| pacemaker | battery-powered implantable device that electrically stimulates the heart to contract and pump blood throughout the body in cases where the heart's electrical system is dysfunctional |
| palliation | relieving symptoms and maintaining comfort through either the use of surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy |
| palliative | something that helps manage symptoms of, but does not cure, a disease |
| papule | small (less than 1 centimeter), circumscribed, elevated skin lesion that is pointed, flat topped, dome shaped, smooth, or eroded |
| paraneoplastic | disorders that occur due to the remote effects of cancer, such as through the mechanism of hormonal or antibody production |
| parasite | organism that lives in or on another organism (host) strictly for its own survival |
| paresthesias | unusual sensory symptoms of tingling, numbness, or other abnormal feelings of sensation |
| Parkinson's disease | condition in which cells that produce dopamine degenerate, causing tremor, muscle stiffness, and loss of motor function |
| pathology | field concerned with examination of tissues removed for the purposes of diagnosing disease and guiding patient care |
| PCP (primary care physician) | large subset of physicians who do not provide specialized care, including internists, pediatricians, and general practitioners |
| peak expiratory flow | measurement of the ability to blow air out of the lungs that is used to diagnose asthma |
| pelvic muscle exercises | pelvic muscle exercises intended to improve pelvic muscle tone and prevent leakage associated with stress urinary incontinence; Kegel exercises |
| percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCN) | manual extraction of kidney stones "through the skin" |
| pericardial effusion | accumulation of fluid between the pericardium and the heart |
| pericardiocentesis | surgical puncuture of the pericardial space in order to drain fluid |
| pericarditis | inflammation of the tissues of the pericardium |
| pericardium | thin membranous covering of the outer surfaces of the heart |
| perineal prostatectomy | procedure to remove the prostate that uses a perineal incison, which allows easier visualization of the bladder/urethral anastomosis, quicker recovery, tissue spare, and blood conservation |
| peripheral nerves | nerves outside the brain and spinal cord |
| peripheral nervous system | peripheral nerves and muscular structures |
| periurethral bulking injections | procedure in which injected implants are used to "bulk up" the area around the neck of the bladder, allowing it to resist increases in abdominal pressure, which can push down on the bladder and cause leakage |
| pes cavus | highly arched feet |
| pes planus | flat feet |
| petechiae (pe tek' ee) | small, pinpoint red or brown spots that represent escape of blood from the vessels into the surrounding skin |
| phalanx (pl., phalanges) | small bones of the foot that make up the toes; the first toe having two, the proximal phalanx (hallux) and the distal phalanx; the other four toes having three phalanges each: proximal, middle, and distal |
| phleboliths | small stones, or calcium deposits, that form within veins, causing congestion |
| photophobia | visual aversion to light, as experienced with migraine headache |
| plain film | basic x-ray with no contrast agents |
| plantar fascia | band of connective tissue that anchors the calcaneus to the front of the foot in order to support the arch |
| plantar fasciitis | inflammation of the plantar fascia, often occurring with, or caused by, a heel spur |
| plantar warts | warts that occur on the sole or plantar surface of the foot |
| plantarflex | downward motion of a body part |
| plaque | broad, elevated patch of skin, frequently formed by papules joining together; lesion that occurs in the "white matter" of the brain due to demyelination; in atherosclerosis, a mixture composed of cholesterol, other fatty substances, fibrous tissue, and calcium that collects in the lining of an arterial wall |
| platelets | coagulating blood cells |
| polyps | small fingerlike outgrowths of tissue from the linings of various tubular organs that are usually benign |
| polysomnography | sleep study, in which numerous physiological monitors are attached to the patient to record nighttime breathing, brain activity, and physical activity |
| porcine valve | valve made of tissue from a pig that is used to replace a diseased heart valve |
| positive airway pressure | technique for treating obstructive sleep apnea in which forced air, fed through a mask, is pumped into the nose and mouth, and which keeps the airway open during sleep |
| post-void residual (PVR) volume | diagnostic test that measures how much urine remains in the bladder after urination |
| posterior chamber | space between the iris and the lens |
| prophylactic | medications or treatments that are preventative in the treatment of disease |
| prostaglandin | various oxygenated unsaturated cyclic fatty acids of animals that have a variety of hormonelike actions, e.g., to control blood pressure or smooth muscle contraction |
| prostate | muscular, walnut-sized gland that surrounds part of the urethra and secretes seminal fluid, a milky substance that combines with sperm (produced in the testicles) to form semen |
| prostatectomy | surgical removal of the prostate; See also suprapubic prostatectomy, retropubic prostatectomy, radical retropubic prostatectomy, perineal prostatectomy. |
| prostatic stent | wire device that expands after placement, pushing prostate tissue away from passageway and allowing for easier urination |
| prostatitis | inflammation of the prostate |
| prostatron (TUMT, or transurethral microwave thermotherapy) | microwaves used to open passageways, allowing for easier urination |
| ptosis | drooping of the eyelids due to weakness of the muscles that normally keep the lids open |
| pubovaginal sling | surgical procedure in which tissue or synthetic material is placed under the bladder neck to support and immobilize it, improving sphincter function and continence by decreasing bladder neck movement |
| pulmonary embolus | blockage in the lung, namely a blood clot |
| pupil | opening in the center of the iris through which light enters the eye |
| pustule | raised lesion on the skin that contains pus |
| pyelonephritis | inflammation of the kidney, usually due to a bacterial infection |
| pyuria | presence of pus in the urine, usually an indication of kidney or urinary tract infection |
| radiation | anti-cancer therapy or treatment using high-energy rays beamed to the tumor site to destroy cancer cells |
| radiation oncologist | physician trained in the use of radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer |
| radical retropubic prostatectomy | removal of the entire prostate through an abdominal incision that allows the surgeon to spare nerve tissue and analyze lymph nodes |
| radiculopathy | irritation and inflammation of one of the nerve roots in the vicinity of the spinal column |
| rectocele | herniation of the rectum into the vagina |
| rectum | cavity between colon and anal canal; approximately 5 inches long by 1 * inches wide; stores feces prior to defecation |
| REM (rapid eye-movement sleep) | stage of sleep that is characterized by significantly decreased muscle tone, rapid eye movements, and dreaming; stage 5 sleep |
| respiratory system | group of body organs responsible for carrying oxygen from the air to the bloodstream and for expelling carbon dioxide as a waste product |
| restless legs syndrome | common neurological disorder that causes pulling, tearing, and jerking sensations in the legs when a person is at rest |
| retina | multilayered, light-sensitive tissue that contains a variety of nerve cells (neurons) that process visual information |
| retinal vessels | central retinal artery and central retinal vein |
| retrograde ejaculation | discharge of semen into the bladder rather than through the urethra and out of the body |
| retropubic prostatectomy | surgical procedure using an abdominal incision in order to incise the prostatic capsule and remove obstructing tissue |
| rheumatoid arthritis | chronic inflammatory disease that causes the body's immune system to attack the joints |
| rhinitis | inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the nose, often caused by allergies to pollen, dust, and other airborne substances |
| rigidity | stiffness in the limbs or body due to dysfunction of the basal ganglia and related structures |
| rods | photoreceptor cells in the retina that are primarily responsible for peripheral vision and vision in dim light |
| SA node (sinoatrial node) | small area of specialized heart tissue located in the right atrium that conducts impulses through the right and left atria, signaling these chambers to contract and pump blood into the ventricles |
| scales | layers of skin cells (fine and barely visible, thick and silvery, waxy, or large and adherent) accumulated on top of the skin due to abnormal formation and shedding of the top layers |
| scar | permanent fibrous skin changes, often elevated and thickened, that follow some sort of damage; pink to purple in hue, eventually fading to shiny white |
| sciatic nerve | large nerve in the lumbar-sacral spinal region that is composed of multiple nerve roots that supply the lower extremities |
| sclera | tough white tissue that encases the entire eyeball, except for the part covered by the cornea |
| seizure | abnormal electrical discharge of brain cells (neurons) that results in a transient disturbance in brain function |
| SEP (somatosensory evoked response) | measures function of the central nervous system, including pathways from the extremities |
| serotonin | important neurotransmitter (communicates information chemically between brain cells) that is involved in pain sensation and emotional perceptions |
| sesamoiditis | inflammation of the sesamoid bones |
| sesamoids | bones contained within a ligament that provide strength and leverage to the ligament; two in the foot, located under the ball |
| sexually transmitted disease (STD) | infection spread through sexual intercourse or genital contact |
| shinsplints | injury or inflammation of the posterior tibial muscle and tendon caused by overstretching or improper/excessive use |
| silhouette sign | observance of one type of tissue over another; x-ray |
| sling procedures | surgical methods for treating urinary incontinence involving the placement of a sling, made of either a synthetic material or tissue obtained from the person undergoing the procedure |
| small bowel | fourteen-foot section of the gastrointestinal tract, consisting of the duodenum, the jejunum, and the ileum, which empties into the beginning of the large bowel (the cecum) at the ileocecal valve |
| spasticity | stiffness of the body involving the limbs that results from dysfunction of the corticospinal tracts |
| spermatic cord | bundle of testicular arteries and ducts protected by woven tissue |
| s-phase | laboratory study to determine the percentage of cells preparing to divide, where low s-phase suggests less activity and biological aggressiveness, and high s-phase suggests increased activity and biological aggressiveness |
| sphincter | ring of muscle fibers located around an opening in the body that regulates the passage of substances through the opening |
| spinal stenosis | narrowing of the spinal canal due to disc disease, bony changes, ligamentous thickening, and congenital factors |
| spirometry | medical testing procedure which measures the amount of air entering and leaving the lungs |
| squamous cell carcinoma | second most common skin cancer that originates in the squamous cell |
| squamous cells | flat cells that make up most of the epidermis |
| statins | drugs that inhibit the manufacture of cholesterol by the liver; used to treat high cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia |
| status epilepticus | seizures that continue for more than 20 minutes without an intervening period of responsiveness |
| stenosis | condition that develops when any of the four major valves that regulate blood flow through the heart and lungs thickens, becomes damaged, or is diseased |
| stereotactic biopsy | biopsy technique that relies on computer guidance to exactly locate and biopsy the tumor |
| straight | slang; heterosexual orientation |
| stress test | test that monitors the heart during exercise in order to identify the presence of heart disease or the risk of developing cardiac problems during strenuous activity; also, diagnostic test that requires patients to lift something or perform an exercise to determine if there is urine loss when stress is placed on bladder muscles |
| stress urinary incontinence | involuntary loss of urine during periods of increased abdominal pressure, such as laughing, sneezing, coughing, or lifting |
| stroke | medical event that occurs when a blood clot blocks the blood and oxygen supply to the brain; brain attack |
| subarachnoid hemorrhage | bleeding in the area surrounding the brain, usually caused by a ruptured cerebral aneurysm |
| subcutaneous fat | third layer of skin, located below the dermis and composed mainly of fat cells and blood vessels |
| suprapubic prostatectomy | incising the bladder to remove obstructing prostatic tissue through a suprapubic incision below the navel |
| surgeon | physician who has been educated and trained in diagnosis and preoperative, operative, and postoperative management |
| suture | (n.) a stitch; (v.) to stitch |
| synovial fluid | viscous substance that lubricates joints in the body and allows two adjacent cartilage caps to glide upon one another with minimal friction |
| systemic | involving the entire body or multiple body systems |
| systolic pressure | arterial pressure measured as the heart contracts |
| T cell | type of white blood cell that regulates the immune response; T lymphocyte |
| talus | most superior bone of the foot that provides the primary connection between the leg and the foot and that articulates with the calcaneus to make up the subtalar joint |
| tarsal tunnel syndrome | entrapment and compression of the tibial nerve that causes pain, burning, and tingling on the sole of the foot |
| TEE | See transesophageal echo. |
| telangiectasia (tel an'je ek ta' zha) | dilatation of tiny blood vessels in the skin that usually appear as fine red lines, sometimes in a meshlike pattern |
| tendon | structure formed when a muscle condenses into a smaller complex before it attaches to a bone |
| tensilon test | diagnostic test that is used to confirm myasthenia gravis |
| testosterone | sex hormone that stimulates development of male sex characteristics and bone and muscle growth; produced by the testicles and, in small amounts, by the ovaries |
| theophylline | bronchodilator drug, taken orally, that widens the airways in the lungs; used to prevent apnea and to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| thrombocytopenia | decreased number of platelets in the blood |
| thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) | hormone that stimulates hormonal secretion of the thyroid gland; thyrotropin |
| TIA | See transient ischemic attack. |
| tibialis posterior dysfunction | condition in which the tibialis posterior muscle and tendon weaken and tear often, causing muscle imbalance |
| tibialis posterior | muscle in the leg that condenses to become a tendon in the foot; contributes to the arch of the foot and works with the Achilles tendon to allow people to stand on their toes with their heels off the ground |
| tinnitus | ringing in the ears or head noises |
| tinea | fungal infection of the skin, hair, or nails caused by one of several types of fungi |
| titration | process of determining the proper concentration of a dissolved substance needed to produce a desired effect; in positive airway pressure, the proper amount of air pressure needed to prevent airway collapse (occlusion) |
| torticollis | involuntary turning of the neck to one side, seen in disorders of the basal ganglia |
| toxoplasmosis | common parasitic disease that presents as swollen "glands" (enlarged lymph nodes); when disease occurs in immunosuppressed people, it may cause encephalitis or brain abscesses | trabecular meshwork | connective tissue between the anterior chamber of the eye and the venous sinus; aqueous humor filters through the fibers into the bloodstream |
| transesophageal echo (TEE) | diagnostic procedure in which a transducer is passed down into the esophagus to a location behind the heart, where sound waves are sent and delivered to image the heart |
| transient ischemic attack (TIA) | neurological symptoms that result from transient interruption of blood flow to the brain |
| transient urinary incontinence | temporary episodes of urinary incontinence that are alleviated after the cause of the episode is identified and treated, such as a bladder infection |
| transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) | destruction of prostate tissue with thermal energy that is passed through a needle |
| transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) | common treatment for benign prostate hypertrophy, in which the inside of the prostate (urethra) is cored out to make the passage of urine easier |
| tremor | uncontrollable shaking |
| trigeminal neuralgia | disorder of the fifth cranial nerve that causes episodes of intense, stabling electric shock-like pain in the areas of the face where the nerve is distributed - jaw, lips, eyes, nose, scalp, and forehead |
| tuberous sclerosis | genetic disorder that causes benign tumors to form in many different organs, but primarily in the brain, eyes, heart, kidney, skin, and lungs |
| tumor | abnormal mass of tissue that results from excessive cell division, either benign or malignant; large and deep solid growth of skin or subcutaneous fat |
| ulcer | area of skin loss involving the whole thickness of the skin, caused by infection, trauma, or cell death |
| ultrasonic lithotripsy | use of high-frequency ultrasound waves to destroy kidney stones gradually, which are then passed naturally by the patient or removed by grasping forceps |
| underactive bladder | bladder contraction of inadequate magnitude and/or duration that prohibits the bladder from emptying normally; See also overflow incontinence. |
| unilateral | appearing on one side of the body |
| ureteroscopy | flexible, fiberoptic instrument resembling a long, thin telescope that is inserted through the urethra and bladder up to the ureter for observation and often for retrieval of kidney stones |
| urge or urgency | strong desire to void |
| urge UI | involuntary loss of urine associated with a sudden and strong urge to void |
| urinalysis | group of physical and chemical tests done on a sample of urine to check for various disorders, including those of the kidneys and urinary tract |
| urinary incontinence (UI) | involuntary loss of urine sufficient enough to be a problem |
| urinary marker | substance (e.g., protein, antigen) that is detected through urine testing and used to diagnose conditions of the urinary tract, such as bladder cancer |
| urinary tract infections (UTIs) | infections caused by bacteria that invade the urinary system and multiply, leading to an infection |
| urodynamic tests | diagnostic tests to examine the bladder and urethral sphincter function |
| vaportrode | type of cautery electrode that vaporizes prostatic tissue in order to expand the prostatic channel and make urination easier |
| varicocele embolization | outpatient procedure in which the varicocele is closed off (occluded) by means of a balloon catheter (flexible tube with a tiny detachable balloon), steel coil, and/or sclerosing (vessel-hardening) solution |
| varicocelectomy | cutting away of a varicocele |
| vascular | related to blood vessels |
| vas deferens | tubes that connect the epididymes to the prostate gland |
| vasectomy reversal | See vasovasostomy. |
| vasoepididymostomy | microsurgery that uses a microscopic camera and very small operative tools to remove blockage in the epididymis and to reattach the epididymis to the vas deferens |
| vasovasostomy | reconnection of the severed ends of the vas deferens, which restores the flow of sperm through the vas deferens; vasectomy reversal |
| ventricles | right and left lower chambers of the heart |
| VER (visual evoked responses) | measures function of the central nervous system, including the pathway from optic tract |
| vertebrae (s., vertebra) | bones that make up the spinal column |
| vertebral arteries | paired arteries located behind the carotid areries that supply the back of the brain and the brainstem |
| vertigo | dizziness or imbalance of equilibrium that usually causes a spinning sensation |
| vesica sling procedure | See sling procedures. |
| vesicle | small, sharply circumscribed, elevated, fluid-filled bumps in the skin measuring less than 0.5 centimeters; small blisters |
| vestibular system | parts of the nervous system that control equilibrium and balance and that coordinate head and eye movement |
| vitiligo | minimal or widespread appearance of white patches on otherwise normal skin due to loss of pigment |
| vitreous body | chamber located between the lens and the retina |
| vitreous humor | transparent, colorless, gelatinous mass that fills the vitreous body |
| warfarin | drug used to prevent blood clots |
| wheals | solid, distinct elevations in the skin formed by localized swelling, ranging in color from white to dark pink; welts |
| white matter | lipid-rich myelinated portion of the brain and spinal cord |
| Wilson's disease | rare genetic disorder that causes progressive liver, neurologic, and psychiatric disorders that are - if untreated - always fatal |
| xerosis | dry skin |
| zonules | small fibers that change the shape of the eye's lens for accommodation |
