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

congenital hernia
one present at birth, most commonly scrotal or umbilical.

congenital hypoplastic anemia
a progressive anemia of unknown etiology encountered in the first year of life, characterized by deficiency of red cell precursors in an otherwise normally cellular bone marrow; it is unresponsive to hematinics and often requires multiple blood transfusions. Called also Blackfan-Diamond anemia or syndrome, Diamond-Blackfa...

congenital ichthyosis
ichthyosis congenita.

congenital lymphedema
see primary lymphedema.

congenital macular degeneration
any type that appears in childhood, as opposed to age-related macular degeneration; see Best disease and Stargardt disease.

congenital microvillus atrophy
a rare intestinal disorder, thought to be hereditary and autosomal recessive; infants have severe watery diarrhea with malabsorption of nutrients owing to atrophy of intestinal villi in the neonatal period. The condition is fatal unless the infant is given total parenteral nutrition. Cf. microvillus inclusion disease.

congenital neutropenia
infantile genetic agranulocytosis.

congenital nystagmus
congenital hereditary nystagmus nystagmus usually present at birth, usually horizontal and pendular, but occasionally jerky and pendular; the nystagmus may be caused by or associated with optic atrophy, coloboma, albinism, bilateral macular lesions, congenital cataract, severe astigmatism, and glaucoma.

congenital oculofacial paralysis
Möbius syndrome.

congenital pernicious anemia
a rare disorder seen in children, clinically similar to the pernicious anemia of adults but differing in that gastric acid secretion is normal, the gastric mucosa is not atrophied, and development is delayed.

congenital preauricular cyst
a cyst resulting from imperfect fusion of the branchial arches in formation of the auricle, communicating with an ear pit on the surface.

congenital rubella syndrome
transplacental infection of the fetus with rubella, usually in the first trimester of pregnancy, because of maternal infection (which is sometimes subclinical). The newborn infant has developmental abnormalities, which may include cardiac lesions, ocular lesions, deafness, microcephaly, mental retardation, and generalized...

congenital sideroachrestic anemia
hereditary sideroblastic anemia.

congenital syphilis
syphilis transmitted from a diseased mother to her unborn child through the placenta; this often results in death of the fetus. Infants who are born alive with this condition may have a nasal discharge called snuffles, caused by inflammation of the nose, and may be generally weak and sickly. A rash, especially in the genital ar...

congestion
(kәn-jes´chәn) abnormal accumulation of fluid, usually blood, in a body part, organ, or area.

congestive
(kәn-jes´tiv) pertaining to or associated with congestion.

congestive cardiomyopathy
a syndrome characterized by cardiac enlargement, especially of the left ventricle, myocardial dysfunction, and congestive heart failure.

congestive cirrhosis
a type resulting from increased hepatic venous pressure or thrombosis; commonly due to congestive heart failure (see cardiac cirrhosis) or to obstruction of the hepatic vein.

congestive dysmenorrhea
that accompanied by great congestion of the uterus.

congestive heart failure
(CHF) heart failure caused by impaired pumping capability of the heart that is not keeping up with the metabolic needs of body tissues and organs; it is associated with abnormal retention of water and sodium. It ranges from mild congestion with few symptoms to a life-threatening condition with fluid overload. This...

congestive splenomegaly
splenomegaly secondary to portal hypertension, with ascites, anemia, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, and episodic hemorrhage from the intestinal tract. Called also Banti disease.

conglobate acne
acne conglobata.

conglobation
(kon″glo-ba´shәn) the act of forming, or the state of being formed, into a rounded mass.

conglutinant
(kәn-gloo´tĭ-nәnt) promoting union, such as of the edges of a wound. an adhesive used for this purpose.

conglutination
(kәn-gloo″tĭ-na´shәn) adhesion (def. 2). agglutination of bacteria or erythrocytes that is dependent upon both complement and antibodies.

conglutinin
(kәn-gloo´tĭ-nin) a nonimmunoglobulin bovine serum protein that aggregates immune complexes with conglutinogen activity (inactivated C3b) in the presence of divalent cations. It has been used as an indicator system, replacing complement fixation, in serologic tests, and in the detection of immune complexes. N...

Congo red test
(for amyloidosis) Congo red is injected intravenously; if more than 60 per cent of the dye disappears after 1 hour, amyloidosis is indicated.

conical catheter
a ureteral catheter that has a cone-shaped tip designed to dilate the lumen.

conical papilla
one of the sparsely scattered elevations on the tongue, often considered to be modified filiform papillae.

Conidiobolus
(ko-nid″e-ob´o-lәs) a genus of perfect fungi; C. corona´tus is usually a saprobe but sometimes causes entomophthoromycosis in humans and horses.

coniofibrosis
(ko″ne-o-fi-bro´sis) pneumoconiosis marked by an exuberant growth of connective tissue caused by a specific irritant, as in asbestosis, silicosis, and silicotuberculosis.

coniosis
(ko″ne-o´sis) a disease state caused by the inhalation of dust, such as byssinosis or pneumoconiosis.

coniosporosis
(ko″ne-o-spә-ro´sis) a condition characterized by asthmatic symptoms and acute pneumonitis, caused by inhalation of spores of Coniosporium corticale, a fungus growing under the bark of certain trees; observed in workers engaged in peeling logs.

coniotoxicosis
(ko″ne-o-tok″sĭ-ko´sis) pneumoconiosis in which the irritant affects the tissues directly.

conization
(kon″ĭ-za´shәn) the removal of a cone of tissue, as in partial excision of the cervix uteri. cold conization that done with a cold knife, as opposed to electrocautery, to better preserve the histologic elements.

conjoined twins
(kәn-joind´) monozygotic twins whose bodies are joined. The connection may be slight or extensive; it may involve skin and muscles or cartilage of a limited region, such as the head, chest, hip, or buttock, or the twins may share an organ, such as an intestine or parts of the spine. If joined superficially, ...

conjoint therapy
that in which a patient is involved in both group and individual psychotherapy concurrently, seeing separate therapists for each. See also combined therapy.

conjugata
(kon″jә-ga´tә) the conjugate diameter of the pelvis; see pelvic diameter.

conjugate
(kon´jә-gāt) paired, or equally coupled; working in union. a conjugate diameter of the pelvic inlet, especially the true conjugate diameter; see pelvic diameter.

conjugate deviation
dysfunction of the ocular muscles causing the two eyes to diverge to the same side when at rest.

conjugate focus
conjugate point the point at which rays that come from some definite point are brought together.

conjugate paralysis
loss of ability to perform some parallel ocular movements.

conjugate vaccine
a vaccine composed of an immunogenic polysaccharide conjugated with a protein carrier.

conjugated antigen
antigen produced by coupling a hapten to a protein carrier molecule through covalent bonds; when it induces immunization, the resultant immune response is directed against both the hapten and the carrier.

conjugated hyperbilirubinemia
that due to defective excretion of conjugated bilirubin by the liver cells or to anatomic obstruction to bile flow within the liver or in the extrahepatic bile duct system; the most condition showing this is Dubin-Johnson syndrome.

conjugation
(kon″jә-ga´shәn) a joining. In unicellular organisms, a form of sexual reproduction in which two individuals join in temporary union to transfer genetic material. In biochemistry, the joining of a toxic substance with some natural substance of the body to form a detoxified product for elimination...

conjunctiva
(kәn-junk´tĭ-vә) pl. conjunc´tivae the delicate membrane lining the eyelids (palpebral conjunctiva) and covering the eyeball (ocular conjunctiva). adj., conjuncti´val., adj.

conjunctival reflex
closure of the eyelid when the conjunctiva is touched.

conjunctival ring
a ring at the junction of the conjunctiva and cornea.

conjunctival sac
the potential space, lined by conjunctiva, between the eyelids and the eyeball.

conjunctival veins
small veins that drain blood from the conjunctiva to the superior ophthalmic vein.

conjunctivitis
(kәn-junk″tĭ-vi´tis) inflammation of the conjunctiva; it may be caused by bacteria or a virus, or by allergic, chemical, or physical factors. Its infectious form (of bacterial or viral origin) is highly contagious. See also pinkeye.

conjunctivoma
(kәn-junk″tĭ-vo´mә) a tumor of the eyelid composed of conjunctival tissue.

conjunctivoplasty
(kәn-junk´tĭ-vo-plas″te) plastic repair of the conjunctiva.

Conn syndrome
(kon) primary aldosteronism.

connecting cartilage
that connecting the surfaces of an immovable joint.

connective
(kә-nek´tiv) serving as a link or binding.

connective tissue
a fibrous type of body tissue with varied functions; it supports and connects internal organs, forms bones and the walls of blood vessels, attaches muscles to bones, and replaces tissues of other types following injury. Connective tissue consists mainly of long fibers embedded in noncellular matter, the ground substance. ...

connective tissue cells
any of the cellular elements of the fibrous and nonfibrous components of the various forms of connective tissue.

connective tissue nevus
any nevus found in the dermal connective tissue with nodules, papules, plaques, or combinations of such lesions. Histologically, there is inconstant focal or diffuse thickening and abnormal staining of collagen.

connective tissue tumor
any tumor arising from connective tissue, such as a fibroma or sarcoma.

connector
(kә-nek´tәr) anything serving as a link between two separate objects or units. in electrocardiography, an insulated connection between the lead wires and the pulse generator, usually of the pin-and-socket type. neutral connector in electrocardiography, one of the...

connector neuron
interneuron.

Connell suture
a U-shaped continuous suture used in intestinal anastomosis, the stitches being placed parallel to and about 4 mm from the edge of the wound, and passing through all the layers of the intestinal wall. See Plate 47.

connexus
(kә-nek´sәs) Latin word meaning connecting structure; also spelled conexus.

conoid ligament
the posteromedial portion of the coracoclavicular ligament, extending from the coracoid process to the inferior surface of the clavicle.

Conradi syndrome
(kon-rah´de) chondrodysplasia punctata.

Conradi-Hünermann syndrome
(kon-rah´de hu´ner-mahn) the autosomal dominant form of chondrodysplasia punctata, marked by asymmetric shortening of the limbs; intelligence and life expectancy are normal.

consanguinity
(kon″sang-gwin´ĭ-te) blood relationship; kinship. adj., consanguin´eous., adj.

conscience
(kon´shәns) an inner moral sense that distinguishes right acts from wrong. Difficulties arise in how the conscience decides between good and bad. Conscience is not always an adequate justification for action. the internalization of parental and social norms, related to the Freudian concept of supereg...

conscientious objection
(kon″she-en´shus) an appeal to conscience in refusing to do, or seeking exemption from, acts that threaten a person's sense of integrity. Patients as well as physicians and nurses may appeal to conscience in refusing treatment or procedures. Called also conscientious refusal.

conscious
(kon´shәs) having awareness of oneself and of one's acts and surroundings. a state of alertness or awareness characterized by response to external stimuli. the part of the mind that is constantly within awareness, one of the systems of Freud's topographic model of the mind.

consciousness
(kon´shәs-nәs) the state of being conscious. subjective awareness of the aspects of cognitive processing and the content of the mind. the current totality of experience of which an individual or group is aware at any time. conscious (def. 3). levels of...

consensual light reflex
stimulation of one eye by light produces a reflex response in the opposite pupil.

consensual reflex
crossed reflex.

consensus statement
a document developed by an independent panel of experts, usually multidisciplinary, convened to review the research literature for the purpose of advancing the understanding of an issue, procedure, or method.

consent
(kәn-sent´) in law, voluntary agreement with an action proposed by another. Consent is an act of reason; the person giving consent must be of sufficient mental capacity and be in possession of all essential information in order to give valid consent. A person who is an infant, is mentally incompetent, or is ...

conservative test
a test having a type I error probability that is at most a stated nominal level.

consolidation
(kәn-sol″ĭ-da´shәn) solidification; the process of becoming solidified or the condition of being solid; said especially of the lung as it fills with exudate in pneumonia. the combination of parts into a whole.

constancy
(kon´stәn-se) the state of remaining constant. stability. form constancy the ability to recognize forms and objects as the same in spite of variation in environment, position, and size. object constancy the capacity to understand that an...

constant
(kon´stәnt) not failing; remaining unaltered. a fact or principle that is not subject to change.

constipation
(kon″stĭ-pa´shәn) a change in normal bowel habits with decreased frequency of defecation or passage of hard dry feces.

constitution
(kon″stĭ-too´shәn) the make-up or functional habit of the body, determined by the genetic, biochemical, and physiologic endowment of the individual, and modified in great measure by environmental factors. in chemistry, the atoms making up a molecule and the way they are linked, the propert...

constitutional
(kon″stĭ-too´shәn-әl) pertaining to the constitution. affecting the whole constitution of the body; not local.

constitutional disease
one involving a system of organs or one with widespread symptoms.

constitutional type
body type.

constitutive enzyme
one produced by a microorganism regardless of the presence or absence of the specific substrate acted upon.

constricted affect
restricted affect.

constriction
(kәn-strik´shәn) a narrowing or compression of a part; a stricture.

constriction ring
a contracted area of the uterus, where the resistance of the uterine contents is slight, as over a depression in the contour of the fetus, or below the presenting part.

constrictor
(kәn-strik´tәr) that which causes constriction. a muscle that constricts a part; see also compressor.

consultant
(kәn-sul´tәnt) an individual with specialized expertise in an area who offers to share this unique knowledge with others. lactation consultant a health care professional, often with advanced certification, who provides education and management related to breastfeeding.

consumption
(kәn-sump´shәn) the act of consuming, or the process of being consumed. a wasting away of the body. oxygen consumption the amount of oxygen consumed by the tissues of the body, usually measured as the oxygen uptake in the lung. The normal value is 250 mL...

contact
(kon´takt) a mutual touching of two bodies or persons. an individual known to have been sufficiently near an infected person to have been exposed to the transfer of infectious material. direct contact transmission of infection from an infected host or reservoir to a suscepti...

contact acne
acne caused by contact with a chemical, such as in cosmetic or grooming agents (cosmetic acne and pomade acne) or in industry (occupational acne).

contact allergy
contact dermatitis.

contact area
contact point proximal surface.

contact area zone
the zone which includes the contact area of adjoining teeth; usually it is in the middle third of the coronal zone between the occlusal and the cervical zones.

contact burn
a burn produced by direct contact with a chemical, hot object, or electric current.

contact dermatitis
a skin rash, usually with itching, swelling, blistering, oozing, and scaling, caused by direct contact between the skin and a substance to which the person is allergic or sensitive. The most common type is from allergy to poison ivy and other plants of the genus Rhus; certain other, less common plants can cause similar reaction...