandflies of the genus Phlebotomus. That ...

Bartter syndrome
(bahr´tәr) hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney, producing hypokalemic alkalosis and hyperaldosteronism, characterized by absence of hypertension in the presence of markedly increased plasma renin concentration and by insensitivity to the pressor effects of angiotensin. It usually affec...

baryesthesia
(bar″e-es-the´zhә) baresthesia.

barylalia
(bar″ĭ-la´le-ә) indistinct, thick speech, resulting from a lesion of the central nervous system.

basal
(ba´sәl) pertaining to or situated near a base; in physiology, pertaining to the lowest possible level.

basal anesthesia
a reversible state of central nervous system depression produced by preliminary medication so that the inhalation of anesthetic necessary to produce surgical anesthesia is greatly reduced.

basal body
a modified centriole that occurs at the base of a flagellum or cilium.

basal body temperature
(BBT) the body temperature under conditions of absolute rest; it has a slight sustained rise during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.

basal body temperature method
a type of natural family planning; see contraception.

basal cell
a type of keratinocyte found in the stratum basale of the epidermis.

basal cell adenoma
a benign, encapsulated, slow-growing, painless salivary gland tumor of intercalated or reserve cell origin, occurring mainly in males, in the parotid gland or upper lip; solid, canalicular, trabecular-tubular, and membranous types can be distinguished histologically.