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

certification
(ser″tĭ-fĭ-ka´shun) a process indicating that an individual or institution has met predetermined standards; many specialty areas have professional organizations that provide certification to individual practitioners. National associations may control the process and development of certification exa...

Cerubidine
(sә-roo´bĭ-dēn) trademark for a preparation of daunorubicin, an antitumor antibiotic.

cerulean cataract
blue cataract. coronary cataract.

ceruloplasmin
(sә-roo″lo-plaz´min) an alpha2-globulin of the plasma, being the form in which most of the plasma copper is transported. It is absent in Wilson disease.

cerumen
(sә-roo´mәn) a waxy secretion of the glands of the external acoustic meatus; ear wax. adj., ceru´minal, ceru´minous., adj.

ceruminolysis
(sә-roo″mĭ-nol´ә-sis) dissolution or disintegration of cerumen in the external acoustic meatus. adj., ceruminolyt´ic., adj.

ceruminosis
(sә-roo″mĭ-no´sis) excessive or disordered secretion of cerumen.

ceruminous glands
cerumen-secreting glands in the skin of the external auditory canal.

cervical
(sur´vĭ-kәl) pertaining to the neck. pertaining to the neck or cervix of any organ or structure.

cervical adenitis
cervical lymphadenopathy.

cervical canal
the part of the uterine cavity lying within the cervix.

cervical cancer
cancer of the cervix uteri, the third most common cause of cancer deaths in American women, usually seen in women over 40. One of the first warning signs is vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods, after coitus, or after menopause is established. There may also be increased vaginal discharge.

cervical cardiac nerves
see inferior cervical cardiac nerve, middle cervical cardiac nerve, and superior cervical cardiac nerve.

cervical diaphragm
contraceptive diaphragm a shallow, dome-shaped, soft plastic disk inserted into the vagina as a contraceptive; its anterior lip fits behind the symphysis pubis and its posterior lip rests in the posterior fornix.

cervical dysplasia
cellular deviations from the normal in the epithelium of the uterine cervix, which may begin as basal cell hyperplasia and progress through more disorderly epithelial changes toward anaplasia; it is considered a precursor to carcinoma.

cervical flexure
a bend in the neural tube of the embryo at the junction of the brain and spinal cord.

cervical ganglion
any of the three ganglia (inferior, middle, and superior) of the sympathetic trunk in the neck region. one near the cervix uteri.

cervical glands
compound clefts in the wall of the uterine cervix.

cervical line
anatomical designation for the cementoenamel junction.

cervical lymphadenitis
cervical lymphadenopathy.

cervical lymphadenopathy
enlarged, inflamed, and tender cervical lymph nodes, seen in certain infectious diseases of children, such as acute infections of the throat. Called also cervical adenitis or lymphadenitis.

cervical mucus method
a type of natural family planning; see discussion at contraception. Called also Billings method and ovulation method.

cervical muscles
the muscles of the neck, including the sternocleidomastoid, longus colli, suprahyoid, infrahyoid, and scalene muscles.

cervical myelopathy
compression myelopathy of the cervical spinal cord, a common complication of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

cervical nerves
the eight pairs of nerves (C1–C8) that arise from the cervical segments of the spinal cord and, except for the last pair, leave the vertebral column above the correspondingly numbered vertebra. The anterior branches of the upper four, on either side, unite to form the cervical plexus, and those of the lower four, to...

cervical orthosis
a rigid plastic orthosis that encircles the neck and supports the chin and the back of the head; used in the treatment of injuries to the cervical spine.

cervical plexus
a nerve plexus formed by the ventral branches of the first four cervical spinal nerves and supplying the structures in the region of the neck. One important branch is the phrenic nerve, which supplies the diaphragm.

cervical plexus block
regional anesthesia of the neck by injection of a local anesthetic into the cervical plexus.

cervical polyp
a common type of benign tumor of the cervix uteri, usually in the cervical canal; size varies widely. Such tumors may produce irregular vaginal bleeding.

cervical pregnancy
ectopic pregnancy within the cervical canal.

cervical rib
an extra rib that arises from a cervical vertebra in some individuals.

cervical rib syndrome
a thoracic outlet syndrome caused by a cervical rib.

cervical sinus
a temporary depression caudal to the second pharyngeal arch, containing the succeeding pharyngeal arches; it is overgrown by the second pharyngeal arch and closes off as the cervical vesicle.

cervical spine
the part of the vertebral column comprising the cervical vertebrae.

cervical syndrome
cervical disk syndrome a condition caused by irritation or compression of the cervical nerve roots by a protruding disk; symptoms include neck pain radiating into the shoulder, arm, or forearm, paresthesias, and muscle weakness or spasm.

cervical traction
traction applied to the neck, usually by means of a sling that fits under the chin and behind the occiput; used in the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other disorders of the cervical spine.

cervical vertebrae
the upper seven vertebrae, constituting the skeleton of the neck.

cervical zone
that third of the coronal zone which is nearest the cervix of the tooth, marked by the cementoenamel junction of crown and root.

cervicectomy
(sur″vĭ-sek´tә-me) excision of the cervix uteri.

cervicitis
(sur″vĭ-si´tis) inflammation of the cervix uteri.

cervicobrachial syndrome
brachial plexopathy.

cervicobrachialgia
(sur″vĭ-ko-bra″ke-al´jә) pain in the neck radiating to the arm, due to compression of nerve roots of the cervical spinal cord.

cervicocephalocaudal
(ser″vĭ-ko-sef″ah-lo-kaw´dәl) denoting a pattern of motor development that occurs in widening circles and proceeds ventrally and caudally.

cervicocolpitis
(sur″vĭ-ko-kol-pi´tis) inflammation of the cervix uteri and vagina.

cervicodynia
(sur″vĭ-ko-din´e-ә) pain in the neck.

cervicofacial
(sur″vĭ-ko-fa´shәl) pertaining to the neck and face.

cervicoplasty
(sur´vĭ-ko-plas″te) plastic surgery on the neck. plastic surgery on the cervix uteri.

cervicothoracic ganglion
a ganglion on the sympathetic trunk anterior to the lowest cervical or first thoracic vertebra. It is formed by a union of the seventh and eighth cervical and first thoracic ganglia. Called also stellate ganglion.

cervicotomy
(sә″vĭ-kot´ә-me) incision of the neck. incision of the uterine cervix.

cervicouterine ganglion
one near the cervix uteri.

cervicovesical
(sur″vĭ-ko-ves´ĭ-kәl) vesicocervical.

cervix
(sur´viks) pl. cer´vices Latin word meaning neck. In anatomy, it is used for the neck and for any of a number of necklike structures in the body. cervix uteri. cervix dentis neck of tooth. incompetent cervix a cervix uteri that is abnormally pr...

cesarean hysterectomy
cesarean section followed by removal of the uterus.

cesarean section
(sә-zar´e-әn) delivery of a baby by incision through the abdominal wall and uterus; it takes its name from the Latin word caedere, to cut, and has no relation to the birth of Caesar as is sometimes believed. Indications for cesarean section include cephalopelvic disproportion, hemorrhage from abruptio placentae or...

cesium
(Cs) (se´ze-әm) a chemical element, atomic number 55, atomic weight 132.905.

Cestan-Chenais syndrome
(sәs-tahn´ shә-na´) a syndrome in which scattered lesions of the pyramid, sensory tracts, inferior cerebellar peduncle, nucleus ambiguus, and oculopupillary center cause hemiplegia and numbness on the opposite side from the lesions, ataxia with paralysis of the soft palate and vocal cords on the same side, a...

cesticidal
(ses″tĭ-si´dәl) destructive to cestodes (tapeworms).

Cestoda
(sәs-to´dә) a subclass of Cestoidea comprising the true tapeworms, which have a head (scolex) and segments (proglottids). The adults are endoparasitic in the alimentary tract and associated ducts of various vertebrate hosts; their larvae may be found in various organs and tissues.

Cestodaria
(ses″to-dar´e-ә) a subclass of Cestoidea, the unsegmented tapeworms of that class, which are endoparasitic in the intestines and coelom of various primitive fishes and rarely in reptiles.

cestode
(ses´tōd) tapeworm. resembling a tapeworm.

cestodology
(ses″to-dol´ә-je) the scientific study of tapeworms.

cestoid
(ses´toid) cestode.

Cestoidea
(ses-toi´de-ә) a class of tapeworms (phylum Platyhelminthes), characterized by a noncellular cuticular layer covering their bodies and by the absence of a mouth and digestive tract. Those most often infecting humans are in the subclass Cestoda.

cetalkonium
(set″al-ko´ne-әm) a cationic quaternary ammonium surfactant; the chloride salt is used as a topical antiinfective agent and disinfectant.

cetirizine
(sә;-tir´ĭ-zēn) a nonsedating antihistamine administered orally in the form of the hydrochloride salt for treatment of allergic rhinitis and chronic hives, and as a treatment adjunct for asthma.

cetrimonium
(set″rĭ-mo´ne-um) a quaternary ammonium antiseptic and detergent; used as the bromide salt in topical applications to the skin for cleansing of wounds, preoperative disinfection, and treatment of seborrhea of the scalp; also used to cleanse utensils and to store surgical instruments.

cetrorelix
(set″ro-rel´iks) a gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist, used as the acetate salt to inhibit premature surges of luteinizing hormone in women undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation during infertility treatment; administered subcutaneously.

cetuximab
(sә-tuk´sĭ-mab) a monoclonal antibody that binds to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and inhibits the growth and survival of cells that overexpress the EGF receptor; administered intravenously in the treatment of metastatic colorectal carcinoma.

cetylpyridinium
(se″tәl-pir″ĭ-din´e-әm) a cationic disinfectant used in the form of the chloride salt as a local antiinfective agent applied topically or sublingually to intact skin or mucous membrane.

cevimeline
(sә-vim´ә-lēn) a cholinergic agonist used as the hydrochloride salt in the treatment of xerostomia associated with Sjögren syndrome; administered orally.

Cf
californium.

cGMP
cyclic guanosine monophosphate.

CGS
cgs centimeter-gram-second system.

cGy
centigray.

CH50
see CH50 assay and CH50 unit.

CH50 assay
a test of total complement activity as the capacity of serum to lyse a standard preparation of sheep red blood cells coated with antisheep erythrocyte antibody. The reciprocal of the dilution of serum that lyses 50 per cent of the erythrocytes is the whole complement titer in CH50 units per milliliter of serum.

CH50 unit
the amount of complement that will lyse 50 per cent of a standard preparation of sheep red blood cells coated with antisheep erythrocyte antibody.

Chaddock reflex
in lesions of the pyramidal tract, stimulation below the external malleolus causes extension of the great toe; called also Chaddock sign.

Chaddock sign
(chad´ok) Chaddock reflex.

Chadwick sign
(chad´wik) a sign of pregnancy consisting of a dark bluish or purplish-red color of the vaginal or cervical mucosa as a result of increased blood supply to the area.

chafe
(chāf) to irritate the skin by friction, such as from clothing, from the rubbing together of body surfaces (such as the thighs) that are damp with perspiration, or from the rubbing together of opposing skin folds. The skin folds of obese persons are particularly subject to chafing.

Chagas disease
(chah´gәs) a type of trypanosomiasis found from the southern United States south into South America, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi; it is transmitted to humans from domestic or wild mammals by means of the feces of a blood-sucking insects. The trypanosomes multiply around the points of entry before entering the pers...

chagasic
(chә-gās´ik) pertaining to or due to Chagas disease.

Chagres virus
an arbovirus of the genus Phlebovirus, causing fever associated with malaise, headache, and pains of localized and generalized distribution, in Panama.

chain
(chān) a collection of objects linked together in linear fashion, or end to end, as the assemblage of atoms or radicals in a chemical compound, or an assemblage of individual bacterial cells.

chain reaction
a chemical reaction that is self-propagating; each time a free radical is destroyed a new one is formed.

chain reflex
a series of reflexes, each serving as a stimulus to the next, making a complete activity.

chain suture
a continuous suture in which each loop of thread is caught by the next adjacent loop.

chalasia
(kә-la´zhә) relaxation of a bodily opening. an incompetent or relaxed cardiac sphincter that permits reflux of the contents of the stomach into the esophagus. A cause of regurgitation in infants, it is considered a developmental event with no sequelae and gradual resolution.

chalazion
(kә-la´ze-on) pl. chala´zia, chalazions a small eyelid mass resulting from chronic inflammation of a meibomian gland; it can sometimes be treated at home with the application of hot compresses, but while this method is usually successful with a sty, a similar infection that has not yet formed a cyst, chalazion ofte...

chalcosis
(kal-ko´sis) copper deposits in tissue.

chalice cell
goblet cell.

chalicosis
(kal-ĭ-ko´sis) pneumoconiosis due to inhalation of particles of stone; called also flint disease.

chalky bones
osteopetrosis.

challenge
(chal´әnj) to administer a chemical substance to a patient for observation of whether the normal physiological response occurs. in immunology, to administer antigen to evoke an immunologic response in a previously sensitized individual. the administration of such a substance in order to asses...

challenge test
challenge (def. 3).

chalone
(kal´ōn) a group of tissue-specific, water-soluble substances that are produced within a tissue and that inhibit mitosis of the cells of that tissue and whose action is reversible.

chamaecephaly
(kam″e-sef´ә-le) the condition of having a low, flat head (cephalic index of 70 or less). adj., chamaecephal´ic., adj.

chamber
(chām´bәr) an enclosed space.

Chamberlen forceps
the original form of obstetric forceps, invented in the sixteenth century.