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Buzzle - Medical terms Category: Health and Medicine > Medical Terms Date & country: 27/09/2013, USA Words: 440

Pain Threshold
The point wherein a stimulus causes pain to be felt.

Orthostatic Hypotension
A large drop in the blood pressure which occurs when a person stands up from a lying or seated position, which can result in dizziness, faintness, light-headedness, or an increase in the pulse.

Osteoblast
A cell which forms the minerals and tissue of the bone.

Oropharynx
The posterior region of the mouth which includes the base of the tongue, the tonsils and the soft palate.

Orthodontics
The field of dentistry which deals with the correction and prevention of abnormalities of the teeth, jaw, and bite.

Orthokeratology
Correcting refractive error by the use of contact lenses which change the cornea's shape.

Orthopedic Surgeon
Also referred to as an Orthopedist, he/she is a physician who specializes in Orthopedics i.e. diagnosing, treating, and managing the process of rehabilitation of patients suffering from disease or injury to the skeletal system.

Oral Dissolution Therapy
Medicines taken orally to dissolve gallstones.

Oral And Maxillofacial Surgeon
A facial orthopedic surgeon who specializes in the treatment of a wide range of dental conditions, such as reconstructive surgery of the face and removing impacted teeth.

Open-Set Speech Recognition
Not requiring visual clues to understand speech, also referred to as speech reading.

Olfactometer
A device used for testing how intense a person's sense of smell is.

Oncogenes
Genes which promote the normal division of cells.

Oncologist
A physician specializing in the treatment of cancer, such as radiation oncologist, surgical oncologist, gynecologic oncologist, medical oncologist, and pediatric oncologist.

Oophorectomy
Surgically removing either one or both the ovaries.

Open Surgery
Cutting open the body and exposing the organs and structures involved during the surgical procedure.

Occult
Symptoms or diseases which cannot be readily detected, either by laboratory tests or physical examination.

Ocular Hypertension
A condition wherein the eye's intraocular pressure is higher than normal, without any apparent defects in the visual field or damage to the optic nerve. In time, there are chances of this condition developing into glaucoma.

Olfaction
The faculty which helps us to discern scents.

Obesity
See definition of obesity.

Obstruction
A blockage formed in the gastrointestinal tract which results in the obstruction of the passage of solids and liquids through it.

Occluded Artery
An artery in which the formation of plaque narrows it, thus impeding the flow of blood through it.

Non-Invasive Procedure
A diagnostic treatment or technique which does not involve making incisions in the body.

Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Loss of hearing caused by either a single or repeated exposure to extremely loud sounds.

Neurotransmitters
Chemicals that occur naturally in the brain that transmit impulses, or messages, between nerve cells. They exist in the space, or synapse, that separates the terminal of the neuron transmitting the message, which is called the axon, from the terminal of the neuron receiving the message, called dendrite.

Nissen Fundoplication
An operation for sewing up the fundus, or the top area of the stomach, around the esophagus. It is carried out to stop the contents of the stomach from returning into the esophagus, a condition known as reflux, and for repairing a hiatal hernia (hiatus hernia).

Neurogenic Communication Disorder
The inability to communicate with others due to hearing, language, and speech problems, which are caused by the nervous system becoming impaired.

Neuron
Also called a nerve cell, this is a unique kind of cell that is present both in the brain and the body, which is specialized for processing and transmitting information, either from one area of the brain to another, or from the brain to a part of the body and vice versa.

Neurofibromatosis
Also referred to as Von Recklinghausen's Disease, this is an inherited disorder wherein numerous spots and neurofibromas form on the skin, which are non-cancerous, often accompanied by abnormalities in development.

Neural Plasticity
The ability of the nervous system and the brain to adapt to changes brought about by new conditions, like after an injury.

Neural Tube Defect
A kind of birth defect, like spina bifida, resulting from the failure of the brain or the spinal cord developing normally in the fetus.

Neuralgia
A disorder of the nervous system which results in acute pain along the affected nerve's pathway.

Neuritis
The inflammation of nerve cells, or neurons, which is usually characterized by numbness, pain, or tingling in the affected area.

Nerve Conduction Test
A procedure that helps to determine the generation of nerve impulses.

Neural Mobilization
This is a technique by which the nerves are stretched gently to relieve the tension that may have accumulated in them which cause symptoms like radiating pain, tingling sensations, weakness, or numbness.

Neoadjuvant Therapy
Treatment like hormonal therapy or chemotherapy which a patient is given prior to undergoing surgery. This therapy is useful by helping to shrink tumors, such as those that occur in the breast, so that the surgical procedure for removing them becomes less complicated.

Nephrectomy
Surgically removing the kidney.

Nephropathy
Damage caused to the kidney due to long years of diabetes which involves high levels of glucose in the blood.

Needle Aspiration (Of the Breast)
This is a type of biopsy using a thin, hollow needle to remove a tumor's cells or fluid from a cyst by suction The samples aspirated, or drawn up, are then examined under a microscope.

Mesothelioma
See what is mesothelioma.

Moles
See meaning of moles on the face.

Mountain Sickness
See what is Altitude Sickness.

Mumps (Infectious Parotitis)
See what is Parotitis (Mumps).

Near Point of Accommodation
The point that is the closest at which an object can be perceived distinctly by the eye.

Near Point of Convergence
The maximum degree to which both the eyes can turn inward.

Menetrier's Disease
Also referred to as Giant Hypertrophic Gastritis, it is a chronic disease causing large folds of tissue forming in the stomach's wall. There could be inflammation of the tissue and it may also contain ulcers. People afflicted with this disease have a high chance of getting stomach cancer.

Melena (Blood in Stool)
Stool containing blood, usually due to bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract.

Melanocytes
Cells that are found in the epidermis' basal layer that produce melanin, which is the pigment of the skin.

Meige Syndrome
This is a malfunction of movement which is characterized by forceful and involuntary muscular contractions of the tongue and jaw, referred to as oromandibular dystonia, along with muscular spasms around the eyes, called blepharospasm.

Median Nerve
The nerve that runs down the arm, through the wrist's carpal tunnel. It services the first three fingers and the thumb of the hand. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) occurs when the median nerve gets inflamed.

Megacolon
Severe constipation resulting in the colon getting huge and swollen.

McMurray Test
This is a test for checking if there is a lesion in the medial meniscus of the knee.

Meal Plan
A guide which helps people design their diet to include proper amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, fiber, and calories.

Mean Blood Pressure
The average of the blood pressure, after taking into account the fall and rise which occurs with each beat of the heart. The estimation is usually made by taking the diastolic pressure and multiplying it by two, adding this with the systolic pressure, and dividing the resulting number by three.

Mastoid
The temporal bone located behind the ear, at the skull's base.

Mastitis
The inflammation of the milk ducts of the breast due to infection.

Mammogram
An X-ray picture of the breast, usually used to check for breast cancer.

Manic Depression
See what is manic depression.

Manometry
Tests which measure the movements and pressure of the muscles of the gastrointestinal tract.

Mast Cells
Cells that synthesize as well as store histamines. These are found in most tissues of the body, especially just under the epithelial layer, around blood vessels, and serous cavities.

Malocclusion
A dental problem which is also known as 'bad bite'. It is caused due to missing, crooked, or crowded teeth, a misalignment of the jaw, or extra teeth.

Mallet Finger
A condition caused by the rupturing of the finger's long extension tendon.

Malignant Tumor
A mass of cells that are cancerous which can affect the tissues surrounding it, or spread to other parts of the body.

Malabsorption Syndromes
Conditions wherein the small intestine loses the ability to absorb nutriments from foods.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
A non-invasive technique which creates a two-dimensional image of an internal structure or organ, such as the spinal cord or the brain.

Magnetic Field Therapy
A method wherein an alternating magnetic filed is used for generating an electric current within tissues, which results in changes in the flow of blood.

Lipoproteins
The primary means by which lipids or fatty substances are transported in the blood.

Lipid
A fatty matter found in blood.

Lesion
A wound or injury.

Levodopa (L-DOPA)
A drug used for treating Parkinson's Disease (PD). It changes into dopamine in the brain.

Lewy Body
A pink sphere that stains dying cells, which is considered to be a sign of Parkinson's Disease.

Ligament
A band or sheet of tough and fibrous tissue which connects bones, binding joints together.

Lens
Also known as crystalline lens, this is the transparent, biconvex structure located behind the iris. Its function is to focus the rays of light on the retina to produce an image of the object seen.

Laxatives
Also referred to as cathartics, these are medicines that are used for relieving constipation.

Lavage
The process wherein an organ, e.g. the stomach or bowel, is washed or cleansed, by flushing it out with water.

Larynx
The structure of valves that lie between the windpipe, or trachea, and the upper throat, or pharynx. It consists of vocal cords which produce the vocalization in speech.

Laryngectomy
Surgically removing part or whole of the voice box or larynx.

Laryngeal Neoplasms
Noncancerous or cancerous growths in the larynx, or voice box.

Laryngeal Paralysis
The loss of feeling or function in either one or both the vocal folds.

Landau-Kleffner Syndrome
A disorder that occurs in childhood wherein there is a sudden or gradual loss in the ability of understanding and using spoken language.

Laparoscope
A thin tube attached with a tiny video camera, which is used to examine the inside parts of the body and check the surfaces of organs.

Laparoscopic Colectomy
An operation wherein the gallbladder is removed with the help of a laparoscope. The laparoscope along with other surgical instruments are inserted through small incisions made in the abdomen. The camera attached to the laparoscope displays the gallbladder on a TV screen, which helps the doctor to remove it.

Laminectomy
Surgically removing a part of the lamina in order to make more space in the vertebral canal. It is usually done for treating spinal canal stenosis or disc herniation.

Lactase
An enzyme secreted in the small intestines which is required for digesting lactose, or milk sugar.

Ketone
A product that results from the breaking down of fat, which accumulates in the blood due to either inadequate levels of insulin or deficient intake of calories.

Knee Reconstruction
Surgically restoring the knee's biomechanics.

Labyrinthine Hydrops
Excessive accumulation of fluid in the labyrinth, or the organ of balance, which results in fullness or pressure in the ears, dizziness, loss of hearing and balance.

Ketoacidosis
Acidosis wherein ketone bodies get accumulated, which usually happens in patients afflicted by diabetes.

Kearns-Sayre Syndrome
A neuromuscular condition characterized by three main features

Keratitis
The cornea getting inflamed resulting in blurred vision and painful, watery eyes.

Keshan Disease
The deficiency of selenium, which is an essential mineral, causes this condition. It is a disease that affects the heart muscle, and is potentially fatal. It was discovered first in Keshan, a province in China, hence its name. However it has been found in other places as well, and occurs in areas where the soil is deficient in selenium.

Kawasaki Disease
A condition that is not related at all to the popular brand of motorbike with the same name, but is a disease whose origins are unknown. Children are the ones who are mainly affected by it. It causes fever, conjunctivitis, reddening of the mucous membranes in the mouth, swelling in the neck glands, gingivitis, and a raised, bright red rash that forms on the skin of the feet and hands, becoming like socks and gloves, which hardens and peels off.

Kartagener Syndrome
A hereditary condition characterized by inflammation and widening of the bronchi, or bronchiectasis, sinusitis, heart being located on the right side, or dextrocardia, and inferitily.

Kaposi's Sarcoma
A kind of malignancy of the skin that usually afflicts the elderly, or those who have problems in their immune system, like AIDS. It is characterized by purplish, soft papules or plaques which form nodules. The condition usually begins in the lower part of the leg and then spreads to other areas of the body, like the arms and hands, gradually.

Kanner Syndrome
Also referred to as Autism, this is one of the neuropsychiatric conditions typified by deficiencies in communication and social interaction, and abnormally repetitive behavior.

Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa
A condition that causes blistering of the skin because of a mutation of a gene which in normal conditions helps in the formation of thread-like fibers that are anchoring filaments, which fix the epidermis to the basement membrane. The lack of these anchoring elements results in the separation of tissue, which causes the blistering that is evident on the topmost layer of the basement membrane.

Jenner's Method
Inoculating a weakened form of a virus in order to produce immunity to the disease it causes. It is also known as Jennerization.

Joint Locking
A condition which is very painful, generally caused by a loose body being entrapped within a joint, between the surfaces of the joint.

Jordan Frame
A special stretcher meant for transporting patients with spinal injury.

Jugular Veins
Veins carrying blood back to the heart from the head.

Jumper's Knee
The degeneration of the tendon attached to the lower part of the knee-cap, or the patella, resulting in tenderness of the area and pain.