abduct	motion of a body part away from the midline of the body
abscess	localized pocket or collection of pus in a cavity
absorbent products	pads and garments, disposable or reusable, worn in cases of incontinence to absorb leaked urine
accommodation	adjustment of the eye's lens to focus on objects at various distances
Achilles tendon	tendon formed by the union of two muscles,the gastrocnemius and the soleus, which join in the mid-calf area and are known as the gastroc-soleal complex; prominent at the back of the ankle
Achilles tendonitis	painful and often debilitating inflammation of the Achilles tendon
actinic keratosis	common precancerous skin growth
adduct	motion of a body part toward the midline of the body
adjuvant	assisting the primary means of therapy, e.g., coupling radiation treatment with surgical excision of tumors
AIDS	acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
allergen	substance inducing an allergic state or reaction
allergic contact dermatitis	dermatitis caused by sensitivity to an allergen
allergy	inappropriate or exaggerated reaction of the immune system to substances that cause no symptoms in most people, e.g., reactions to chemical exposure, respiratory reactions to dust, pollen or other substances, reactions to food
alopecia	hair loss; disease in which the hair falls out
alternative therapy	therapy that is not standard, including herbal medicines, accupuncture, and accupressure, as well as medicinal therapies, such as shark cartilage, maitake mushroom, etc.
Alzheimer's disease	most common form of dementia in older persons that affects many areas of cognitive function, including memory
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)	degenerative disorder affecting the motor neuron cells and the motor tracts in the brain and spinal cord; Lou Gehrig's disease
anaphylaxis	severe, life-threatening allergic reaction, such as that caused by an insect sting or exposure to a drug, like penicillin or antitetanus (horse) serum, or that caused by certain foods, like peanuts or shellfish; anaphylactic shock
anemia	deficiency in red blood cell count, in hemoglobin, or in total blood volume
angina	discomfort and pain felt when a blockage in a coronary artery prevents oxygen-rich blood from reaching part of the heart
angiogram	invasive diagnostic test whereby a dye is injected into the arteries through a catheter in order to observe the blood vessels
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angioplasty	procedure for treating blockages and blood clots in which a small balloon is inflated to open clogged arteries
ankle joint	joint made by the two leg bones (the tibia and the fibula) and the most superior bone in the foot (the talus)
annular	ringlike
anterior chamber	space between the iris and the cornea that contains aqueous humor
antiarrhythmic agents	drugs that slow or eliminate rapid contraction of the ventricle
antibody	protein produced in a controlled manner by certain white blood cells (lymphocytes) to neutralize an antigen or foreign protein and fight disease, but whose uncontrolled production can cause illness; immunoglobulin
anticholinergics	quick-relief asthma medications that work by inhibiting nerve receptors in the airways and by blocking reflex bronchoconstriction of the nervous system
antigen	substance that can trigger an immune response, resulting in production of an antibody as part of the body's defense against infection and disease; allergen
antihistamines	drugs that block the effects of histamine, a chemical released in body fluids during an allergic reaction, and which reduce itching, sneezing, and runny nose
anti-inflammatory agents	drugs that reduce inflammation and its effects
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anus	external orifice where feces is expelled; opening to anal canal
anxiety	generalized feeling of apprehension, fear, or worry that interferes with normal life functions
aortic valve	one-way valve that allows blood to flow only out of the left ventricle and into the aorta
aphasia	acquired abnormality in the production or comprehension of language
apnea	condition of sleep in which the upper airway tends to collapse repeatedly
appendicolith	small hard stone often seen in the appendix that is generally composed of enough calcium to be seen on x-rays and particularly on CT scans
applecore (lesion)	appearance of the typical annular-shaped cancer of the colon whose concentric growth around the tubular large bowel resembles an eaten apple
aqueous humor	watery fluid that fills the anterior and posterior chambers of the eye
arrhythmia	irregular heartbeat that features either very rapid ventricular contractions (tachycardia), an excessively slow heartbeat (bradychardia) or, most commonly, extra or "premature" beats
arteries	blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the organs
articulate	process by which two adjacent bones form a joint and slide upon each other
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artifact	various types of image distortion and interference found in x-ray film
artificial urinary sphincter (AUS)	surgically implanted device (consisting of three parts: pump, balloon reservoir, and cuff) that is used to control the involuntary release of urine associated with prostate and urinary tract surgery
assisted reproductive technologies (ART)	fertility treatments that incorporate methods of sperm retrieval and preparation: artificial insemination (AI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and sperm microinjection techniques
asthma	chronic, inflammatory lung disease triggered by allergens, infection, exercise, cold air, and other factors that cause narrowing of the airways, breathing difficulty, coughing, and wheezing
ataxia telangiectasia (AT)	progressive, degenerative genetic disease, which causes degeneration of the nervous system, cancer, and immunodeficiency
atherosclerosis	condition in which lipids (fats) collect under the inner lining of damaged artery walls, eventually narrowing or blocking the artery and obstructing blood flow
athlete's foot	common, irritating, often persistent infection of the foot caused by a dermatophyte (microscopic moldlike fungus) that lives on dead tissues of hair, toenails, and outer skin layers
atony	lack of muscle tone, usually leading to temporary weakness
atopy	hereditary presence of antibodies associated with allergic reactions
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atria (sing., atrium)	right and left upper chambers of the heart
atrial fibrillation	abnormal rhythm of the heart that can result in an increased risk of stroke due to the formation of emboli (blood clots) in the heart
atrophy	wasting of tissue, cell, or organ
aura	warning symptoms like disturbances in vision, strange smells, or hallucinations that occur prior to a particular neurological event, such as seizure or migraine
autism	lifelong developmental disability that occurs by itself or in association with other disorders that affect the function of the brain, such as viral infections, metabolic disturbances, mental retardation, epilepsy, and fragile X syndrome; characterized by severely impaired social interaction and communication skills and restrictive or repetitive movements, interests, and behaviors
autoimmune	abnormal response of the immune system that causes antibodies and immune-mediated cells to attack one's own tissues
autologous	derived from or originating in an individual
AV node (atrioventricular node)	patch of electrical-wire-like specialized heart tissue located between the atria and the ventricles that conducts contractile impulses from the atria to the ventricles
axon	inner core of peripheral nerves
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BAEP	See brainstem auditory evoked potential.
basal cell carcinoma	most common skin cancer, derived from the basal cell
basal cells	cells that form the bottom layer of the epidermis
basal ganglia	series of structures located deep in the brain that are responsible for motor movements
behavioral modification techniques	See biofeedback, bladder training, habit training, pelvic muscle exercises.
Bell's palsy	paralysis of the facial nerve producing distortion on one side of the face
benign prostatic hyperplasia	enlargement of the prostate associated with aging
benign	not cancerous
beta2 agonists	quick-relief medications that cause muscle relaxation and bronchoexpansion to relieve acute asthma symptoms
beta-blockers	drugs that relieve stress on the heart by "blocking" the stimulating effect of adrenaline
bifurcation	division of a single structure (usually vascular) into two paired structures, e.g., carotid bifurcation in the neck, where the common carotid arteries divide into the internal and external carotid arteries
bilateral	affecting both sides of the body or two paired organs, e.g., the kidneys
biofeedback	therapeutic training in which participants learn to control their involuntary nervous system through response to electric stimuli
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biologic therapy	systemic therapy utilizing interferon or interleukin
biopsy	(v.) to remove a sample of tissue for diagnostic evaluation; (n.) tissue specimen
bisexual	attracted to both sexes
bladder training	behavioral modification technique used to resist or inhibit the urge to urinate unpredictably
bladder	hollow, muscular, balloon-shaped organ that stores urine until it is excreted
blanch	to make white or pale; to take color out
blepharospasm	involuntary closure of the eyes and lids
blood clot	insoluble mass of blood
blood culture	laboratory examination of a blood sample to detect the presence of disease-causing microorganisms
blood pressure measurement	measure of the force of blood flow against artery walls taken with an inflatable cuff, inflating bulb, and a pressure gauge
blood thinners	drugs that inhibit blood clotting
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bone	hard type of connective tissue, primarily made up of osteoblasts, osteocytes, and collagen, that supports and protects the body
bone scan	nuclear medicine study used for detecting the presence of boney metastasis
bone survey	radiologic study used to detect fractures and/or areas of boney destruction
brachymetatarsia	condition in which one of the metatarsals (the five long bones of the foot) is abnormally short, making the toe short as well
brachytherapy	radioactive pellets applied to the body area being treated; used to treat some cancers
bradykinesia	slowing of motor movements due to dysfunction of the basal ganglia and related structures
brain attack	See stroke.
brain injury	(1) closed head injury (CHI), which is caused by rapid acceleration and deceleration of the head during which the brain bounces off the inside of the skull; (2) open head injury (OHI), caused by car accident, gunshot wound, or other external factor
brainstem auditory evoked potential	test that measures how much auditory stimulus is required to cause a response from the brainstem
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breast	modified sweat gland that produces milk during pregnancy
bronchial provocation	test used to diagnose asthma; also bronchoprovocation, bronchial challenge
bronchitis	inflammation of the bronchi (lung airways) that causes a persistent cough and sputum (phlegm) production; especially common in smokers and in areas with atmospheric pollution
bronchoconstriction	constriction of the bronchial airways in the lungs, causing shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, coughing, and wheezing
bronchodilator drugs	group of drugs that widen the airways in the lungs
bronchus (pl., bronchi)	any of the larger air passages connecting the trachea (windpipe) to the lungs
bulla (pl., bullae)	sharply circumscribed, elevated, fluid-filled lesions in the skin that is over 0.5 centimeters in diameter; blister
bunion	bulge or bump that develops on the inner side of the foot, near the base of the first toe, caused by poor alignment of the metatarsal-phalangeal joint of the big toe, or hallux
bursa	sac of fluid typically found in areas where muscles or tendons tend to rub against bone, such as the hip, knee, and ankle
bursitis	condition in which a bursal sac becomes inflamed due to irritation
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calcaneus	heel bone, the largest bone in the foot
calcifications	hard, dense, stonelike material that forms in numerous areas throughout the body, including arteries (plaque), veins (phleboliths), kidneys (stones), and gallbladder (gallstones)
calcium-channel blockers	drugs that limit calcium entry into the cells and stimulate contraction
callus	area of skin that grows thick in response to repeated pressure and friction
canal of Schlemm	part of the vascular structure that returns aqueous humor to circulation
candidiasis	infection of the skin, mucous membranes, and sometimes internal organs with the yeast Candida
carbuncle	deep-seated infection involving a cluster of hair follicles, often accompanied by a large area of redness and swelling
carcinoma	type of cancer that has the ability to spread, or metastatsize, to other areas of the body
cardiac catheterization	diagnostic procedure using a flexible tube, or catheter, that is passed into the heart through a vein or an artery in order to withdraw samples of blood, measure pressures within the heart chambers or vessels, and inject x-ray contrast materials to view the heart
cardiac transplantation	replacement of a damaged or diseased heart with a healthy heart from a donor who has died of other causes
carotid arteries	paired (right and left) arteries that arise from the aorta or branch of the thoracic aorta; external carotid arteries in the neck supply blood to structures in the face, internal carotid arteries supply blood to much of the front of the brain
cartilage	type of connective tissue found on the ends of bones, which protects and cushions them, and absorbs the forces transmitted throughout the body; living tissue without a direct blood supply
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CAT scan (computerized axial tomography)	specialized x-ray examination that is often used to visualize the brain and spinal structures, chest, abdomen, and pelvis
cataplexy	sudden loss of postural tone, often resulting in complete collapse; common in narcolepsy or intense emotional response
catheter	tube passed through the body for draining fluids, injecting fluids into body cavities, and performing certain tests
catheterization	insertion of a catheter
cecum	beginning of the large bowel where the end of the small bowel (ileum) empties into the cecum at the ileocecal valve
central nervous system	the brain and the spinal cord
cerebral aneurysm	weakness in the wall of a blood vessel in the brain
cerebrospinal fluid	fluid that surrounds the brain and the spinal cord
cerebrovascular disease	disorders of the blood vessels that supply the brain
cervical cap	plastic cover fitted for and placed over the cervix; used in birth control to prevent sperm from entering and in alternative insemination to contain sperm
chancre	hard, syphilitic, primary ulcer, usually occurring singularly; first sign of syphilis
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charcot foot	severe collapse and fracturing of the foot, seen most often in diabetic patients with neurological problems
Charcot-Marie- Tooth disease	progressive debilitating neuromuscular disorder; also hereditary motor sensory neuropathy and peroneal muscular atrophy
chemolysis	destruction through the use of chemicals; chemical injection treatment to dissolve kidney stones
chemotherapy	treamtent involving the use of drugs
chest pain	See angina.
cholesterol	soft, waxy type of fatty particle (lipid) that circulates in the blood; building block for all cell membranes and many sex hormones
choroid	layer of the eye between the sclera and the retina that supplies blood to the retina
ciliary body	structure located behind iris, composed primarily of the ciliary muscles
ciliary muscles	muscles that control the zonules that hold the lens in place and enable accommodation
ciliary processes	extensions, or projections, from the ciliary body that secrete aqueous humor and attach the zonules to the lens
circle of Willis	circle of arteries at the base of the brain that is fed by the two paired internal carotid arteries and the two paired vertebral arteries
clitoris	erectile body of female genitalia, consisting of a body, two crura, and a glans, and located under the clitoral hood, above the urethra; associated with sensitivity and orgasm
clonus	increase in involuntary muscle tone and subsequent movement that results in spasm
cluster headache	one-sided severe pain around the eye that usually occurs at night; associated with nasal stuffiness and tearing of the eye
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cm	centimeter
colon	tubular structure from the stomach to the anus that consists of the small intestine and the large intestine
colonoscopy	test in which a length of fiberoptic tubing is inserted into the rectum and passed into the beginning of the large bowel (cecum), allowing the physician to directly visualize the bowel walls
coma	state of unconsciousness, with the eyes closed
comedo (pl., comedones)	thickened secretion of dead skin cells and oily material plugging a follicle or pore; closed (whiteheads), open (blackheads)
computerized axial tomography	See CAT scan.
condom	sheath, usually latex rubber, placed over the penis, fingers, or sex toy to prevent pregnancy and the spread of sexually transmitted disease during penetration
cones	photoreceptor cells that are responsible for color vision and seeing fine detail
congestive heart failure (CHF)	potentially lethal condition in which congestion develops in the lungs that is produced by a heart attack, poorly controlled or uncontrolled hypertension, or disease processes that weaken the heart
conjunctiva	thin membrane that lines the inside of the eyelids and covers the sclera
conscious sedation	medication that allows a patient to sustain what could be an unpleasant experience by producing "grogginess" and often complete amnesia of the event
contact dermatitis	reaction that occurs when the skin comes into contact with a substance to which the body is allergic
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cor pulmonale	enlargement and eventual failure of the right ventricle of the heart, caused by lung disease
core needle biopsy	used by a pathologist to detect abnormality in tissue
cornea	clear, dome-shaped structure that covers the iris, pupil, and anterior chamber
corns	thickened areas of skin that form in response to excessive pressure and friction, usually hard and round, with a polished or translucent center, like a kernel of corn
coronary angiography	x-ray imaging of the coronary arteries through a catheter
corpora cavernosa	two spongy tissue chambers of the penis that run the length of the organ; tissue that fills with blood during an erection
corticospinal tract	nervous system structures that begin in the brain and travel to the motor neuron cell to innervate the motor nerves
corticosteroids	group of anti-inflammatory drugs similar to natural hormones produced by the cortex of the adrenal glands
creatinine	waste product filtered from the blood by the kidneys and expelled in urine
Crohn's disease	inflammatory disease most prominent in the small bowel, which may involve any part of the gastrointestinal tract and other organs, and which is associated clinically with diarrhea and irritable bowel; regional ileitis
crust	scablike coating of dried blood, pus, or drainage that covers wounds or damaged skin
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cryosurgery	destruction of a skin lesion by applying liquid nitrogen
cryotherapy	therapeutic use of cold
CT KUB	computerized tomography of the abdomen and pelvis in which no oral or intravenous dyes are used, which is often used to detect conditions such as acute appendicitis, renal or ureteral stones, and diverticulitis
CT scan	See CAT scan.
curettage and desiccation	surgical technique in which a curette is used to scrape tissue, followed by drying and burning of that tissue with electrocautery
curette	surgical instrument with a round, hollow, sharp tip that is used to scrape tissues
cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL)	cancer of the T cells, often confined to the skin but has the ability to spread
cutaneous	related to the skin
cyst	sac that contains semisolid or liquid contents
cystectomy	surgical removal of the bladder
cystocele	herniation of the bladder into the vagina
cystoscopy	procedure using a flexible scope inserted into the urethra and then into the bladder to determine abnormalities in the bladder and lower urinary tract
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dander	minute scales from hair, feathers, or skin that may be allergenic
de novo	in a new manner or form
deep tendon reflexes	deep muscle stretch reflexes that are triggered by tapping on the tendons; the "knee jerk"
deltoid ligament	complex of four ligaments (anterior tibiotalar, tibionavicular, tibiocalcalcaneal, and posterior tibiotalar) that helps support the medial side of the ankle joint
dementia	acquired loss of cognitive function that may affect language, attention, memory, personality, and abstract reasoning
demyelination	destruction of myelin sheath that envelopes nervous system structures
density	densities on plain x-rays vary from black to white, depending on the composition of the material the x-rays pass through; black indicates the lowest x-ray density (air) and white, the highest (bone)
depigmentation	loss of pigment, especially melanin
dermatitis	inflammation and irritation of the skin
dermis	second layer of skin made up of a network of collagen and elastic fibers, blood vessels, and nerves
DESD	See detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia.
desiccate	to dry up
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detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia (DESD)	lack of coordination between the bladder and the external sphincter muscle, resulting in the inability to empty the bladder completely, which may cause severe urinary tract damage and life-threatening consequences
diabetes mellitus	common form of diabetes in which the body cannot properly store or use glucose (sugar), the body's main source of energy
diastolic pressure	arterial pressure measured while the heart rests between beats
digoxin or digitalis	drug used to treat congestive heart failure by increasing the force of contraction; used to treat atrial fibrillation by slowing transmission of atrial electrical impulses (i.e., slowing the heart rate) and restoring normal heart rate
disease-free survival	percentage of disease survivors still alive after a specified period of time
diuretic	drug used to treat high blood pressure and fluid retention by increasing the elimination of salt and water by the kidneys
diverticulum	small outpouching of the lining of various tubular structures in the body
DNA	deoxyribonucleic acid, the genetic blueprint in all of our cells
dorsiflex	upward motion of a body part
duodenum	first segment of the small bowel
dust mites	microscopic organisms that feed on dead skin, whose feces are a common environmental allergen that can trigger asthma
dysplasia	abnormal tissue development
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Originally published on www.healthcommunities.com