Glossary of medicine

• Aarskog–Scott syndrome Glossary of medicine - (AAS) A rare (X-linked) inherited disorder characterized by short stature, facial abnormalities, skeletal and genital anomalies.
• Abdomen Glossary of medicine - The region of the body between the chest and pelvis that contains the majority of the tubelike organs of the digestive tract as well as a number of solid organs.
• Abdominal external oblique muscle The largest and most superficial of the three flat muscles of the lateral anterior abdominal wall.
• Abdominal internal oblique muscle Glossary of medicine - A muscle of the abdominal wall that lies just above the transverse abdominal muscles and beneath the external oblique.
• Muscle abductor pollicis brevis Glossary of medicine is a hand muscle that abducts (straightens) the thumb.
• Muscle of the abductor pollicis longus Glossary of medicine - One of the hand's intrinsic muscles. Its principal purpose is to abduct the thumb at the wrist.
• Abscess Glossary of medicine - A collection of pus that has accumulated in the body's tissues.
• Acquiescence reflex Glossary of medicine - an eye reflex measured in response to focusing on a near object and then looking at a distant object (and vice versa).
• Accommodation Glossary of medicine - the process of focusing the eye on an object.
• Acetabulum The concave surface of the pelvis that forms the pelvic section of the hip joint. The
• Achilles tendon is the tendon that connects the heel of the foot to the heel of Glossary of medicine - the thickest tendon in the human body, located at the back of the lower leg. It connects the plantaris, gastrocnemius, and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.
• Acne Glossary of medicine - a chronic skin disease caused by the clogging of hair follicles with dead skin cells and oil from the skin.
• Acupressure Glossary of medicine - an alternative medicine technique involving the application of pressure to acupuncture points. It is possible to apply pressure by hand, elbow, or with various devices.
• Acupuncture A form of alternative medicine involving the insertion of thin needles into the body.
• Adam's apple Glossary of medicine - the lump or protrusion formed by the angle of the thyroid cartilage surrounding the larynx, typically observed in males.
• Adaptive immune system Glossary of medicine - also known as the acquired immune system or, less frequently, the specific immune system, is a subsystem of the overall immune system composed of highly specialized, systemic cells and processes that eliminate pathogens or prevent their growth.
• Adenoma Glossary of medicine is a benign tumor of epithelial tissue that has glandular origin, glandular characteristics, or both.
• Adrenal medulla The adrenal glands (also known as suprarenal glands) are endocrine glands that produce numerous hormones, including adrenaline and the steroids aldosterone and cortisol. They are located atop the kidneys.
• Allergy Glossary of medicine - Allergies, also known as allergic diseases, are a group of conditions caused by the immune system's hypersensitivity to normally harmless environmental substances. Included among these conditions are hay fever, food allergies, atopic dermatitis, allergic asthma, and anaphylaxis. Eyes may be red, a rash may be itchy, sneezing, a runny nose, shortness of breath, or swelling may occur. The conditions of food intolerance and food poisoning are distinct.
• Alzheimer's disease Glossary of medicine - Alzheimer's disease (AD), also known as Alzheimer's, is a neurodegenerative disease that typically begins slowly and worsens over time. It accounts for 60–70% of dementia cases. Recent memory loss is the most prevalent symptom of Alzheimer's disease (short-term memory loss).
• Anal canal Glossary of medicine - represents the final segment of the large intestine. It is located beneath the pelvic diaphragm, between the rectus and anus. It is approximately 2 to 4 centimeters (0.98 to 1.57 inches) long in humans. It is located between the right and left ischioanal fossa in the anal triangle of the perineum.
• Anatomy In the direction of the base is Glossary of medicine. Antonym apical.
• Anatomy Glossary of medicine - is the biological discipline concerned with the study of the structure and parts of organisms. Anatomy is a natural science that examines the structural organization of living things.
• Anesthesiology Anesthesiology, anaesthesiology, anaesthesia, or anaesthetics (see Terminology) is the medical specialty concerned with the care of patients prior to, during, and after surgery.
• Angiology Glossary of medicine - is the medical specialty that studies the diseases of the circulatory and lymphatic systems, i.e. arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels, as well as their diseases.
• Ankle Glossary of medicine - The ankle, or talocrural region, is the joint between the foot and leg. The ankle consists of three joints: the talocrural or ankle joint proper, the subtalar joint, and the inferior tibiofibular joint. This joint is responsible for the dorsiflexion and plantarflexion of the foot. In common usage, the term ankle refers to the ankle region exclusively. In medical terminology, the term "ankle" can refer to the region as a whole or to the talocrural joint specifically.
• Artery of the anterior tibia The anterior tibial artery of the leg transports blood from the popliteal artery to the anterior compartment of the leg and dorsal surface of the foot.
• Antibiotic Glossary of medicine - is an antimicrobial substance that is active against bacteria and is the most important antibacterial agent for combating bacterial infections. Antibiotics are commonly used for the treatment and prevention of these infections.
• Antibody Glossary of medicine - (Ab), also known as immunoglobulin (Ig), is a large, Y-shaped protein produced primarily by plasma cells and utilized by the immune system to neutralize pathogens including pathogenic bacteria and viruses.
• Aorta Glossary of medicine - is the major artery in the human body, extending from the left ventricle of the heart to the abdomen, where it divides into two smaller arteries (the common iliac arteries). Through the systemic circulation, the aorta distributes oxygenated blood to all body parts.
• Appendix The appendix (or vermiform appendix; also cecal appendix; vermix; or vermiform process) is a finger-like, blind-ended tube that develops from the cecum in the embryo. At the junction of the small and large intestines, the cecum is a pouch-like structure of the colon. Vermiform is derived from Latin and means "worm-shaped." The appendix was once regarded as a vestigial organ, but this perception has changed in recent decades.
• Arm Glossary of medicine - is the portion of the upper extremity between the shoulder joint (glenohumeral joint) and the elbow joint. Typically, the arm extends to the hand. It is composed of the upper arm, which extends from the shoulder to the elbow, the forearm, which extends from the elbow to the hand, and the hand. The shoulder girdle, composed of bones and muscles, is anatomically a component of the arm. The Latin term brachium may refer to either the entire arm or the upper arm alone.
• Arteriole Glossary of medicine - is a small-diameter blood vessel in the microcirculation that extends from an artery and branches off to reach the capillaries. Arterioles are the primary site of vascular resistance and have muscular walls (typically only one to two layers of smooth muscle). The transition from arterioles to capillaries is characterized by the greatest change in blood pressure and blood flow velocity.
• Artery Glossary of medicine - is a blood vessel that transports blood from the heart to the rest of the body (tissues, lungs, etc.). The two exceptions are the pulmonary and umbilical arteries, which transport deoxygenated blood to oxygenating organs. This extracellular fluid that fills the arterial system constitutes the effective arterial blood volume.
• Arthritis Glossary of medicine is commonly used to refer to any disorder that affects the joints. Typically, symptoms include joint pain and stiffness. Other possible symptoms include joint redness, warmth, swelling, and decreased range of motion.
• Asperger syndrome Glossary of medicine - (AS), also known as Asperger's, is a developmental disorder characterized by significant difficulties in social interaction and nonverbal communication, as well as restricted and repetitive behavior and interest patterns. As a milder autism spectrum disorder (ASD), its language and intelligence are more typical than those of other ASDs. Although not required for a diagnosis, physical clumsiness and atypical language use are typical of autism.
• Asthma Glossary of medicine - is a prevalent, chronic, inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. Variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm characterize this condition. There are instances of wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
• Atrial fibrillation Glossary of medicine - (AF or A-fib) is an abnormal heart rhythm characterized by irregular and rapid atria contractions. Typically, it begins with brief periods of irregular heartbeats that become longer and possibly constant over time. Often episodes have no symptoms.
• Disorder characterized by inattention and hyperactivity Glossary of medicine is a neurodevelopmental type of mental disorder. It is characterized by difficulties paying attention, excessive activity, or difficulty controlling inappropriate behavior for the individual's age.
• Auscultation Glossary of medicine - is the practice of utilizing a stethoscope to listen to the internal sounds of the body. Auscultation is used to examine the circulatory and respiratory systems (heart and breath sounds) as well as the digestive system.
• Autism Glossary of medicine is a developmental disorder marked by difficulties with social interaction and communication, as well as by restricted and repetitive behavior. Typically, parents observe symptoms within the first two or three years of their child's life. However, some children with autism reach their developmental milestones at a typical rate before their condition worsens.
• Axilla Glossary of medicine - (also armpit, underarm, or oxter) refers to the area of the human body directly beneath the shoulder-arm joint. In addition, it contains the underarm sweat gland.
• Artery axillary Glossary of medicine is a large blood vessel that transports oxygenated blood to the lateral aspect of the thorax, the axilla (armpit), and the upper extremities. Prior to its origin at the lateral margin of the first rib, it was known as the subclavian artery.

B

• Back pain Glossary of medicine - refers to back pain. Based on the affected segment, it is classified as neck pain (cervical), middle back pain (thoracic), low back pain (lumbar), or coccydynia (tailbone or sacral pain). As it supports most of the upper body's weight, the lumbar region is the most common location for pain. Depending on duration, back pain episodes may be acute, subacute, or chronic. The pain may manifest as a dull ache, a shooting or penetrating pain, or a burning sensation. In addition to the legs and feet, discomfort can spread to the arms and hands, and may manifest as numbness or weakness in the legs and arms. The back is the large posterior region of the human body, extending from the buttocks to the back of the neck and the shoulders. It is the opposite side of the body from the chest. The vertebral column, which runs the length of the back, forms a central depression. The shoulders at the top and the pelvis at the bottom create the width of the back.
• Barotrauma Glossary of medicine is an injury caused by a pressure difference between gas-filled spaces and tissues. Beta cells ( cells) are a type of cell found in the islets of the pancreas that synthesize and secrete insulin. 50-70% of the cells in human islets are beta cells. Patients with type I or type II diabetes have diminished beta-cell mass and function, resulting in inadequate insulin secretion and hyperglycemia.
• Biceps brachii Glossary of medicine - The biceps, also known as the biceps brachii (Latin for "two-headed arm muscle"), is a large muscle located on the front of the upper arm between the shoulder and elbow. Both muscle heads originate from the scapula and join to form a single muscle belly attached to the upper forearm. While the biceps crosses both the shoulder and elbow joints, its primary function is to flex and supinate the forearm at the elbow. When opening a bottle with a corkscrew, both of these movements are used. - The biceps first unscrews the cork (supination) and then pulls it out (flexion).
• Biceps Glossary of medicine - also biceps brachii (Latin: "two-headed arm muscle") - is a large muscle located on the front of the upper arm between the shoulder and elbow. Both muscle heads originate from the scapula and join to form a single muscle belly attached to the upper forearm. While the biceps crosses both the shoulder and elbow joints, its primary function is to flex and supinate the forearm at the elbow. These two actions are used to open a bottle with a corkscrew. - The biceps first unscrews the cork (supination) and then pulls it out (flexion).
• Bile duct Glossary of medicine - any of several long tube-like structures that transport bile. Bile, which is necessary for digestion, is secreted by the liver into passages that lead to the hepatic duct, which joins with the cystic duct (carrying bile to and from the gallbladder) to form the common bile duct, which opens into the intestine.
• Biliary system Glossary of medicine - The biliary tract (biliary tree or biliary system) refers to the liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts, as well as the way in which they produce, store, and secrete bile. Water, electrolytes, bile acids, cholesterol, phospholipids, and conjugated bilirubin make up bile. Some substances are synthesized by hepatocytes (liver cells), while the remainder are extracted from the blood by the liver.
• Binge eating disorder Glossary of medicine - (BED) is an eating disorder characterized by frequent and recurrent episodes of binge eating with associated negative psychological and social problems, but without subsequent episodes of purging (e.g. vomiting). BED is a recently-described disorder that distinguishes binge eating similar to that of bulimia nervosa but without the characteristic purging. Individuals with bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder exhibit similar patterns of compulsive overeating, neurobiological characteristics of dysfunctional cognitive control and food addiction, as well as biological and environmental risk factors. In fact, some believe that BED is a milder form of bulimia and that the two conditions exist on the same spectrum.
• Biochemistry Glossary of medicine is the study of chemical processes within and pertaining to living organisms. -
• Bioinformatics Glossary of medicine - is an interdisciplinary field that develops methods and software for analyzing biological data. Bioinformatics combines biology, computer science, information engineering, mathematics, and statistics to analyze and interpret biological data.
• Biological engineering Glossary of medicine - or bioengineering, bio-engineering, or bio-engineering - is the application of biological principles and engineering tools to the creation of usable, tangible, and economically viable products. Biological engineering utilizes the knowledge and skills of several pure and applied sciences, including mass and heat transfer, kinetics, biocatalysts, biomechanics, bioinformatics, separation and purification processes, bioreactor design, surface science, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and polymer science. It is utilized in the design of medical devices, diagnostic equipment, biocompatible materials, renewable bioenergy, ecological engineering, and agricultural engineering, among other fields that raise the standard of living in societies.
• Biology Glossary of medicine is the study of life and living organisms, including their physical structure, chemical processes, molecular interactions, physiological mechanisms, development, and evolution.
• Biopsy Glossary of medicine - is a medical test commonly performed by a surgeon, interventional radiologist, or interventional cardiologist, in which sample cells or tissues are extracted for examination to determine the presence or extent of a disease.
• Biostatistics Glossary of medicine is the application of statistics to a vast array of biological topics. It includes the design of biological experiments, particularly in medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, and fisheries; the collection, summary, and analysis of data from those experiments; and the interpretation and inference of the results. Medical biostatistics is a major branch that focuses exclusively on medicine and health.
• Bipolar disorder Glossary of medicine is a mental disorder characterized by alternating periods of depression and abnormally elevated mood.
• Birth control Glossary of medicine, also referred to as contraception and fertility control, is a method or device used to prevent pregnancy.
• Bladder cancer Glossary of medicine - any of several types of cancer originating in the urinary bladder's tissues. It is a disease in which abnormal cell growth has the potential to spread throughout the body. Blood in the urine, urination pain, and low back pain are symptoms.
• Blood pressure Glossary of medicine - is the force exerted by the blood against the walls of the blood vessels. Blood pressure, when not otherwise specified, typically refers to the pressure in the large arteries of the systemic circulation. Blood pressure is typically measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg), above the surrounding atmospheric pressure, and is expressed as systolic pressure over diastolic pressure.
• Blood vessel Glossary of medicines are the component of the circulatory system and microcirculation responsible for transporting blood throughout the human body.
• Bone marrow Glossary of medicine is a semi-solid tissue that can be found in the cancellous or spongy portions of bones. Hematopoiesis, or the production of new blood cells, occurs primarily in the bone marrow. It is composed of hematopoietic cells, adipose tissue in the bone marrow, and stromal cells for support. Bone marrow is primarily located in the ribs, vertebrae, sternum, and pelvic bones of adult humans. On average, bone marrow comprises 4% of a human's total body mass; for an adult with a mass of 65 kilograms (143 lb), bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kilograms (5.7 lb).
• Bone Glossary of medicine - is a rigid organ that forms part of the skeleton of vertebrates. The skeleton supports and protects the body's organs, produces red and white blood cells, stores minerals, provides the body with structure and mobility. There are numerous sizes and shapes of bones, and their internal and external structures are intricate. They are lightweight, yet durable, and serve multiple purposes. The
• brachial artery Glossary of medicine is the most important blood vessel in the (upper) arm. It is the continuation of the axillary artery below the teres major muscle's lower margin. It descends the arm's ventral surface until it reaches the cubital fossa at the elbow. The artery then divides into the radial and ulnar arteries, which descend the forearm. In certain individuals, the bifurcation occurs much earlier, and the radial and ulnar arteries extend through the upper arm. The brachial artery pulse is palpable on the anterior aspect of the elbow, medial to the biceps tendon, and a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff) are commonly used to measure blood pressure.
• Brachial plexus Glossary of medicine - is a nerve network composed of the ventral rami of the lower four cervical nerves and the first thoracic nerve (C5, C6, C7, C8, and T1). This plexus extends from the spinal cord via the cervicoaxillary canal in the neck, over the first rib, and into the armpit. It supplies the chest, shoulder, arm, and hand with afferent and efferent nerve fibers.
• Brachial veins Glossary of medicine - The brachial veins are venae comitantes of the brachial artery in the arm proper, according to human anatomy. Due to their proximity to muscle tissue, they are considered deep veins. Their course is the opposite of that of the brachial artery]] Glossary of medicine - they begin where the radial and ulnar veins join (corresponding to the bifurcation of the brachial artery). They terminate at the inferior teres major muscle border. Here, the brachial veins merge with the basilic vein to form the axillary vein. The brachial veins also have small tributaries that drain the upper arm muscles, including the biceps brachii and triceps brachii. The
• Brachioradialis Glossary of medicine is a forearm muscle that flexes the arm at the elbow. It is also capable of pronation and supination, depending on the forearm position. It is attached via the brachioradialis tendon to the distal styloid process of the radius and to the lateral supracondylar ridge of the humerus.
• [[Bradycardia is a condition typically characterized by a resting heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute (BPM) in adults.
• Brain metastasis Glossary of medicine - is a cancer that has metastasized (spread) from another part of the body to the brain, and is therefore considered a secondary brain tumor. The metastasis typically contains the same type of cancer cells as the primary tumor. -
• Brain tumor Glossary of medicine - occurs when abnormal brain cells form. Malignant or cancerous tumors and benign tumors are the two primary types of tumors.
• Brain Glossary of medicine - The brain is the central organ of the nervous system and, along with the spinal cord, comprises the central nervous system. Brain structures include the cerebrum, brainstem, and cerebellum. It processes, integrates, and coordinates the information it receives from the sense organs and decides which instructions to send to the rest of the body. The brain is protected and contained by the skull bones of the head.
• Breast cancer Glossary of medicine - develops from breast tissue. A lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a red or scaly patch of skin may indicate breast cancer. Patients with distant disease spread may experience bone pain, swollen lymph nodes, shortness of breath, and yellow skin. The
• breast Glossary of medicine is one of two prominences located in the upper ventral region of the torso of primates. It serves as the mammary gland in females, which produces and secretes milk to nourish infants. Males and females develop breasts from the identical embryological tissues. Together with growth hormone, estrogens cause breast development in female humans and, to a lesser extent, in other primates during puberty. Generally, breast development in other primate females only occurs during pregnancy.
• Broca's area Glossary of medicine - or the Broca area - is a region in the frontal lobe of the dominant hemisphere, typically the left, of the brain with speech-related functions.
• Bronchiole Glossary of medicine - The bronchioles or bronchioli are the airways through which air travels from the nose or mouth to the alveoli (air sacs) of the lungs; their submucosa no longer contains cartilage or glands. They are branches of the bronchi and part of the respiratory system's conducting zone. The bronchioles further divide into terminal bronchioles, which are still in the conducting zone, and terminal bronchioles further divide into respiratory bronchioles, which mark the beginning of the respiratory region.
• Bronchus Glossary of medicine A bronchi is an airway passage in the respiratory system that transports air to the lungs. The right main bronchus and the left main bronchus are the first bronchi to branch off of the trachea. These are the largest and enter the lungs at each hilum, where they branch into secondary bronchi called lobar bronchi and tertiary bronchi called segmental bronchi. Additional subdivisions of the segmental bronchi are known as 4th order, 5th order, and 6th order segmental bronchi, or as subsegmental bronchi when grouped together. Bronchioles are the bronchi when they are too narrow to be supported by cartilage. There is no gas exchange in the bronchi.
• Bruit Glossary of medicine - also known as vascular murmur - is the abnormal sound produced by turbulent blood flow in an artery caused by either a partial occlusion or a localized high blood flow rate through an unobstructed artery. Bulimia, also known as
• Bulimia nervosa Glossary of medicine, is an eating disorder characterized by binge eating and purging. Consuming a large amount of food in a short amount of time is referred to as binge eating. Purging refers to the attempts to eliminate consumed food. The
• Buttocks Glossary of medicine are two rounded anatomical structures located on the posterior of the pelvic region and consisting of a layer of fat overlying the gluteus maximus and gluteus medius muscles. Sitting allows the buttocks to transfer weight from the feet to the thighs.